My Walt Disney World Railroad-like Railroad

[REI]

Hi,

I'm new here and I just registered and I wanted to know if anyone here is familiar with G-scale New Bright Battery operated trains and Scientific Toys trains. I have My own Railroad that consist of 10 engines, (8 of them are New Bright and 2 of them are Scientific Toys) and 8 sets of rolling stock, ( 4 of them are the Walt Disney World Railroad train sets and the last 4 are frieght sets). Is anyone here familiar with the Walt Disney World Railroad? For those of you who would like to share thoughts, please post back.

Thank you.

[ttrigg]

Most of us have some.  I get mine when they go on clearance price after Christmas.  They are primarily used to pull the track cleaning car prior to an operating session, or for when the grandkids visit.  Thus sparing any damage to the good stuff.

[REI]

The reason I signed up here is because their is a fourm about  battery trains here. Other disscussion boards consider battery trains an insult to say the least. But I guess this board understands us battery operated train modelers better. Mine are realistic and those that don't like them are inconsiderete and a pain in the lower back end.

[REI]

Here are some pictures of my G-scale Railroad.

Here's a video of #3 Silver Rail Express, she was manufactured in 1986 making her the oldest in my engine roster.

Here are some pictures of her:

[Anonymous]

I'm in the process of starting a garden railroad using New Bright trains and track I've been buying on e-bay. I get the impression from various forums that most garden railroaders would not consider this a railroad just a cheap toy. I'm doing it mostly for the layout, scale buildings and scale plantings, etc.. The rairoad is just an excuse to build the rest of it. Since I just want a train that will move around the track and track that requires no maintance at a low price this was the logical choice.
Since you have so many trains can you tell me do the New Bright, Scientific Toys and Walt Disney all work on the same plastic track? I'm having trouble finding enough cheap straight pieces of New Bright track to complete my layout. If the track for all of these will work for the New Bright trains, it might make it easier to find. Thanks for the help.

[REI]

I'm in the process of starting a garden railroad using New Bright trains and track I've been buying on e-bay. I get the impression from various forums that most garden railroaders would not consider this a railroad just a cheap toy. I'm doing it mostly for the layout, scale buildings and scale plantings, etc.. The rairoad is just an excuse to build the rest of it. Since I just want a train that will move around the track and track that requires no maintance at a low price this was the logical choice.
Since you have so many trains can you tell me do the New Bright, Scientific Toys and Walt Disney all work on the same plastic track? I'm having trouble finding enough cheap straight pieces of New Bright track to complete my layout. If the track for all of these will work for the New Bright trains, it might make it easier to find. Thanks for the help.

While I frown upon those who don't consider G-scale battery trains, I'm glad that you chose a New Bright layout. Now first off, go with New Bright G-scale track ONLY. DO NOT use Scientific Toys track-you will regret the weak joiners and  little variety of track they offered and besides,  you cannot mix Scientific track with the New Bright track, the joiners are not the same. As for the Scientific Toys engines, you can indeed run them on New Bright track, infact, run all of your trains (Scientific or New Bright) on your New Bright track. You will need a roadbed for the tracks if you're gonna have an out door garden railroad, (I don't use roadbed because my Railroad is indoors).  And always remeber to put your trains away when you don't plan to use them. I use a storage facility (roundhouse) to store all of my trains.

 Now, here come my questions,

1. How many engines and sets of rollingstock are you going to use?

2. How are the weather conditions where you live?

3. Do you plan to have a storage place when the trains are not in use?

Some more insight with pictures would be nice so I can get a better idea and can help you more.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for replying. To answer your questions:
1.I'll probably just run 1 engine with a few cars. The first one I bought on e-bay ran until I put it on the track and then it wouldn't move. So I took it apart to see if I could figure out what was wrong. After that it would run at all :-). I bought another one which works but i'm not sure how many cars it will pull, especially since the the track will have a little slope to it.
2. We don't have to worry about hurricanes here, maybe an occassional tornado. The track is being built on our private campsite in a campground in North Central Ohio. We have all kinds a weather here 80's to 90's in the summer to below 0 in the winter. Winter will have snow anywhere from a couple inches to a couple feet during a season. We also usually get at least one good ice storm each season. The campground basically shuts down from early December until March.
3. We will bring the train inside when not in use. I plan to bring in my buildings in the off season and cover anything that's fragile and can't be moved. The railroad is in early stages of construction so my pictures won't show much. It is in an area with lot's of tall tress mostly oak, maple and cherry. In the fall we battle a lot of leaves. The area is sloped but I plan to get the track to just a sligh slope by building a rock mountain (with waterfall), wooden trestle, concrete arched bridges, etc.

[REI]

Is your engine New Bright? What's the name and when was it built? What cars will run in your train, frieght, passenger? If your engine is New Bright then chances are that it's a 2-6-2 prairie, 2-6-0 mogul, or 4-4-0 American. I sure know A LOT about G-scale New Bright Trains and the time they were made! I suggest you find a turn out switch track to make a spur line to back your train up into a roundhouse to store it when not in use. How many staitions are going to be used in your Railroad?

[Anonymous]

The engine is New Bright - Rio Grande 1986. Will run freight cars - box car, log car, tank car, caboose. I think it's a 2-6-2. No stations, spur or roundhouse are in phase 1 plans, but may be added down the road. As I mentioned this railroad is at a campground. We go there only a couple weekends a month (during good weather) and only a small amount of that time is spent working on the railroad. This is going to be a slow project. I do some things at home like building trestles, making buildings, working on people, etc. The layout is basd for the most part on things in the area and most of the buildings are 1:32 scale replicas of actual buildings nearby. Here's what I plan to have to start: An Amish farm - with house, barn, silo, windmill, various animals and people, Amish buggy on the road, hay wagon, etc.; A country church with country cemetery; an old grist mill with water flowing over a working wheel; a covered bridge; a one-room schoolhouse with outhouse; a campground with several style tents, a campfire (lighted at night), flag pole, outhouses, firewood stacked, lots of people and wildlife; a river with flowing water and canoers, kayakers, and other people in and around the river; an ice cream shop made from an old caboose; a gift/flower shop made from an old box car. With all this stuff plus plantings and a few fake trees to fill in until the real stuff grows up, I'm looking a several years to develope phase 1 .

[REI]

Sounds nice!

[John Busby]

Hi REI

Well your choice of prototype is not my cup of tea but what ever you enjoy is the way to go.

I do think with the collection of trains you have its time to build a proper layout where you can go mad with your chosen theme.

A medium to large fairy tale castle for your line is going to be an essential scene setting piece you might get away with a small watch tower if space is tight.

You should be able to create something from blue foam it will be a large piece so so will need to be made from lightweight material just so you can move it from the bench to its resting place

I think you would wise not to stick rigidly to the Disney World Railroad but instead use that as your ruling guide thus allowing for freight operations which I would not expect to be present on the real Disney World Railroad.

That's my two cents worth on it.

Other than take your time to do it properly you will get far more enjoyment and a sense of satisfaction that can only come from a job well done.

HAVE FUN that's the most important thing.

regards John

 

[REI]

Sounds like a good sugestion, John. My immagination does think of a Kingdom-like railroad. If I seem to stick rigidly to the Walt Disney World Railroad is because it is my favorite Railroad in the world, I believe they boast the four most beautiful and majestic engines known and I feel I grew up with them. Since I'm moving, my Railroad will stay the same, but this time a would like more scenery, and I would like it to be Kingdom-like. Mabye you can help me scince I really don't know about building structures, scenery, ect....

[John Busby]

Hi REI

Sounds like I got the light weight scenery part right if you are moving the trick will be getting the balance between light and resilience you are going to need both.

Sounds like you have a good grip on what you want I await further developments with interest

The Disney castle is based on a German one suggest looking at books on German maybe even French  castles for inspirations you might even find a watch tower with a pointy roof which will look the part but be a much smaller and manageable proposition

You will then need 1/2 timbered style buildings these are an easy propersistion to make or other buildings of choice that fit together to form the look you want 

The buildings even the small ones can be quite large even small ones like the A frame cottage I am working on pictured in the scratch building section

Just in case you are interested Schleich do a nice king figure and some other courtiers which are about the right size to be useful oh" and a rather nice dragon they will not be cheap but can be found in a good toy shop

regards John

[REI]

Maybe Claude Frollo could be present in my scenery plans? I think I would need a lot more space in the center or middle of my layout for the buildings and scenery, But I believe that "essance" or feeling of the atmosphere is very important and the essance I would want is the feeling of the Magic Kingdom, which obviously is very "mixed" and intertwined and that's what I would really enjoy.

[John Busby]

Hi REI

Ah! the essence you will be needing a resident witch or wizard to make that.

Lots of inspiration around the place for all sorts of things that could be included in your dream

Its beginning to sound like quite a fun project that will be hard to stop once you really get going on it

regards John

[REI]

I hope I will get around to adding the "atmosphere" that I have in my imagination when my Railroad moves to Oklahoma. I'll see what I do when I move over there and mabye you can give me some tips. Oh! And the "essence" has to be just what I want it to feel and the "vibes" you get when I create a Kingdom for my Railroad have to be just right!

[John Busby]

HI REI

First tip find and read everything on the scratch building forum about building structures.

Borrow a book on building Fantasy War games buildings from the library, you will be doing much the same only a lot larger, seems odd but should help with the atmosphere side of things as well

Bound to be some very useful tips there I picked up a few ideas from both.

Now would be a good time to start reading the fairy-tales  I mean doing the research so you have an idea of what structures you need or want and the sketches ready for when its time to start building.

Making card mock ups is a good way to get a feel for size and will give you an idea of what will fit and to a much lesser degree if you have captured the feel you want.

Can be done at zero or very low cost for the test structures which beats having to throw out the proper and more complete building because they are not as you wanted them to be. 

materials will vary a bit depending on indoor or out door location.

More specific help will come from more than just me when you know what questions you need to ask.

regards John

[piercedan]

I feel that people should run what they like.  It is their RR to do with as they please.

 

I have mostly LGB, but I like their saying that states but they are only toys, we build toys!!

 

If you want realism, you must go to the 1 to 1 scale.  Walt Kimble did this, so can others.

 

 

[REI]

I feel that people should run what they like.  It is their RR to do with as they please.

 

I have mostly LGB, but I like their saying that states but they are only toys, we build toys!!

 

If you want realism, you must go to the 1 to 1 scale.  Walt Kimble did this, so can others.

 

 

That's what I like to hear! By the way, I think you meant Ward Kimball.

[Cheese]

Well,

I don't plan on building my Garden Railway battery powered, however, I would like to have a few New Bright engines and convert them to electricity, like maybe a couple 2-6-2s. I also plan on converting my Scientific 2-6-0 and detailing it, alot.

I just saw on e-bay to New Bright elelctric sets I want alot. One is a Pennsy set with what looks like a 2-6-2 or 2-6-0 and a W&A 4-4-0 set. They are going cheap too.

Cheese

[REI]

I saw those sets on e-bay and they are nice indeed but they don't smoke. I wanted to install a smoke unit in one of my New Bright engines. Would you know anything about installing a smoke unit?

 Thanks.

[Cheese]

No,

I don't too much care for smoke units, but I am sure someone can help you with that.

Cheese

[vsmith]

Theres always MY smoke unit:

Insert into loco, light fuse, run like &^%, LOTS of smoke gaurenteed!!!

[REI]

Theres always MY smoke unit:

Insert into loco, light fuse, run like &^%, LOTS of smoke gaurenteed!!!

 HAHA! good one, Victor!

[Camaro1967]

I am not familiar with these New Bright Trains, Sorry, but this looks like something my grandson would really like. What is the type of battery power? Are they rechargable?  I have  a New Bright Jeep, and it has its own rechargable battery, and will run a long time on one charge.  Sorry to not know much about these yet.

Thanks

Paul 

[vsmith]

6 C cells in the tender is all thats needed, if it has a radio control unit, 1 9V battery in the RC unit. You can use rechargable C cells no problem, as long as you have the seperate charger for the batteries. Remember these have no throttle, they are 'go' or 'stop' but they are a good introductory for kids.

I would suggest looking for a Scientific set, I think they are better overall and are more avaliable as new or near new sets.

[Camaro1967]

Thanks, I will see what I can find.

Paul 

[REI]

You should be able to find the older New Bright sets on eBay. They used to be avalible at retail stores years ago, I think New Bright has stoped their production of G-scale train sets. The Scientific Toys sets can still be found at stores around the holiday season though. I personally like New Bright better, they're more detailed and pretty than the Scientifics, The two Scientific engines I have are both kitbashed with different smoke stacks and add-on bachmann details that I found from scrap. I just can't stand the way the Scientifics come out of the box, it's like they're lacking.

 My two cents

[MesaTrainGuy]

Great discussion! 

I recently got into G gauge, both plastic toys and their more expensive cousins.  Personally, I find little difference in my ability to enjoy either type.  In fact, the plastic toys may be better in that they are less expensive to obtain, and you're not out as much money if one gets broken.  When I get one that is broken, I remove the broken parts and throw them away, and I keep the good parts to repair others.

As for the plastic models, I prefer the Scientific Toys engines more than the New Bright.  Mostly because the New Bright seem to have a lot of trouble with the switches.  But that may also just be a function of the abuse by former owners.  I would prefer that they not even have the track-operated switch.

But the Scientific also offer "puffing" smoke in some models, radio control, and sounds.  I will buy various units and piece together the options to make a fully-equipped engine.

I do tend to like the New Bright cars better, though.  There is a greater selection available, they have better detail, and even have more realistic dual-axles.

As for the track, someone metioned earlier a better variety of New Bright, but I'm finding the opposite.  All I have ever seen from NB is curve, straight, and stop switch tracks.  Scientific has curve, straight, 90-degree crossover, and left and right turnout switches.  Although I have an incredibly difficult time finding the turnouts.  I think that is a regional thing though.  The turnouts I have found came from the East coast, so perhaps there is a department store out there that carries the Scientific stuff.  But I have a virtually unlimited supply of the curves, straights and crossovers, so let me know if you need some.

Someone also mentioned that NB track is sturdier, but I have not observed that either.  They are both fairly fragile and need to be treated with care during assembly and disassembly.  What I do like better about the NB track the holes in the ties you can use to fasten them down, although if that's really important you can drill holes in the Scientific track.

As for compatibility of being able to use various vendors trains on various track, I have found that all of the plastic "G gauge" trains will run on almost all track.  The exception being Echo Toys.  Their wheels are not tapered at the edges and are too wide to pass through the New Bright stop switches.  They will pass through Scientific crossovers, but are a little extra noisy.

Just before Christmas I shot video of a Scientific train, a New Bright train, and the Lionel Polar Express all running on a figure 8 track of Scientific Toys track (not all at the same time however).  All performed fine.

Guy

 

[REI]

I'm glad that you have found this wonderful activity; I'm sure you will have fun!

Now, as for the track, Are you sure that you are talking about the New Bright tracks? Scientific Toys did not make left and right switchout tracks, just straight and curve. And yes, I urge you to see for yourself that the New Bright tracks are much better. They join better, are more detailed, are compatible with the Scientific trains, and have a more track variety. But let me warn you that finding the New Bright switch out tracks is not easy due to the fact that they were made by New Bright in 1989. You have to look it up on ebay and they aren't always listed. If you're having a hard time with the New Bright loco switches that are located at the bottom of the loco (on the frame) my advice is that you can crack them out so they wont have any contact with the rail switches. I haven't done that with my engines but you can do it.  I know many prefer the Scientific engines to New Bright engines, but I personally like the New Brights better because they have more detail and the older New Brights that were made in the 80's and 90's are really neat because they have internal, fan-driven air whistle, metal bell, and some of them have smoke units that when the whistle blows, smoke emits from the stack. The force that makes the smoke emit from the stack is the air from the whistle, a tube conected from the smoke unit to the fan opening. The Scientific engines have a kicker that kicks a pouch and "puffs" the smoke out the stack with each kick. I am curious to know how the Echo engines are since I have never owned one. From what I have seen in pictures their overall body design is similar to a Scientific 2-6-0 mogul but the machinery is similar to the old New Bright's "mechanical" type machinery with air whistles. I only have two Scientific engines in my fleet of ten engines, the other eight are New Bright. One of my Scientifics, the #1 Walter E. Disney underwent vast modifications throughout 2007. The other Scientific, #9 Lionel Holiday Special, is about the same as it was out-of-the-box except that I changed the smoke stack and removed the pilot wheels, making it an 0-6-0. The Scientific engines and the New Bright engines are both G scale but notice that the Scientifics are fairly larger than the New Brights and tend to dwarf the New Bright engines.

 I look foward to discussing more.