Making my first purchase

[Anonymous]

Ok i am a newbie did some reading but o know not enough. I am the one located in the caribbean so there is nothing around be to look at. I am almost certain that i will go with the Digitrax Zephyr basic set. I am looking to pick up flex tracks, cork for underneath the tracks, Bumpers, turnouts, crossings, railjoiners, locos, some cars, so just about a bit of everything. Can you guys recommend one place where i will get a fair pricing and that basically all in one place?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

http://www.internettrains.com
http://www.discounttrainsonline.com

I've had great success with both, and their prices are pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Welcome!
I've had great success with internettrains.com and 1stplacehobbies.com.

For the DCC you might want to call Tony's Train Exchange. I think there's a movement on this forum to nominate Tony to sainthood! Seriously, although I am still a DC kind of guy, I've become convinced that sometime duing 2005 I'm going to give Tony a call and discuss with him various DCC systems. Do a search of the forum and you'll see why I know I'll go with Tony for DCC regardless of price.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies

jsalemi on the http://www.discounttrains.com site i only get one picture of one set?? The other is great

dkelly tried to do a search no go does he have a website???

[steveblackledge]

Hi, i use WWW.TRAINWORLD.COM in New York, very friendly and helpfull, and you can get a good deal. I work to this rule, if you don't have a lot of space go for a smaller scale like N or if its a bit to small for you go with HO scale what space do you have available, if it's a small room look at building a switching layout with short switch engines or if you have lots of room you could look at running big long trains, don't forget the longer the train or item of rolling stock is, you will need a greater radius of track to operate it on

[Anonymous]

I am going with HO scale I am planning an L shape But with the ends 4X4 then 3X5 against the wall up to the corner then a 3X7 and the other end another 4X4 I might make the length a bit longer so i will be able to use a radius of 22inches.

[steveblackledge]

I use HO in the garage, it's 18' by 9' with the trains going around the walls (or they will when it's finished) i have gone with 2 levels, the top has a loop and 3 hidden staging tracks and some industriel areas with lots of switching then a long grade to the lower level and a dead end with more industry and switching. i plan to run SD60 Oakway unit coal trains, BN double stack trains and BN mixed goods trains around the loop with a small switcher ( an Athearn SW1500 or a Broadway Limited Imports SW7, with sound) spotting cars in between,

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BrianCur

Thanks for the replies

jsalemi on the http://www.discounttrains.com site i only get one picture of one set?? The other is great

dkelly tried to do a search no go does he have a website???

My bad -- the site is http://www.discounttrainsonline.com -- I've corrected my initial message, too.

[Anonymous]

Brian,

Here' ya go!

http://www.tonystrains.com/

[Anonymous]

Everyone is right about Tony being the GURU of DCC. He is also a friendly business man. If you call their store he will answer the phone quite often. I purchased the MRC advanced prodigy system from him at the Milwaukee show earlier this month and am having trouble with it. NO PROBLEM. Send it back for full credit plus shipping and up grading me to Digitrax for a great price. Outstanding seller to do business with.

[Anonymous]

You would be well advised to give tonys train exchange a look before buying elsewhere.He probably gives away more free info on his web site very usefull than anyone else.He is also tops in my book as far as customer service and satisfaction.I bought a dcc specalities power pack and a powertraxx booster for programing BLI locos couldn't beat his price /paid him on a thur. items delivered SAT.When I look to make a major buy he is allways first stop on the list.and usually where i go back to buy.Good luck in the Hobby.

[Anonymous]

[#ditto]

[PennsyHoosier]

[#ditto]

Tony's site is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

With the amount of info on Tony's web site, the awesome customer service and "customer comes first" attitude . . . Tony is where I am planning to purchase my DCC system when I save enough to take the plunge even if I can get an identical system cheaper elsewhere. I'm pretty sure most folks here would agree.