Good morning -
I had an old Tyco train back when I was in grade school, not sure whatever happened to it. Fast forward to 2006 when the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series I saw an ad for the Hawthorne Village Cardinals Express. Bought it thinking my sons would appreciate it "someday" Got put away and not really looked at until now. I have a 2 year old grandson who seems to be fascinated by trains and I want to encourage that.
So now I am going to be setting something up that we can do together as he (and my other grandsons) grows up.
My question is, the HV train set came with EZ track -what I assume are Bachmann . It sounds like KATO track might be the best quality for us. If I go with KATO do I need to stick to strictly KATO brand "extra" products? Are the power packs and switches proprietary to each manufacturer?
I'm sure I'll have other questions as i go, but wanted to start with this.
Thanks!
National Model Railroad Association has done a pretty good job standardizing model trains so that stuff that runs on your layout will also run on your friends layout and on a club layout.
As far as HO track goes, there are two basic types. The original Snap Track and it's copies, which is just rails and a tie strip. The track sections join with rail joiners and all the brands intermate with each other. All the brands are good quality. The track comes with straight sections and curved sections. Most of the curved sections are 18 inch radius. Broader and sharper curves are also made. T
And then we have track the comes with road bed attached. This is proprietary, and different brands do not intermate, at least not without some modifications. You want to bring a piece of your track with you to the hobby shop to see what mates with it.
Turnouts work like track, some come with just tie strips and others come with roadbed attached.
Power packs, both plain DC and the fancier DCC are well standardized and any brand will work just fine. I would assume that the HV train set is plain DC. When you get around to buying more locomotives, you want to buy plain DC locomotives and not the DCC locomotives. Other than locomotives, any brand of rolling stock will run just fine. Manufacturers have been equipping rolling stock with knuckle couplers for nearly 30 years now. If you obtain some older rolling stock with different couplers, it is a simple matter to replace the older couplers with knuckle couplers. Kadee makes the best knuckle coupler and doesn't charge any more that the also-rans.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Mike S-St. Louis Hawthorne Village Cardinals Express
One thing you might considder is to upgrade the DC power supply. Train set power packs are inexpensive and not too reliable. At the hobby shop or online, take a look at Model Rectrifier (MRC) power packs. One of these will give better conrtol and will last for years. When I run DC, I stll use an MRC Tech II that I bought in the 1980s, and run my test track on a very old MRC from the 1960s.
As to track, look for nickel silver rail; it is the lowest maintenence as far as cleanng goes.
There are a number of rail heights available. The term Code "XX" describes the rail height in 100th of an inch. Code 83 is the most common used by modelers these days; the rail is 0.83" high. Older track would be Code 100, which is 0.10" (1/10") tall. It may not seem much of a difference, but Code 83 and Code 100 tracks are not compatible unless you use a transition track between them.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Hi Mike S-St Louis.
Just an aside as you say you are building the layout for you and your grandson/s.
I too have a layout where my grandsons' and granddaughters' and I operate. They have run trains since they were three years of age.
May I suggest you keep the layout simple to operate, (so they can operate it by themselves.) Yet still entertaining enough for yourself, because most of the time it will be you 'in charge'.
Keep the scenery simple. Do not get upset if anything is broken, because something will be. Probably broken by yourself. (Been there. )
Keep it fun. Let the grandchildren take control of running trains. Just relax and enjoy their involvement. They then want to come back.
Eldest grandson likes 'Superheroes' now but still runs trains on his visits.
Two of my other grandchildren 'In Charge'.
It is a hobby. Have fun. Life is serious enough as it is.
Looking forward to your progress.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Mike S-St. Louis ...the HV train set came with EZ track -what I assume are Bachmann . It sounds like KATO track might be the best quality for us. If I go with KATO do I need to stick to strictly KATO brand "extra" products? Are the power packs and switches proprietary to each manufacturer? ...
...the HV train set came with EZ track -what I assume are Bachmann . It sounds like KATO track might be the best quality for us. If I go with KATO do I need to stick to strictly KATO brand "extra" products? Are the power packs and switches proprietary to each manufacturer?
...
The HO scale tracks of all makes and imports will work with any other manufacturer's/importer's trains designated as HO. Quality is varied, but generally there's no such thing as a truly bad product in the hobby, with some notable exceptions. The EZ-Track you have is almost as good as the Kato product, but when you go to use either brand of turnouts, or switches, that's were the Kato product clearly outpaces the Bachmann EZ-Track variety. If you know what you're doing, you can make the EZ-Track turnouts work quite well and reliably, but out of the package they do take more tinkering to get them to work well.
You're in the Direct Current (DC) operating mode with a simple rheostat and controlling arm or knob. Those, too, work generally well and will power anybody's rail stock.
Mike S-St. LouisMy question is, the HV train set came with EZ track -what I assume are Bachmann . It sounds like KATO track might be the best quality for us. If I go with KATO do I need to stick to strictly KATO brand "extra" products? Are the power packs and switches proprietary to each manufacturer?
These "proprietary" lines of track that come with integral roadbed and cast-on ballast are typically not interchangable with each other in the way they connect. So if you go with Kato track for example you'd likely want to use the Kato switches/turnouts until you're advanced (or daring) enough to start chopping the ends to make it not so proprietary. The Bachmann E-Z Track product is not bad by the way and worthy of consideration since you already have some.
Life-Like made a similar looking line that was popular in train sets but I'm not impressed with it, and it has a restricted set of options for "extras." I mention it only because while its trade name was Power-Loc it too is sometimes (wrongly) called E-Z Track on Ebay and elsewhere.
As for other extras, again these proprietary lines of "complete" track usually have electric connections and other features that favor using their own manufactured stuff, but there is no electronic reason why you'd have to use their power supplies or remote controls for switches. But there might be some practical advantages to doing so, at least until you get more experience.
Dave Nelson
Mike!
EZ track is a pretty good line, my first couple of layouts were built with it, and it is now in the hands of a friends son who is also into trains.
You will want the grey roadbed version, as it is the better nickel silver rail, while the black roadbed version of EZ track is steel rails.
The biggest issue I had with the EZ track turnouts (switches) was that some equipment would "pick" the points, but a quick couple of swipes with a needle file to sharpen them fixes that issue easily.
Your grandkids will really enjoy the fact that EZ track can be reassembled to different configurations pretty easily. If you are doing a actual layout, if you like the easily change it up style, a few companies make paper rolled "grass mats" to give a quick easy look of grass, without much hassle. If you want it permanently set up, you can secure the EZ track down, but it's not 100% needed. (Unless storing the layout will involve sitting it agains the wall. Then I suggest affixing the track.)
The only thing to remember on the EZ track being assembled, taken apart, and reassembled, is to be careful to ensure that all the little rail joiners click into the correct place on the rails, otherwise the electrical path will be interrupted. After multiple reassemble sessions, the metal rail joiners might work loose, just crimp them back on.
Enjoy the best hobby!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
NorthBritMay I suggest you keep the layout simple to operate, (so they can operate it by themselves.) Yet still entertaining enough for yourself, because most of the time it will be you 'in charge'.
Good advice, especially since this is your first layout and it is for small children.
You don't need "the best" of anything. While I am not a fan of attached roadbed, many people are and what you have will work fine.
In 2006 when you purchased the set, there was no more steel track and probably no more brass sold new. It's probably code 100 and your grandkids won't be concerned if it's code 100 or 83.
David has some very elaborate scenery. You don't need to try to duplicate that on your first layout. And the first layout is where you will make mistakes, trying to stuff too much into too little space. Less turns out to be more in MR
Enjoy
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
If you're using sectional track, the Kato Unitrack is probably "the stuff to use". It snaps together so well that it's not easy to get back apart. A VERY small flat-blade screwdriver can help with that, like the kind found in eyeglass repair kits.
The Kato track looks pretty good, too -- particularly the way it disguises the joints between sectional pieces.
You don't need a Kato power pack -- if the locos are DC (not dcc), any power pack should do. The Kato unit is a nice one, however.
Kato now sells almost all "manual" switches. But you can easily screw on the accessory switch motor if you want to power them. They have a snazzy hook-up wire system and switch levers to throw them. You'll need a power source (15v ac and it can run into the dc rectifier which attaches to the Kato switch levers).
LastspikemikeFor a two year old don't forget Brio as a starter set.
I have to agree with this advice. Brio is perfect for allowing young children to create and explore their own ideas. Don't expect that your two year old will immediately create a layout though. Most likely he will simply push the trains around on the floor for a while, but then you can take the opportunity to show him how to put the track together. If you are lucky the first few layouts will last all of 10 minutes, but that will likely be enough encouragement to get his juices flowing.
Just don't make the mistake that I did with my kids. I built a permanent layout with the Brio track. Yes, they played with it a lot, but I had unwittingly deprived them of the opportunity to create their own track designs. I confess to having been more focused on my own creativity rather than theirs.
As far as the Brio prices go, I think they are a bargain when compared to the play value and the learning experience they provide. Look at it as an early investment in their future success.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
BigDaddy David has some very elaborate scenery. You don't need to try to duplicate that on your first layout. And the first layout is where you will make mistakes, trying to stuff too much into too little space. Less turns out to be more in MR Enjoy
Just to add. I started with an L shaped layout with my eldest grandson.
As time passed so did the layout. Into a U shape, then all round the room.
With another two grandsons' and two granddaughters' joining in my son and daughter know where their children are when they visit.
As for the scenery. The grandchildren have seen it grow. We are always adding things to it, or taking it out.
Most important is we keep it fun.
I will agree, on the Brio, while a space might be designated, the actual layout of the track needs to be able to be easily changed by the kiddo's.
Everything here has been written about the US options. It's important to realize that there are other incompatible track types you should probably avoid. There's nothing wrong with them, but track and engines from Marklin, for example, are actually 3-rail, not two, and will simply not work with 2-rail HO track or engines.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have to agree with Spike on the Brio set for under 5. It's durable and it allows a toddler to develop their imagination and problem-solving skills as they put things together, take them apart, and rearrange them in different configurations. Too many toys these days don't encourage that.
Along with the above it teaches dexterity for learning hands. And it doesn't require ANY electricity. I would MUCH rather hear a youngsters "vroom-vroom" than the annoying beeps and boops that come from electronic/battery-operated toys.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Thank you all for the advice. And yes, we have the Brio track with "Thomas and Friends" train cars that he can play with for hours. Gets a little frustrated when the magnets don't work like he wants (I keep telling my son to teach him the difference between the north and south pole of magnets but he is only 2 after all). I have a feeling that this will be a "Thomas" themed Christmas for him!