Looking for first train advice.

[nalts]

Hey all-

I haven't been around much this year. I guess it's my way of not getting depressed since I couldn't do anything with my layout. [V]

I was recently asked what I wanted for Christmas. The only thing I want is money to buy my first train. That said, I'd like your advice to help me out.

I want to buy my first train for myself and my boys this Christmas. I'd like your advice on what you'd purchase.

Here's my stipulations:
1). Money IS an issue. I DO want to buy something of decent quality if that's possible.
2). I am starting from scratch. I can go plug-in power or battery.
3). I have no track and most likely will build my own...eventually.
4). New or used via eBay? It really doesn't matter to me.
5). Anything I'm missing?

That's it. If you could take a few minutes and give your very best first train recommendation, I'd be grateful. Thanks in advance for your time.

Sincerely,
Chris

[kstrong]

1) Get a starter set from Aristocraft, USA Trains, or LGB--whichever one strikes your aesthetic fancy best. All are rather reliable, and you can build from there.

2) The starter sets are "traditional" through-the-rails power, so go with that. Batteries are nice if you've got either lots of track, or a very complex track plan. If you're just starting, keep it simple. Besides, battery systems aren't cheap, and if you're on a budget, track power is the best way to stay within it.

3) The starter sets come with an oval of track to get you going. All three brands mentioned make track that's perfectly compatible with each others', so expansion with the commercially available track sections is no problem at all. Aristocraft usually has a "Buy 4, get one free" sale in February on their track. This will certainly get you running until you can build your own track.

4) Wherever's cheapest and the best value, but remember most manufacturers won't honor waranties on secondhand locomotives. If something breaks on something you bought on evilbay, you're likely going to be out the money to fix it. Buying it new from a dealer gives you two avenues to pursue should something stop working properly.

5) Not that you need worry about at this point in time. Get a train, get it running, and see where your imagination will take you. The Woodland Railway (the feature article in this month's GR) got it's start from setting a starter set type train out in the woods and deciding that we liked how it looked.

One more thought--if you've got a Sam's club nearby, they will be stocking a Bachmann Christmas train set which will also work well. The biggest issue with the Bachmann sets is that the track is not meant for outdoor use, and will not interchange with anyone else's track. The trains will run on others' track without issue, but the Bachmann track is really crappy stuff. (Even they admit it.)

Later,

K

[Kiwi Down Under]

Chris, before you run off to the shops have a look at www.gscalechufchuff.com
Im not selling anything, but shows you there are alternative ways of building your train in the garden.
Tony

[Kiwi Down Under]

Sorry, typo mistake www.gscalechuffchuff.com

[Tom The Brat]

K has given you some good advice. But then, G Scale Chuff Chuff has some cool ideas and has a lot of fun on a budget.

[tangerine-jack]

I don't have anything to add except that it is more important to DO than to TALK. Get a train of your choosing (K has given you an excellent choice of gear) and just start doing it. You'll figure the rest out as you go. Good Luck!


[oX)]

[whiterab]

The only comment I would add to Kevin's post is to add Bachmann to the starter list if you are looking for old time steam engines.

Their track is okay for running it around a Christmas tree but as Kevin says, don't use it outside.

Kevin,
Keep your post. It is the most straightforward response to this type of question I've seen yet. Would be great for a FAQ if we had one (Hint, Hint Rene [;)])

[Anonymous]

Just bought two of the Bachmann Christmas sets from Sam's. They are a great buy and run really well. They are the best deal I've ever run across.
And I second Tangerine Jack, don't TALK, get something running.
As Larry the cable guy says" Get'er done!!"

[Anonymous]

Chris mate;

I agree with what Strongie said and even more so with what Jack says. Do not join the coffee shop boys and do a lot of talking and not much action.

Go to ebay and get yourself an LGB starter set and some more lengths of track from the same source. It is all pretty good and very cheap.

All the best.

ian

[nalts]

Thanks for all the GREAT replies! I appreciate it very much!

I will look into the train at Sam's Club. Sounds like a good deal. GScale, I checked out your site. Nice ideas for making things on the cheap. Thanks for sharing. kStrong, thanks for the long and detailed post. Many great ideas. Thanks again!

If there are anymore ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Sincerely,
Chris

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nalts

Thanks for all the GREAT replies! I appreciate it very much!

I will look into the train at Sam's Club. Sounds like a good deal. GScale, I checked out your site. Nice ideas for making things on the cheap. Thanks for sharing. kStrong, thanks for the long and detailed post. Many great ideas. Thanks again!

If there are anymore ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Sincerely,
Chris

Chris, if you do buy the Sam's Club set BE AWARE you WILL have to buy seperate track for outside use.

The steel track that Bachmann supplies is only good for indoor use and is not interchangable with other brass track. It will rust fast outside.

The Sam's set is a terrific value but it does have some limits. Namely the track and the powerpack. While the powerpack is OK for a small loop it is only rated at above 1/2 amp Look on ebay for a standard LGB powerpack they are about 1 amp and will work for a layout up to about 10' x 20'. Anything bigger and you will need a bigger powerpack rated 5amps or larger.

As for track Aristo is the best value, although I have had trouble with their switches and now will only use LGB switches. If you plan to lay your onw track that's cool but even I wouldnt try to use scratchbuilt switches with track power, ever tried to wire a Peco Electro-frog switch? Now do it outdoors under gravel balast ...ARGH!

While no ones mentioned it Aristo is or will be selling a terrific deal starter set. It includes the engine, two cars, brass track, 1 amp powerpack, and a Basic Train Engineer R/C controller is included. This is a terrific control system. It uses a reciever trottle controller between the powerpack and the track and a handheld controller for speed, direction, and emergency stop. No other modification to the engine is needed, you do is set the loco on the track and your good to go and it works with any engine. I have one of these and they are great! I'll try to post a link to Aristo's site that shows the set...

Vic[8D]

Here they are, actually a few to chose from, standard AND narrow gauge ![:p]

http://www.aristocraft.com/catalog/startersets/rogers/index.htm

http://www.aristocraft.com/catalog/startersets/Lil'%20Critter/index.htm

http://www.aristocraft.com/catalog/startersets/040/index.htm

The MSRP is always higher than the street price, I suspect if you look around you could find these for about $175 to $200.

[Anonymous]

Vic, what's the range like on the basic Train Engineer? I've been vaguely looking at one as a way of controlling my planned outdoor line (would have the base unit indoors and the track power feeds running outside) but I'm not sure if it would cope. Any advice/experience would be helpful!

[Anonymous]

Apart from our own club track here inAustralia i reckon Aristo is the best track I have used, however I do have reserves about the joiners. The sytem they use should be easy and good but I have experienced problems with them after only two years. ie filling up with dirt, getting loose thereby causing conductivity problems!

rgds ian

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

Vic, what's the range like on the basic Train Engineer? I've been vaguely looking at one as a way of controlling my planned outdoor line (would have the base unit indoors and the track power feeds running outside) but I'm not sure if it would cope. Any advice/experience would be helpful!

I think the effecive range is something like 75' or so, I could be wrong, it might be a little farther, but if 75 feet is half the depth of my whole lot, that should be pretty good for most people.

[piercedan]

The Basic TE is a 2 amp PWC unit and its range is 30-50 feet. Input supply should be more than 1 amp. I use an old laptop power supply as these are rated over 2 amps and 18 to 20 volts which is perfect for the Basic TE.

If there is a 27 mhz signal happening, this unit will not work. If a neighbor is transmitting on his CB radio, the basic unit will not work while he is transmitting. The Rokenbok truck sets will do this also.

Possibility of this impacting you is very low.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help guys - 30-50 feet would be fine, the garden isn't huge. Is there a limit to how many amps the Basic TE can handle? I'll be keeping an eye open for one of the start sets in months to come.

[Tom The Brat]

2 amps.

[Anonymous]

2 amps? Ok, thanks for the advice!

[nalts]

Hey again-

Just wanted to check in and let you know my findings. I did purchase a Backmann Christmas starter set from Sam's club. The price was about $130 USD so not too expensive.

You guys mentioned that the track was junk. I'd almost have to include the rolling stock as well. I haven't completely opened the box up for inspection, but it seems to me that a light wind could blow the cars off the track.

I've been looking around eBay and saw a few items that caught my fancy. I'm not too familier with the going rate for many of the items so I haven't done much bidding yet.

I may keep the Bachmann set but since I need all new track and a power pack, it may not be worth the additional costs and hassels. I'd appreciate any other insights on this set, or any others.

Thanks again for chiming in.

Chris

[Anonymous]

My Bachmann rolling stock, including my two Christmas sets stay out on the track all the time. I've never had any of them blow over unless the wind was really, and I mean REALLY" howling. For the money, I don't think you can beat the Bachmann rolling stock.

[vsmith]

The metal wheels really do a good job holding down the cars, also remember the heavier your cars, the less you can pull.

[Dick Friedman]

Everyone's been "spot on" with their advice. I'd add "join a club," as one other bit of advice. You can learn a lot from watching and listening, and the pressure to tell others what you've done since last month keeps the project moving along.


Yes Bachmann track is junk. Their cars are not IMHO. with metal wheels and Kadee couplers -- and maybe a few old AA cells to weight them down, they look great and will run until the rail fails.

[nalts]

Thanks again for the advice. ***- I've been a member of the local Garden Railroad society here in Minnesota for the past two years. I haven't been able to make as many meetings as I'd like, but you are most certainly correct that I have learned tons just by observing.

Thanks for your post.

Chris

[nalts]

Hi all-

I just wanted to chime in with an update. I did purchase the Bachman's set from Sam's Club and decided to keep it. The LGB set I would have purchased was almost $800 USD and that was a bit more than I wanted to spend. $130 USD for the Bachmann wasn't too bad.

The set was better than expected. It held up nicely to my four and six year old boys playing with it under the Christmas tree. One nice surprise? The rolling stock even has metal wheels.

Of course the junk track won't last long. I may build a suspended track for my kids bedroom or maybe lay the track outside until I can build my permanent layout.

Anyways, thanks again to all who wrote in with their suggestions.

Sincerely,
Chris

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Even though that track is junk track, don't lay it outside! From what I read on this and other fora, it will be unusable in 3 weeks. Let the boys play with it in the cellar!

[Anonymous]

One of our club members built his outdoor layout using Bachmann track. He had to clean it all the time and it still started rusting out. He redid his layout using Aristocraft trackl.

[John Busby]

Hi nalts
Good for you but do turn the carp track into shelf storage or car loads at your earliest convienience and replace it with good stuff.
Don't forget to make a few bits and pieces yourself so your railway becomes yours
rather than same old same old
They don't have to be complicated just something you made yourself.
regards John