Newbie to O Gauge; BIG Question ~~~

[8ntruck]

I have a Williams BL-2 and a GP-9.  Both are good performers, look good, and have reasonable sounding bells and horns. 

I will agree that the lighting could be better.  The headlights on mine are incandecant lights on the frames that do not line up very well with the openings and lenses in the body shell, making for the poor lighting.  These two Williams locomotives run faster at a lower voltage than my old post war stuff.  Running at the lower voltages makes the incandecant bulb dimmer which does not help the lighting situation, either.

I think I have seen adds in CTT from several different sources for LED lighting and conversion kits.  I have never investigated further, as improving the lighting on these two locomotives is not very improtant to me at the moment. 

Making these types of modifications is just one more way to enjoy the hobby.

[fifedog]

GN - Okay.  Given this a lot of thought.  If I were your rich unclefife, I'd have you start with a 4 x 8, using LIONEL FASTRACK.  I absolutely love SMALL LAYOUT #1, in the FEB 2010 CTT (pg 46).  Instead of over/under, I would use a 90 degree crossing.  What I love best about this track plan, is you start off with two industrial spurs, with an eye on expanding the layout in the future.  It includes a passing siding, and we can wire it to park a train while running another around.

I would start you off with LIONEL set #31753 GN EP-5 (Post War Celebration) Freight Set.  Several big advertisers are offering this set (one at closeout price, in this same issue)

And because we are running an electric engine, we are gonna run catenary poles by MTH, which probably will make you the only kid on your block to have such a system.

[GN_mountain_goat]

FifeDog - Thanks for the idea - I have not gotten my February issue, and can not wait.  Right now, the best I can do is work on a 4 x 8 (5 x 9 max) layout due to room constraints, so this should be good.  I saw the Lionel 31753 GN Feight set, but I didn't want to go with the EP5  electrics; due to the cat poles (thanks for the info on the MTH items), and, I wanted to use the diesels that run through Montana. The more I uncoverm the more I know it would be nice to HAVE a "rich unclefife", or just the rich uncle!"

[Andrew Falconer]

The Williams SD45 has an old fashioned round, bayonet base light bulb for the headlight. The bulb has to postioned in such a way that it only dimly illuminates the top headlight and does not illuminate the nose headlight. It is not a disaster, but the lighting is so weak that it takes a totally dark room to see them.

 It would take a web search to find O Gauge/ O Scale light emitting diode replacement lamps.

 Andrew

[fifedog]

Ok.  Getting to know you a little better.  No cat - no problem.  Then you should take a look at this set:

http://www.lionel.com/products/productfinder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-31952&expandBranch=0&Keywords=great%20northern&CategoryID=&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

And perhaps this for one of those sidings:

http://www.lionel.com/products/productfinder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-26846&expandBranch=0&Keywords=great%20northern&CategoryID=&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

[dougdagrump]

Wow, all kinds of good info coming up.

I tend to agree with Officer Fife on his suggesstion using the basic small "conventional " type layout with the option of expansion at a future date.

Don't know where you are located in N.J. but if you are up for a road trip try to get out to see the "N.J. HiRailers" in I believe Patterson. An exceptional layout and they can also be a great source of info.

As far as the control systems are concerned I use and enjoy both on the club layout, although the DCS system can at time be very recalcitrant. We have added the Legacy system but I have not tried it yet

[GN_mountain_goat]

fifedog

Ok.  Getting to know you a little better.  No cat - no problem.  Then you should take a look at this set:

http://www.lionel.com/products/productfinder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-31952&expandBranch=0&Keywords=great%20northern&CategoryID=&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

And perhaps this for one of those sidings:

http://www.lionel.com/products/productfinder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-26846&expandBranch=0&Keywords=great%20northern&CategoryID=&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

Thanks, Unka Fife!  I like the coal car - I saw this fun little car, to:

http://www.lionel.com/products/productfinder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-37012&expandBranch=0&Keywords=grEAT%20NORTHERN&CategoryID=&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

(I think I'm gonna be in trouble! The provebial kid in a candy store! Time to start listing my old GI JOE collection on eBay!)

 

[fifedog]

We have a few Joizey boyz on the forums.  How did you come to like the GN and "Big Sky" country.  Is there a certain segment or branchline in Montana that you like?  Have you checked out any of the Color Guides published by Morning Sun?

[GN_mountain_goat]

Yes, we "Joisey"  guys seem to be everywhere!   To answer your question, a few years ago, my wife and I went out west to spend some time in Glacier NP.  We've visited NM, WY, COL & Utah a few time, but that was our first time to Montana, and boy is it splendid!  Not bashing NJ, but for those of you who have visited here, you know we have nothing that compares. Anyway - I was not specifically  extra interested in trains as a hobby, but did spend a lot of time in West Glacier, Coram, Whitefish,  Essex; visiting the Isaac Walton Inn and such, and it stuck with me for awhile.  A chance visit to an in-law over the holidays seeing his trains under the tree, sparked my interest, and my wife suggesting that she would like a train set out on the holidays, was all it took [silly woman, little does she know...] 

I dove right in. I wanted to study the train lines that would run between Whitefish and Havre. Being a stickler for detail, I started researching a number of sites (gbhrs; greatnorthernempire.net) and picked up the David Hickcox "Great Northern in color" book.  And, here I am.  I didn't want to get the Empire Builder passenger set, but wanted to get going by building a freight set.  As a newbie, that was where it started to get ALL confusing (see original first post).   I had seen the "Retro Railroad" layout in sept-dec. 09 CTT, and thought that may be a fun layout to attempt - but the latest issue has some good ones as well.  Plus - everyone here on this forum has given me so much info and idea, I'm real excited.   That's my story -

[Andrew Falconer]

 

I ended up getting a G.N. freight train by putting together individual cars from various manufacturers.

I got the Great Northern bug back in 1996-1997 when I got the 1960's Glaicer Green ACF Center Flow 4-Bay Covered Hopper by Weaver, the Glacier Green 40' Boxcar by M.T.H., the G.N. ACF Center Flow 2-Bay Covered Hopper by Lionel, and the special run Glacier Green 50' Box Car pair by Weaver Models. 

Instead of getting a Great Northern locomotive in 1998, I got a more modern BNSF Heritage Premium GE DASH 9 Locomotive from Lionel.   Similar colors to Great Northern.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Having been born in Tacoma, WA I had originally started collecting Northern Pacific and Great Northern engines and rolling stock. My parents started me off with a Northern Pacific engine from the MPC era. It sat in the box for a few years while I was in the service, then college, and a few years till I had the money to get back into Lionel. My intent was to model the GN Line through the Sierra Nevada range. Had a good portion of it under framing and had started scenicing when the A/C line froze can caused 80% of the layout to be damaged. That resulted in the permanent layout being dismantled and everything put back into storage till I built a Christmas layout. Then I moved to Baltimore and switched over to B&O, C&O, WM, and Chessie. THEN MTH and Lionel started producing more and more NP & GN stuff! Oh well, I'm glad I have what I have now.

Still have that first NP engine, and the bay window caboose I found that matches it.

[Andrew Falconer]

If you are opting for high-quality over high-volume, then look for the Lionel O Scale Great Northern PS-1 40' Boxcar, A.A.R. 50' Double-Door Boxcar, and the Atlas O G.N. PS-1 50' Box Car.

Andrew

[fifedog]

YOWZA!  You're gonna need trees...lots of trees.  It may be too late to scour the shelves for after Christmas markdowns.  I'd tell everyone next year to get me a pack of trees instead of that necktie or coffee mug.

That Isaac Walton Inn is very close in appearance to our Bavarian Inn (Shepperdstown,WV).  Slide over to ebay and check out these listings under the Dept 56 Dickens Village line: Staghorn Lodge, The Pied Bull Inn, Nicholas Nickelby Cottage, and Timbers Hotel.  Out of this group, I think the Staghorn Lodge has the right "feel" for the Isaac Walton.

 

[GN_mountain_goat]

Andrew Falconer

If you are opting for high-quality over high-volume, then look for the Lionel O Scale Great Northern PS-1 40' Boxcar, A.A.R. 50' Double-Door Boxcar, and the Atlas O G.N. PS-1 50' Box Car.

Andrew

Thanks, Andrew - I definitely will be trying to lean towards quality over quantity since I am starting fresh - I'll check these out.  Stil deciding on the motive power...