Ive heard alot about the train sets for the garden and I am thinking about trying it.I want to put it around my pond.My pond has a square wooden edging around it and it is 13x8.Any suggestions on what type of train set I should start out with and what would be the price range for the set.I am open to any help.Thanks
mountaindew I want to put it around my pond. My pond has a square wooden edging around it and it is 13x8.Any suggestions on what type of train set I should start out with and what would be the price range for the set.
I want to put it around my pond. My pond has a square wooden edging around it and it is 13x8.Any suggestions on what type of train set I should start out with and what would be the price range for the set.
MD:
A bit more info in your Bio, if you please. If we knew where you are, some one in that area could give a few locations nearby for you to have a look at.
13x8 is a decent size to start with, now for a bit of Q&A. What kind of space do you have between the edge of the pond and the outside edge of the wood siding? Do you have enough room for sidings and businesses? What time frame are you looking at modeling? Are you wanting to do a specific genre? Logging? Steam branch line? Steam Main Line? Diesel Electric Main Line? Narrow gage or standard gage? Do you have enough room between the pond and the edge of the area for 8-ft curves?
There are quite a number of starter sets out there that can fill the needs for any of the genre. Some folks will say to stay away from starter sets, and others will tell you to start there. You will get into "heated discussions" as to what type of track to purchase. Each type has its own pro’s and con’s. The only important thing to remember is that this is YOUR hobby, and how you enjoy it is up to you.
My GRR goes around the Koi pond, but I think I have a bit more room around the outside of the pond. Have a look at what I’ve done, and then as the guys post to your thread I’m sure they will invite you to look at their pic’s.
http://photobucket.com/rosebudfalls
Tom Trigg
"mountaindew",
It's your railroad so you can do just about anything you want to with a few restrictions:
1. Try and keep your turns as large as possible since most trains will derail on tight corners
2. Try and keep your grades down too so you can run longer trains. Steep grades cause problems both going up and coming down.
Now some questions for you:
How often are you going to run your trains?
Are you going to have kids playing with them?
What kind of a budget do you want to spend on your layout?
How much time do you have to work on it?
All kinds of different advice we can give you as at least some of us have been down this startup path several times.
Rex
the train will probably run maybe 6-8hrs aday.There will be no one playing with the train,and starting out I dont really want to have to spend alot.I am in sunny florida.I am new to this so I am not sure what type of train to go with as a beginner.
mountaindew the train will probably run maybe 6-8hrs aday.
the train will probably run maybe 6-8hrs aday.
That's quite a bit of run time so quality is important (LGB, USA Trains have proven reliable to me)
I dont really want to have to spend alot.
I'd suggest looking for used track(craigs list, estate sales, E-bay, etc) start out simple, a loop maybe with a passing siding. Depending on what your definition of "spending alot' is you could be up and running for less than say .......$500 possibly ?? more if you insist on 'new'
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