Very green newbie

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading through threads here for weeks and now feel I have some questions.

First my background. I'm a thirty year old male, in Ontario.... no model train experience. I mean none. Always been haunted by a train set I had as a kid that never worked. I remember just looking at the trains piled in a box. Thought its a good time to look into this. Now, I've been taking advice from the forums and am reading everything I can, to try and get a little bit of a handle on this vast hobby.

I am fortunate that a great hobby shop is right in my neighbourhood. I've been making weekly visits just to look at all of the inventory. Finally bought my first set the other day. Atlas oval track with two switches, MRC tech 4 220 controller, an Athearn middle of the road loco, two cars and a caboose (Athearn BB kits). So far having a lot of fun running in circles.

My questions.
1. I found the thread in this forum suggesting a newbie section for basic questions. I think this would be great. That thread is locked so I couldn't pipe in there, but I really lack all of the basic knowledge that many of you have developled years ago. Is there a good place to go for basic knowledge such as, different switch types, how to uncouple cars, how to maintain locos, troubleshooting derailments and on and on?

2. I have my oval on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and had planned on quickly expanding this. I read the thread on the limitations of 4x8 layouts and could not pipe into that thread because it is also locked. Many suggested alternate type of layouts along a wall. I already see the advantage to this since I cannot reach the one turnout switch on the other side of my 4x8. Having no experience, where would one find track plans for this alternate type layout?

3. Finally any advice, tips, websites, or literature for a brand new guy is greatly appreciated. I have a lot of learning to do.

Thanks in advance.

Just an idea of how green I am, I originally posted this in the Trains magazine forum on the weekend. I got some great help there, but it was suggested I repost here since it is primarily modellers.


Chad

[cwclark]

welcome to the forum!...we had a troll problem the other day and your question can be asked now...management shut the place down for a few days so the trolls can move on...i've been in the hobby since 1977 and all in all your best bet is to read all you can on the hobby before beginning...Kalmbach publications has some really great books that can teach you all the little tricks of the trade...i'd really encourage you to purchase the books available because it's better to learn from the books before a lot of mistakes are made and you get frustrated and quit the hobby...here's the type of books that can get you started...1. a book about benchwork, 2. a book about wiring, 3. a book on track work and bridges and 4. a book about scenery techniques...go to www.kalmbach.com and you can order them directly from the publishing company...they aren't too terribly expensive and what you learn from them will save you a lot of grief in the future when you start that really nice layout...chuck

[sleeper33]

hi
and welcome as also a rookie to the hobby i read alot of books some of the ones published by model railroader are a great help i find also asking questions on this and other sites helps. try to find out if ther is a local mrc.in your local as its another source of ideas and motivation
once again welcome to rhe greatest hobby in the world[#welcome]

[ARTHILL]

Welcome. We are all glad things are unlocked and we can get back to questions. I started back up in March and asked a lot of questions. Some of the answers were useful and most were interesting. I found the most important question was what I wanted to do. My answer was a long loop with opportunities for tunnels and bridges. I also wanted a mining and logging spur so an around the wall dog bone plan was in order. What you want to do will give you the basic dirrection. NOTE: You will change your mind, your plan and your layout more than once along the way. Have fun and post a pic when you get some.

[nbrodar]

Welcome,

First off, make friends at your local hobby shop. They are your best source of help and information.

Second, do your homework. Kalmbach publishes an almost endless number of books. Start with one or two general knowledge books, and add the technical books later.

Third, have fun. Don't get too hung up with "The Right Way". There is no right way, just your way.

Nick Brodar

[SpaceMouse]

Hi,

I wrote that "limitations of the 4x8" thread.

Keep running in circles for a while. You don't know enough about what you want to think about expanding your layout. If you have two turnouts, you can put in two sidings (industries) in which you can drop off and pick up cars. This is what model railroading is about.

A good basic theory book is Model Railroad Design for Realistic Operations, by John Armstrong. Read it and apply it to the loops and two turnouts. It is not an easy read for a complete ignoramous like I was 9 months ago. It took 3 readings before I got it. Once you get it, you will be ready to design your layout.

In the meantime, think aboout what you like about trains, where and when your railroad will be located.

[SpaceMouse]

And ask a lot of questions.

[Anonymous]

As a current 4x8 layout modeler, I will also agree that you need to do your homework before you lay track.

I started out with a LL trainset I got for Xmas a few years ago, cause I mentioned how I missed my old layout when I was a kid. I did like you, got a 4x8 piece of plywood and ran in circles for a long time. Then I put the set away and started reading, lots...

I got a feel of what I wanted and tried to adapt it to another 4x8 and started designing with Atlas Right Track software available for free from Atlas at their website. I spent many weeks and finally settled on a design, bought the track, roadbed and risers and went to work. Its been 2 1/2 years, and I can now say it is 99% complete. I learned a lot, and am now designing a new layout to replace it. Hopefully, I will learn from some mistakes I made and will undoubtedly make new ones.

Though I am really satisfied with the current layout design itself, since I am really into big power (Big Boys, Challengers, EMD E units, Alco PA's and Turbines) my new layout will have to have wider curves. Currently I have 3 basic ovals, 15', 18' &22' radius all interconnected. For big power the 15 & 18 have to go... (My Athearn F7's love them, though) so this time I am designing with big power in mind right from the start.

I also decided to run DCC right from the beginning, since I wanted to be able to easily move my consists from one track to another and keep other trains moving at the same time. This is the best decision I made. I couldn't even imagine trying to design a layout now without DCC!

And one other point, as mentioned by Chip and others, ask lots of questions here! We're all here to help you to enjoy the hobby!

[egmurphy]

Chuck's suggestion on the Kalmbach books is a good one. Since you say you have a very good LHS (Local Hobby Shop) near you, you could just check out their magazine/book section, leaf through them and decide which ones you would like to purchase and take home.

Checking out a local model railroad club, like Sleeper suggested, is also a possibility. Again, take advantage of your LHS and ask them about local clubs. They would know best. For people who don't have access to a LHS, there are club finder functions both on the Model Railroader Magazine home page and on the World's Greatest Hobby website. But your local hobby shop is a good place to start.

Like the others say, feel free to ask questions. Even though it's probably been discussed before, people here don't mind going over the territory again.

Welcome to the hobby. You've picked a good forum to help you get started.

Regards

Ed

[Anonymous]

Well fellow modellers,

Thanks for all the suggestions. It does make sense that I just run in circles until I understand the logic of a layout. I'm going to stop by the LHS tonight and check on some more books. Right now its been Model Railroader and a good basic book by Kalmbach. I do need to read it again. I'm heading to an open house tonight for a local MRC. So I'm pretty excited about that.

Thanks for the help.... one question though and I think it may be a silly one, but how do you uncouple cars???? My fat fingers have trouble getting in between the cars.

Chad

[Anonymous]

I use bamboo skewers or extra long toothpics that you get at the grocery stores, you can get different types at various hobby sources, but the skewers are cheap and can be used for lots of other things too.

[Anonymous]

There's a few possible ways to uncouple cars - you can fit magnets (or electromagnets) on top of or underneath the track, there are magnetic uncoupling wands, or even a modified barbeque skewer can be used. Kadee have the magnets and an upmarket version of the skewer (moulded plastic rather than wood, and you don't need to modify it). Rix Products have the magnetic uncoupling wands (which can be variable - sometimes they work well, sometimes they don't). Personally I like the fixed magnets though you do need to know where to fit them - don't use permanant magnets on the main line as passing trains will tend to uncouple whether you want them to or not... www.kadee.com is worth a look (Kadee website). Your best bet may be to buy a few magnets and an uncoupling wand, then operate with the wand while you figure out where you want the magnets, then fix them in place. Delayed uncoupling is neat as you can put a magnet at the start of a siding and propel cars to where you need them - it allows you to uncouple and propel the car without re-coupling. Hope this is of use!

[SpaceMouse]

What I found to be the easiest is using a bamboo skewer used for shishkabob. You slip it in between the couplers and twist.

You can also use magnets in the track, but that takes some practice and you have to have the right couplers.

You local library may have a lot of the books you are looking for. Save the $ for eaquipment as a lot of the books are once-reads.

[cwclark]

please visit my website album here ..go to trains one and two..there are a lot of helpful pictures with explanations on steps i took to build my layout...it's not complete yet but it's a start http://community.webshots.com/user/bayouman1 chuck

[selector]

I have found the bamboo skewer method to be hit-and-miss. is there a particular way to insert the skewer? What, exactly, do you mean by "twist", Chip?

[SpaceMouse]

Crandall,

You slip it in between the knuckles and spin the skewer so that friction pushes the knuckles apart--clockwise I believe. True every once in a while one will need help. Often it is enough just to keep one car from moving.

[Anonymous]

Just thought I'd stick my head in the door and say 'Hi' [#welcome] I'm a complete novice as well, Rock75!

So far things have ground to a halt on my layout while I decide on things - as I realise a bit more research is needed.

I now know I've got a 10'x4' board.... and I have got my eye on a couple of rolling stock additions. Probably shock a few folk if I explained so I'll leave it there.

Anywho - enough of my blabber.

[SpaceMouse]

Sir Donald and Rock,

Here is a post I started today about a further problem with a 4x8 layout. The problem occured because I did not follow advice and I did not understand what "operations" were until after I built the layout.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=46520

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

Hi,

I wrote that "limitations of the 4x8" thread.


A good basic theory book is Model Railroad Design for Realistic Operations, by John Armstrong. Read it and apply it to the loops and two turnouts. It is not an easy read for a complete ignoramous like I was 9 months ago. It took 3 readings before I got it. Once you get it, you will be ready to design your layout.

In the meantime, think aboout what you like about trains, where and when your railroad will be located.

Hi Spacemouse

Another green newbie here. Is this the book you are talking about? .......

http://web2.morris.org/web2/tramp2.exe/authority_hits/A37ptb2k.003?server=1home&item=2

I can't find your exact title. Would this book help me design a shelf type, industrial switching railroad? Approx 2' X 12' ? That's all the room I have right now.

Thanks alot.
ConrailJim

[SpaceMouse]

Yes, I guess, guess I messed up.

[selector]

Thanks, Chip. I'll see if I can perfect it...although if you are ocassional as well, I don't see why I should get it any better. Thanks for your reply.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Thanks, Chip. I'll see if I can perfect it...although if you are ocassional as well, I don't see why I should get it any better. Thanks for your reply.

My success rate is pretty high. It's a knack.

[Anonymous]

Subscribe to the MR(model railroader) Stay with Mrc, don't get lifelike or bachmann standard, don't run a dcc train on dc & visa versa, & most importantly have fun!
[:)]WELCOME[:)]

[Anonymous]

By the way Athrean is a good choice!

[MisterBeasley]

Atlas (the track people) have a free downloadable program to do track plans. It works with Atlas snap-track parts, understandably, but also supports flex-track so you can basically do what you want. Go to http://atlasrr.com for it. Look for RTS Download.

I started with a 4x8 and decided I just couldn't get what I wanted into it, after spending a while with the Atlas track planning software. I ended up with a 5x12 layout, still not terribly large, but it's kept me very busy for six months, with probably a year to go before anyone other than me would look at it and say it's "finished." It may be of interest to note that it's always been "a year to go," since I started working on it. I'm having a great time, though, so if it takes longer I don't really care.

Welcome to a great forum, by the way. You will find a great bunch of folks, young and old, with all kinds of experience and enthusiasm to share. And it won't be long before you are the one answering the questions.

[Rotorranch]

My opinion, ( and we all know what THAT'S worth! ) is build to what space you have, and enjoy it!

And by all means, NO layout is ever finished! There is always something left to do!

I have two 4x8 tables, in the process of being connected with a 30 in x 6 ft "shelf".

Eventually, I hope to expand to the 4th wall with a 36 in by 8 ft yard. We are also planning a shelf type staging yard in the closet, along with a work space in there as well.

My layout was based on my layout from the early 70's, then expanded in the early 90's after The Kid was old enough to handle it. We've learned a lot from our mistakes, but we have a neat way to run trains. Will it ever be finished? Not likely....but we enjoy what we we have!

We'll never be finished, ( I hope ) because like the real world, there is always improvements to be done!

JMHO

Rotor