Well I have had a lot of trains since I was a small boy when we had a 27’x 4’ layout with a 4’x8’ switch lard on one end. It took up most of my grandfather’s attic at that time.
My Uncle, Brother, little sister and I played with them at that time. Somewhere around 1966 or so we all got older and did not use them much. When Grandfather passed my dad and uncle packed everything up in 1988.
My dad collected post-war Lionel and limited Marx pieces all the way up till he passed in 1991. It was then that the 4 of us split everything up. Well I was building my family and had no place for a layout so I had display shelving in the living room for some of what I thought were my best trains.
Well long story short I am now retired I am heading into the future to get back to my past.
I want to thank all of you who have answered my sometimes-stupid questions over the last two months while I have been doing inventory and planning a layout for the grandkids and me.
I am amazed at the new trains out there and what they can do but because I have post-war I will be doing mostly that with the exception of my cherished 1935 American Flyer set.
Anyway here are some pictures of my start and I will be asking a lot more questions as I move along. So thanks everyone in advance for all of your help I will get in the future and I look forward to your advice and comments as I make my way back to the age of 9. Still lots to do!
Kevin Myers
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Looking great. I'm hoping to build a 8' by 16' layout in the near future presently have about 6' X 12' carpet central railroad going. ( Little by little getting more and more stuff out of this room)
Presently I'm building a shelf layout about 10" from the ceiling that I plan to run my Standard Gauge set on.
The trains below it are some G i have on shelves
but do remember something if you want to add tmcc/legacy to your layout in-case you get an engine that can run with it you can run your post war with tmcc/legacy with a TPC-300 or TPC-400 per loop. I have one TPC-300 as I have just about as many Traditional powered engines as I do command control engines. ( in fact some of my conventional engines are now Command controlled thanks to Electric Railroad. )
Just remember what ever you do just have fun.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
RT,
I have never considered myself a collector but I have been getting some new cars for the layout. I want to do a logging scene on part of it and a switchyard with an industrial area no town It will be nice to get these off the wall and back in service but will need to keep the grandkids at a distance from these. :-) Top Row Santa Fe 218 ABBA both A are powered Second Row MARX WELLS FARGO- Set with WILLIAMS CROOKS- STEAM LOCO. Third Row 1935 American Flyer Set Forth Row 1000 HP E.M.C. Diesel Switcher with Lionel flat cars and Caterpillar loads
I have never considered myself a collector but I have been getting some new cars for the layout. I want to do a logging scene on part of it and a switchyard with an industrial area no town
It will be nice to get these off the wall and back in service but will need to keep the grandkids at a distance from these. :-)
Your stuff looks nice.
"if you want to add tmcc/legacy to your layout in-case you get an engine that can run with it you can run your post war with tmcc/legacy with a TPC-300 or TPC-400 per loop. I have one TPC-300 as I have just about as many"
I have to learn what all of that stuff is. I am thinking I do not want to use 027 curves on the main lines because I know most of the newer trains don't like it as well as my American Flyer. What do you suggest for a minimum radius?
Thanks,
kevin
you state you have 4' X 12' so you could go with gargraves O-42 track it has nice wooden ties that look realistic and then you can add ballast to look real.
Lionel fastrack you would only be able to go O-36 with maybe a half straight in the middle as there O-48 would probably hang a little over the edges there. not sure what withe atlas has or MTH. Now I think Lionel use to and may still have an O-42 curve track in the style of the old O-27 but not sure. Goto www.gargraves.com to see there track then contact me if you like it and I'll connect you with who I was suggested to buy it from as its cheaper than what your seeing.
Forgot I plan to use Ross switches. I have heard folks have had problems with gargraves switches if there not laying flat.
With all of the 027 trackI have, I want to use Lionel 42" 6-65049 or Lionel 54" 6-65113 curves if that will work. I have so much 027 three rail track that i would like to use what i have.
well for the return loop on the 4' X 16' area you would have to use your O-42 or smaller now down at the corner you could use your O-54 you have and again use it on the 8' x 8' area . You have a real nice setup for your trains so far and it looks like your going to keep busy doing it.
If you want more cars have you looked at williams to go with your 218 A-B-B-A they make some nice cars at a good price heres a link to check out some at a discount price. http://www.mapajunction.com/
and heres one that might be just a little less even
http://www.hobbystation.net/
Love your Marx set! I'm looking tp put one together myself.
I am also putting together a railroad for my grandkids!
Keep us posted on your progress.
Thanks RT!!,
For your input. Right now I need to look at paint for the wall and some kind or rug under the layout because i know the kids will drive some off the table. ( like i did back in the day ) ha ha. I see the 027 track wide curves are still out there so I will try to stay at 42" or bigger. That way if I get something newer it can work on the main loops.
Thanks again.
Kevin
Kevin as long as you don't do what I did. I was building a layout and it was right even with the bottom of the windows in the rec room we had and I put a switch in to make a side spur right next to the window well I didn't realize the switch was open for the unbuilt spur and I use to run full speed or dead stop no in between except a little for the curves well it was on A 12 foot straight away to the switch ( there was about 8 feet more to go after the switch) and my father was just walking up the walk right out side the window as the train went thru the window onto the cement walk way well I didn't walk to well for the rest of that night to put it politely
Yeah the Marx stuff is cool because everyone trashed them. I have a NIB Santa Fe ALCO A unit powered # 1095D with a NIB Santa Fe ALCO A unit Dummy # 1095D I did not know I even had them till I started doing the inventory of the stuff dad left me. I kind of have been out of all of this for 40 years. thanks ,
Yeah we did a lot of head ons when dad was working, Oh crap If I knew then what I know now. A lot of damaged stuff could of been undone. So I have to keep my head when the kids do it to mine. Save the good stuff for the high shelf.
Kev.
Here Is where I started with the layout.
Spanky, I am not going to do any elevated lines at this time. The grandkids are small and there would be too much death and destruction if I had elevated lines. When they get older or I need more track on the table I may do it. Right now I think flat track is best. The weather finally broke this week so progress has been none. I need to paint the wall in the basement next and paint the table frame then I will put the tops on and ground cover. It will be a slow process as the money I can spend each month on it is limited. Tks, Kevin
Spanky,
I am not going to do any elevated lines at this time. The grandkids are small and there would be too much death and destruction if I had elevated lines. When they get older or I need more track on the table I may do it. Right now I think flat track is best. The weather finally broke this week so progress has been none. I need to paint the wall in the basement next and paint the table frame then I will put the tops on and ground cover. It will be a slow process as the money I can spend each month on it is limited.
Tks,
Just thought I would show you my test track in the shed I put up so I could test and run all of my stuff before I started the layout. Not too much but it works for now.
Well here is my update not much going on but I did go today and get some light blue wall paint for the basement walls behind the table. I could not just leave them in raw concrete. Next will be painting the table frame and legs, putting on the table tops and then elect outlets and some better lighting. Wife thinks I should do gray on the table legs and frame but I am not sure. Any suggestions? I will keep you posted. Thanks, Kevin outside Marseilles What a mess! I think the blue is much better.
Well here is my update not much going on but I did go today and get some light blue wall paint for the basement walls behind the table. I could not just leave them in raw concrete. Next will be painting the table frame and legs, putting on the table tops and then elect outlets and some better lighting.
Wife thinks I should do gray on the table legs and frame but I am not sure. Any suggestions?
I will keep you posted.
Kevin outside Marseilles
What a mess! I think the blue is much better.
What a mess!
I think the blue is much better.
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