New Forum Members

[Anonymous]

just signed up tonight. i'm from elkridge, maryland. i have lionel, mth, williams, & kline. my wife and i currently live in small house with no room other then a loop around the xmas tree. hopefully i'll have some room after put an addition on[:D]

[Dr. John]

Well, better late than never.

I'm John Johnston from Mobile, Alabama. I'm a Baptist minister and a long-time rail-fan and model railroader. After 3 decades in HO, I made the switch to O gauge about 3 years ago. I'm currently building a 5 1/2 foot x 9 foot layout using 0-27 track (27 and 42 inch curves) and a mix of postwar 1024, 1121 and 1122 turnouts (with a couple of new K-Lines). I'll be adding some old Lionel accessories and Plasticville buildings when I get to that stage. I prefer conventional operation and run a mix of post war, MPC and modern era equipment.

I enjoy this forum and also post on ModelTrainJournal and some on OGR.

[MartyE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

Hi Marty,

If your ever touring the Cleveland area, give me a shot and a visit. Maybe you should talk your mobile TV program to shot O gauge train layouts.


tom

Tom

We don't get to Cleveland much but the guy that I run the truck with is from Solon? Ohio just outside of Cleveland. As far as shooting O gauge, unfortunately we are too big for that and not enough $$$ in it. But me and my friend Rob Pratte from KDKA radio often discuss making videos. As a matter of fact he did a video of his train last Christmas and sold it locally. I helped run the trains during taping.

If we do make it up that way though I'll be sure to get in contact with ya.

[Anonymous]

Howdy!
My name's Bob and I recently moved to Olathe, Kansas. The move gave me the excuse to dismantle my previous "toy-rail" layout and start to plan a "hi-rail" layout for my new basement. I have all of my childhood Lionel trains (1953-60ish). I originally thought that building a post war collection might be my goal. However, I have been bitten by the digital age and have been buying newer, command control engines. I collect only those trains that have a personal connection to me. For example, the first train I remember riding was the Phoebe Snow from New Jersey to somewhere in Pennsylvania and back on an elementary school field trip. I have the Lionel passenger set and the Williams PA's and matching cars. My mom worked for New Jersey Transit, so I have both of the Lionel passenger outfits. Recently, Union Pacific toured the midwest with their #3985 Challenger, pulling a string of yellow, smooth sided passenger cars. I spent a couple of days railfanning across Kansas as it moved back to Wyoming. My most recent purchase was the Lionel Challenger with that number. This summer will be spent turning the unfinished portion of the basement into a train room. I truly appreciate all of the help, hints and tips that so many of you provide in the various topics. Thank you- it will help my new layout be even better.
Bob

[spankybird]

Hi Marty,

If your ever touring the Cleveland area, give me a shot and a visit. Maybe you should talk your mobile TV program to shot O gauge train layouts.


tom

[MartyE]

I can't say I'm that new but this looked like a fun thread that peaked my interest...

I run all brands but mostly have Lionel PW, Lionel Modern w/ TMCC and MTH using DCS. My layout for now is seasonal at Christmas and is currently down for the summer. I'll run some trains on the porch this summer. I keep my websidte for my train fix and use the forums to keep up on current happenings. Lately I haven't posted to any forum much.

When I'm not running and thinking trains I spend time with my 3 kids and wife. We live in Western PA and enjoy life. I work for a mobile television company and currently on a 14 day tour covering basketball, boxing and baseball. My travels alow me to visit many hobby shops and other train related places of interest.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Tim,
You don't live in Idaho, you live in God's country.

Welcome to the CTT forum.

[Anonymous]

Hi guys. I am Tim and live in the mountains of north Idaho..60 miles to the nearest hobby shop. I am a building contractor and cabinet maker. Hate to make you guys jealous but I have a full cabinet shop here at my house to cut and make anything out of wood. Too bad this is my business and actually have to work most of the time..except winter. Moved here 3 yrs ago from Houston Tx area..got tired of the heat. I have had trains since I was 7 yrs old Marx. Currently have Lionel, MTH, and Williams..love those Williams, just got new SP F7 ABA with luxury liners beauuuuuutiful. I have a u shaped layout 12x24 and suspended double track from the ceiling 7x45. I love operating and am starting on scenery . Recently built 36"turntable, howe truss bridges and a lift bridge..I love accessories.. See Yall around..........Tim

[Roger Bielen]

For car loads try Michael's, or another craft shop, they have lots of goodies that with a minimum of effort can be made to look like O scale items.

[spankybird]

MTH MAN and kslater,
Welcome to the CTT forum


about car loads – both MTH and K-Line have come out with car loads in the past two years. K-line has wood crates, cable reels with wood sides, etc. and MTH also has things like I beams, crates, etc. Of course you can always make your own.

Kslater – good luck with the marx. Many of use started on the floor and some of use still are.

tom

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I live in Watkins Glen NY. I am also pretty new to the forum. I do not have a layout right now. I run my trains on the floor with my kids. My trains are all Marx. I really like the marx 6" tin cars with hook and slot couplers. I attended a train show the other day and a dealer had New Marx and boy are they nice. I bought a flat car with load. I work with a couple guys that are into HO and N gauge and they have to have everything to scale, I could care less about that, but to each their own.

[Anonymous]

HEY GUYS,
DO YOU KNOW ANYWHERE WHERE I CAN FIND O GUAGE TRAIN LOADS FOR IN CARS MOSTLY GONDOLAS?






BRAD OR KNOWN AS MTH MAN

[Anonymous]

One very excellent Marx website out there is http://home.comcast.net/~marxtin/site/marxtin.htm . There's lots of great information on rare and unuaual Marx items. It's a must to check out if you want to find out more about Marx. Being that you're just starting, it'll give you a really good idea of things to look for.

[Algonquin]

Hi Willow,

Check out the "www.marxtrains.com" site. They are the current manufacturers of Marx tinplate. I believe their site has link to other sites as will as information on Marx.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[marxalot]

Hello,

My name is Jim and I'm located in Bloomington Indiana, former
home of the most hated, greatest, basketball coach of all time.
We can discuss off this line! Ha. No chairs, please don't show me
that chair clip again! '[:D]'

Okay I'm starting to accumulate some old Marx equipment which I
enjoyed back in the 1950's. I just stalled out on the HO layout years
back and find this fun at the moment. I'm a floor runner for now. I was
wondering if anyone knows if there is a Marx group anywhere out there?
I think I'll be back in the 50's with Marx for most of my equipment .

This is great place to get info. no doubt. I asked a question about a GG1
on the Trains forum and was really inundated with information!

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone. I'm from Manassas, Va.. I am new to the hobby and building an L shaped layout. I am operating the new fastrack PA flyer and buying up all sorts of accessories..
I really enjoy reading this forum... Informative and fun!!

[spankybird]

Hi, my name it Tom. I live in Willoughby, Ohio, about 15 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio. I was started in this hobby before I was born. My dad bought a Lionel train for my older brother. I received mine when I was about 3 years old. My brother never staid in the hobby, good for me, as now I have the Penn 761 turbine with all the original cars and boxes. When I was about sixteen and started to drive, the trains ended up boxed. After I bought my first house (in 1973), I tried to build a layout. I found the basement was to damp and a new baby on the way, so back in the boxes. Now I in my second house (1999), daughter long gone on her own, and a dry basement. What a shock to see more than just Lionel building trains.

I have a lot of post-war and modern -ear Lionel, most of the new engines are MTH. I love DCS and Proto-sound2. I use 027 tracks. Most I bought used at train shows. In 1998, MTH was just starting to come with its new track. I stayed with what I was use to.

If you click on the web icon at the bottom this posting, it will take you to my web page with photo of my layout. I just started the page this past week, so we are still updating it.

[insfil]

Hi All, my name is Phil, from Holbrook, NY and I've been into toy trains from chilhood with the annual under the Christmas tree setup. I have Lionel, K-line, some old Ives & Marx and Weaver.
At long last I'm in the process of finishing my basement and will be building an around the wall layout with a double main for passenger service and a third line for
freight. Total footage will be 76 feet and plan to use Atlas 21st Century track system.
This forum is fantastic, what could be better than the the combo of CTT and this forum.

[Anonymous]

Hi - I am in New Zealand and therefore was able to be the first in the world to run a toy train in the 21st Century!
Colin Duthie.

[Anonymous]

F J And G:

Welcome to the forum!

How's the code 143 track coming along?

Tony

[FJ and G]

Hi,

I'm new (just a couple weeks on this forum)

I wi***his forum were more active. I'm posting on the MR site because more activity but still posting here sometimes.

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/

[Anonymous]

hello to all ozone here',
I run 027 track 042 and 054 curves k-line switches and all makes of trains.I have a basement layout u shaped 24 by 14 by 20 . Ilike the new sounds but not the smoke looks cool but the smell is over powering to me. I been collecting trains for 15 yrs and just the last 2 yrs I have been working on the layout

I live in the great state of Maine with my wife of 29 yrs and our son .

[Anonymous]

I live in Tucson, AZ and and my layout is 21' X 19' and is shaped like an upside down U. My mainline goes all around the perimeter of the U and has 072 curves. There is a 90 degree crossover in the back, so it's kind of like a lazy 8. All Lionel track with TMCC. I run mostly Lionel engines, but do have some K-Line and MTH. I like passenger trains the best (hence my nickname here). I had our room addition built on our house just for the trains and can answer anyones questions about the process of making a layout LITERALLY FROM THE GROUND UP.

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

I'm from Grove City Pa.
I am prewar collector, interested mainly in lionel and ives o gauge. It's nice to find a place where i can get advice from older collectors. I'm 21 years old now and have been collecting since i turned 13. I just wanted to speak out about a problem i consistantly run into. I've noticed first hand that collectors tend to be rude to the young guys, dismissing us as morons who have no money and no knowledge. I called the red caboose when i was about 18 to inquire about a 289e i wanted to purchase, and the guy on the phone asked my age, i told him and he replied, "I dont have time for stupid kids." and hung up. Well they will never get my business. Whoever that was ill take a knowledge test with you on prewar, and bet 100 bucks ill win. Oh well, i guess when he was busy scaring off customers i was reading everything i could on the trains. It took alot to get the knowledge i have today, and id like to thanks Ted Valis for all his advice. Well thats about all about me, be nice to the young guys well inherit this hobby. Bye the way i still havnt found that 289e.

[Anonymous]

Hi everybody,

I'm from baltimore, maryland and i've been involved in trains since i was a kid. My father was really big in trains. He had a lot of prewar engines and cars. He used to take me with him to the train store, called klines.I would love to look at all the trains.

I really didn't get intobuying trains myself until the early 90's. I got the circus set from k-line. After i got a few sets i decided to tackle my first train garden. My first platform wasn't very elaborate, but my wife was impressed. My father helped me with the electrical parts

I only joined a few days ago, but i am really enjoying this site. My wife says i enjoy trains more than her.................. no comment!

[donl409]

Hi all. From San Diego (north county up by Camp Pendelton Marine base).Started my layout from a christmas present from my wife 2 yrs ago.Now its in the garage on a 5x10 ft layout. All 0-27 track with one new inexpensive train set (from christmas) and the rest is post war items .A 1616 '41 loco , 627 switcher and a 41 army switcher with accompany rolling stock from the 40's thru the 70's. Usually purchased from antique stores around the country. Can you believe that when I put the layout in the garage my wife said it was going to be my car to set outside (lol) oh well .

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
My name is Steve and just started up model trains. I remember my first when I was a kid and thought I'd get started again. I'm from the Bay Area in California but now out here in Hawaii....

If anyone could let me know what a good web site for making scenery I'd appreciate it. I want to start with a mountain and a tunnel running through...Any help would be appreciated for supplies needed and the website for the how to....Thanks all....

[Anonymous]

just signed up tonight. i'm from elkridge, maryland. i have lionel, mth, williams, & kline. my wife and i currently live in small house with no room other then a loop around the xmas tree. hopefully i'll have some room after put an addition on[:D]

[scrager]

Hi, I live in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in an old (over 100 years) farmhouse. I had to move back to Wisconsin to find a place that has a basement that I could put up my trains. Prior to this I usually just ran them around the Christmas tree. The house has a rock basement with low overhead, so first I had to dehumidify, and clean it up before I could use it. I share a 9x7 main table with the family food storage underneath. I added a 10x2 extension down one wall with circular turn around (4x4) at the end so I could get a little longer run, a reversing loop, and a switch yard. I started with a Marx 333 steam engine I bought from a neighbor kid 35 years ago. All of my engines, most of the rolling stock, and all of the Super O track was well used and I had to clean or repair it before I could use it. I enjoy making it all work. I am a Milwaukee Road fan and have tried to get most of my equipment in that scheme or have repainted it to match. Currently I have 2 F3's, 1 GP9, and 2 Marx 333's for locomotive power. I am still using the original 1034 power supply I had 35 years ago, but have added about 5 more 1044/1033's to power the entire layout. Scenery and landscaping is my weakpoint, so I am just getting started on making the layout look more realistic.

[Anonymous]

I live in central PA near York. I had Lionel O Guage from the time my dad bought me my first set (I was 5 at the time; that is over 50 years ago!). We ran the trains all year round. I'm down to some odd pieces of rolling stock, a couple of accessories, and a KW transformer. But I still have 2 or 3 items that were in that original set. I'll be looking for an engine and some track as funds (which are tight at the moment) become available so that I can get things going again. I used to be pretty good with wiring accessories and stuff, but it looks like technology has evolved to the point where I will need to be re-educated (lol). This is a good forum because I'm already learning from the other posts.

Regards,
Jay