New guy looking for input on layout/trains...

[Anonymous]

I already made the mistake of posting this in the O guage area...ooops.
:)

Hi all!
Just found this fantastic forum and look forward to posting here when possible.
Here's the brief rundown:
When I was about 7 years old, my father and grandfather banished me from the basement of our Chicago home for several months leading up to Christmas. As the holiday approached I began to notice strange sounds coming from behind the closed door. Horn sounds. Clacking sounds...you get the drill!
Well, they had taken my dad's 1950's era Santa Fe Lionel O guage set and built an 8' x 8' table for it! Imagine my delight when I ran down the stairs that morning. I remember lots of fun with that set.
Fast forward about 27 years. I've got two little boys (4 & 2) who are already showing keen interest in trains (namely old Thomas...hope that's not a 4 letter word here!). I've still got the benchwork in my garage rafters, but, obviously, the set is much too valuable to let them play with. I've been picking up every cheap Goodwill HO train and bits of scenery I can for months now and (after I finish cleaning out the garage) anticipate setting up a fun, basic layout for "us" to play with.

Time to set aside my militaria collection (wife cheers) and do something a bit more inclusive.

Problem is, I have yet to see any layouts that incorporate this very square sized former O gauge table. Any ideas or can you point me to some plans?

Also, I just purchased a Life-Like Cannonball 88 set at Goodwill and after doing some quick searches on Google have yet to find one bit of info about it. It has a Santa Fe (dark blue and yellow lettering) loco and seems to be pristine. Came with some track and cars as well. I know LL is not a primo line in HO, but that's sort of the point. I'm just curious as to when LL may have released this set and what it might be worth today (buyer's remorse is already setting in!).

Anyhow, I bow to your obvious depths of knowledge and hope I can show off some pics of the layout and ecstatic kids in engineer's hats a few months down the line!
Thanks for a GREAT forum and site!

[ericboone]

Generally, big 8 x 8 tables have gone out of favor for shelf type layouts. With an 8 foot square, assuming you have access from all sides, you'll have a 4 foot reach to the center of the table, which is difficult. In that space, you should have some access to the middle. Many would build a U shaped layout in that space. A shelf type layout generally consists of a shelf about 2 feet wide around the walls and maybe a penisula into the middle of the room. This style allows a longer mainline run, allows the operator to walk with his or her train, and maintains a much more manageable reach for construction and re-railing cars.

You are correct about basic Life-Like not being a "primo" line, but it can work. (They do have there Proto 2000 line, which is very nice.) Unfortunately, I don't think your LL Cannonball set would be worth much at all. HO scale trains, except brass and unlike Lionel, are not collectables and typically do not hold their value.

I would recommend picking up a copy of Model Trains Step by Step. (https://secure.kalmbach.com/AdvantageWeb/eCirc/Offer.aspx?PromotionCode=I4A5) Most hobby shops have it and I've seen it at Barnes & Noble too.

[egmurphy]

Eric's right about the table size being awkward to work on because of the reach problem. You'd probably be ahead of the game to simply cannibalize the old benchwork to use as raw material for a new arrangement.

If you were determined to reuse it (possibly as a temporary measure while experimenting with the trains with the kids) you might consider cutting a 3'x3' access hatch in the center and using the remaining table, which would be 2-1/2' wide, for the layout. I'd hate to crawl under to use the access hatch, but you sound like you're still young enough to do it.

Or forget the access hatch idea, and just work up a trackplan that uses the outer 2-1/2' to 3' of the table, where you can easily reach. Leave the center unused or prefab a mountain out of foam to plunk down and occupy the space.

No problem with "Thomas" here. Most people on this forum applaud any attempt to get get kids involved in the hobby. Congrats on trying to make it a family hobby. Now all you have to do is get the wife involved in the scenery.


Regards

Ed

[BRVRR]

GameHunter,
Welcome to the forum. Ed has it right. The 8x8 table would be difficult, but a big mountain in the center would fill in the void.
How about starting small. 4.6 or 4x8. If you have a lot of used equipment, start by setting up a simple circle of track and testing the engines and rolling stock. There is nothing more frustrating than engines that don't run, power packs that don't 'power' or rolling stock that doesn't roll. Particularly to small children. They loose interest quick.
Thomas is great! I have Thomas and a Harry Potter Hogwartts Express on my layout for my grandson. A basic Thomas train set, engine, Anne & Clarabel, circle of track and a power supply can be purchased on the INTERNET for about $35.00. Good way to start and gives you the basics for 'testing'' your other purchases. The kids will love it.
If you continue with your idea of an 8x8, here is a link with several layouts:

[url="http://atlasrr.com"]

Here's another:

[url="http://layoutdepot.com"]

Keep in mind that most of the ovals can be 'squared' by simply inserting straight track into the center of the end-curves. And O and N-scale layouts can be built in HO with suitable adjustments for size.
Hope this helps. Let us know how you make out.
Good Luck!! [:D]

[pbjwilson]

BigGamehunter,
Check this site out.
http://www.thortrains.net/4holay4.html
You could "square off" some of these layouts by adding straights in the curves.

I've got two boys 5 and 9 years old. We set up layouts on the basement floor using Bachmann E-Z track. It comes in alot of starter sets these days and it's easy to work with and great for floor layouts. Anyway, we have a blast setting up layouts in HO and O gauge, even have some G gauge which is also great for kids. They're really big trains, takes two hands for a kid to pick them up, but it's scaled close to alot of other kids toys, cars and trucks etc.

My 5 year old loves his HO Thomas set. He sets it up with his HOt Wheels and action figures and plays for hours. My 9 year old is more into the O gauge, I think it's because they run really fast and crash alot.

Hope you get trains a runnin soon on your 8 x 8. Good luck - keep us posted!

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot for the insights and the links, guys. I had a feeling this was the kind of forum with good advice...
Well, I spent the better part of the weekend going through mounds of junk in the garage (did I mention I was a packrat?) in the 1st step to setting this up.
I'm thinking about just undoing the hinges on the table and starting with a simple 4 x 8 layout to test both my own and my boys' patience and interest.
I figure after that I can add the other half any way I want...contemplating a "super ledge" that would run 4 x 16L and still allow room for reach and walk around on the whole layout.
I'm going to check out those layouts now...with any luck, I'll post some pictures in a couple of months...in the meantime, here's to a great hobby.
Thanks!