Hello!!!from canada

[Anonymous]

Hi all Im new to this site,just looking around and have a couple questions.
Im moving ibnto new house in dec with full size basement and want to build a train set with my 3 yr old and was wondering what scale to use ,I heard N gauge is popular right now but i had an HO gauge when i was a child any ideas on where to start thnxs b

[cwclark]

welcome!...it's up to you what scale to go with...N scale is popular because you can get a lot of railroad in a small amount of space...but if you are like me (getting old, my eyes fad'in fast, and my dexterity not what it used to be)..then i'd go with HO..the parts in N scale are just too small for me to work with and since you are in a basement then HO should not be a problem....there is more stuff available (and more affordable) in HO scale than in N, but the bottom line is what you want out of it...an N scale layout in a basement would be a massive layout....HO in a basement would be a nice layout and also a pretty good size layout...Chuck

[krump]

[#welcome][#welcome][#welcome]

Greetings from another Canuck! Welcome to the forum Big Horn. I'm hanging out in the Shuswap area, BC.
You will find a lot of info and techniques, guidance on this forum, and the crowd is terrific. As far as scale goes, I am modelling in HO because I prefer the larger size, an I have the skill to prove it[:D][:D] - go big or go home is my motto - I can't do micro modelling as such. On the other hand N is very popular also, and you can do much more with the same amount of space[^].
I'd also suggest that you contact a local Model Railroad Club and consider joining them if it suits you.
Have fun in this Greatest Hobby.
When you settle in, join us for a coffee in the coffee room - I'll buy you a free refill[;)][:-^]

[CP5415]

Welcome EH!

Not sure how N scale holds up with 3 year olds, but HO stands up pretty well with my 3 year old.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Greetings from another Canuck - southern Ontario. I agree with Chuck. N scale is just too small. And fi you're space is like mine, HO seems to give the most bang for your space buck. Glad to hear about the little guy. I really enjoy sharing mine with my 7-yr old grandson.

[Anonymous]

Sorry. Got trigger happy. Make that "if your".

[Wdlgln005]

With a 3yr old, I'd be concerned about some Nscale parts getting lost & going where they don't belong. A lot depends if he can sit & watch trains go by without getting small fingers in the way. I have seen some that are eager to sognal if you have an accident. Even the MicroMachine style diecast cars & trucks are designed for 8yr olds. What you could do is easily set up a small oval layout, similar to one of the starter sets, about 4x8ft, then make plans for your basement empire to grow.

You are correct in thinking HO & N are the top 2 scales for model railroads. Get out an issue of MR or MRC to compare costs. The main difference in benchwork is the thickness of the plywood top, if you do it that way, or use the building insulation foam.

[gpharo]

Hello Big Horn,

I have five niece and nephews between the ages of 2 and 6 and they seem to enjoy HO scale (but I'm sure they would also like N scale). My brother and I both have HO scale. Each scale has advantages and disadvantages as mentioned.

One advantage to HO scale is Thomas the Tank engine. A childrens TV show about trains (British locos with faces on the front). In HO scale, your 3 year old can have a Thomas locomotive. My nieces and nephews have Thomas, Percy and James on a shelf in the train room and when they come out, they run on Dad's layout with his regular fleet. They love Thomas and his friends!!!

[Anonymous]

The Shuswap is a nice place. I'm in Abbotsford.

I am going with n scale because of space restrictions, but i also have a three year old that wants to help. I just made sure the benchwork was a little out of his reach!

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tondogg

The Shuswap is a nice place. I'm in Abbotsford.

I am going with n scale because of space restrictions, but i also have a three year old that wants to help. I just made sure the benchwork was a little out of his reach!

Greetings Tondogg [:D]- we can chat about kids ( 3 here) and Trains. Are you familiar with the Abbotsford Model RR club - good guys there, and quite an impressive layout. I moved from Abbotsford a few years ago, and still visit several times / year.

How about joining me for a cyber coffee now?, and a real coffee in the Spring during my next visit to Abbotsford - Gourmet Gallery (?), my hangout in the past

[SP4449]

Hello from Nebraska. [#welcome]

[Junctionfan]

Hello Big Horn, I too am from Canada. Which province or territory are you from?

[Anonymous]

Hello from the East Coast of Canada - Edmundston, New Brunswick to be exact.[#welcome] We have 5 fairly large layouts in this neck of the woods with regular weekly operating sessions. My Grand Children, 5 and 7, love to "work" with Grand-Pa and run his trains.
Norman

[Anonymous]

hello from abbotsford krump.

I've had a look at the Cascade Western layout, if thats the same one. It was pretty cool.

Anyway, i'll take ya up on that coffee, when there's a bit more time. Gonna watch the Red Sox win it all!

[Anonymous]

Hey another Canadian here. Im from Alberta. Have fun with the worlds greatest hobby and N scale all the way.

[Anonymous]

I started my young ones on a Lego train, so once they got over the "Make the train crash again, Daddy" stage, you won't have a bunch of wrecked rolling stock.Also, Lego trains survive a fall to the cement floor MUCH better than, say, a $700 Marklin Big Boy, or a $1000+ Overland Models GP-15-1[#oops]

[krump]

Tondogg - another nice club layout is in Maple Ridge (at the museum) - not too far away from you. enjoy the hobby with the young one.

to all the Canucks - how about we salute our friends with "the wave", ok, I'll start... since I'm already standing. [#welcome]... take it away.

[jkeaton]

Another Canuck here, in Ottawa. I like the Lego idea as a starter (I have an 11 month old to introduce to trains) and the idea of adding Thomas into the mix. When he's a little older, though, he's going to get the wooden Thomas train system, so he can build and rebuild his own layout. I did that with Lego as a child and loved it.

[Junctionfan]

Lego isn't a bad idea at all. At one moment you have a U boat than with some time a Niagara class steam engine and than a SD40-2W and than a AC6000CW. Very cool and cheaper than all those individual locomotives.[:D]