I may go to ho (Help!!)

[trainboyH16-44]

A lot of manufacturers these days have sound equipped locos, but I have only seen one that smoked. It was a Bachmann H16-44 whos coupler trip pin crossed the gap on a frog, shorted, and then started melting the plastic part of the coupler. Not a good thing to have.
trainboy

[smcgill]

G-scale or #1
Just a thought
You could get mom & pop outside to do the garden stuff!
Bachman-usa-aristo-lgb-etc are all smoke ready or has it!
Ask mom & pop to take you to Charles Ro in malden

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp

I really love Lionel O gauge 3-rail. That is what I had when I was young... I loved it then and I love it now. If I had the space (and the money) that is what I would model right now. It may not be as good for "serious modelers" (though Big_Boy_4005 might give you an argument there), but I love the size of the equipment and the range of operating accessories available.

As you can probably guess, my favorite part of model railroading is PLAYING with my trains. If you are happy with your Lionel trains, I don't see any reason to switch. I will admit that HO equipment is more realistic, much less expensive, and you can get a lot more in a small space. But I'd switch to O in a minute if I had the space and money.

[:)]

Thanks Jerry. The thing is if you can get beyond the center rail, a lot of the models being produced today are just like HO only bigger. Of course, this means you'll need a bigger wallet too.

[Berk-fan284]

If you like your LIONEL trains keep them if you like them this is a hobby so you call the shots on your railroad! Smoke equipped steam engines for a cheap price (relative term) Bachmann is about the only choice, but they are messy and the smoke isn't what it's cracked up to be. Locos in the cheap to moderate range: Athearn Blue Box, LifeLike Proto 1000, Moderate to high priced: Athearn Ready to Run + Genesis, Kato, Bachmann Spectrum (steam engines), Lifelike Proto 2000, Broadway Imports , Marklin/Trix,Lionel (Ho Scale Challenger). I didn't give any prices because Canadian sticker prices are pretty stiff compared to American. These companies are also good for a broad range of rolling stock. Bowser make locomotive and car kits, but the locos require a fair bit of time, effort and patience to get them up and running well.I only listed the companies whose products I have personel experience with, there are a number of other companies that have some very nice products that I haven't listed (Atlas, Intermountain, Walthers).

[Curmudgeon]

Used to be Seuthe generators were the trick, but I'm sure there are better now.
On all my equipment (sarting 50 years or so ago with 3-rail), the smoke units, if equipped, get the "cut and throw" treatment.
Ain't worth the hassle, ESPECIALLY indoors and using archaic track power.
Even the "0" stuff with the big smokers, when the smoke fills the ceiling and gets down to your eyebrows, you'll get a migraine that won't go away.

I love the "H0 is too big"...
Foster has it right.
It's too SMALL!
Half Zero.
"King of Scales", or "0" is what you want!
And when you get tired of peering at it through bifocals, go outdoors in #1!

TOC

[ttrigg]

If you want engines that are designed to smoke, and look anywhere realistic, without fouling up the house. COME ON OUT TO THE GARDEN. Out in the garden you can actually "light the boilers". Who needs transformers when you can run on live steam.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else? Nice reply by the way

[Anonymous]

Bachmann can be variable - apparently some of their older train set stuff is dire, but some of their other budget models are pretty good - the 8-wheel drive GP40/GP50 (the most recent version with the full pilots) is an excellent runner (quiet and powerful), for a little more you can have it with a DCC decoder factory installed (these will still run under DC, but you'd have the decoder ready if you decided to upgrade later on). Their DCC system is also reckoned to be decent enough if you can accept the limitations (programming is limited to setting an address and setting which direction a loco considers to be "forwards", also you can only have locos addressed 1-9). They offer a pack of one of these locos, DCC command unit, power supply, etc which may be worth a look if you're trying to get started without spending too much. Their "Silver Series" cars are reasonable too - the coupler boxes needed modifying on the one I have as they were set too low, but it has metal wheels and decent paintwork - not bad considering how cheap they are!

[Anonymous]

Hello?

[Anonymous]

What about bachmann

[tpatrick]

Get a copy of Model Railroader magazine and read all of it - especially the advertisements. You will learn more with one magazine than you can learn in a week on the forum. See if any of the ads catch your eye. Lots of engines are now available with sound, but very few with smoke. Prices are all over the lot, but you should find something affordable. Where to buy? Compare prices at various stores and find the best deal. If you order from out of state you save on sales taxes, but may spend on shipping. There are a lot of good stores to choose from, but also a few losers. Check with us before you buy and we will help. Personally, I would recommend Standard Hobby Supply - good prices and good service. And not too far from you in MA.

[Anonymous]

I just want to know company you suggest

[Anonymous]

Given the "fascia" pronunciation thread is that a wise topic title?

H0... not HO is "half naught" gauge... following from "0/naught Gauge"... which as 1/4" = 1' was (theoretically)the step dwn from Gauge 1 - 3/8" = 1' (1/32).... but the English model trade went to the German model makers somewhere around 1900 and said "7mm is close to 1/4"... so we got 1;43... which wandered off from your (correct) (well, more correct until you put it on 32mm gauge track...) 0 Scale - 1/48. Someone then rounded H0 up to 4mm = 1' to give us 00...still on 16.5 track... so somone else went to 18 (18.5?)mm EM - "Eighteen Millimetre)... next step was P4 18.85 (HOW do you measure 0.03mm in your toy train shed?)... which they tried to copyright so someone else did the same thing as S4... and all along the 3/16 guys stayed as 1/64 S Gauge. 2mm started as half of 00... they've even gone "finescale" in that. Oh, yeah... and there was TT...3mm=1'... "Table Top"...
above Gauge 1... which got adjusted to 10mm= 1'... there WAS Gauge 2...

Now there's a load of information for you...

[Anonymous]

What company do you suggest in buying from.

[oleirish]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tstage

If an HO diesel ever "smokes", it's usually a bad thing...

Tom

Tom
YAHHHH you got that right,meaning smoked engine[:p][:D][:D][:0]
JIM

[Ibflattop]

If you start using your smoke units you will loose the value of the engines if you go and sell them in the future for some reason. But H.O. is the scale to go. You can have a lot of track and detail in the area. Also alot of items in the scale also. Kevin

[railroadyoshi]

Great locomotive?
well, if you want a high grade loco, you are looking at $100+
Great loco means a lot of things
A reasonable loco is in the $100 range, but if you are not to big on details etc, you could always go for cheaper brands like Athearn. I personally like to stay in the $50 to $100 range, but i have splurged once.
Good frieght cars are in the 10 to 20 range, passenger usually a bit higher than freight.

What has to be understood is there is a difference of emphasis between HO and Lionel. Lionel is more for play, which is great, and HO is more about mimicking the practices of real railroads etc., which is also great.

[Anonymous]

how much does it cost for a great locomotive and frieght and passenger. I really wanna know the price. I already have one ho set with a good amount of track. I think i may switch but every once in awile I'll go back to lionel

[Roadtrp]

I really love Lionel O gauge 3-rail. That is what I had when I was young... I loved it then and I love it now. If I had the space (and the money) that is what I would model right now. It may not be as good for "serious modelers" (though Big_Boy_4005 might give you an argument there), but I love the size of the equipment and the range of operating accessories available.

As you can probably guess, my favorite part of model railroading is PLAYING with my trains. If you are happy with your Lionel trains, I don't see any reason to switch. I will admit that HO equipment is more realistic, much less expensive, and you can get a lot more in a small space. But I'd switch to O in a minute if I had the space and money.

[:)]

[MisterBeasley]

Monto3, I was about your age when I switched from Lionel O-guage to HO's. I've enjoyed my HO's a lot more. It is, as you may have gathered from reading some of the earlier posts, a more "serious" guage. I personally think you can get a lot more railroad into the same space, and the prices are better (although no model railroad prices would be considered "good" anymore.) HO has the most equipment available for sale. On the other hand, you should at least take a serious look at N-guage. That scale is growing rapidly, because you can get even more railroad into that space.

Before you decide, look around and find a train show to go to. If you google for Train Show Massachusetts, you will get a lot of information. Most shows have a variety of guages and a number of operating layouts, so you can compare a number of options all under 1 roof.

One thing though: Do not, under any circumstances, sell those Lionels. Wrap them up carefully and put them in boxes. Store them somewhere safe. They are durable, and 47 years from now, when you're my age, you will still have them. I sure wish I had mine. Even if I only put them up around the tree at Christmas, they would be worth it.

[cacole]

You can add a smoke unit to some HO scale locomotives, but everyone who has used them advises against it. The smoke fluid is oily and leaves a dirty film on everything, including track and wheels, which causes all kinds of problems. Don't do it. Stick with Lionel if you only want smoke.

[tstage]

If an HO diesel ever "smokes", it's usually a bad thing...

Tom

[Anonymous]

doesnt even matter Im 11 soshould i go to ho even turning behind of what i have?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman
I would base my reason for a scale change on more then if they smoke, I know one of my N scale engines smoked once.

[(-D]

uspscsx

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 06archerd

you bet ya all these days have sound, and soem steam locos have smoke, Ho in my opion is the best scale, not to large not too small.

[:0] You mean Horribly Oversized [;)] Yuk, yuk, yuk [(-D][(-D]

I would base my reason for a scale change on more then if they smoke, I know one of my N scale engines smoked once.

[Anonymous]

Smoke in HO is a useless gimmick, the best you'l get is a weak puff of smoke, the smoke dirties up the track and makes your locomotives run spotty. If your into gimmicks and roundie round running I recommend sticking with 3-rail O.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 06archerd

i do not think anybody makes any diesels that smoke

I dunnnnoooo, I thought I heard about one that smokes. It was a Bachmann or something. Don't take what I said to heart, because I am unsure.

uspscsx

[Anonymous]

i do not think anybody makes any diesels that smoke

[Anonymous]

do the diesels smoke?? How much is a great locomotive?