Getting back into model railroads

[traintravler]

I am getting back into model railroading.  I had started a layout and then moved.   I started a second and had some life issues that come up that led to other unfortunate things 

 

Tomorrow I am meeting up with someone who is looking to sell alot of his ho stuff.  Some older and alot of newer things.  What should I be aware of on engines with newer ones?  Any problemz with newer ones, or anything?  Thanks.

[tstage]

Traintravler,

Before you purchase anything, have you determined the following yet...

• Era?
• Railroad(s)?
• Operating system: DC or DCC?

This will help you 1) choose what best fits your modeling plans, and 2) keep you from purchasing things that don't fit that plan.

I chose to model my railroad (NYC) and era early on.  That provided structure and focus and I have very few purchasing regrets because of it.

Tom

[NorthBrit]

Just to add to Tom's list.

Make a list of what must be on the layout.  This saves buying unneccessary  items you think would look okay;  then finding out they are wrong timeframe, wrong area of place being modeled  or  too big/too small.

How many operators  and their age is there going to be.  It is known I have five grandchildren and all five operate my layout.   Whatever the number of operators;  if they are young let them operate the layout their way.   If you let them do that they will want to come back.

If it is only you as operator,  (which it will be most of the time if there are other operators)   have fun with the layout.  Yes you can be serious with timetables, correct locomotives and rolling stock etc.,  but keep it fun.   It is a hobby.   There is no race;  only one winner.

 

David

[snjroy]

traintravler

I am getting back into model railroading.  I had started a layout and then moved.   I started a second and had some life issues that come up that led to other unfortunate things 

 

Tomorrow I am meeting up with someone who is looking to sell alot of his ho stuff.  Some older and alot of newer things.  What should I be aware of on engines with newer ones?  Any problemz with newer ones, or anything?  Thanks.

 

back to the hobby Sean!  I see that you were a member in 2010. The hobby has not changed that much in the last decade, except perhaps that DCC is more widespread. Buying used depends a lot on what you are buying and what you want do to. DCC is a major factor: many modelers, if not most, are still running in DC. But new, non-toy stuff sold out there is mostly DCC. Converting locos is still doable but the cost of decoders has not gone down much since 2010.

[Pauley]

tstage

Before you purchase anything, have you determined the following yet...

• Era?
• Railroad(s)?
• Operating system: DC or DCC?

This will help you 1) choose what best fits your modeling plans, and 2) keep you from purchasing things that don't fit that plan.

 

Good suggestions.

OTOH, you could go a little "abstract":

www.bostontype.com

;)

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

back!

traintravler

Tomorrow I am meeting up with someone who is looking to sell alot of his ho stuff. Some older and alot (SIC) of newer things. What should I be aware of on engines with newer ones? Any problemz (SIC) with newer ones, or anything?

All great advice!

tstage

I chose to model my railroad (NYC) and era early on. That provided structure and focus and I have very few purchasing regrets because of it.

Oh, how I wish that worked for me!

My pike is a fictional coal branch loop set in the 1970s to 1980s on the Western Slope of Colorado.

That means anything before the 1980s is fair game to run...

Back to your question...

If you are meeting in person would it be possible to set up a test track to run any motive power?

Even a 3-foot section of track powered by the method of choice; DC or DCC, would be helpful.

You can also use this test track to run any rolling stock back-and-forth to see if there are any glitches.

While you are at it you might want to include one turnout in the middle to a short section to see how they operate through the straight and diverging sections.

Good luck and I hope you have found a gold mine.

Hope this helps.

[dstarr]

You can have a lot of fun just running any rolling stock that fits the track (HO right?) You can also have more fun putting together a railroad for one time period, and one location (midwest? New England? Pennsylvania? your favorite location?).  Do you want to run steam engines?  The real railroads had converted to diesel by the late 1950's.  If you want to be period correct, running steam engines puts your era back to 1955 or before.  To get serious about it, you need to find a book, with decent illustrations, of your chosen RR and period. 

   There is little that can go wrong with HO rolling stock that cannot be fixed, one way or the other.  On the other hand, it is worth trying out locomotives under power to see if they run.  A nice looking locomotive that you like that doesn't run is fixable it if is all there, no missing important pieces.  Heavy is good in locomotives, the old cast Zamac ones are good and heavy.  Old rolling stock may lack knuckle couplers, this is an easy fix.  Much rolling stock is too light.  NMRA recommended practice 20.1 calls for HO cars to weigh 1 ounce plus 1/2 an ounce per inch of length.  Derailment problems often go away after weighting the car up to RP 20.1 recommendations.  Stick metal weights down with silicone adhesive to prevent rattling. 

[traintravler]

I was around for a few years.  I am thinking of the 1930s to 1980s time period.  I will be the only operator and I am almost 50.  

 

For industry I was thinking of some kind of logging and coal mining on the layout and some farming where they produce things for wholesale bakeries.

[traintravler]

Not sure if I will do dc or dcc. I'm more familiar with dc.  I am a big Santa Fe person and I love the Rio grande.  I love the fa7 and fa 8 (I think that's what they are) style engines.

[Bayway Terminal]

You may want to research both road names and how to apply either or both to coal operations vs coal for the region(s) serviced and the time period. It took me six months to plan my HO 14' x 3 ' modern era industrial switching layout, I am 7 years into it and am now planning a major expansion, my 3rd layout in 30 years. To the best of my knowledge Post War Santa Fe & Rio  Grande FA's series engines were primarily used for freight hauling, i am not aware of either carrier hauling forrested logs, most likey only cut timber to lumber distributer destinations,(unless you don't care about proto typical model railroading). In addition post war diesel engines merge with steam, so your engine choices are many. I reccomend DCC, especially if you want to build a either a double track main or loop together with service sidings & staging tracks, regardless at times you will want to run multiple engines at once, notwithstading the advanced operating systems available like NCE Controlers & (ESU LOK Sound Decorders) for expample, notwithstanding the live recorded engine sounds & LED lighting features. Coal operations in particular can be endless, and you don't have to construct a large layout to enjoy the industry. Keep in mind that modeling the Rio Grande may invlove constructing mountains & tunnels, depending on what operations you decide to model. The Logging industry will also involve mountains & many-many trees, both of which invlove lots of time. FYI., there is a new HO Shay Engine with log cars being produced by KR Models, you may want to check it out. Best of luck with your decision, regardless of what you decide on. Bayway Terminal NJ      

  

[riogrande5761]

traintravler

I was around for a few years.  I am thinking of the 1930s to 1980s time period. 

 

Your time period is HUGE at 50 years.  You might want to consider narrowing down to a 10 year period otherwise it might be a bit nutty with so much change in engines and rolling stock over that many years.

[Autonerd]

traintravler

Not sure if I will do dc or dcc. I'm more familiar with dc

DCC is really something, especially if you add sound -- but sound does get expensive. (Silent DCC decoders were selling as low as $12 or $15 before the chip shortage.) What I like best about DCC is that you can control locomotives individually and run them right up next to each other -- you're no longer limited by which engines are in which block. That's especially nice when you have multiple operators. Personally I think DCC is worth the hassle.

I disagree on the time spread being too wide. I am in the same situation -- I have equipment from 1920s-30s New York Central up to late-80s Conrail. I like having a little overlap -- my late NYC and early Penn Central power can mix, and old, grimy NYC freight cars can show up in 80s freights. I belong to a club, don't have a home layout, btw, which simplifies things, I think. Anyway, I say model what you want. :)

Aaron

[riogrande5761]

Autonerd

DCC is really something, especially if you add sound -- but sound does get expensive. (Silent DCC decoders were selling as low as $12 or $15 before the chip shortage.)

Where have you been getting silent mobile DCC deocders as low as $12.  I haven't seen them that low for some years, long before the recent chip shortage.  I've been buying mostly LokPilot decoders for $29 but if you buy in bulk, some decoders can be had for unit price of $5 or 6 below that.

 

I disagree on the time spread being too wide. I am in the same situation -- I have equipment from 1920s-30s New York Central up to late-80s Conrail. I like having a little overlap -- my late NYC and early Penn Central power can mix, and old, grimy NYC freight cars can show up in 80s freights. I belong to a club, don't have a home layout, btw, which simplifies things, I think. Anyway, I say model what you want. :) Aaron

The problem with such a wide gap is you can end up buying trains trains and more trains, because there are so many changes over the years.  Of course it's a personal choice but a lot of modelers settle on a much shorters time span, or perhaps choose a couple different periods.  That way when you run, trains look realistic for a location and period.  Otherwise it's a mishmash and you buy every "shiny" thing.  Of course if that's what you like, it's your choice. 

But I find over time many settle on a theme/period and find they don't need a gazillion trains because it takes fewer to represent something more narrowly defineed.  But as some say here, what do I know?

[traintravler]

I decided on the 1970s and 1980s on time period.  I got various road names of tankers, box cars and misc cars and cabooses. I'm still formailsting the layout.  Got about 50 cars some buildings, and an engine.

[Autonerd]

riogrande5761

Where have you been getting silent mobile DCC deocders as low as $12.

I used to get NCE D13SRJs in 5-packs for around that price -- well, come to think of it, maybe closer to $14. It's been a while, that's for sure!

riogrande5761

The problem with such a wide gap is you can end up buying trains trains and more trains

And that's a problem because...? :) :) :)

[traintravler]

It could be a problem in that sometimes not everything looks good together.  I will be doing some kind of farming related that fades off into a wooded logging/coal.  Probably something set in the Midwest.  I more than likely will make up a fictional railroad and get things painted accordingly on the engine and some cars.  Then some cars would be interchange cars on the layout.  

[MidlandMike]

Bayway Terminal

To the best of my knowledge Post War Santa Fe & Rio  Grande FA's series engines were primarily used for freight hauling, i am not aware of either carrier hauling forrested logs, most likey only cut timber to lumber distributer destinations

IIRC I saw an article in the 1960s of some logs being hauled in the Rio Grande's Creede Branch at that time.

[Bayway Terminal]

Interesting, someone may want to just focus on modeling that particular Rio Grande Branch Line...

Bayway Terminal 

[traintravler]

Bayway Terminal

Interesting, someone may want to just focus on modeling that particular Rio Grande Branch Line...

Bayway Terminal 

 

Are you referring to the Phillips 66 oil refinery?

[traintravler]

Lastspikemike

Building a new layout you will want to make sure it is wired so you can convert to DCC should you wish to in future. DCC locomotives now run fine on DC power.

Depending on the size of your planned layout and assuming multiple locomotives running on DC you will benefit from using the Block system for wiring. Double isolated DC Block wiring is very easy to convert to DCC. Track power wire at 16 gauge or even 14 gauge and track feeders 18 gauge will power either DC or DCC nicely. 

 

The wiring will be my Achilles heel as they say. more then likely I will have to get help in wiring.  Me and wiring mix like Gilligan going up against Mohammed Ali on a Street fight.

[riogrande5761]

Autonerd

 

riogrande5761

Where have you been getting silent mobile DCC deocders as low as $12.

 

I used to get NCE D13SRJs in 5-packs for around that price -- well, come to think of it, maybe closer to $14. It's been a while, that's for sure!

And during that while prices have gone up.  When informing readers of costs, they should be current prices - not back when dinosaurs roamed the earth - figuratively speaking. 

A quick google searech shows the D13SRJ is retired - must have been "a while" indeed.I just checked Tony's Train exchange and shows probably a modern equivelent NCD DA-SR decoder 4-packs at $85.76, which comes out to $21.44 each, a far cry from $14.  There may be places selling for a bit less but probably not much. 

riogrande5761

The problem with such a wide gap is you can end up buying trains trains and more trains

 

And that's a problem because...? :) :) :)

 

traintravler gave one reply.  But I can tell you from personal experience that a wide period and wide interest in many railroads can end up costing major $$ over time in order to represent realistic trains of any particular snapshot in time.  At one time I was limiting myself to a 30 year period from 1965-1995 and after a number of years I found that it was costing me a lot, and I had a huge collection of trains that couldn't do much justice to any given time period. 

 

My goal, and I would guess the same for many, is to model trains that look like the real thing and typical train operations for an area.  Eventually I came to the conclusion that it was unrealistic and costly to cover such a wide period, and as it is, like many, I have too many trains.

 

Around 8 years ago I decided to lop off the highest 10 years (from 1985-1995) from my 30 year period and have sold off most of my trains from that '85-'95 time frame and stopped buying any from that period.  I've also stopped buying trains from the 1965-1970 period unless any (usually freight cars) were regulars during my focus period 1977-1983.  Even that leaves me with probably more trains that I will be able to run.

 

Add to that the sharp increase in train prices during the past 12-18 months, selling off "out of scope" models helps to defray costs of new purchases that fit my focus better.  With the much higher prices of trains going forward, that strengthens the argument to try to focus on a limited time frame and RR.  But hey, if money is no object, knock yourself out!  Buy whatever shiny thing you want.

 

Now if one chose say, two periods, a steam period in 1940 for example, and another in 1980, the that would provide a couple of snapshots to do justice too and avoid the every shiny thing syndrome.  Some do that and have operating sessions dedicated to one of a couple periods and the switch things out to the other for operating sessions.

 

There are those who buy anything and everything and as they say, it's a free country.  But I am going to offer my thoughts to noobs a possible lesson many of us learn the hard way after being in the hobby for many years.  As they say, YMMV.  If ever there was a forum where people go many directions, this is the place.  Choose wisely young padowan.

[traintravler]

I'm focusing on the 1979's and 80's.

[riogrande5761]

Thumbs up!

Here are some highlights for 79/80. 

Lots of colorful per diem boxcars running around and looking pretty new. 

The 40' foot TOFC trailers were the rule of the day on 85 and 89 foot TOFC flat cars as well as 40' containers on flat cars. 

Cabooses still going strong. 

On the D&RGW the Rio Grande Zephyr was running daily except Wednesday between Denver and Salt Lake City. 

Otherwise passenger service was Amtrak phase 1 and phase 2 mostly.  SDP40's were still regular power but F40PH's coming on line. 

Unit Coal trains were gaining popularity.

[garya]

riogrande5761

Where have you been getting silent mobile DCC deocders as low as $12.  I haven't seen them that low for some years, long before the recent chip shortage.

Probably buying LaisDCC decoders.  Many still available for $12-15.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001610122614.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_saleItems.8148356.4.6ac24972m2tPZ9