A few weeks ago I bought some HO equipment and embarked on a project with my grandchildren. I didn't realize it at the time but what I was really doing was opening the door on a new obsession. For the past 2 days I have been designing and redesigning layouts. I don't know if this is typical. I think model trains should come with a warning label much like cigarettes.
Yup. It's too late. You're in the vortex.
You are now in big trouble. I got into the hobby in the same way, more or less. Let me guess, you have a simple over/under figure 8 that will end up on a 4X8 sheet, and now you need more room, the 4X8 is either gone or on its way out. You are looking into DCC. You are scouring the internet for track plans. Yup, it is a familiar story.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Welcome to the club! Gotcha!
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
Brendan BuschiFor the past 2 days I have been designing and redesigning layouts. I don't know if this is typical.
Yes, that seems to be typical. Before building my first HO layout, I went through 3 distinct design changes, with over a 100 variations between them. I ignored good advice to not model a division point in the middle of the layout (or in my case the ends of two railroads), and thereby cut my train running distance in half.
Freight Yards by Andy Sperandeo and Track Planning for Realistic Operations are two good starting points. If you really find you need help, joining the LDSIG (Layout Design Special Interest Group), or asking for design help at the National Convention (from the LDSIG masters) when in swings by your area is also a worthwhile hobby expendature. You can even find some LDSIG and other forum members here who are willing to help you along, you just have to ask.
Just be forewarned, and dont try to shoehorn in too much of a layout in your available space.
Just don't visit Colorado and ride the narrow gauge until after you have your addiction under control.
And, stay clear of the traction crowd.
Though on the other hand...as Cervantes once wrote "“He lays down the melancholy burden of sanity and conceives the strangest project ever imagined…”
Have Fun!
Kevin
Doesn't the Kool-Aid taste great (or is it less filling?!) Welcome to the club. Get ready for some interesting discussions about various topics.
Welcome to the world of model railroading! I've been in the hobby since I was 13 and received my first train set that my father bought me. He built it on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and then did the Addams family crash for the heck of it. I took away the engine from him and I've been hooked ever since. Take your time. A lot of great advice already posted here.
I wonder what kind of birthday present my wife will give me for my 60th in July? Shall I drop hints now?
Neal..
HI! MY NAME IS NEAL AND I'M A TRAINAHOLIC. MY LAST EBAY PURCHASE WAS THREE DAYS AGO
The first few designs are throw aways.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
My parents infected me when I was five.
Five months, that is. My first Christmas. I teethed on a Lionel tinplate box car.
You are beginning to climb a steep learning curve. My suggestion is to make the first layout something that can be dismantled quickly with minimum damage to components. You WILL want to change things, or even go for a complete rebuild, as your knowledge increases and your interests evolve.
Yes, Model Railroading is HIGHLY addictive. Fortunately, it's an allergy that has beneficial results. Do your best to assure that your grandchildren catch the bug, too.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
You're done for.
Tom
Atlantic and Hibernia And, stay clear of the traction crowd.
Huh? I must admit - There's an addictive overhead in traction!
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Incurable -- Yes
Fatal? Fortunately not, although it could be considered "terminal."
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Brendan Buschi A few weeks ago I bought some HO equipment and embarked on a project with my grandchildren. I didn't realize it at the time but what I was really doing was opening the door on a new obsession. For the past 2 days I have been designing and redesigning layouts. I don't know if this is typical. I think model trains should come with a warning label much like cigarettes.
I bought a train for the grandkids as well, but at some subconscious level it was for me. It got me going and I am hooked!!!
At least it is a healthy addiction: spawing creativity, ingenuity, and learning.
And like any new addict, you'll tell yourself "oh, I could quit any time I wanted."
Ha!
As Mark Twain said, "It's easy to quit smoking. Why, I've done it thousands of times."
Dave Nelson
Model Railroading should be classified as a Catagory 6 Dangerous Good -
RIS - Infectious Substance.
It is the best addiction to have and I hope your grandchildren become addicted as well. They will be using one thing that the kids playing with video games and Iphones will not use; it is called - Imagination. It will give them things to think of.
All the best.
Joe F
"It's easy to quit smoking. Why, I've done it thousands of times."
One of my favorites from Sam Clemens.
Yes. First it's trains. Then it's layout plans. Then it's more trains. Then it's benchwork. Then it's more trains. Then it's track. Then it's more trains. Then it's buildings. Then more trains. etc. etc. etc. for the rest of your life.
Paul
For some of us, the addiction has been lifelong. In my case, (and may be slightly off topic) my Mom has told me that at 4 I would want her to stop under a train overpass so I could hear the train as it went over. (Of course that street is the main street of our town.)
As another one that tells the addiction, I was doing a quick mental inventory on my engines and computed I have 8 GP20s, 3 SW7s, 1 SW1, 2 GP18s, 3 S-4s (as of tomorrow - new one will arrive in the mail), 2 F7s (1 A 1 B), 1 GP38-2, 1 GP35 (another one will be ordered next week) and 4 2-6-0 steamers.
After 60 years in the hobby I now fully understand what my Grandfather (a PRR engineer) meant by a misspent life.. He had 42 years on the PRR when he retired.
I wouldn't take back a minute I spent in the hobby since its been a lot of fun.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
IRONROOSTER Yes. First it's trains. Then it's layout plans. Then it's more trains. Then it's benchwork. Then it's more trains. Then it's track. Then it's more trains. Then it's buildings. Then more trains. etc. etc. etc. for the rest of your life. Paul
You forgot signals.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Okay. So it’s true. We're all crazy. Maybe we should start posts with "Hello my name is ____ and I'm a model railroader."
So I have yet to begin laying out the track. All my track orders have come in. I did create a simple oval to test the locomotive and learn about the controller.
So why haven't I started in earnest? The sad truth is that I have done so many redesigns that I have now included adding addititional table space to the redesigns. First there was one additional table extension and now there is another.
After reading all your responses I've decided to postpone adding the additional table extensions. I will begin with the last design I had for which I placed my last track order. I will follow the advice of tomikawaTT:
“My suggestion is to make the first layout something that can be dismantled quickly with minimum damage to components. You WILL want to change things, or even go for a complete rebuild, as your knowledge increases and your interests evolve.”
My initial delay had to do with designing reverse loops to use with DCS. I think I have that resolved. My newest delays are due to my desire to have 2 reverse loops in the layout. I want each of them to have a 22 inch turning radius. That takes up a lot of table space.
I am using a program called AnyRail to do my designs. I find it very helpful and easy to use. It may actually contribute to this addiction by making it too easy to constantly redesign my layout. I guess I'm talking about a "virtual layout" now. It has allowed me to run out of table space before I laid a single track.
So are model railroads a gateway to something else?
I doubt anybody here will help you get over your addiction,. We're all enablers on this site.
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
No, it's the drug you mainline! The only "gateway" I can think of, is that it will allow you to meet some of the nicest people in the world!
don't fret about the track design "paralysis of analysis", I worked on mine for over two years before I started benchwork!
One suggestion is to just build something small/temporary so you can learn benchwork, track laying, wiring, scenery, etc.
Good luck!
Tim
"So are model railroads a gateway to something else?"
Yeah, obsession with details, and learning the art of negotiation (or bribery) with your other half (although I dont have to deal with the latter). Follow Tomikawa's advice. You wont go wrong.
Brendan BuschiSo are model railroads a gateway to something else?
In all truth? Its a bottomless money pit but,with a life time of enjoyment.
Of course there is other truths.. One doesn't need to fill a basement with a layout nor spend a lot of cash to enjoy this wonderful hobby..
Its a highly controllable addiction if one has the willpower to ask and truthfully answer "Do I really need that engine or car?" and "Do I really need a super size basement filling layout?"
There's a lot of eye candy in the advertisements for models. Be weary.
"Do I really need a super size basement filling layout?"
Absolutely NOT! All that track to clean and keep clean???????????????????
BRAKIE ... Its a highly controllable addiction if one has the willpower to ask and truthfully answer "Do I really need that engine or car?" and "Do I really need a super size basement filling layout?" ...
...
My answer is always YES.
It's not that I have too much stuff, I just have too little basement.