Coastal Express and Silverado Express Sets

[Anonymous]

How far can one realistically go with these sets? I have made another post on this site that I plan to construct an outdoor set and roadbed to accomodate this set.

I plan to use other better locomotives and rolling stock latter, but my finances are such that I can only afford these types of engine. I intend to spend the majority of the resources at this time to construct the lines.

Do these locomotives have a problem going over switches? If so what type of problems? And how often?

I plan to do major kit bashing on the loco and rolling stock. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Yes: Dont do it. less is better; get a few good pieces and plent y of track and build from there over the years. Cheap stuff is just that cheap stuff and in the long run the problems involved which cannot be solved and just wont go away are not worth it. I am not speaking about the particular equipment you are referring to, just this whole track in general.

Ian; Kawana island Tropical Railway.

[vsmith]

Capt C, Welcome to the forum.

I replied to the other thread you mentioned. I also give you a little more info here. I too tried to make it look better, repainted it but it was just such a bad performer I just blew it to pieces for parts. As for the cars I tossed the caboose body and converted to frame to a flat car with archbar trucks. I plan to do the same to the tender frame. i converted with great difficulty, all the couplers to Bachmann. The boxcar and gondola are still pretty stock other than the coupler change. I plan to add archbar trucks to all of the cars as the two axle wheels are plastic and look poor and I want all metal american style 4 axle cars.

And YES they do have a problem with switches, they have oversized flanges that will ride up onto frog and then ride right over the frog like a catapiller tractor and keep right on rolling into the foliage. I dont think these trains were ever internded for anything other than their plastic ovals.

[Anonymous]

Vsmith, Thanks for the welcome! I am a big debater in political forums and am glad that I found this one for one of my other hobbies. When you said that you "converted with great difficulty, all the couplers to Bachmann." What problems are you referring to? I am determined to make this work, albiet it may be a fool' s erand. My main goal is to produce a trackplan first, I fear I am using this set out of impatience.

I do plan to later get some converted batter power units or even use electrical sets. I have lots of experience in N scale, but have always wanted a garden railway.

A few questions: Is there any way to file down the flanges? Should I try? Would you suggest another inexpensive set I should explore?

Also thanks to Iandor for the imput. I may just buy the set for X-mas if think don'e work out.

[vsmith]

Capt C,

As we got 2 threads about the same thing going I will reply over on the General Discussion Battery operated trains thread, simply because there are more readers there and the feedback will be better. see ya there, Vic.

[jmozz]

build the layout and only use the cheaper trains on the main line or only use them when you have children who want to run some trains

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jmozz

build the layout and only use the cheaper trains on the main line or only use them when you have children who want to run some trains

That is what I am going to have to do. I plan to have those "lesser" trains for visiting (and destructive) children.

[Anonymous]

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=8934c1ce-2df5-48ac-966f-66b45c13f7c8

Capt Carrales,
The site noted above shows some photos and a link to a video shot just yesterday at The Depot. This is a geocache site which incorporates a G scale railway. I'm running the same Coastal Express your talking about. I think they are great. I've got 120 ft of plastic track with return loops and a passing track and hve been operating over three years. You can also get some views of this site by searching for Martini Junction or http.//www.strangene.com/destinations/martini.htm.
I'd be happy to answer any question and good luck with your project.
Chooch