Low Cost, Entry Level, Starter Train Set.......Some Ideas

[simon1966]

We have had a lot of threads recently that have discussed the spiralling cost of MRR and how everythin is so expensive. I will certainly agree that this hobby can be expensive, but it does not have to be. Just for kicks I did a 5 minute imaginary shopping spree to get a basic starter set without purchasing a regular trainset. This is what I came up with...

Proto 1K locomotive C-Liner from TrainWorld $20.00
Atlas Tru Track starter set from Internet trains $39.96
MRC Railpower 1300 from MRC web site $33.98
Accurail USRA hopper from First Hobby $ 7.95
Athearn BB Caboose from First Hobby $ 6.90
Accurail Reefer from CChobbies $ 8.00
LifeLike P2K Box car kit from Trainworld $ 8.99

Total Starter MRR Setup $125.78

Probably another $25 in shipping, but for under $150 this is a fairly decent starter set of good quality items that will last a long time and provide much enjoyment. With a bit of shopping around, an e-Bay purchase or two, some trainshow purchases and this could be had for less.

Add a cheap DCC decoder for $20.00 and replace the MRC with a Digitrax Zephyr for an increase in cost of $110.00 and you have a great DCC starter set for under $300.00. Now not everyone is going to put down $300 to start a hobby, or even $150.00, but IMO this is actually not a bad entry cost into a hobby that can last a lifetime. It does not have to start with a $200.00 sound equipped DCC locomotive. Just my opinion of course, but thought it would be worth posting.

Anyone want to suggest their own "Virtual" starter sets?

[Texas Zepher]

How about a non-virtual set.

Atlas Pro-Line Train Set
Caboose Hobbies $99.97

Atlas S2
two Atlas freight cars
wide vision caboose
loop of true track (don't remember if it has more that a loop)
power pack

[IRONROOSTER]

You probably should include a 4x8 sheet of plywood and other materials to build a train table.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by IRONROOSTER

You probably should include a 4x8 sheet of plywood and other materials to build a train table.
Enjoy
Paul

And a house for $439,000. This may be expensive after all.

[cbq9911a]

Stick with Athearn blue box cars - a box car, hopper, gon, and flat car.

[mondotrains]

Hey Simon,
I really liked your posting here! You've put together some great items for a great starter set.

I can recall when I was convincing myself and my wife that I could get into model railroading for a few hundred bucks and have some fun and then find a nephew to donate my toy train layout to.

Well, that was probably about 15 thousand dollars ago and about 75 engines, 500 freight cars and 50 passenger cars ago. The few turnouts I thought I needed turned into 70, along with the Tortoise switch machines to run them.

I've spent all this money over a period of over 11 years which works out to be around $1366 per year or $26.00 per week. I would challenge anyone to find an enjoyable endeavor that ONLY costs $26.00 per week. Heck, my wife and I can barely go out to lunch once on that amount of money.

If I was still smoking ciragettes (I quit 27 years ago), I'd be spending a lot more on them than model trains.

It's interesting to put the whole expense issue in perspective. And, in my case, being retired, I don't know what I'd be doing if I didn't have MR to keep me excited and interested. Maybe I'd have gone back to smoking cigarettes by now. Or worse yet, maybe I'd have taken up drinking or complaining about my golf score.

Mondo

[simon1966]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

How about a non-virtual set.

Atlas Pro-Line Train Set
Caboose Hobbies $99.97

Atlas S2
two Atlas freight cars
wide vision caboose
loop of true track (don't remember if it has more that a loop)
power pack

This is actually what I started with a few years ago. I am amazed that there are any in stock anywhere as it is almost 10 years since Atlas introduced this set. For anyone looking, this is a great starter set!!

[Anonymous]

Go to Hobby Lobby, buy one of the big sets that includes everything, forget DCC and all the high tech crap, build a simple plywood and 2X4 table and wa la. You'll have a layout for about $200.00 that will be up and running in a day or two if you stay with it...

trainluver1

[Anonymous]

Model Power or generic Life-like from Hobby Lobby ???

No thanks !!!!

The Athearn set would be a better investment for the money, by far !!!!

(I know - that's how I started!)

[simon1966]

Of course one could go out and get a cheap trainset, but the point I was trying to make is that it is still very possible to get into this hobby by carefully selecting and purchasing higher quality equipment. There seems to be a sentiment, often expressed that to get started you need a $150 locomotive. I wanted to show that this is not the case and that you can get stuff that any of us would be happy to have on our layout without breaking the bank.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1

Go to Hobby Lobby, buy one of the big sets that includes everything, forget DCC and all the high tech crap, build a simple plywood and 2X4 table and wa la. You'll have a layout for about $200.00 that will be up and running in a day or two if you stay with it...

It will be up, but how long and how well it will be running is another issue. I wouldn't ever recommend that to anyone. The basic Life Like, Bachmann, or Model Power sets take more work than they are worth to get running half way decently. As a child I had bunches of this type of equipment and out of it all I had only one loco and two cars I could keep on the track with any reliability at all. Other than that I spent all my time re-railing and re-coupling the cars.

[Anonymous]

The Athearn or Spectrum trainsets are by far the best. You can get most of them for under $100.