Working cars on street

[jacob t. b.]

 Is it worth the time for the realism of working cars on the streets?

[cowman]

What do you mean by working cars?  Ones with operating headlights or the ones that have come out recently that move on the layout? 

Since you are new to model railroading, I would suggest that you develop those skills before venturing into moving cars.  Having lights in your cars would be fairly simple, wires up through the layout and installing LEDs in your cars. 

If you really think that this layout your are working on now is going to last a long time before you change it, you could look into the moving vehicles and leave your layout so you can add them later.  I have an idea they are fairly expensive.  If you wait a few years the relative cost should come down.

Whether they are worth it or not is entirely up to you.  There are many things in life we would like to have, but we all have to decide if the cost, whether money or time, is worth the other things we could do with those resources.

Good luck,

Richard 

[Dave Merrill]

Jacob,

Here is how Terry Thompson of MRR magazine did it.

http://mrr.trains.com/How%20To/Articles/Layout%20Visits/2009/12/Video%20Realistic%20moving%20vehicles%20on%20a%20model%20railroad.aspx

However be advised that these are not inexpensive.

Enjoy the hobby and make your layout just what you want it to be.

[hon30critter]

Hi Jacob:

I really think that a moving car system would be worth the time if you can do it. I have seriously considered including a car system in my layout but I don't have room for the necessary return loops that will allow the cars to run back and forth. There is a rather large cost involved but ultimately for the added interest it would be way cool! You could do it if, as was stated previously, you planned your layout to accomodate the road system and perhaps limited your locomotive roster to six or eight engines instead of the 12 you suggested in an earlier post. One limitation with the Faller system is that the vehicles are primarily european so they may or may not fit into your time and place, but that might be an opportunity for some kitbashing.

One thing I would suggest you do is establish a realistic plan for your layout including a budget. If you want to be able to run trains fairly soon then I would put things like a moving car system on the back burner while you work on developing a basic layout and getting it running. Work the car system into your design by all means but spend your time and money on the railroad. For the immediate future your roads and cars would be static just like most everyone else's are. If you do your homework you would be able to plan the street beds with enough depth and width to install the Faller system at a later time. Otherwise, you could spend the next 10 years planning and dreaming and never run a train, or a car.

Dave

EDIT: Jacob - I just learned via another of your posts that you already have an operating layout. Congratulations!! I have been playing with model trains for 10 years now and I don't plan on having an actual layout until I retire in another 6 years. My advise is still the same. Take the time to plan your layout improvements especially in terms of what you can afford (that is why I have to wait to build my layout). All that said - there is no rule against dreaming!!! Actually, that is part of the fun. I have "been there - done that" with all of the things you are asking about, so go for it!