Hello from the U.K.

[Bbdave]

I have joined as I am in the process of selling my  N gauge UK outline stock and buying US stock and locos. I have recently moved house so will be looking at a whole new layout not being a rail guru I tend to buy and run what I like I have my eye on an Atlas GE Dash 8-40c CSX as my first purchase any opinions on these models?

[BigDaddy]

We have a more than a few members from across the pond.

Bbdave

I tend to buy and run what I like

I used to do that and I would strongly encourage you to pick a time period and a location or railroad.  Otherwise you end up with a hodge podge of modern diesels and maybe a steam engine or three.

Your pick in not my era but MR gave it a decent review and most of us like the loksound decoders  

http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2016/07/atlas-ho-scale-ge-dash-8-40bbw-diesel-locomotive

[Bbdave]

 

 

I used to do that and I would strongly encourage you to pick a time period and a location or railroad.  Otherwise you end up with a hodge podge of modern diesels and maybe a steam engine or three.

[/quote]

 

Thanks is there a good resource for railroads and the stock running on them sorry for my ignorance  but I am a beginner.

 

Dave 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Welcome .... .... International participation in the MR Forum is always encouraged. 

I have been pleased with Atlas locomotives, but I do not have the GE model you mentioned. 

[dstarr]

Welcome aboard. 

 

[riogrande5761]

Atlas makes among the best us engines. good choice!

[cowman]

Welcome to the forums!

As Henry said, in the long run you will probably be happier if you choose an era to model.  However, that doesn't you can't have a few favorites around also. 

You can have a railroad museum with older cars and engines on display and can run excursion trains from there.  You can have an antique auto show in a field to display older vehicle models too.

Actually, what it all comes down to is that it is your railroad and you can do as you please.  If you want to pull 19th century cars with a modern loco, go for it, if you want to pull intermodal with an 4-4-0 steamer, go ahead.

Have fun,

Richard

[tcwright973]

I completely agree with Cowman. It doesn't bother me one bit to see a mix of eras & railroads on a layout. The more diverse, the better I like it. But then, my wife seems to think I'm a bit strange...

[angelob6660]

Roughly your time period is 1990- present day. 

CSX has several paint schemes.

Bright Future- grey, yellow and blue paint. 1990-2002 some still around.

Dark Future- dark blue with yellow. 2002-

Boxcar logo(same as above)- more recently around 2012-

I hope this helps you understand the differences. 

[hon30critter]

Hey Bbdave!!

Welcome to the forums!!   

I will repeat the message from previous posters - Atlas is good stuff. So is Kato, InterMountain, Proto 2000 (GP and SD models may require gear replacement - easily done). There are other good ones too but I don't have any experience with them.

Personally I'm not too fussy on era. Most of my stuff is from the late 50s transition period, but I have lots of other pieces that will see time on my layout. I even have Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express which will tour the layout on a regular basis.

My advice is to buy what you like, for now at least. Eventually you may choose to focus on a specific period. In that case, you can sell off what you don't want just like you are doing now with your N scale stuff.

Rule #1. It's your railroad and you can run what you want!

Cheers!!!

Dave

[Bbdave]

Thanks for the welcome guys Dave