Hello, all! After reading these forums for quite some time and "lurking" as a registered member, I thought I'd start the new year with an introduction as my first post. I'm new to the hobby, but seem to have been bitten quite hard by the bug.
I didn't really grow up playing with trains (though we did have an HO-scale layout for a few years in our basement), but trains seem to have been around throughout nearly every part of my life. I grew up taking the PATCO Hi-Speed line from Lindenwold, New Jersey to downtown Philadelphia. When I was old enough to make the trip on my own, I would take the AMTRAK Metroliner down the Northeast Corridor to Union Station in Washington, D.C. where my father would pick me up for a visit and we would marvel together at the fabulous models displayed at the train store in the station. While at college at James Madison University (hence the "Duke" in my screenname), I often had to dodge the Norfolk-Southern freight train that ran through the middle of campus. I rode the DC Metro's Orange Line from Vienna to Farragut West to work every day for a year, and when I finally moved back to the Philadelphia-area, my apartment was mere footsteps from the Bryn Mawr station of the old PRR Main Line (now SEPTA's R5). I now live along the old Norristown Line of the Philadelphia & Western Railroad (now SEPTA's R100), and feel blessed to have Nicholas Smith Trains as my local B&M store, as I just learned they are America's oldest Lionel dealer.
My father had Lionel trains growing up (a few of which I inherited), and always had a newer model NYC F7 A/B/A on display in a bookshelf in his house, but he had so many hobbies as an adult that trains were unfortunately something we never got to enjoy together before he died. In 2005 I picked up a Polar Express set on a whim and had it set up for awhile around Christmas. My wife and I decided that the set made a bit too much noise in a small house with hardwood floors and a 5-month old puppy, so I boxed it and the few add-on cars I bought up and placed it in storage in hopes that one day I'd have the proper place to set it up.
This past December, my office had a Holiday Decorating Contest between all the floors in the building. I thought it would be a great time to break the PolEx out of storage and contribute to the Decking of our Halls. It attracted so much attention (especially from the men) and I had so much fun playing with it that I became determined to make this more than a once-every-four-years thing...so here I am!
I really know absolutely nothing other than what I've read here and elsewhere online, so I'm trying to start slow and keep things simple. I'm looking to work out a layout that can handle a seasonal rotation of RTR sets (I just picked up a 4-4-2 Pennsylvania Flyer and have my eye on the North Pole Central), and see where it goes from there. For now I'm trying to constrain my purchases to those sets (Polar Express, Pennsylvania Flyer, North Pole Central) and their available accessories, though I'm drawn to the lines and livery of older railroads in this area (PRR, Strasburg, Lehigh Valley, etc.).
I look forward to learning all I can here, and will keep you all abreast of my progress. Please accept my apologies in advance if I inadvertently ask a question that's been beaten to death already. Thanks for indulging me in my long-winded hello!
Normal 0
Glad to have you with us. I am a new member also. I will celebrate my one-year anniversary on Jan 5. You probably know that there are a ton of great folks here who unselfishly share their vast knowledge. I am looking forward when I will be able to return the favor, but so far all of my posts have been to ask questions. Thanks to all who have helped me this past year.
Terry Thomann Fredericksburg, Virginia That is me on the left. My brother got the train TCA 09-64381
Glad you could make it. Don't worry about asking stupid questions, thats my job...
Give me steam locomotives or give me DEATH!
Berkshire Junction, bringing fourth the cry of the Iron Horse since 1900.
Lots of good info on this board and a lot of great guys! Stop in at the Coffee Pot to talk about anything at all some time
PS - I think that Polar Express set has brought a lot of people back into this hobby, or into it for the first time, don't you?
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
PhillyDuke,
Welcome On Board, to the C.T.T. Forum.I've been on this forum for a couple of years and I like it here.
You'll find the C.T.T. Forum Staff and members to be friendly and helpful.
Have A Healthy, Happy New Year,
Ralph
Welcome PD. Loved your story. Especially taking the trains to work. Polar Express is doing the job is was intended to do - to get people excited and introduce them to the hobby.
Just a tip for you. As you probably well know, it's a good thing to keep your wife happy. FasTrack is a little noisey, although opinions as to how distracting the noise is differ. When you get around to doing a layout, using pink or blue construction insulation styrofoam board is a suitable lightweight surface to use for a train layout. You can build a frame and use the styrofoam alone or use an underlay such as chipboard or plywood. I have a somewhat small layout (compared to many others) and have used the styrofoam alone on a frame and it works fine. Lightweight and deadened noise substantially compared to other layout surfaces.
You might even want to consider going to what is called "tubular" track for a layout. There's 0-style and 027 types. Lionel is pushing FasTrack, which is what you are getting with your train sets, and it does have some advantages. But one of the advantages of tubular is getting more layout into a smaller space. FasTrack has a bigger diameter curve than the 31 inch of 0-style or the 27 inch of 027 track.
Of course, the big drawback of these tracks is that you will not be able to run some of the longer locomotives and rolling stock. But given what you've said you are looking to buy, this won't be any problem.
When I got back into the hobby, 027 track came with sets and since I was buying a few sets like you, I had a good supply to start with, which is why I stuck with 027. The same might be for you only with FasTrack. On the other hand, FasTrack is in demand so you might easily be able to trade or sell the FasTrack for tubular more likely than the other way around.
Whatever you do, have fun and involve your wife if she is even remotely inclined. Women will sometimes get involved with scenery aspects or have a favorite car or train. Or a favorite building. Ask questions when you have them. Of course, you'll get a lot of differing opinions on what to buy and ways to go about the hobby. Consider them all and then do what works best for you.
For example, some say the hobby isn't any fun without having some sort of digital control. Maybe for them. For me, nonsense. I tried it, am not interest and it adds extra expense I don't wish to add. Many knock the types of trains you are buying - the same kinds I've been running. Yet I find them fun, durable and cost-effective to run and maintain.
But whatever you do, enjoy it... sounds like you are already.
PS: I too can get a little long winded, as has been pointed out to me. So no bother to me.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
PhillyDuke ---> . We've been expecting you.
Ask all the questions you need. Enjoyed your introduction.
PHILLYDUKE to DA FORUM,
Have fun but watch out this is very addicting, this train habit. Ask questions we were all in your shoes at one time. ENJOY!!!!
laz57
Welcome PhillyDuke to the world of electric trains. A most enjoyable hobby that can get out of hand very quickly.
Bill T.
PhillyDuke, ALWAYS nice to have another Yankee here!! (I was from Central Jersey). I started with a NYC Flyer, then Penny Flyer and then I was off to the races!! My daughter helps me with the Christmas train layouts and has helped with my small 4X8 set up. Recently, the wife has been eying over the layout, so, yup, it's addicting (but enjoyable) for sure!! Make sure you hit those clearance sales for trees and such, real cheap right now.
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
HI PhillyDuke!
I'm a fellow newbie to the hobby,and just joined this site a few days ago. All I can say is, the site is wonderful and fill of great, knowledgeable people! This is the plce to be!
GN Mountain Goat
Alllll Aboard !!! The train for a wonderful and rewarding hobby has just loaded and you came aboard .... the conductor has your ticket in hand and you are welcome .... enjoy the trip . Sit back and enjoy your ride on the CTT Express ..... don't forget to order your fine breakfast of eggs and grits in the dining car . Meander your way to the Coffee Pot car and enjoy the chat and fellowship with all of us ! Welcome Aboard ............ Both of You !
Tubular track can be had in a wide variety of curvatures, in profiles that match both O27 and O31 track styles.
Bob Nelson
PhillyDuke and Mtn. Goat. Glad to have you. Drop in on the "Coffee Pot" and let us get to know you.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
From one Philadelphian to another , Welcome
Welcome guys.
Good to have a couple more Yankees around when the friendly banter about northern and southern customs flares up, as it does from time to time here.
I'll agree with Brutus about the Polar Express set bringing more people into or back into the hobby - it hooked me again a few years back. Laz is right too - the hobby is addicting.
PhillyDuke!
Great guys in this forum and all really helpful. Have fun!
Mike
Thanks for the warm welcome and helpful hints, everyone! After Christmas gets put away this week I hope to be able to scope out a place in the basement that will be suitable for a small'ish layout (I like the idea of the 4' x 8' mentioned by anjdevil2, so we'll see how that works out). And brianel027, you're exactly right, the FastTrack on the bare hardwood floor was definitely the noise culprit, so I'll probably use the foam insulation idea...I do recall reading that before, as well. If I'm working with the sets I mentioned above (all transformer-controlled if I'm not mistaken), am I limited in what I can do insofar as running them at the same time, or do I need multiple loops all controlled by different transformers?
The simplest way to run multiple trains at the same time with conventional control is with seperate loops and seperate transformers.
There are methods to run multiple trains on the same loop with blocks, insulated control track sections, and relays - kind of neat, if you are into that sort of thing.
PhillyDuke and GN MtnGoat welcome aboard. This is a great place to learn and grow in this awesome hobby. Keep us informed of how things progress!Cobrabob.
Toy Trains, they are not just an adventure, they are a way of life !
THanks, CobraBOb8 - it's only been a week (!) for me, and I have learned so much, and met buncha great people so far!
Hello PhillyDuke!!!
Welcome to the forum!!!!!
underworld
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month