Back in the Hobby, looking for some advice

[Anonymous]

Hi, I'm back into railroading after at least ten years. My daughter thought that trains would be less addicting than my computer as a hobby, LOL she is still young! I had dabbled in the past, never completing a layout but purchasing some equipment and running trains. Of course none of that equipment will work with what I am planning now.

I purchased a Spectrum Baldwin 4-6-0 at my local hoby shop for a good price since the review I read of the locomotive was good and it fit into my shorter trains and smaller equipment ideas. If anyone has this engine I would appreciate and tips, experiences or comments on it.

I did some research on the engine online and determined the time periods it was built and used in active service. That lead me to a early 30's depression era timeframe. I am thinking a shortline in the south, hauling cotton from the gins to the mills or larger roads interchange. So far I am having trouble finding out about cotton hauling on the railroads at that time but I am thinking that 40' boxcars would be most likely. Any information about cotton hauling and handling would be most appreciated.

Lastly, everyplace I read about tips for beginners says to build a small layout first to completion even if you have the space for more. I keep flip flopping on this issue. I can see the pros and cons of each approach. I am thinking about a roughly 15 x 20 basement area, U shaped dogbone layout ultimately allowing both continous running and A - B hauling and switching. Any advice from experienced layout builders would be very welcome.

Really lastly, if there are any railroaders in the Albany NY area that check out this forum I will post an email addy.

Thanks

[nfmisso]

Welcome back.

Depression era, South, think 36' box cars, and similar sized flats.

The MDC Roundhouse cars are good for starting out, the ultimate are Westerfield's, specifically his 4100, and 4300 series.
http://www.mdcroundhouse.com/
http://users.multipro.com/westerfield/

Best advice is to start crawling before you try to run a marathon.......

[IRONROOSTER]

15 x 20 is not too big for a first layout, if you have a design that lets you build part of it first and then add on. Even if you have to build some temporary track that's not a bad way to go.

The primary problem with starting big is getting discouraged because it takes too long to get something running. This can be caused because you don't have the time and/or the money to do it quickly. The second problem with a first layout is you'll probably make mistakes, but if you're willing to redo the early sections later on when your skills increase, then this is okay. The third problem is that after you have actually built a layout you may find that you really want something different. What looks good may not be fun for you to operate. With a small layout, you start finding out what you like before making a large commitment of time and money. Again if your design allows for getting part of the layout build and operational then you'll get some experience before getting over committed.

Even John Allen started with a small layout (less than 4x8). He then used in the next two larger layouts he built.
Enjoy
Paul

[88gta350]

I would also suggest starting something small before trying a 15x20. Even if it's a diorama or two, but preferably something running so you can work at the wiring and what not. I small switching layout that you don't go nuts with scenic-wise can be done in a few weeks, depending on how much time you devote to it. I think the experience you gain from it would be invaluable. Perhaps build some diaoramas that can be later incorporated into your final layout, i.e. some cotton gins or other small industries, etc...

[jrbarney]

Javious,
To help you get started I did a keyword search in the Index of Magazines using "cotton gin" as the search term.
http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=S&cmdtext=cotton+gin&MAG=ANY
Was amazed when two articles were cited. You'll probably have to pay the NMRA's Kalmbach Memorial Library for reproduction copies. I remember seeing tufts of cotton alongside the roads in Harlingen during the cotton harvest. Save your lint ! (There's a use for just about everything in model railroading.)
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tips!

I have decided to start with a 4 x 10 basic oval with 22" curves divided into 2 primary scenes. One side a simple siding at a rural cotton gin and a small town on the other side. On the town side I have planned a passing track leading off into 5 different sidings. I invision a station, team track, 2 or 3 industries and the interchange with a larger road to forward the cotton to the mills. Scenery depicting the edge of the town and using a view divider backdrop in the center area. The mainline looks a bit simple (just an oval) but I want to keep the scenery to track ratio looking like the rural south, not the Port of New York. I used the free Atlas program to piece the plan together so it might actually work.

I added a Walthers 25' wooden caboose to my consist today (still no revenue cars yet) and upgraded the trucks to kadee sprung metal trucks. I checked out the Westerfield cars online and they look great but I am worried about the complexity of the kits. How difficult are they to build? I build plastic models as a kid, but never painted anything this realistic.

Thanks again!
Jay

[snowey]

sounds like you're off to a good start! With 22" curves, it sounds like youu're into HO scale.. Stick with it if you want, but, as long as you have the room for a big layout, you might want to look at N scale . Theres nothing wrong with HO; in fact, I was in it for years until a recent move forced me to switch to N.
It's just that with an N scaale layout that's 15 by whatever you said the ratio of scenery to trains would make them look really realistic, and you could stretch out some of your straightaways.
Just a thought...

[jrbarney]

Javious,
Strictly out of curiousity I wondered if anyone had ever modeled cotton bales as loads, so I did a search at the Index of Magazines, using "cotton bale" as a search term. That netted 0 citations, so I shortened the search term to "cotton" and that found 6 citations, some of which, of course, are repeats from my earlier search for cotton gin:
http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=S&cmdtext=cotton+&MAG=ANY&output=3&sort=A
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[dehusman]

Check the MR index for "Cyril Durrenberger" and do a search for "Art Griffin decals". You should be able to come up with some good articles and decals. Westerfield also has 20's + car kits and decals (even if you don't want to build that difficult of a the photos are helpful references). Another good engine for your pike would the Bachman 4-6-0. Perfect size and very typical wheel arrangement. Most of your cars would be 36-40 foot cars virtually no 50 footers. Wood or steel coaches.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Peronnally, I would go for the big layout right away. I didn't, and as soon as I finished the mainline loop, it was over for me. You seem to have done a ton of research, I would hate to have you dissappointed right after you finish laying the track. I would have taken a little more time and finished the current layout I have today which gives me the operating plan I wanted all along. 4x8, or 4x10, for me anyway, lost their appeal fast.

I would think a little longer on going for the original plan you mentioned. 15x20 is a decent space for an around the wall layout.

As for the Bachmann 4-6-0, great engine, smooth running. I just a DCC decoder in mine and it runs even better now. I also have one of their 2-8-0, very nice as well.

[jwar]

I too just returned to model railroading, but a few more decades then most. I restarted with an old 1x8 book shelf for a yard using 40 year old stuff about six months ago to just see if I really wanted to get involved again. This thim I did a bit of scenery and not into an around the room layout using about 140 feet of track.

The main thing is do what y ou want when you want, I do not use glues or adhesives on track or roadbet and feel the old method of nails is ok. Saves big bucks redooooooing things. Noise is not a problem, retired from a railroad, half deeeeef anyhow.
Get some good bench building books, it all starts from there.