jk10 My hometown has a Union Pacific line, and where I went to college was BNSF on the Wisconsin side and Canadian Pacific on the Minnesota side of the river. I'll sometimes see a road railer going through my hometown led by a Norfolk Southern. Somehow, I know it'd be difficult, I'd like to combine all of them somehow.
My hometown has a Union Pacific line, and where I went to college was BNSF on the Wisconsin side and Canadian Pacific on the Minnesota side of the river. I'll sometimes see a road railer going through my hometown led by a Norfolk Southern. Somehow, I know it'd be difficult, I'd like to combine all of them somehow.
Sitting out front of the Lyle Hotel in beautiful Lyle, WA, I have seen BNSF on my side of the Columbia and Union Pacific on the other side of the River. There's the occasional NS diesel mixed in with the BNSF. And I've seen an entire CP grain train go by.
So, all bases covered.
Ed
Welcome to the forums and back to model railroading.
A lot of good suggestions. Our host's selections are viewable by going to SHOP near the top of this page, then go to Books. Plenty of getting started material as well as more advanced topics available.
Since you are just getting back into things, you should take a look at a book on DCC electrical material. DCC has added much to model railroading, sound and more realistic operation. There are still a lot of folks sticking with DC and enjoying it, but introduce your self to it, so you know your options.
Have fun,
Richard
For bench work: How to Build Model Railroad Bench work by Linn Westcott
For scenery: How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery by Dave Frary
For operation: How to Operate Your Model Railroad - MR Special Issue Summer 2012
And of course the bible of model railroading: The V&O Story
This is a whole book about creating a freelanced railroad and operating it realistically.
My advice: Start small and let it grow. It takes a lifetime to build a model railroad because they are never really finished. And most importantly, always play with your wife more than you play with yourself.
Enjoy!
Thank you everyone for the welcome and the suggestions!
I went through Amazon and found quite a few books over the weekend, a few that were suggested in the thread. A few I will look up later on.
There are a few shows coming up, I'm in the Twin Cities area, and I know there are a few clubs around, too. I put it in my calendar to try and get to the show that is in January and maybe another in December sometime.
I have several pieces of rolling stock and a few locomotives that I'd like to sell or swap if the opportunity arises. My hometown has a Union Pacific line, and where I went to college was BNSF on the Wisconsin side and Canadian Pacific on the Minnesota side of the river. I'll sometimes see a road railer going through my hometown led by a Norfolk Southern. Somehow, I know it'd be difficult, I'd like to combine all of them somehow.
I'm most concerned about starting scenery, but that is something that is years away from happening. I've pondered a winter layout but heard dust/dirt can be horrible on an all white layout. The winter theme reminds me of a few fun photos I've taken while out walking of trains going past.
Another thing that I've wondered, are there any good modern layouts on the web? I've done a ton of searches and keep getting 50s/60s layouts or later, they're great, but it's not what I'd like to look at for inspiration. The few I have found haven't been updated in several years. Youtube has a couple that I've found to be fun to look at once in awhile.
I'll keep checking out the forums for any other suggestions. Thank you, everyone, for the wonderful suggestions!
I have to agree with 7j43k. Freelancing needs a protoytype base to be plausible. That means you have to study those railroads that used the types of equipment you envision, in the geographical environment you envision, handling the type of traffic you envision. Prototype modeling means getting familiar with one prototype. It's probably easier. Freelancing means getting familiar with ALL of the alternatives so that your choices will appear logical.
I would start with Kalmbach's list of various books targeted to specific aspects of the hobby (benchwork; wiring; layout planning; etc.), and add lots of prototype material from the booksellers that advertise in RR oriented magazines from Kalmbach and other publishers.
Tom
Google should be your best friend. Hardly anything is Ungoogleable including that word.
I rarely have to ask in a forum because I find most via Google.
Amazon.com sells a lot of used and new books. Stepson and I by a lot through Amazon.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Besides the model railroad books mentioned above, I'd recommend searching for info on the real thing. Even though you say you'll be doing freelance, I expect it will be similar to some of the real ones. After all, the model railroad has to BE somewhere. Is it Wisconsin? Or is it Nevada? Real different. And the railroads that go through these places are real different, too. Except when they're the same.
I recommend spending as much time as possible doing the armchair thing. It's relatively inexpensive, and you can't make any physical mistakes. After all, you're just daydreaming.
Also, it might be useful to visit other people's layouts.
Kalmbach publishes a series of books by Jeff Wilson about Industries Along the Tracks -- up to 4 volumes at least - which is useful info on what types of cars would be found at what industries, both today and in past years.
Dave Nelson
"Track Planning for Realistic Operation" by John Armstrong. Essential book for both layout design and construction.
Do some train shows and you will find vendors selling hardback 8.5 by 11 books full of color photographs of rolling stock, a great aid to modeling same. For my area "The Northern New England Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment" by Sweetland and Horsley is the best of 'em. For your area there ought to be another one.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Welcome back to this hobby! You might also consider joining NMRA and finding a local branch. That club offers a whole host of events where you can meet people, etc.
Another idea is going through Amazon and seeing what sparks your interest. For instance, deciding what industries you want to model and purchase the associated books.
~Lee
Are you still anywhere near Wisconsin? If so, I'd recommend attending Trainfest in three weeks. You can talk to a lot of people, see a ton of products (including books) and just learn a lot in general.
www.trainfest.com
Jim
jk10Are there any good model raildroading books out there that focus on the modern era HO railroads?
Great model railroads 2016 has one or 2. Also you might find books on real modern railroads useful as well.
And a piece of advice: pick a location(or locations) and prototype(s) (railroad or railroads).
Try the library. It's where I found most of mine.
Well MR has a special issue coming out on modern railroads
that might be of interest.
Good luck
Paul
Welcome back!
The 2016 Walthers HO catalog has just come out
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/913-216
Kalmbach books are listed herehttps://kalmbachhobbystore.com/model-trains/books
The Model Railroader website has many articles and videos; you have to be an MR subsciber to acccess many of them
http://mrr.trains.com/how-to
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Hello, everyone! I'm a returning member, was active over 10 years ago when I was a high school student with big HO aspirations. Now that I'm starting to settle down a bit, the prospect of purchasing a house with my fiance is giving me hope of having some sort of layout.
Being that I don't yet have the house, I was hoping to get a bit of literature stockpiled so that I have some references for the future. I have a lot of freight cars and locomotives from when I was quite active a few years ago. My main focus/interest is modern era, freelance layouts. I grew up in Wisconsin and often saw grain hoppers and gondolas going through my small town. I love the big locomotives that I'd see go past my college apartment, but really enjoy the GPs and SD40-2s, too.
Are there any good model raildroading books out there that focus on the modern era HO railroads? Also anything about modern locomotives and freight cars? Something that would help me make sure I have accurate cars for the industries? Looking for any suggestions on how to smoothly get back into the hobby, also in the most cost effective way, too. (The wedding is priority number 1 at the moment.)
Thank you for any advice or recommendations!