Beginner needs help please

[Anonymous]

I began building a model railroad (HO) with my father about 20 yrs. ago. The layout is on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, and is derrived from a step-by-step how-to guide. (That is also at LEAST 20 yrs. old.) My plan is to expand it another 8' , then another 16' down another wall. The layout accounted for expansion, so I should be able to incorporate the existing track fairly easily.

Now heres the problem... I'm 28 years old, and if you do the math, I was about 8 years old when my dad and I began it, and about 10 when we stopped working on it and hung it in the garage. Since I don't really remember much of the wiring and electrical work (lol), that is my main problem. I guess it would be most helpful if there was a website or something that has a good tutorial, or something like that. The main questions I have are:

How much track can be run on a single Rheostat or control or power supply, or whatever there are called now (like I said the book I do have is over 20 years old!).

What size power supply should I get?



I appreciate the help,
Eric

PS: The track still works after being dormant for 18years!! I guess 8 year olds can built a train set, but 28 year olds cant!!

[Anonymous]

[#welcome] to the forum Eric.

I found some good info at these websites

http://www.modeltrainguide.com/
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/Basics/BasicIndex.html

Also look in LHS for MR Easy model railroad wiring.

Good luck and have fun.

[ericsp]

If you still have the information that came with the power pack it might tell the maximum current it can handle. I have not upgraded to DCC yet, however, many model railroaders have and most seem to like. This might be a good time to look into DCC and determine if you want to change over.

[Anonymous]

Yes, now is the perfect time to go to DCC. You can run a lot of track on one DCC power supply, and wiring is very easy, just a Bus line around the layout with a track pickup about every 15-20 track feet. Ask the folks at your LHS (local hobby shop) for some help, most of them can tell you about anything.

Good Luck,
Greg

[PennsyHoosier]

[#welcome] to the forum and it's great that you're picking up the hobby again.

If you really have no clue, go to your Local Hobby Shop (LHS) and pick up a copy of Model Railroader's recent "Model Trains Step by Step." The text is very basic, but it has a nice DVD that might help you pick up where you left off. It will also reintroduce you to the hobby generally speaking.

[Jetrock]

DC powerpacks really haven't changed much in the past 20 years--I am currently using a "Tech II" powerpack that my dad bought for an N scale layout about 17-18 years ago, and it isn't that much different from the throttle we used on his HO scale layouts 25-30 years ago.

I'd recommend the MRC "Tech IV" line of powerpacks--they run DC and are fairly reasonably priced.

One thing about model railroading is that while some things do change, a lot doesn't--a lot of the information in that 20 year old book is probably still quite useful. Heck, I make use of some 30, 40, even 50 year old model railroad books and magazines and find helpful hints in all of them!

What was the "step-by-step how-to guide"? Some of us probably have a copy sitting on our bookshelves...

[Anonymous]

Welcome and good luck/It is very true that many of the things you will find in a 20 yr.old guide will still be usefull today.However if you are going to be expanding and might want to go the dcc route now is a perfect time to do so.I recommend looking at all the web sites lenz,digitrax,nce bachmann ,atlas roco,cvpproducts,and get as much info as you can.DCC offers you a way to control your trains not the track,it is however a little higher in price.dcc equipped engines are more costly than non dcc in general.It all depends on what level you want to run your trains,if you just want to watch trains run around a loop and back,or if you want to operate as realistic as possible.look around and ask questions lhs owner /customers at the lhs, most everyone in this hobby will take a little time to try and help you.From my viewpoint,dcc is the only way to go,but that is just my viewpoint.Again Good luck and Welcome,as you expand your layout and the need arises to ask questions you will be amazed at the people here in this forum there collective knowledge is overwhelming.

[IRONROOSTER]

This site http://www.nmra.org/beginner/ also has beginner information. The Model Railroader link at the top of this page leads to a page with lots of stuff for beginners.

The size power pack is determined by the current draw not the amount of track. Current draw is the amount needed for each train the pack is running plus acessories like building lights or switch machines. Generally, you use one pack for each train that runs at the same time - so if your layout can run run two trains at the same time you need two packs. The pack should handle the switch machines as well since they are usually short one at a time electricity uses (if the train slows down when you activate the switch you need separate power for switch machines, also if you run alot of lights get a separate power supply).

Enjoy
Paul