newbee questions

[FJ and G]

I'm a toy train runner and want to get outdoors and do some garden railroading. Some beginner questions:

1. I'm thinking remote-control. Is there a complete, RTR starter set that's remote control.

2. I'm also on a bit of a tight budget, so is there any low-cost track that might work with the remote control?

To fill you in a bit, one of the attractions of outdoors is to pretty much eliminate most of the wiring, which is my weak point. Planning to make my turnouts manual.

Another attraction of garden railroading is being able to get the chicks invovled. I'm 48 and currently looking for a wife on Match.com. I'm paying particular attention to the female green thumbs and plan to incorporate trains in with gardening. The indoor stuff I really dig, but outdoors seems to be where it's at.

Considred using Atlas 3 rail track outdoors but the UV and wiring and limited running in inclement weather has my sites set on G-scale; probably an early American 1:20 or so.

Thanks for any comments and putting up w/me ramblings

[Anonymous]

I'd start out by listing items / things you want from this venture.

Things like:
how many trains to you want tu run at the same time
do you want to have "display" / unattended operation?
do you want to have "club type" operation by several people
how much time are you willing to spend getting the layout ready each time?
do you have an environment that "locks out" track power?
what is your budget?
what kind of integration with plants do you want?

Try writing up a list of what you want, then put the items in priority order.

Once you set these goals, you can start determining track vs battery power, types of locos, lengths of trains, etc.

You will find the decisions fall out pretty easily once you really know what your goals are. On my web site: www.elmassian.com, I write about the process I went through to come to my decisions. I use stainless steel track, DCC for control, and have small bonsai-type plants in most of the backyard, with an area reserved where I can have a switchyard, buildings, etc. I have 2 loops that can run independently, but switch to a "twice around" layout at will. I have added enough spurs that you could reasonably do somje operating sessions.

Also, try reading all the forums you can get to, look at web sites of other's layouts, etc.

Hope this helps,

Greg

[Anonymous]

Try this page.A lot of info for new people.With 3213 posts though, I think you have most of the answers anyway.The tips and places thread that Rene keeps at the top is also a wonderful place to visit.It's a bit like a time trap.You start looking for something and before you know it several hours have past.
http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/005/504lmywl.asp

[Anonymous]

Dave,
You are obviously an experienced train guy so here's my two pennies worth. Aristo track and the Crest (Aristo) Train Engineer. An excellent radio control unit that I'm sure you are aware of through adverts in the model rail press. The track will last for years, forget cheap stuff it aint worth it. Look at the starter sets of Aristo, USA and LGB, good value for money, the tracks are compatable and nothing will be wasted. Bachmann starter sets are good value but the track is crap. They all come with power packs which will cut out anything more sophisticated for a while, just watch the power pack if you take it outdoors. ZAP, you know what I mean.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[kstrong]

1)No, unfortunately there aren't any RTR radio control starter sets available. (Okay, the two Playmobil kid's toy sets, but they're probably not what you're after.) Installing R/C in a loco isn't that difficult. There was a recent series that just concluded in GR about R/C systems. Back issues should be available from Kalmbach if you're interested in having a go at it.

If you're sqeemish about it, though, many of the retailers who sell the R/C gear will also be able to install it for you, or at least point you in the direction of someone who can.

2) Track price will depend largely on what kind of look you want to achieve. If you're after a good narrow gauge look, then you have a few inexpensive options. If you want to hand-lay your track, you can use code 250 (.250" tall) aluminum rail and redwood ties. The rail will run you around $1 per foot of completed track, plus the cost of the wood from which you'll cut your ties. While not insignificant, it will probably not raise your price per foot above $1.50. With R/C, the aluminum rail will be perfect. I've used it for 25 years with nary a problem.

If you don't feel like spending time building track, you can use flex-track from a few different manufacturers that will run you anywhere from $2.35 to $3.00/foot. Llagas Creek, Sunset Valley, and AMS are three companies that I'd recommend for track. (Using the more expensive brass or nickel silver rail with the Sunset or Llagas track will increase your cost upwards of $5.50/foot.)

Switches are going to be your expensive items. If you go with the code 250 rail with the track products above, your switches will run you around $90 - $150 each, depending on size. You can buy "kits" from Llagas Creek starting around $40, but you'll have to spike them to ties yourself. Not a bad deal, though, and if you're hand-laying your track already, it's a great way to go.

If the appearance of your track isn't that important to you (i.e., you don't mind smalli***ies and larger than prototype rail), then you can go with Aristocraft's or LGB's track and switches. This track uses brass rail, so you have the advantage of strength which you don't with the aluminum. It's also larger (code 332--or .332" tall) Here, though, you have the advantage of a catalog of various curve diameters to choose from, so you can buy a box of track sections and set it up very easily. This is probably the easiest way to get track down, so if you're just getting started, I'd go with that. The price is in the same ballpark (between $2.50 and $4.00/foot), but the ease of using it makes it very appealing.

If my geography is correct, you're in a DC suburb. Plan on attending a meeting of the Washington, Virginia, and Maryland Garden Railway Society. www.wvmgrs.org There's lots of folks there who will be able to help you out and get you going in the right direction. (And may even hook you up--it's happened before in that group.[;)])

Good luck!

Later,

K

[smcgill]

David if you are using the MTH system inside - they are offering large scale with the same MTH system!

[FJ and G]

Thanks, all for such great advice that I'm still going over and digesting.

K, I'm very happy with MTH's DCS system and perhaps it is the way to go; esp. since r/c doesn't seem to have evolved enough for what I want (RTR).

[Anonymous]

You could take a look at Aristocraft's "Critter" starter sets - these have a wireless throttle but keep track power, they're pretty effective from what I've seen of them.

[Anonymous]

Forget about the woman! Just go with the trains! They are alot cheaper, they don't talk back, and are no where as much grief....lol[(-D][4:-)]

[Tom The Brat]

I'd second that suggestion[:-,]

[Anonymous]

I know absolutely nothing about trains (or about using these forum sites either so I hope I'm doing this correctly), but am quite probably going to marry a gentleman who's hobby is Garden Railroading. Given that probability, I thought it best that I learn what I can about his hobby. I love planting gardens and we are talking about building a special garden for his railroad.
Is there a site where I can go and read information about this type of train?
Good thing I don't discourage easily, some of you guys sound very anti-female.[:D] Big Smile and giggle when I'm saying that. I take it as run-of-the-mill teasing.
Thank you for any sources of information you can provide me.
Desert Sunshine

[smcgill]

Welcome to the Insanity!!
They are not anti- female ( they just don't want to admit who holds the money!!)
I bet they don't ask directions!
This is a good spot along with (http://www.mylargescale.com/forum/)
Good luck and there are no dumb questions!
Look back on the forums and you will find a lot of info!!
Going to the nurseries for plants are fun and If you want to help buid the Empier......

[kstrong]

Desert Sunshine,

Don't worry about any anti-female sentiments in this hobby. They simply don't exist. (Okay, perhaps the odd person or two, but...) Seriously, this hobby has always had a reputation for including the entire family--both spouses and the kids--which really cannot be said about any other facet of model railroading. While the "active" forum particpants are overwhelmingly male, their other halves are typically just as involved with the railway construction. When you go to the local garden railway society meetings, you'll find that both spouses attend and participate. The meetings are much more like garden parties than "guys talking about trains."

So good luck, and I'll be sneaky and tell you my wife's one rule for the hobby: "Locomotive purchases get matched dollar for dollar in jewelry."

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

Ms. Sunshine, where do you live (just curious)... and we aren't all woman-haters... I'm happily married to a wonderful woman who actually likes the trains (she's mine guys!!!)

What things did you come up with as priorities? Sounds like low cost is one of them. If you will run just a few trains at once, and will not run multiple diesels lashed together (MU'ing) I'd say battery power on inexpenxive track would be a good way to go... If you can find a good source, apparently aluminum is the way to go, but you want a dry climate to minimize corrosion (thus the question about where you live) and if you are in a climate where there are temperature extremes, you want to handle expansion (which should be just a question of reasonable gaps in the rails).

Regards, Greg

[Tom The Brat]

Desert,

The first rule of forums and trains is, "Jump in and have fun!"

Welcome to the illness.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gregeusa

Ms. Sunshine, where do you live (just curious)... and we aren't all woman-haters... I'm happily married to a wonderful woman who actually likes the trains (she's mine guys!!!)

Greg, I live in the California Mojave Desert BUT he lives about an hour outside Buffalo in western NY so I'll be wearing winter clothes even in the summer until my body adapts.
I didn't think for a moment that any of the remarks were seriously anti-female and probably wouldn't have cared anyway. The type of work I did frequently made me the only female working with men and have learned to take a lot of ribbing.
I love building things as well as gardens so I'll probably be in on both ends of the hobby. I was just so happy to find out a new way to present a garden. I already have lots of ideas in mind.
Thanks for the kind welcome everyone!!

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by smcgill

Welcome to the Insanity!!
They are not anti- female ( they just don't want to admit who holds the money!!)
I bet they don't ask directions!
..................................................

Of course they don't! [}:)][}:)]

Why should they if they get told where to go on a regular basis?!? [;)][;)][:o)][}:)][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Sunshine,
I can't really be "too" anti-female. I was married for 22 1/2 years to the best friend I've ever had. [swg][4:-)]

[FJ and G]

gee, didn't think there'd be more responses as I haven't checked back in several days.

I posted a photo of some of my trains on my match.com site, under the code name whamoobear. Desert Sunshine or any other garden gals out there, I'm your green thumbs conductor ([e-mail]). Age 48. My worst vice is being a train nut.

[Anonymous]

Ms. Sunshine,

While San Diego is not relly near your place, be sure to post if you are near by, my wife and I are happy to receive visitors. I like the garden part of the hobby, have listed some plants on my site www.elmassian.com ... I think if I was in the desert, I'd try mostly succulents, I have seen many minature varieties that look like small trees or plants.

Regards Greg ( & Penny) Elmassian