Trying to get started.

[Anonymous]

I need advice and would like to talk to someone about getting started in toy trains. Please contact me at [e-mail]. Thank you.

[eZAK]

[#welcome]noonmark,

What exactly do you need advice with?

There are various books out there for the beginner.
Try one!
If you have any questions feel free to post them here.

[Roger Bielen]

Welcome to the forum noonmark.

Where abouts are you located? There might be a forum member, or two, especially in Ohio, that you could get with.

[brianel027]

Noon, first off it depends on what you can afford to spend on your "train budget." Secondly it depends on the space you have to build a layout. The more money and space you have, you may want to go with the newer scale proportioned trains with the digital control features. There are others who would be more helpful with that. The hobby has leaned in recent years towards full scale proportioned trains (which tend to be a little more costly) and full digital sounds, control and speed control (which also makes them a little more pricey). But even with these newer high end trains, a smart buyer - if he's patient and alert - can find bargains.

There are some people who enter the hobby too with an eye to speculate on the "collector aspect" looking for more valuable, rare trains to show off and display rather than operate on a layout. Most of us love finding something rare or unusual for a bargain, but most folks here on this forum are operators who build layouts and run their trains.

But if you are on a budget, want to do the hobby with kids (if you have them), don't mind the traditionally sized types of Lionel (and others like RMT, Marx, K-Line, Industrial Rail, older Railking) trains and are thinking about 027 track, I can be of great help to you. I too have modeled on a budget, have learned to build, design, scratchbuild, fix and restore my own trains - so it can be done. Even the cheapest low end Lionel MPC-era trains can all be improved to look better and run like champs.

Let us all know what direction you are thinking about. It really depends on at first what your initial train set investment budget is... there's stuff out there in many price ranges from high to low. Obviously the more you can spend, the more features you can get in a train set. There's common Lionel and K-Line stuff on eBay that may be lacking in current high end features, but will more than get you started.

[TurboOne]

[#welcome] noonmark, have a great time here. Ask your questions, many will answer if they can.

Take care

Tim

[csxt30]

[#welcome] Hi, I'm fairly new here too, but this is a real informational & friendly place. Hope I can help! John

[spankybird]

Hi noonmark,

Welcome to the CTT forum,


Here is a link that has great info in it, hope it helps

http://www.thortrains.net