Beginner's Break Through List

[Anonymous]

I have a short list here that I consider Breakthroughs or important goals reachable by beginners. Or actually anyone involved in the hobby.

I'll start off:

 1- A complete loop of track.

 

[Driline]

Is there a question here or are you just trying to increase your thread count?

2)Ummm would be nice to have a power supply to run train on simple loop of track rather than watching it sit.

[CTValleyRR]

How about:

3) A track layout -- loop or otherwise -- over which trains can travel to all parts at a variety of speeds without derailing or stalling.  Any schmo can lay down a loop of track and hook up a powerpack; it's getting things running without those frustrating headaches that's a worthy goal.

4) Throwing away the styrofoam toy tunnel and building one through a realistic mountain.

[Driline]

I'd keep the styrofoam tunnel and add popsicle stick structures painted in bold red & purple colors.

[SteamFreak]

I have a short list here that I consider Breakthroughs or important goals reachable by beginners. Or actually anyone involved in the hobby.

I'll start off:

 1- A complete loop of track.

Ohhhh.... a complete loop! So that's why my trains keep running off the end of the track! *smacks forehead*

[Tjsingle]

4) Gets trains running

5) scenery

[Packer]

6. A loco with a can motor and at least one flywheel, and good detail.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

#1.  An agreeable spouse.  Preferably one with lots of money.

Johnboy out..................

[Driline]

6. A loco with a can motor and at least one flywheel, and good detail.

A can motor is too good for you. How about a "pancake" Tyco motor with a worn rubber band.

[CTValleyRR]

I'd keep the styrofoam tunnel and add popsicle stick structures painted in bold red & purple colors.

Well, if that's your style, have fun!  Maybe some vibrant green grass mat to accent your designer structures?

[Anonymous]

Is there a question here or are you just trying to increase your thread count?

2)Ummm would be nice to have a power supply to run train on simple loop of track rather than watching it sit.

I quit thread counting 6000+ posts, 3 handles and two years ago.

Im trying to be original topics here.

Yes I feel breakthroughs or goals are important.

[steinjr]

I have a short list here that I consider Breakthroughs or important goals reachable by beginners. Or actually anyone involved in the hobby.

I'll start off:

 1- A complete loop of track.

 Off the top of my head:

1. Having decided what to model, where to have your model and basic layout plan
2. Having built basic benchwork
3. Having laid out the first section of the mainline (w/turnouts) and be able to run a test car across it by hand reliably without derailing. Not necessarily a loop, though ...
4. Having wired track power the first section for mainline and be able to run a train under power on mainline without stalling at the turnouts etc
5. Getting turnout controls to work for the first section of mainline - no matter whether you use manual turnout controls or electrical ones.
6. Getting the rest of the tracks ready (laying, wiring, controlling turnouts)
7. Get basic scenery landscaped
8. Add the first building

 Probably quite a few others too.

 Grin,
 Stein

 

[loathar]

#?-Sell crap you shouldn't have bought in the first place because you weren't thinking and were too excited about getting a train set running on your 4x8 plywood wasteland so you didn't care that you were pulling some Amtrak stream liners with a 4-4-0 with some Popsicle and S.O.S. box cars tagging along behind.

[Anonymous]

sucessfully ballast track w/ realistic results

[SteamFreak]

Why only a foam tunnel? Get one of those pre-formed and painted styrofoam layouts, cuz it makes your cheap engines sound like a jet is passing overhead.

[Driline]

9)Dump electric train and go with wooden train with crayons.

10) Use crayons to weather realistic train.

[Dallas Model Works]

#?-Sell crap you shouldn't have bought in the first place because you weren't thinking and were too excited about getting a train set running on your 4x8 plywood wasteland so you didn't care that you were pulling some Amtrak stream liners with a 4-4-0 with some Popsicle and S.O.S. box cars tagging along behind.

So, so true!

 

[jbone]

CTValley - Boy did you hit the nail on the head. I'm new to this, and got into it when my son get a massive plastic TOMY Thomas set, then I won a starter set. It came with EZ Track....so I bought some more and some switches (used and new). The everyone started giving me their old HO cars and some accessories. I configured a large layout with sidings, etc....and figured i'd be all set. Of course not.

 

Here's what I'm working on.

Certain cars derail more often than others

Certain cars uncouple more often than others (started replacing with Kaylee #5's)

Certain engines struggle at certain points on the track

Electric switches that don't work.

 Thanks to this board and some patience, I've been working on getting this thing operational. I actually don't mind it, because I'm a "mechanical tinker'er" anyway. That's the fun in it for me - making it work.

By the way, I used to ride the New Haven/New York from New Haven to NYC at least once a week when I was in collge in New Haven. 

 

[Autobus Prime]

Hmm...

#0 - Half-ignore the Experts and Authorities and have fun

#1 - Stop wasting time online and play with those trains.

I don't have any Popsicle or SOS cars.  I do have a Tootsie Roll boxcar.  I wouldn't have any problem with it if it had reporting marks and a number I could note down on its car card.  (I used TRX 0000.  Empties are sent toward Chicago.)

jbone:Make sure you get an NMRA gauge. It costs $10 and is very useful to tune up your fleet and track.

[Packers#1]

Thank the lord SOMEBODY put something good down. steinjr is right on those goals. Mine are (and I went through this process):

1.Get past a funny-shaped loop with only two yard tracks.

2. Get past a small temporary loop w/ two industries.

3. Get a believable 4x8 layout with a yard and a ton of industries for switching.

4. Design the best layout you can think of (I'm here).

5. Build the layout you designed.

6. Finish the scenery.

7. Run your trains.  

[CTValleyRR]

Hmmm.  Personally, I think you have "run your trains" WAAAAAY too low on the priority list.  My personal goal would be to get something up and running as quickly as possible, which basically means benchwork, subroadbed, roadbed, and trackwork.  Then you have the rest of your life to fill in the scenery, structures, and details.

I also think you shouldn't get hung up on building a fancy layout.  I started with a 4x8 layout (although it was an inner and outer loop with a crossover and a couple of spurs), intending to practice some modeling skills and do a dry run.  I'm still enjoying it and tinkering with it 8 years later.

[SpaceMouse]

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

I am a model railroader

Ommmmmmmmmmmm 

Ommmmmmmmmmmm 

It's my pike and I'll do what I want

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

The spirit of the railroad lives in my layout

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Honor the spirt of the railroad

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

[CTValleyRR]

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

I am a model railroader

Ommmmmmmmmmmm 

Ommmmmmmmmmmm 

It's my pike and I'll do what I want

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

The spirit of the railroad lives in my layout

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Honor the spirt of the railroad

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Ommmmmmmmmmmm

Spacemouse brings transcendentalism to the art of model railroading!!!!!

Catch the fever, if you dare.

[reklein]

Ahhh..... that would be trainscendentalism.

[CTValleyRR]

Ahhh..... that would be trainscendentalism.

 Do I hear a rimshot, anyone?

[SteamFreak]

Ahhh..... that would be trainscendentalism.

 Do I hear a rimshot, anyone?

[ronmcc]

Flat black walls, neon green grass, neon red cars, neon blue engines and all accented by using black lights. WOW.