My first post here...feelin' the urge!

[Jim Duda]

Soooo...if I have an Aristo or USA train and the correct track (std. gauge) for them, does that mean I can or cannot run the LGB stuff...? The battery powered, R/C approach seems to have merit at this point for what I want to do. Considering track maintenance, wiring, and that battery technology is constantly improving, it does present an interesting option.

Have any of you folks wi***hat you would have chosen this approach? I realize there are pros and cons to any system, but it does seem to offer a compelling argument...

So many choices...

Jim Duda

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jim Duda

Oooops! Now I'm not so sure I meant STD. GAUGE...since I am so new, I associate "Garden Scale" with the LGB stuff I see running in the stores at Christmas time. Anyway, that's the gauge size I have in mind. I need to read up on the dimensions of the gauges so I don't make a costly mistake down the line...

JD

Its pretty easy , by "Standard Gauge" we mean the trains that in reality operate on 4'-8 1/2" gauge track, the big boys, Union Pacific, Santa Fe, CSX, those guys, the big deisels, big steam engines, streamline cars, etc. Aristo Craft, USA, are the best examples.

The other stuff like LGB and Bachmann represents narrow guage trains, Euro 1 meter guage for LGB european prototype stuff, and 3'-0" guage, mostly Colorado rail lines for Bachmann, like D&RGW.once you get familiar with who makes what its pretty easy to identify what you are looking for.

[Jim Duda]

Oooops! Now I'm not so sure I meant STD. GAUGE...since I am so new, I associate "Garden Scale" with the LGB stuff I see running in the stores at Christmas time. Anyway, that's the gauge size I have in mind. I need to read up on the dimensions of the gauges so I don't make a costly mistake down the line...

JD

[vsmith]

I have to agree that for mainline standard guage, Aristo Craft is good stuff.

Dont be too afraid of switches, aristo switches work good with aristo trains, i would suggest plan on at least one passing siding to allow two train operation.

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim
If std gauge is your thing take a good hard look at Aristocraft their couple of freight cars that I have, have a couple of features that I like.
Propper suspention for a start and metal wheels their plain track is good and is weatherproof.
I dont know about their locomotives as all of mine bar two are LGB the odd two is a Hartland Mack swicher a nice little runner rather suprising with the relatively inexpensive nature of the locomotive the other is a Bachmann ten wheeler curently being batterd into a larger scale loco.
I would sugest having a few swiches so you can change the route the train takes and a small yard to store trains during an operating session.
Me I like to play oops!! I mean operate trains but also sometimes just idle and watch them go by.
regards John

[bman36]

Hi Jim,
Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here. Check out the other threads here regarding the questions you have. All of them have been covered in great detail and should help in your decision making. Nice yard you have there to build in. Enjoy the forum. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Welcome,

I think you will enjoy posting and learning here. I have been in this forum only a short time and have learned so much and met so many people from aroun dthe world. You have most definatley come to the right place with your questions.[#welcome][4:-)]

[Jim Duda]

Thanks for the response John...pretty sure it will be mainline, std gauge. I'm not into switching, yard operations, etc. More of a hands off, just watching it roll along the route without stopping. That's why the diesel passenger Aristocraft seems interesting. In fact, I'm leaning toward NO SWITCHES at all...maybe later, to add a siding to park the train in a weatherproof shelter. Eventually some structures if I remain interested.

Gramma bought our youngest son a starter LGB set about 15 years ago which includes a small steamer type loco and a couple of 4 wheel cars - I was intending on using that to test the trackage and control system (yet undecided). Tons of questions like which couplers, add on sound systems, aftermarket smoke systems, track sizes/brands, etc., but all that will eventually get sorted out.

I would love to hear the pros and cons of your equipment, though...

We certainly seem to agree on the quality versus the quantity thing! One loco and a few car consist is all I want...but they will have to be good stuff!

JD

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim
[#welcome]
I have a number of different brands of train all of which have there pros and cons.
before geting overly concerned about which train
I would sugest sorting out a theme for your line std or narrow gauge mainline short line
logger ect this will determin the sort of trains you want.
Two area s not to compromise on quality are your locomotives and track work.
Some like me say it is better to have a few good pieces while others say less quality and more of it.
the second is ok for freight and passanger cars as it is usualy easy to get good trucks under them.
But don't compremise on locomotives and track
For the first set I would sugest going into your local hobby shop and having a look at the trains talk to the dealer see them run, does the set look right does it look like a tender is missing ect some large scale locomotives in sets look like a tender is missing.
Some small 4wh cars are quite inexpencive and the small locomotive to pull them is the same and reasonably good but this may not be what you want.
regards John

[Jim Duda]

Hi folks -
For several years now, as I sit at the kitchen table and look out into the backyard, I think about running a train from island to island across that footbridge. That's as far as I've gotten, but I'm real close to taking my second step to get the train moving (pardon the pun!). My first step was starting this thread here.

Anyway, I have a ton of reading to do before I spend the first dollar on anything and hope to learn most of what I need to do from this forum. At this point I THINK I'd like the Aristocraft train:
http://gallery.bcentral.com/Gallery/ProductDetails.aspx?GID=3725153&PID=1770884&page=1&sortOrder=0
running on nickel-silver track. The weather here in central Texas will pretty much allow me all year operation which helps me justify this adventure.

My plan is to build a dogbone layout with the large ovals in the two islands, and narrow down to cross the footbridge, embedding the track in it to simulate the prototypical grade crossing. It will be an elevated system, matching the height of the footbridge (about 12 inches), which will eliminate any grading problems.

So here are my initial questions:
1. Is the above Aristocraft train a piece o' crap or is it up there with the LGB stuff?
2. Where do you buy your trains, track, and controls? I prefer to order on-line but refuse to pay MSRP.

In 3 rail O Gauge, MTH is the clear winner in smoke output and right up there in sounds and control. I presume there are clear winners in these and other categories in this scale and I'll wait until I learn about them and I'm better educated overall before I make my first purchase.

Thanks everyone...remember when you were taking your "first step"?

Jim Duda