New to the hobby question?

[Anonymous]

Are any of you guys going to the World's Greatest Hobby on Tour coming up in Hampton Va.? Is there anything to it, I've never been to a train expo and don't know what to expect. I was hoping I could pick-up a diesel engine there. Any info will help me make my decision on going or not.

Thanks, Skeeter

[Geno]

Skeeter,
Ebay still is a good place to buy O gauge diesel engines, but I 'd say the deals aren't as good as they used to be- I've paid as little as $140 for a diesel TMCC (K-Line GP-38), but I would say that price is a function of market value. Prices now have risen- around $200-350 for TMCC engines, a little less for MTH PS2 engines. Those prices are better than what you would pay in a LHS, but remember you're not getting a warranty from buyers unless they are authorized dealers.

Geno

[anjdevil2]

Good Point!!

[Anonymous]

rtraincollector,

  He may have accidentally posted this on either the CLASSIC TRAINS, or the MODEL RAILROADER forum, and had one of the moderators move it here. Some of the other forums have been getting a little cranky lately about threads posted in the wrong forum, and most of the misplaced ones would have better belonged here.

                           Doug

Just a recommendation to the moderators - if you move a thread - post a quick 'We moved this from x to y' that way WE don't get bent out of shape thinking someone from another forum is coming here and telling people to post here... or delete the post that says 'hey go post on the CTT forum'.

[edw]

Hi, my dad just gave me his great granddads Lionel 027 train set

Skeeter, you're lucky to have trains that have been passed down through five generations!

 

[rtraincollector]

If you could tell us about where you are like outside philly or outside chicago ect we could look up in the back of our train mags and tell you some O gauge train shops near or kinda near you.

[challenger3980]

I try to buy most of my stuff from my LHS, Whistle Stop Trains in Portland, OR, they are a Great bunch in there the owner treats me VERY WELL and the shop has a GOOD selection of O-Gauge equipment. If your shop doesn't have something in stock look at a Lionel catalog, or if you must an MTH catalog, your Local Hobby Shop (LHS) should be able to order you anything out of a current catalog, and it is worth asking about if you see something in a past catalog that you like.

  Swap meets are a fun place to find past items that are out of production, often you will get to see some display layouts set up and running, remember to look at all of the display layouts, even those in other scales, many scenery or other techniques can be used in many scales, just adjusted to fit. Shows/Swap meets are also a good place to meet other modelers, who may be able to answer questions or offer advice on a project you are working on, You could meet some very good friends there.

  ebay is a great place to find out of production and/or hard to find items, instead of just a regional supply of items to chose from, you have a national, or sometimes even international supply to search through. ebay and shows/swap meets you do need to have an idea of what prices are though. Just this week on ebay I watched bidding on a Lionel 0-6-0 Docksider get ABSOLUTELY REDICULOUS, this is an item in the current catalog that I had ordered just before Christmas should be easy to find, and has a list price of $109.99, it sold for, are you sitting down? $301.00 PLUS $12.00 shipping. $313.00 for a current product that MSRPs at $109.99, that seller was just LAUGHING all the way to the bank, I'll bet. Another thought on ebay, DON'T forget to factor in the cost of shipping, if you save $10.00 on something, but it costs $14.00 to ship it, you didn't save anything, you LOST money, and have to wait for it to ship to you, also buying from a LHS is worth spending a little bit more (at least to ME anyway) because if there is a problem, they will take care of it there at the shop, if purchased on ebay or mail order, if you have a problem the return shipping is usually on YOU, there goes a big hunk if not all of what you saved by buying on ebay/mail order.

   There are many places to buy things for this Hobby, each has thier own advantages and disadvantages, which you will have to weigh for yourself what is important to YOU.

  This is a GREAT Hobby, I Hope that You get as much enjoyment out of it as I have,

                                       Doug

[traindaddy1]

Mostly E-Bay.  BUT, be careful as the descriptions can sometimes be mis-leading. ALSO, don't "get carried away" with the bidding.  Some bidders just don't know when to stop and bid unrealistic amounts for items.  Good luck!

[lionelsoni]

The size of the transformer needed has nothing to do with the length of the track.  If it can operate your train on a short track, it can operate it on a long one.

[baberuth73]

I've acquired all my O gauge on ebay. There are no hobby stores in my area.

[Jumijo]

 

I'm lucky enough to live in an area that has many train shops locally, including some of the biggest names in the hobby. Two locals I can recommend are Charles Ro and Northeast Trains.  Each have web sites and are happy to ship mail or phone orders across the country. They both sell plenty of diesels.

Jim 

[Anonymous]

I was told by the "trainmaster" @ our local hobby shop that they were from the 50s, at the time I didn't know. Its nice to find out what they really are, you guys have been alot of help. I'll know where to look next time I have a question!! Around my area I can't seem to find alot of train people other than a few small clubs that are all HO scale. None in which deal with what I have. Quick question where can I find a Lionel diesel loco.? My dad is wanting one but our local shop any has steam engines. Where do you guys get all your stuff?

 

Thanks, Skeeter    

[anjdevil2]

1061 Steam 0-4-0 1061T Tender made in 1964 if wheels are 2-4-2 then made in 1969

8500 Pennsylvania 2-4-0 1975-1976

8502 Santa Fe 2-4-0 1975

I'm guessing they are all Steam Engines

Transformer #4050 Safety Transformer 1972-1979

I have Greenburgs Guide.  There is also a Standard Catalog of Lionel 1945-1969 (Kalmbach prints this) by David Doyle, big and small format books with pictures(!) you can find.  I saw them at Barnes & Noble.  Big help (maybe I'll buy one, next time)

Hope this helps

Rich

[Anonymous]

Hi guys, sorry I posted in the wrong spot. My transformer is a small red box w/#4050 on it, this is all I can find and I have 2 of these. I'am not sure if its the factory one or not I was told he had lot of differant trains. So I'am not sure if he may have mixed them up. As for the engines I have three 2 have Pennsylvania coal cars and the engine #s or 8500 & 8502 the third engine # is 1061 this is all I know. If you know of any other place I should look for #s or ser.#s let me know.

 

Thanks, Skeeter

[traindaddy1]

The guys on this Forum are great. Just give them a little more descriptive information about your stuff and they will be glad to guide you, as they have me. Best of luck.

[rtraincollector]

By the way skeeter12 I run a prewar Standard gauge set off of a transformer from the 50's I acually use a zw (it will controll 4 tracks at one time) in case you don't know what standard gauge is its about the size of the garden railroad trains you see but uses 3 rails like your O-27 but wider apart from each other.

[rtraincollector]

 

Oh was wonder if all that cold up in vermont may have froze a few cells there like he was out side to long then came in lol

 

Accually thought he might jump back and forth between like mr and here and was a little mixed up on which he was on. I jump back and forth between the 2 often myself.

[challenger3980]

rtraincollector,

  He may have accidentally posted this on either the CLASSIC TRAINS, or the MODEL RAILROADER forum, and had one of the moderators move it here. Some of the other forums have been getting a little cranky lately about threads posted in the wrong forum, and most of the misplaced ones would have better belonged here.

                           Doug

[rtraincollector]

Hi, my dad just gave me his great granddads Lionel 027 train set and it has an old transformer from the mid 50s I was told. I was woundering if I could upgrade to a newer system if so what do you guys recommend as I said I'am new to the hobby. But my plan was to run this train around on a shelve in the ceiling of our dining room. It works great as is, but we upgraded to the new Fastrack system and I also wanted to upgrade the power supply. This is a good size room @ 14'x17' and I'am not sure if the old transformer is up for it.

 

Thanks, Skeeter

First whats the number on the side of the engine? different engines take different amount to power as a dual motor 2343 Santa fe took more to opperate correctly than a 239 steam engine as it had one motor verse two in the other. we probally can tell you a lot more about your t6rains also if you give us the numbers on them. If you need parts for any of them we can head you in the right direction for that too. You have come to the right place for questions and info.

Welcome and come visit us in the coffee shop also.

[rtraincollector]

You are a lucky young man.  Think you might get a better answer in the Classic Toy Trains forum, they deal more with Lionel.  I have 40's and 50's Lionel in storage.  They work fine with the old transformers (be sure your wires are safe to plug in to the wall), but not sure how they work with the new power systems.   

Good luck,

What forum do you think this is?

[challenger3980]

Depending on which transformer you have, and the condition it is in, there may not be any reason to replace it, most of the better transformers from the 50's were built to last. With that large of a room, you will want to run additional feeder wires, opinions vary on how far between them, but every 6-8 feet is a common spacing. If your old transformer was something like an LW, those I believe put out about 125 watts, and if you are running just one train at a time with it, I would expect it to be just fine. A smaller transformer may not be up to the task with that much track, but could still be useful to power any accessories, such as building lights. Knowing which transformer you have would be helpful in giving you advice. A lot of Lionel transformers had letter model designations such as Z, V, S, ZW, KW, LW the models ending in a "W" had a whistle control button. Lionel also built some with numeric model designations such as 1033,1044 and others.

                                Doug

[cowman]

You are a lucky young man.  Think you might get a better answer in the Classic Toy Trains forum, they deal more with Lionel.  I have 40's and 50's Lionel in storage.  They work fine with the old transformers (be sure your wires are safe to plug in to the wall), but not sure how they work with the new power systems.   

Good luck,

[Anonymous]

Hi, my dad just gave me his great granddads Lionel 027 train set and it has an old transformer from the mid 50s I was told. I was woundering if I could upgrade to a newer system if so what do you guys recommend as I said I'am new to the hobby. But my plan was to run this train around on a shelve in the ceiling of our dining room. It works great as is, but we upgraded to the new Fastrack system and I also wanted to upgrade the power supply. This is a good size room @ 14'x17' and I'am not sure if the old transformer is up for it.

 

Thanks, Skeeter