New Forum Members

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

I live in Horicon, a small town located about 45 miles north of and a little west of Milwaukee, WI.

I have a large two room layout connected by a tunnel that goes through a closet and under the stairs. The layout is 49 feet long X 11 feet wide in one room and 15 feet wide in the other room. I have five main lines on three different levels with 58 turnouts.

My hobby is fixing and running trains. The new electronics have made running many trains at the same time easy and comfortable. I use both DCS and TMCC on the layout. I use Realtrax track and switches. The layout is powered by 8-180 watt Lionel bricks, two for each TIU channel. I have many different makes and types of engines. Most of the engines that I run are MTH PS2.0 but I have the new Lionel Y6B, M1a and Berkshire running with them. Speed control is a must for me. The scenery in one room is complete and the new room is 95% done. The new room is a Circus Mountain Theme Park. The mountain also hides a large O-72 helix. I have chosen action accessories for most of the layout because I have 12 grandkids that like to push buttons.

I'm retired and in my spare time I repair the newer electronic trains for Sommerfeld's Trains in Butler, WI. In the winter it almost turns into something more than a hobby. I have also contributed how to articles for Classic Toy Trains.

*** Teal

[Mikeygaw]

hello,
I live in Philadelphia, Pa. I have a small amount of N Gauge equipment that i inherited, but i never really got into it. I'm mainly into HO. I have a mishmash of stuff that is inherited from my family and more recently bought equipment. My current layout takes up my front room. Most of the buildings and track were bought off of QVC back in November. It was a Christmas line they were selling... 1950's western era... it included an F7 Santa Fe and a UP GP38-2, a few cars and buildings

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

Hello, I have been into Lionel since the mid 60's. My dad was a "second hand dealer"
so my trains came from Salvation Army, Goodwill and Misc. Auctions( we also got
other bargains at misc.auctions). My collection was washed away in a Flash Flood
that hit the shed that I had stored them in when I went into the navy in 1975. I started
back into the hobby in the mid 90's with a set from the mid 70's that I bought at a
yard sale. And My wife gave me an Ives Standard Gauge set that was left to her by
her uncle. (it replaced the Lionel Standard sets that washed away). So, I am rebuilding
my Childhood. I have Postwar, Modern and Misc Williams, K-Line & MTH. I am buying
fixer-upers (postwar & modern) to run. I am willing to chat with other folk who are
big kids at heart.

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to change my 'handle' other than just creating a new account?

I would like it to match that of what I use on eBay, and of the 'other' forum that wants to start charging money to post.

[Anonymous]

Hi, I live in Maplewood New Jersey and am President of a Biotech Company in Edison NJ. Although it is not accepted dogma, I have a feeling that certain individuals (like myself) have a genetic pre-disposition towards train collecting/operating. Have you noticed that uncoiled DNA looks like scale (i.e., 2 rail) track.

Due to space limitations, I recently deactivated my layout. However, I continue to collect trains from Lionel, Atlas and K-Line and have collected a fairly large number of items. I buy mostly East Coast RR (PRR, NYC, B&O, C&O) with some Milwaukee Road engines (I like the colors). I have gotten quite proficient at building and kitbashing train-related models in the hope of someday adding them to my rebuilt layout.

I got back into model railroading after I bought my son a Lionel Flyer set for Christmas and saw how "cool" the new technologies (like TMCC and RS) were.

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am a new member, and I live in Kansas City, Mo. I have a 12 X 10 basement layout, and I run O guage Lionel, MTH, K-Line, Marx, and Williams. I am not a collector, but I like to acquire the old passenger trains, ( Texas Special, Southern Belle, Blue Comet, etc.). I am going to build a second level to my layout this winter.

John Walker

[Anonymous]

I live in central PA near York. I had Lionel O Guage from the time my dad bought me my first set (I was 5 at the time; that is over 50 years ago!). We ran the trains all year round. I'm down to some odd pieces of rolling stock, a couple of accessories, and a KW transformer. But I still have 2 or 3 items that were in that original set. I'll be looking for an engine and some track as funds (which are tight at the moment) become available so that I can get things going again. I used to be pretty good with wiring accessories and stuff, but it looks like technology has evolved to the point where I will need to be re-educated (lol). This is a good forum because I'm already learning from the other posts.

Regards,
Jay

[scrager]

Hi, I live in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in an old (over 100 years) farmhouse. I had to move back to Wisconsin to find a place that has a basement that I could put up my trains. Prior to this I usually just ran them around the Christmas tree. The house has a rock basement with low overhead, so first I had to dehumidify, and clean it up before I could use it. I share a 9x7 main table with the family food storage underneath. I added a 10x2 extension down one wall with circular turn around (4x4) at the end so I could get a little longer run, a reversing loop, and a switch yard. I started with a Marx 333 steam engine I bought from a neighbor kid 35 years ago. All of my engines, most of the rolling stock, and all of the Super O track was well used and I had to clean or repair it before I could use it. I enjoy making it all work. I am a Milwaukee Road fan and have tried to get most of my equipment in that scheme or have repainted it to match. Currently I have 2 F3's, 1 GP9, and 2 Marx 333's for locomotive power. I am still using the original 1034 power supply I had 35 years ago, but have added about 5 more 1044/1033's to power the entire layout. Scenery and landscaping is my weakpoint, so I am just getting started on making the layout look more realistic.

[Anonymous]

just signed up tonight. i'm from elkridge, maryland. i have lionel, mth, williams, & kline. my wife and i currently live in small house with no room other then a loop around the xmas tree. hopefully i'll have some room after put an addition on[:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
My name is Steve and just started up model trains. I remember my first when I was a kid and thought I'd get started again. I'm from the Bay Area in California but now out here in Hawaii....

If anyone could let me know what a good web site for making scenery I'd appreciate it. I want to start with a mountain and a tunnel running through...Any help would be appreciated for supplies needed and the website for the how to....Thanks all....

[donl409]

Hi all. From San Diego (north county up by Camp Pendelton Marine base).Started my layout from a christmas present from my wife 2 yrs ago.Now its in the garage on a 5x10 ft layout. All 0-27 track with one new inexpensive train set (from christmas) and the rest is post war items .A 1616 '41 loco , 627 switcher and a 41 army switcher with accompany rolling stock from the 40's thru the 70's. Usually purchased from antique stores around the country. Can you believe that when I put the layout in the garage my wife said it was going to be my car to set outside (lol) oh well .

[Anonymous]

Hi everybody,

I'm from baltimore, maryland and i've been involved in trains since i was a kid. My father was really big in trains. He had a lot of prewar engines and cars. He used to take me with him to the train store, called klines.I would love to look at all the trains.

I really didn't get intobuying trains myself until the early 90's. I got the circus set from k-line. After i got a few sets i decided to tackle my first train garden. My first platform wasn't very elaborate, but my wife was impressed. My father helped me with the electrical parts

I only joined a few days ago, but i am really enjoying this site. My wife says i enjoy trains more than her.................. no comment!

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

I'm from Grove City Pa.
I am prewar collector, interested mainly in lionel and ives o gauge. It's nice to find a place where i can get advice from older collectors. I'm 21 years old now and have been collecting since i turned 13. I just wanted to speak out about a problem i consistantly run into. I've noticed first hand that collectors tend to be rude to the young guys, dismissing us as morons who have no money and no knowledge. I called the red caboose when i was about 18 to inquire about a 289e i wanted to purchase, and the guy on the phone asked my age, i told him and he replied, "I dont have time for stupid kids." and hung up. Well they will never get my business. Whoever that was ill take a knowledge test with you on prewar, and bet 100 bucks ill win. Oh well, i guess when he was busy scaring off customers i was reading everything i could on the trains. It took alot to get the knowledge i have today, and id like to thanks Ted Valis for all his advice. Well thats about all about me, be nice to the young guys well inherit this hobby. Bye the way i still havnt found that 289e.

[Anonymous]

I live in Tucson, AZ and and my layout is 21' X 19' and is shaped like an upside down U. My mainline goes all around the perimeter of the U and has 072 curves. There is a 90 degree crossover in the back, so it's kind of like a lazy 8. All Lionel track with TMCC. I run mostly Lionel engines, but do have some K-Line and MTH. I like passenger trains the best (hence my nickname here). I had our room addition built on our house just for the trains and can answer anyones questions about the process of making a layout LITERALLY FROM THE GROUND UP.

[Anonymous]

hello to all ozone here',
I run 027 track 042 and 054 curves k-line switches and all makes of trains.I have a basement layout u shaped 24 by 14 by 20 . Ilike the new sounds but not the smoke looks cool but the smell is over powering to me. I been collecting trains for 15 yrs and just the last 2 yrs I have been working on the layout

I live in the great state of Maine with my wife of 29 yrs and our son .

[FJ and G]

Hi,

I'm new (just a couple weeks on this forum)

I wi***his forum were more active. I'm posting on the MR site because more activity but still posting here sometimes.

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/

[Anonymous]

F J And G:

Welcome to the forum!

How's the code 143 track coming along?

Tony

[Anonymous]

Hi - I am in New Zealand and therefore was able to be the first in the world to run a toy train in the 21st Century!
Colin Duthie.

[insfil]

Hi All, my name is Phil, from Holbrook, NY and I've been into toy trains from chilhood with the annual under the Christmas tree setup. I have Lionel, K-line, some old Ives & Marx and Weaver.
At long last I'm in the process of finishing my basement and will be building an around the wall layout with a double main for passenger service and a third line for
freight. Total footage will be 76 feet and plan to use Atlas 21st Century track system.
This forum is fantastic, what could be better than the the combo of CTT and this forum.

[spankybird]

Hi, my name it Tom. I live in Willoughby, Ohio, about 15 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio. I was started in this hobby before I was born. My dad bought a Lionel train for my older brother. I received mine when I was about 3 years old. My brother never staid in the hobby, good for me, as now I have the Penn 761 turbine with all the original cars and boxes. When I was about sixteen and started to drive, the trains ended up boxed. After I bought my first house (in 1973), I tried to build a layout. I found the basement was to damp and a new baby on the way, so back in the boxes. Now I in my second house (1999), daughter long gone on her own, and a dry basement. What a shock to see more than just Lionel building trains.

I have a lot of post-war and modern -ear Lionel, most of the new engines are MTH. I love DCS and Proto-sound2. I use 027 tracks. Most I bought used at train shows. In 1998, MTH was just starting to come with its new track. I stayed with what I was use to.

If you click on the web icon at the bottom this posting, it will take you to my web page with photo of my layout. I just started the page this past week, so we are still updating it.

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone. I'm from Manassas, Va.. I am new to the hobby and building an L shaped layout. I am operating the new fastrack PA flyer and buying up all sorts of accessories..
I really enjoy reading this forum... Informative and fun!!

[marxalot]

Hello,

My name is Jim and I'm located in Bloomington Indiana, former
home of the most hated, greatest, basketball coach of all time.
We can discuss off this line! Ha. No chairs, please don't show me
that chair clip again! '[:D]'

Okay I'm starting to accumulate some old Marx equipment which I
enjoyed back in the 1950's. I just stalled out on the HO layout years
back and find this fun at the moment. I'm a floor runner for now. I was
wondering if anyone knows if there is a Marx group anywhere out there?
I think I'll be back in the 50's with Marx for most of my equipment .

This is great place to get info. no doubt. I asked a question about a GG1
on the Trains forum and was really inundated with information!

[Algonquin]

Hi Willow,

Check out the "www.marxtrains.com" site. They are the current manufacturers of Marx tinplate. I believe their site has link to other sites as will as information on Marx.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

One very excellent Marx website out there is http://home.comcast.net/~marxtin/site/marxtin.htm . There's lots of great information on rare and unuaual Marx items. It's a must to check out if you want to find out more about Marx. Being that you're just starting, it'll give you a really good idea of things to look for.

[Anonymous]

HEY GUYS,
DO YOU KNOW ANYWHERE WHERE I CAN FIND O GUAGE TRAIN LOADS FOR IN CARS MOSTLY GONDOLAS?






BRAD OR KNOWN AS MTH MAN

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I live in Watkins Glen NY. I am also pretty new to the forum. I do not have a layout right now. I run my trains on the floor with my kids. My trains are all Marx. I really like the marx 6" tin cars with hook and slot couplers. I attended a train show the other day and a dealer had New Marx and boy are they nice. I bought a flat car with load. I work with a couple guys that are into HO and N gauge and they have to have everything to scale, I could care less about that, but to each their own.

[spankybird]

MTH MAN and kslater,
Welcome to the CTT forum


about car loads – both MTH and K-Line have come out with car loads in the past two years. K-line has wood crates, cable reels with wood sides, etc. and MTH also has things like I beams, crates, etc. Of course you can always make your own.

Kslater – good luck with the marx. Many of use started on the floor and some of use still are.

tom

[Roger Bielen]

For car loads try Michael's, or another craft shop, they have lots of goodies that with a minimum of effort can be made to look like O scale items.

[Anonymous]

Hi guys. I am Tim and live in the mountains of north Idaho..60 miles to the nearest hobby shop. I am a building contractor and cabinet maker. Hate to make you guys jealous but I have a full cabinet shop here at my house to cut and make anything out of wood. Too bad this is my business and actually have to work most of the time..except winter. Moved here 3 yrs ago from Houston Tx area..got tired of the heat. I have had trains since I was 7 yrs old Marx. Currently have Lionel, MTH, and Williams..love those Williams, just got new SP F7 ABA with luxury liners beauuuuuutiful. I have a u shaped layout 12x24 and suspended double track from the ceiling 7x45. I love operating and am starting on scenery . Recently built 36"turntable, howe truss bridges and a lift bridge..I love accessories.. See Yall around..........Tim

[Buckeye Riveter]

Tim,
You don't live in Idaho, you live in God's country.

Welcome to the CTT forum.