Trains.com

I'm new to these fourms

860 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
I'm new to these fourms
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 12:36 AM
Im new , Im 18 i have loved trains since i was 5 years old. I'm actually doin research now for my own model railroad. I'm just in the research stages now tho. Its gota be small tho like a 8 x8 or some thing.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Dallas, GA
  • 2,643 posts
Posted by TrainFreak409 on Friday, July 29, 2005 12:48 AM
[#welcome] TRAINFAN2005!

This is an excellent forum to ask questions in, and learn everything you can about your hobby.

Have fun!

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, July 29, 2005 6:21 AM
You can do a lot in an 8x8, depending on how many decks deep it is and perhaps if you open the 8x8 up a bit to perhaps a 3 x 12 or something. I think you'll enjoy it. If you get a layout much bigger than the one you propose, the trains disappear from view anyway, unless you follow them around.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 6:33 AM
Welcome to the train forums and best of luck with your layout. You'll be able to build something great with that much space. The best thing is to look over picturesof other people's layouts to get ideas. See as many as you can. There are some great track plan resources online too.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 8:07 AM
Check out this site [http://www.thortrains.net/].
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Louisville,Ky.
  • 5,077 posts
Posted by locomutt on Friday, July 29, 2005 8:23 AM
[#welcome] trainfan2005,

This is a great forum to have questions answered,there are some
very good,knowledgeable people on here.
You'll be surprised how much you can get on an 8' X 8'.
Good luck,and remember one of the best and biggest things about this
hobby;is to HAVE FUN !!

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Friday, July 29, 2005 8:24 AM
Welcome! On this particular forum, we discuss 'toy trains' or all types: O gauge, Standard gauge, O scale; by all manufacturers: Marx, American Flyer, Lionel, MTH and K-Line, 3rd Rail to name a few.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 9:46 AM
Welcome to the forums! Great to have you here! I'm 18 also and have loved trains all my life.
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: The ROMAN Empire State
  • 2,047 posts
Posted by brianel027 on Friday, July 29, 2005 9:52 AM
Hi trainfan.... just remember it is possilble to build a layout and buy trains on a budget. Youcan also have a lot of fun WITHOUT all the extra electronics, bells and whistles too. Sure if it is within your budget to go with one of the digitial command systems, all the more power to you. There are more choices today than ever, but remember those choices don't mean you will have less fun or have trains that aren't as good.

Some folks forget that one of the most endearing elements of this hobby for decades was the simplicity and ability to fix things yourself and to tinker with things yourself. There is an element of thought in some circles that you can't have fun running trains without digital control, sound and speed control. Nonsense!

Despite what some think, I've always had layouts that were simple in nature, inexpensive in materials and high on creativity. Whenever I did train shows, folks were always impressed with the ingenuity and simplicity I applied to the layouts. I found kids were just as impressed with accessories that operated from the pull of a string that utilized gravity or simple counterweights as they were with electronic wonders.

So go for it, have fun and ask questions here. Thor's web site, as mentioned above, is a priceless reference and is possibly the very best single website for a beginner to go to.

Don't let all the high legal drama of the train business get you down either. Unfortunately most of us seem to have opinions on what is going on, me included. Despite the appearance of some possible low ethics practiced by some of the train companies, this is still a wonderful hobby and there are folks on this forum with some higher ethics who are always willing to answer questions and help out a fellow train enthusiast!

brianel, Agent 027

"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 5:06 PM
Welcome, be sure to check out the TAMR [;)]

Regards,
Chris
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 9:21 PM
Welcome, trainfan! You picked a good place to help in your research and exploration of this great hobby.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 29, 2005 10:20 PM
Here's another good train website www.modeltrainjournal.com

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month