Planning to build a new layout

[Anonymous]

ndbprr is 100% correct on the prices. Ridiculous, especially when you consider that almost everything is made 'over seas'. It is like the "Nike shoes deal" . They pay some folks in other counties 'pennies' to build an item, then sell it over hear for hundreds of dollars. Nearly every motor is made in China, Taiwan, Japan or Korea. Kato, a very good product, is made entirely in Japan and distributed via US Kato in the US.

ndbprr is also 100% correct about using ebay. I purchased my entire SP/SSW 'Black Widow' era collection on ebay (4-5 boxes of locomotives). The collection includes Atlas, Kato, Stewarts, and Athearn (normally I don't buy the Athearns, personal preference). As far as details, ndbprr is not quite 100% correct. I can see them, even when we are running the trains. With the details, they look better (over-all) than without. I'm not talking about miscellaneous little hoses and such. Most of the Proto 2000, Atlas, Stewart and Kato come with nearly all the details most of us will need. Therefor, I would rate ndbprr statements on details about 90% correct, but it does depend on your personal preferences. I never worried much about details earlier in my model train days, but then after I started detailing a few, I became 'hooked'. I now notice the obvious things (MU hoses, snow plows, good paint jobs, directional lighting, etc)

On ebay, it is not uncommon to get a $150 locomotive for $50 (sometimes less). Much depends on the road name you model. Some road names are not as popular as others. As far as DCC goes, it is the best thing around for runnig trains, especially if you have more than one operator. It allows you to run your trains much more 'prototypically' than the 'block system'. It does cost, though (about $200-700, depending on the system yo buy). Most of the newer locomotives (and you can find lots of good deals on them on ebay) come 'dcc ready'. This means they have a circuit board with an NMRA dcc plug installed. They readily run on dc (commonly called 'analog')because they have a 'dcc plug' (it is a decoder bypass, basically) installed. When the time comes that you decide to go "dcc", just remove the 'dummy plug' and plug in the decoder. Decoders start out at about $20 ($25 for the plug in type). These locomotives come with directional lighting built on the boards (often), even without the decoder installed. Nearly all the older locomoitves can be converted to dcc by 'hard wiring' in a decoder, if you ever decide to go that route. Most are not very difficult to convert. Athearns are relatively simple.

A good thing you might do is find a local model railroad club in your area. If there is one that operates DCC, so much the better. Clubs allow you operate on layouts that are larger and more expensive than most of us have space for or can afford on our own. Often you will get to try out things (expensive items) like dcc, etc with little or no cost to yourself. The information that can be learned through clubs and club members is tremendous. If it a club full of "old guard folks" (I call tem CAVE people -citizens against virtually everything), that are not will to change or look at new stuff, or "their way or the highway', skip that club. Clubs are only a good as the people in them.

Most important. Leave all your options open, do lots of research before jumping into something (especially expensive items) and have FUN!

[ndbprr]

If your budget is constrained and you don't think you need string of $25.00 box cars and $500.00 engines welcome to my world. I can't believe the prices today for detailing that can't be seen when moving any way. I'd suggest going the used market through E bay. I have amassed quite a collection this way. I may not be first to have something and I may not win every bid because I set limits and stick to them but you can collect Athearn, Atlas, Proto 2000, MDC and just about eveyrthing you need or want. Occasionaly somebody will tyr and foist something with a problem or missing parts but E bay is pretty strict about misrepresentation. The couple I got that were bad were under $10.00 and I figured I could use the parts any way.

[denny99]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lone Byrd

I'm in the process of building a new HO scale layout but I'm into straight DC. [:(] I've herd about DCC but I'm on a shoe-string budget. are there any dealers that still sell locomotives?[?]

consider cheap but nice DCC systems like these:
- lenz compact (which is known as atlas commander in the USA)
- uhlenbrock daisy system

if you like operate you trains, you'll get the best of it by using DCC.

[Anonymous]

There are many dealers that sell locomotives. At the present time, the majority of locomotives do not come with DCC controllers. But even if they did, any DCC controller equipped locomotive will operate on a standard DC layout without problems. Just understand that while under DC control, you will not be able to operate any of the DCC specific functions (controlling lights, blowing whistle, ringing bell, etc). The exception to this would be the Broadway Limited Imports products, which will allow some of these functions to DC users.

There are also a number of "low cost" entry level DCC systems available if you should decide to go that route. Read up on DCC first before you jump in.

Dale B

[Anonymous]

I'm in the process of building a new HO scale layout but I'm into straight DC. [:(] I've herd about DCC but I'm on a shoe-string budget. are there any dealers that still sell locomotives?[?]