HELLLPPP! I know nothing and I need to get him a train....

[dgwinup]

Tess,

A few quick comments: buy him a nice locomotive, Reading if possible, and a gift certificate. Wrap them together and call it his "new layout". If he is interested in more, he has the gift certificate to get him started. By Valentine's Day, you will know if your gift should be more trains or something else. By his birthday, you will know what else he wants and needs.

Don't be afraid to make this your hobby, too. Nothing in the rule book that says you can't enjoy the same hobby. (Actually, there is no rule book, so whatever you want is fine!) Quite often, women have better perceptions of what looks good and what looks right.

I hope he appreciates all the trouble you are going through for him. I am sure he will.

Darrell, quiet...for now

[tstage]

Tess,

I'm going to have to second what Darrell just said. I was thinking the same thing earlier: Buying Keith a good, quality locomoitve would both prime the pump and make buying a Christmas present a lot more easy on you. Then on those subsequent special occasions you mentioned (e.g. your anniversary, Valentine's Day, Birthington's Wash Day, etc.), you can pick out additional gifts to compliment the locomotive.

Tess, James suggestion about the PCMs 4-8-4 T1 is also a good one:

http://www.precisioncraftmodels.com/products/readingt1.htm

The last that I heard was that the T1 was supposed to be out anytime now. Maybe this is one that you could order now and present at a later date. I think it's worth considering...

Tom, not Darrell...for now

[james saunders]

what about the Athearn RTR sets arent they of decent QUALITY? i dont know about getting a Reading Train Set, though i would say build it yourself with good quality products from Proto or a better brand like that.

[Cthetrains]

Tips for starting out:

1. visit a local hobby retailer...HobbyTown, USA is fairly reasonable..proto2000 series steam locos are good quality, and won't kill the bank account, if you want to spend a bit more, Rivarossi has always been my preference...as for track code, ARTHILL is right, just 'tease him' a bit with the loco, and let him decide the detail work...and once again...remember..YOU got him addicted...hehehe

[Anonymous]

Posts: 1
Joined: 19 Dec 2002
Location: US

Waited a LONG time to post, didnt you?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cthetrains

Tips for starting out:

1. visit a local hobby retailer...HobbyTown, USA is fairly reasonable..proto2000 series steam locos are good quality, and won't kill the bank account, if you want to spend a bit more, Rivarossi has always been my preference...as for track code, ARTHILL is right, just 'tease him' a bit with the loco, and let him decide the detail work...and once again...remember..YOU got him addicted...hehehe

[tstage]

Tess,

I e-mailed one of our resident experts, Randy Rinker, to get his input on the availabiltiy of Reading models in HO. Here's what he had to say: (BEWARE!: The following is kinda heavy on the RR jargon. I've underscored some pertinent info for you.)

QUOTE:
There are FP7's that were made by Roco and sold by Atlas, and more recenty by ER Models that are accurate. The Atlas Trainmaster (with and without QSI sound) is a Reading passenger unit, not a freight. The only Reading steam passenger locos I've ever seen are all brass, various G-class Pacifics. The Hudson is wrong, Reading never had any Hudsons. IHS has a Pacific done as Reading, similar but not identical to either a G1 or G3. It probably can be reworked (and there probably was an article in RMC on doing so at some point), but like I siad, the only truly correct Reading G's are brass and naturally not cheap.

Cars are tough to come by - as far as I know, the current IHC cars are prototypes of NOTHING, while the older ones made by Rivarossi usually had at least one prototype they matched, even though they put any name on them they wanted. Thre's a web site listing just about every passenger car model made (in plastic) and what roads they're good for, but I don't have it bookmarked. The cars sold by Bethlehem Car Works are correct Reading cars - they are available in assembled form from Intermountain. But they only offered the coach and combine in RTR. If you want a baggage you'd have to build the kit.

The really well-known Reading passenger train was the Crusader, with a streamlined Pacific. There is an old Penn Line kit for the loco, kinda crude but almost as rare and expensive as a brass piece. The 5 cars of the train are pretty much only in brass - I believe there's a set on eBay right now. Oh yeah, the older Rivarossi observation car (smoothside) is the Crusader observation! The train has 2 of them, one at each end, since there was no place to turn the entire train at the Jersey City terminal. And those were the only 2 cars like that ever on ANY railroad, yet that's what Rivarossi made. But the intermediate cars were never made by anyone other than brass, and the brass sets include all 5 cars anyway. After the end of steam, the same cars were pulled by the FP7's, until eventually the whole thing was replaced by RDCs and the cars sent to Canada, I forget if it was CP or CN. One of the observations still exists, now at the PA Railroad Museum in Strasburg.

By the end of the Reading, all passenger trains were RDCs. Life-Like has various RDCs in the Proto1000 line that come lettered for Reading and have correct numbers for the type of car.

No T-1 yet, last week they said 2 more weeks, so I'm hoping for a call from my guy next week.

--Randy

Tess, as I suspected, finding things in the Reading will not be an enviable task. The Reading 4-8-4 T1 from Precision Craft Models (PCM - link listed above) would make a VERY nice gift for Keith but it doesn't apprear that it will be here in time for Christmas. I'll see what I can find out on the Bethlehem Car Works cars from Intermountain.

Tom

[Anonymous]

I've always liked broadway limited. I have an Aethern Diesel and it cost about $80. If price is no object then get a ton of track, a Digitrax DCC, and cars, cars, cars. Seriously, you probably wont go wrong, but spend some $$ on a good locomotive.

[tstage]

Tess,

Here's what I was able to find out about Bethlehm Car Works cars:

Web link to Bethlehem Car Works (BCW)
http://www.bethlehemcarworks.com/default.html

Info on Bethlehem Car Works kits (See top of page)
http://www.procustomhobbies.com/linescarried/bethlehem.html
Unless Keith is an experineced modeler, I'd steer away from getting him a kit right off the bat. Go for the Ready-to-run (RTR ) or pre-assembled cars

Web link for Intermountain Models (Producers of BCW RTR cars)
http://www.imrcmodels.com/distrib/bcw/bcw.html
Status: OUT OF STOCK on BCW Reading cars

Web link to Internet Hobbies (Ready-to-run cars)
http://www.internethobbies.com/internethobbies/betcarworhor.html
Status: Only RTR Combine car IN STOCK, Coach car OUT OF STOCK

Web link to Walthers
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?quick=bethlehem+car+works&quicksrch_butt.x=0&quicksrch_butt.y=0
Status: All BCW Reading cars on BACK ORDER

I was also able to find out that Bachmann did manufacture a Reading 2-8-0 in their Spectrum line but they may have discontinued it. The only place I've been able to find it so far is on eBay. Bachmann's web site didn't have it listed.

Tess, the Stewart FT A-B diesel might make a VERY handsome present and fine alternative to the T1 steamer. Stewart locomotives are top notch mechanically and have good detailing. Here's a pic of the Stewart FT and link:




http://stewarthobbies.com/Loco%20Page/5042.htm

Well, there's a boat load of information you've gotten from everyone to mull over. IMHO, I think starting with a locomotive might be your best bet. If the locomotive is a hit, after Christmas, the two of you can them go out and look at track and operating systems together. Do think about the 4-8-4 T1 from PCM for a future gift idea.

Tess, PLEASE do keep us informed what you decide to do, and what Keith's response is. A blurred picture of euphoria will do in a pinch, too. [:)] Let us know if there is anything else we can help you on.

Tom

P.S. Tess, if you decide to go with the Stewart Reading FT and want to add sound, there's a terrific dealer in Webster, NY (Tim Smith) who can do that for you at a VERY reasonable price. He did a special decoder install in a locomotive I bought from him at did a VERY nice job of it.

P.P.S. I just took the liberty to contact Tim by e-mail about the availability and price of a Stewart FT A-B diesel in time for Christmas. Tim's prices are some of the best around. I'll let you know as what I find out.

[TomDiehl]

Keep it simple at first, an Athearn F7 in Reading colors, a couple passenger coaches, you can buy trackin a set to make a simple loop or loop with passing siding, and an MRC power pack.

Anniversary: buy a couple freight cars and a Reading caboose. A subscription to Model Railroader Magazine

Valentines Day: building kits, a couple small industries, a station, a house or two.

If he picks up the hobby after this, he'll be telling you what he wants. If not, you don't have a HUGE investment.

[Anonymous]

Another thing that i suggest is to look at including some of the publications that are offered as a stocking stuffer. Maybe a magazine (Model Railroader (MR) is a very good one for beginners) or a book about scenery. It is one thing to give someone a single train or set and leave him or her to a simple oval on the floor, however it helps to spark the interest when they can see through pictures what can be achieved in this hobby even with little or no previous art or modeling skills (I am talking from first hand experience). I was always interested in trains, but when my parents got me my first subscription to MR when i was 14, my passion for the hobby took off. The nice thing about being "attached" to a RR geek is that gifts are NEVER a problem. You can always get them train cars. Even if they already have the car you got them, trains always have more than one of the same car. Good luck!!!!

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

Keep it simple at first, an Athearn F7 in Reading colors, a couple passenger coaches, you can buy trackin a set to make a simple loop or loop with passing siding, and an MRC power pack.

Anniversary: buy a couple freight cars and a Reading caboose. A subscription to Model Railroader Magazine

Valentines Day: building kits, a couple small industries, a station, a house or two.

If he picks up the hobby after this, he'll be telling you what he wants. If not, you don't have a HUGE investment.

Tess,

A real flood of information already given to your questions and it looks like you are picking it up pretty fast.. A couple of comments to comment on.. You Will recognize quality when you see it.. As others have mentioned, it's probably a good idea to stay away from the pre-packaged train sets though there are a few good ones out there (talking HO scale here).. If your boyfriend's a techie as I thought I read, he would probably LOVE DCC but for a first purchase, I would steer clear of it until you (or he) knows if model trains are really going to become the passion you hope they will. There are good DCC systems and there are So-So DCC systems.. All will run trains that are equipped but some do it better than others. I think Tom Diehl's advice, reposted above, is pretty sound.. I know you said money is no object but you do want to be careful..

That Me Too advice reposted, here's my recommendations.. Based on personal experience only..

Bachman Spectrum makes some Very nice Steam locomotives but I would steer clear of the Diesels. I know there are people here who love them but my luck with the diesels has been sketchy at best.. Spectrum Steamers though, Big thumbs up.. If you want to go the diesel route stick with the Intermountain, Lifelike Proto2000 (Walthers), Stewart, and Athearn (both Genesis and whatever they are calling the others now), and for more modern types, Kato brand names.. I own 60 or 70 steam locomotives (lost count some time back) and without a doubt, the single best plastic ready to run loco I've ever taken out of the box is my Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) engine.. I've yet to hook up a train to it that iit Wouldn't pull. The Proto2000 Heritage steam engines are also quite nice.. I'm sure I've missed a few that are probably mentioned elsewhere..

Regarding passenger cars, IHCs (that I saw mentioned earlier) are okay but are extreemly underweight.. They (as will most other train cars) will have to have weight added to run reliably.. If you can find Rivarossi passenger cars, I think they are a little bit nicer (but still need to have weight added).. The Bethlehem Car Works that Tstage mentioned are also quite nice but I think require some modeling skill to assemble (could be wrong about that, never actually bought any).

Freight cars, most are pretty good to great these days.. Simple kits to hightly detailed RTR (ready to run) are available at most hobby shops and online.

One place I would recommend staying away from on your first train purchases, until you get a little more saavy about the subject, is Ebay.. Though some bargains can be had there, there's always the chance of being stuck with a lemon.. We wouldn't want that on Christmas Morning would we??

This is a little writeup, aimed at saving some money, that I did a little while ago.. Most of the questions I ask in it, you've already answered but it may offer some other advice..

http://www.rolleiman.com/trains/clinic2p1.html

Three other things to keep in mind..

First, You asked for it, Remember that when you can't pry him away from the trains.

Second, I think it would be great if you used your interest in old picture post cards to join him in the hobby.

Third, Model Railroading is Fun (regardless of how much we cuss and swear at it at times)

Finally, When you've made your purchase(s) and he opens them Christmas Morning, Steer him to these forums.. Lots of good information here and some pretty nice people too..

Good luck,
Jeff

[Anonymous]

Tess
I really think the advice on a locomotive and a gift certificate is a good one. What an inexperienced person thinks is good, could blow up in your face. Every man interested in trains has a different interest in them. Some will watch them run and run, others do just freight car switching, others only collect. In addition to that some love steam locomotives, and some love diesel. Some men run or collect freight cars, others run passenger cars or a mix of both. It sounds to me like you are trying to freeze a moment in time you would like to always remember, which nothing is wrong with that. If he chooses to move beyond the point you started, you can always help him. However it can be consuming in time, but most women have excellent skills to help on scenery and things, you can always be part of that.

[Anonymous]

Dear Wonderful Tom!!!!

You are a God Send!!!! Thank you.....i'm going to probably just ramble on trying to catch up here a bit....first that is the Temple Station. Looks very much like that. I can't tell if it's changed any. It's a beautiful pale yellow these days.

Thanks for the explanation of the "decoder" Yeah I'll probably stick to DC....and then let him read all this wonderful info later after christmas so he can then decide on DCC. :-) Future birthday and christmas presents. :-)

Nice to know that there are adapters between track. So if I bought some track locally....at a local flee market....etc....i could always get adapters as long as it's code 83 or 100 track....correct???

I looked at the IHC web site....very nice variety of passenger cars....but definitely doesn't look like it has very good detail.....very cheap looking.....I hate to say it but I have a bit of an eye for good quality....darn antique collecting....and photography hobby.....just don't think the IHC is lacking detail as you put it.

Did you see what James Mitich wrote? how the set isn't quite authentic and also that reading did not in fact have Dome cars. James made a very good point....if it's up to me I want to go historically accurate more then anything else.....even if that means me buying individual pieces....darn my perfectionist and historically accurate side!

What is ABBa Arrangement? Oh gosh all of you are tooo helpful....I'm researching everything everyone is saying now...it's going to take me quite a bit of time......you guys might have thrown tooo much at me....but i'm learning a lot!!!!

Only, six more pages of these posts to read, translate into English, and understand yet....thanks everyone!

Tess

[Anonymous]

Gosh....adding sound....tom, you mentioned something about adding sound to the steward reading FT.....so it doesn't come with sound....for some reason I couldn't get that page you sent me to open up and I was having problems through work getting that page to work.....going to try again at home....so the stewart doesn't come with sound....how much do you think it would cost to get the decoder added? I guess thats not something a mechanically minded guy like keith could do himself is it?

Tess

[Anonymous]

ok A mean a engine with a cab like this http://rr-fallenflags.org/rdg/rdg259s.jpg
B means a Booster unit without a cab like this, well http://rr-fallenflags.org/rdg/rdg259s.jpg (the engine behind the aunit) So ABBA would be cab engine Booster booster Cab engine

[Anonymous]

Whats the difference with power packs....I don't know anything about that stuff yet....I'm picking up on other things.....MRC power pack????

That's a good Idea Tom about getting something in Reading colors....a couple passenger coaches....etc.....

I'm thinking I might go the direction of a really good locomotive...and then maybe get him lots of ideas and a gift certificate for the cars and tracks....i don't know.....if i can get inexpensive cars.....maybe I will go with something like the IHC passenger set....even though I really don't like the detail...in which case he can pick out a new "real" set later.....don't know yet....still trying to surf through all this info.....

[Anonymous]

Jeff,

Wonderful points.....Esspecially the last one....steering him in the direction of these forums....definitely going to do that....been printing interesting ones out myself as I read these learning from all of you wonderful train buffs.....There are definitely very nice people here. :-)

Tess

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by piccolotess
So if I bought some track locally....at a local flee market...

If the flee market has new track ok, but I would advise against starting with used track. It only takes one bad piece to ruin an entire track (assuming you're going for some sort of loop here), and spoil the new train experience. Don't get me wrong, I buy used track all the time, but I know how to look at it to see if it has been warped, melted, bent, kinked etc. Even leaving it in the sun can make the plastic ties contract pulling the rails too close together. Also depending on the type, putting it together repeatedly can make the connectors loose. Loose connectors cause electrical problems and the track works its way apart if not fastened down. Once again not a big deal, but an annoyance for a "first".

This is my first contribution to this conversation, because I forwarded your original message to a friends who is a Reading fan. I had been waiting for his reply to post, but couldn't ignore that comment [2c]

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by piccolotess

I looked at the IHC web site....very nice variety of passenger cars....but definitely doesn't look like it has very good detail.....very cheap looking.....I hate to say it but I have a bit of an eye for good quality....darn antique collecting....and photography hobby.....just don't think the IHC is lacking detail as you put it.

Did you see what James Mitich wrote? how the set isn't quite authentic and also that reading did not in fact have Dome cars. James made a very good point....if it's up to me I want to go historically accurate more then anything else.....even if that means me buying individual pieces....darn my perfectionist and historically accurate side!

What is ABBa Arrangement? Oh gosh all of you are tooo helpful....I'm researching everything everyone is saying now...it's going to take me quite a bit of time......you guys might have thrown tooo much at me....but i'm learning a lot!!!!

Only, six more pages of these posts to read, translate into English, and understand yet....thanks everyone!

Tess

This is true of a lot of IHCs offerings.. Famous for basically offering a single type painted in every scheme that ever existed.. Appeals to the mass market but falls short on those interested in accuracy.. Still though, the passenger cars can be a good place to start with modeling projects. Though I didn't see any Reading passenger cars there, one brand overlooked is Branchline trains..

http://www.branchline-trains.com/blueprint/passengercars/currentreleases.htm

I don't own any of these (yet) but thier blueprint series freight cars are pretty top notch as far as detailing goes.

An ABBA set refers to a F unit diesel where 2 of them have cabs (A) and the other two do not (B).. The A units would run back to back so to speak so at the end of the line, rather than turning the engine set (as was done with steam) the crew would simply move from one to the other.. The B units were there to add power to the set and all 4 (or 3 or 2) would be controled from whatever cab the crew was in.. The entire ABBA set would have been referred to as a Single locomotive and could be ordered that way. Not entirely in the same vein, modern diesels also run in multiple units. In contrast to that, a Steam loco required a turntable to turn it around in terminals and when put together for helper (more power) operations required a crew for each one. This, among a lot of other things, was the downfall of steam power on railroads. By 1960, most of them in regular service had been retired and completely replaced with Diesels. Of course a few Working steamers survive today through the efforts of dedicated railroad history buffs and in some cases, the actual railroads that owned them.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Tess,

Stewart makes a nice product -- quiet, reliable runners -- but they are kits that require at least an intermediate level of applying the details. If you choose to purchase a Stewart I would also suggest contacting a local model railroad club to see if there are any members willing to put the details on for you. Atlas makes an excellent Trainmaster -- a 2400 horsepower, six axle diesel built by Fairbanks Morse in the 1950's.

Like others, I would suggest avoiding the trainset stuff.

Here is an idea. Why not purchase a top of the line locomotive, a couple of brass cars and a one year membership at a local model railroad club. That way he does not have to wait until he builds a layout to run his train. Living in Reading, I am sure there are HO clubs that model Reading nearby. And this is the season when they have their open houses.

[emdgp92]

This is a shop I've been dealing with for many years:
http://cityguide.aol.com/pittsburgh/shopping/main.adp?_diraction=detail&_dircid=107689199

It's a bit far from you, but maybe he does mail order? Since I live close, I'm not sure about that. I've never had a problem with them... ever. He's been in business a long time, and sometimes has older stuff on sale. I didn't see any Reading engines in there the last time I was in...but that was about a month ago.

Here are some photos of various Reading engines (both steam and diesel), along with some freight and passenger cars. Enjoy!

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/rdg/rdg.html

[Anonymous]

May I suggest a nice O gauge starter set from MTH. They have made very nice Reading sets and other trains. Here is their website: www.mth-railking.com

Another option is Lionel www.lionel.com

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by piccolotess
Did you see what James Mitich wrote? how the set isn't quite authentic and also that reading did not in fact have Dome cars. James made a very good point....if it's up to me I want to go historically accurate more then anything else.....even if that means me buying individual pieces....darn my perfectionist and historically accurate side!

Well the IHC passenger cars are modeled after what are the most common Pullman Standard Passenger Car Plans. So while the IHC models might not depict a specific Reading Passenger car right down to the last rivit and functional lavatory plumbing, they do offer what is a reasonable depiction of Reading Cars. If you want more detail several companies offer parts that you can add to them at a later date. This "Modeling" is a highly enjoyable aspect of model railroeading which means it can be the proverbial "Gift that Keeps on giving" but in a good way. And as for the FTs. They are locomotives the Reading had, but I do not know if the Reading used them in passenger service. But if you get him the T-1 steam engine, It could then pull the passenger train and the FTs can then be used to pull a freight train.

A company "Bethlehem Car Works" Makes lots of "Craftsman Kits" for Reading passenger cars. But they have to be assembled carefully and painted and lettered. If he is just getting started in model railraoding that might be a little to much to fast. Then they are not listed as in stock at Walthers. The thing about availability is, Walthers is essentially the center of the model rairlaod universe. If they don't have it, you have to work really hard to find it. Since christmas is close and time is short I am just trying to stear you to what is avialable on such short notice. IHC also sells interiors and lighting kits for those cars if you are interested.

Let me know if I can help some more.

James

[Anonymous]

Well we're dealing with HO and we don't want to confuse the client with O at the moment...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mthrules

May I suggest a nice O gauge starter set from MTH. They have made very nice Reading sets and other trains. Here is their website: www.mth-railking.com

Another option is Lionel www.lionel.com

She has stated that he knows he wants to work in HO.

[rrgrassi]

Hi Tess,

To stay in about 100 year ago, you gotta run the steam engines. My father in law collects anything railroad including the old postcards. Check to see if there is a Reading Railroad Historical Society or club. They can point you to Reading stuff. Also as your boyfriend gets more into the hobby, he can buy undecorated items and dress them up as Reading. Also. Reading is one of the Monopoly game railroads, along with the Pennsy, B&O, and Short Line. I collect anyhting railroad too, but focus on PRR due to family history, and Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Cotton Belt because a Cotton Belt line ran right by my house in a rural area where I grew up near the Dallas Area.

Ebay can be a good source as well.

Now both of you can go shopping together for old stuff, and let that be yet another thing you have in common. My wife understands this about me since her dad loves the rails, and all that ride on them.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

[tstage]

Tess,

Glad we can be of help. Hey, just want to encourage you. You are doing a FABULOUS job of both soaking this stuff in and processing it. You are putting the rest of us to shame. On to the questions and comments.

QUOTE:
I looked at the IHC web site....very nice variety of passenger cars....but definitely doesn't look like it has very good detail.....very cheap looking.....I hate to say it but I have a bit of an eye for good quality....darn antique collecting....and photography hobby.....just don't think the IHC is lacking detail as you put it.

I agree. I haven't been fond of IHC because of the lack of detailing. The Bethlehem Car Works Ready-to-run cars would be a lot nicer and more practical for now. The kits can be when Keith gets more modeling experience under his nails...and he's up for a challenge.

Also, something not mentioned yet. The Pullman passenger cars are long so they will initially need at least a 22" or 24" radius curved track to work well. Atlas makes those sizes. And, what works well and looks good doing it are two entirely diferent things. if Keith gets into this, and starts building a layout with the intention of running passenger service, he'll want to think curve radii at least 36" and bigger. (That's whole nother story...)

QUOTE:
Gosh....adding sound....tom, you mentioned something about adding sound to the steward reading FT.....so it doesn't come with sound....for some reason I couldn't get that page you sent me to open up and I was having problems through work getting that page to work.....going to try again at home....so the stewart doesn't come with sound....how much do you think it would cost to get the decoder added? I guess thats not something a mechanically minded guy like keith could do himself is it?

I'll have to double-check but Stewarts don't normally come with sound. The F-untis can be easily adapted for sound. The motor decoder can be placed in the A-unit, and the sound decoder and speaker can be placed in the B-unit. That's pretty straightforward if the B-unit is a "dummy" or unpowered. If both the A- and B-unit is powered, it's still possible but gets a little more tricky. Here's the link again to the Stewart web site:

http://stewarthobbies.com/Loco%20Page/5042.htm

(Tried it. Works fine on my end.)

I've e-mail Tim at Empire Northern. You can figure for the sound decoder, speaker and install by Tim: $150+. Again, Tim does VERY good work and prices for sound decoders has come down. I asked Tim about his availability on the FT units but I'm still waiting to hear back from him. He's usually pretty good about returning e-mails.

Tess, I know the FT were used for freight transport. I want to find out from Tim whether he knew if FTs were also used for passenger service, as well. As Randy points out, Reading used the FP7 ("P" stood for "passenger") diesels. I checked earlier and found out that Intermountain has FP7s coming out in February or March 2006 in the Reading line. Like the BCW cars, Intermountain makes some nice stuff. Tess, I also found out from Randy that the Bachmann 2-8-0 steamer (used for early passenger service), although a good locmotive, is inaccurate.

QUOTE:
Whats the difference with power packs....I don't know anything about that stuff yet....I'm picking up on other things.....MRC power pack????

If you go with DC, MRC (Model Rectifier Corp.) is THE power pack or transformer you want to get. Quality and reliability are their name. This is something that visiting a local LHS will come in very handy for so that you can see for yourself. MRC has a very good series called their Tech 4. The 200 is their basic unit. The 220 and 260 add momentum and braking. The 280 is a "double-trottle" unit for the ability to run two tracks from the same power pack. Here's a pic and info page from the MRC web site on the 260:



http://www.modelrectifier.com/products/trainSound/product.asp?ID=1298&Subcategory=Tech%204

Basically, momentum and braking are terms to describe the inertia that trains experience when accelerating and slowing down. Unlike toy trains, real or prototypical trains start out slow and accelerate up to speed and slow down the same way. The momentum and braking switches on the MRC 220 and 260 power packs mimick that phenomenon.

Tom

22:18 EST - No word from Tim yet.

[Attaboy]

Hi, Tess, and welcome to a fellow Pennsylvanian. I live near Harrisburg.

A good place for you to check out might be Tommy Gilbert's Hobbys in Chambersburg. Here's the web site:
http://www.tommygilbertshobbyshop.com/
The staff is very helpful and knowlegeable and you may be able have some "hands on" time before you buy sight unseen. If there is any good Reading Lines RTR stuff out there they will probably be able to get it for you. A bit of a trip, I know, but well worth it.

Hope your man knows how lucky he is. [:)]

[bikerraypa]

Did anybody remember the most important part?......

Whatever you get him, make sure you include a card with the URL for this forum

[:D][:D][:D]

Ray out

[tstage]

Ray,

Yep - See last point of rolleiman's (Jeff's) post on page 2.

Tom