Help Wanted, Starting my own model railroad.

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue

OK.

For DCC Systems. North Coast Engineering, Lenze, and Digitrax are all highly reccomended. I have the Digitrax system myself and find it highly relaiable and very flexable. And user Freindly.

James

James, good list, but you missed EasyDCC, also a great system and they have the closest of any system to a universal throttle with their wireless system that works with NCE or Lenz as well as EasyDCC.

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU....AWSOME!!!.

I'm going to print this all out and do further reseach. I've reached the age where I don't do too many things without doing so good research and knowing what I'm getting myself into. All of you that replied so far I thank you very very much in your help, suggestions and opinions. I like the look and style of the BNSF engines, but my scene I'm trying to do is midwestern US. I live in Illinois and the train engines I see mostly the operate in this area is Northfolk Southern. So I'm not opposed to using them. My plan for my model railroad is to have a decent railyard, (not too big), a town of the era, and possibly a farm on the outskirts with a grain elevator, livestock pens. Reasons for the trains to go there. The bridges are my transition point between the town and farm. I've been on Walthers website and have written down buildings that go with my era and theme. I hope this give you all some kind of visualization on what I'm thinking to do. It's not going to be modeled after a specific town or place in real life, just a general freelance thing of the area from that time period.
Ok, since I haven't even built my table yet I guess what I really want to know first is, is there any specific type of plywood to use for the surface?? Is one kind better to use than another?

One thing I know I want to do is have elavations off the table, to have bridges/tresils. I was thinking of having them go over a stream. How do you elevate the track up?? My dad use to take a jigsaw and cut the plywood along each side of track and slowly raise it up. Is there other options instead of doing that?? What do you do with the gap that is them made?? I can't find illustrations or documentation that explains how to do this. It's probably been dicusessed in these forums, if so and you know exactly where there at, can anyone post the link to them??

Like I said I'm am a newcomer to the hobby, and I am very excited about getting started and getting into this so you can imagine I have a ton of questions, some basic things I already know.

Please continue providing me help, I'm lovin it so far and it's greatly appricated.

[cwclark]

I'm a DC guy so the DCC is not my thing but athearn is a good choice for begginers and for the money a good product..the detailing isn't as good as say atlas or proto but they will meet most needs...be sure you purchase the DCC ready stuff and not the blue box..you can purchase blue box locomotives but my understanding is that you have to disassemble the motor and insulate it which is not an easy task with athearn equipment so dcc ready like the genisess line should work...I prefer shinohara turnouts (known as walther's code 83 since you are doing code 83..shinohara makes the walther's code 83 turnout) with tortoise under the table switch machines driven by DPDT switches...

[Anonymous]

Mrc command & athrean genisis

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lord_Beelzebub

Ok, here is my new thread and I want only those willing to help me to reply. Do not turn this into another flame war and get it closed. This is a PUBLIC forum. Thank you

Yes it is and you're welcome but remember, just like any other public space there are [censored]

QUOTE:
I used to have a model railroad when I was a child that my father built for me. I now have a home of own and I am about to start my own model railroad. I have yet to build my table (benchwork) but I know already the space, dimensions, it will occupy. I am go to do HO scale, I want to incorporate DCC technology into my railroad, I plan on using Code 83 track, electric turnouts, the late 50’s early 60’s is the time era I’m wanting to do. I still have some rolling stock and engines from my childhood by they are analog engines and really don’t work

So you've chosen an era that sets you into early / middle diesels. 4 axle GP units, F units, some 6 axle GP and SD units.. Steam was all but gone by then but some were still running on small shortlines and excursion type runs.

Where you go from there is strictly up to you.. Stewart, in my opinion, makes some of the finest end of transition era diesels out there (F units, switchers, etc).. They aren't heavy on detail but what they lack in detail the make up for in performance. Of course you can always Add detail.. Lifelike is another.. I know you may be thinking lifelike of old = junk, not true anymore. They are currently owned by Walthers (http://www.walthers.com), just make sure you are looking at the proto lines. Bachman Spectrum is another good choice.. Usually relatively inexpensive and make diesels to fit your era.. If you were going more modern, I'd suggest Kato but they specialize more in the modern day stuff. Not to say you can't go with them but.. Of course there's the old staple, Athearn but to find some of thier less expensive stuff, you may have to go used.. Thier Genesis line of diesels (F units anyway) are top-notch in the detail department. Intermountain.. Did I miss any?? Oh yes, Broadway Limited Imports (BLI)... SOUND!! Sweet! Especially with DCC.. Which brings me to the next subject...

Most new market locos these days are DCC ready.. That means they are ready to drop a decoder into without much if any modification. If you can solder some wires, you're 90% there.. The other 10% is just the confidence to tackle the task. As to a system, Joe Fugate has set up a couple threads on choosing a DCC system. I also recommend seeking out the DCC Throttle Shootout thread.. All contain great information.

QUOTE:
The help I would appreciate from those of you kind enough and willing to help is the following.

What are good manufactures for DCC, engines, rolling stock, track, scenery objects. I’d like to see some links of other peoples model railroads so I can see what’s all possible out there for me, what all can be done, help give me ideas and options. After I get my table built, what’s the next logic step I should take, etc…

If you need to ask me questions to better help me, please ask. I want to learn, I want a cool model railroad, it was fun when I was a kid and I want to get into again and it be fun.

So please if your willing, help me and keep this thread on topic.

Thank you.

The above and the rest of my answers are contained in this little clinic I've set up for beginners such as yourself..

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

Since you asked, My MRR website is linked at the bottom of all my posts.

Welcome and good luck..

Jeff

[railroadyoshi]

Hello.

I'm not sure if you saw my previous post in your first thread, but I don't think I have the patience to retype it.[8D]

My biggest recommendations are still to READ READ READ.

When you start your railroad, you will probably want to focus on a prototype and era that you paticularly like.

Some tips for choosing one:
Was there a paticular railroad that ran near you when you were younger?
Is there any now?


Some Locomotive Brands I paticularly like:
P2k
Athearn RTR

Some Rolling stock brands I paticularly like:
Athearn BB
Accurail
I prefer these mainly for the value and price.

[RoyalOaker]

It sounds to me like the first thing you need to do is look at some layouts, There is a lot of info on what type of layouts to build. If you have an LHS near you, You should pick up a good book about layout planning. I am sure someone here can recomend one.

I suggest that this should be your first step because if you build your table before you know what type of layout you want, you may end up re-building.

You may want to take some time to read posts. This question you have asked comes up maybe once per week and there are great answers attached to most of those posts. I spend most of my time on this forum reading.

You can find posts here on what people think are the best DCC systems, Best engines, Best metal wheel and couplers. Best internet suppliers, best LHS's, etc.. you get the idea.

Good luck and enjoy the hobby.

[trainfreek92]

[#welcome][#welcome] No clue on DCC but for Engines Atlas is wonderful. Katos are very good runners (in N scale any way) BLI is expensive. Athearn is pretty cheap but is ok for the price. Proto is good to. Rolling stock Atlas Athearn. design a track plan first. then build the table,lay the track,wire it up,scenery. Atlas offers a free track planning program at www.atlasrr.com
Tim

[Anonymous]

OK.

For DCC Systems. North Coast Engineering, Lenze, and Digitrax are all highly reccomended. I have the Digitrax system myself and find it highly relaiable and very flexable. And user Freindly.

Good Locomotives You can't go wrong with the following.

Proto 2000/1000
Atlas
Stewart Hobbies (A Division of Bowser)
Bachmann Spectrum
Athearn
Walthers
recent production Rivorossi
and while I have no personal expereince I hear IHC comes highly reccomended.

For your Code 83 Track. While there are many suppliers of Flex Track. Atlas Turnouts are the easyest to install. Other brands have to have special complicated wiring That just make getting a reliable track arrangement that much more of a pain in the rear.

Most of the building kits that are out there are pretty good. And Woodland Scenics has you covered for scenery.

Might I reccomend you purchase the book HO Railroad From Set to Scenery and that will walk you through all the steps of building a model railroad on an 8' X8' layout.

James

[Anonymous]

Ok, here is my new thread and I want only those willing to help me to reply. Do not turn this into another flame war and get it closed. This is a PUBLIC forum. Thank you

I used to have a model railroad when I was a child that my father built for me. I now have a home of own and I am about to start my own model railroad. I have yet to build my table (benchwork) but I know already the space, dimensions, it will occupy. I am go to do HO scale, I want to incorporate DCC technology into my railroad, I plan on using Code 83 track, electric turnouts, the late 50’s early 60’s is the time era I’m wanting to do. I still have some rolling stock and engines from my childhood by they are analog engines and really don’t work

The help I would appreciate from those of you kind enough and willing to help is the following.

What are good manufactures for DCC, engines, rolling stock, track, scenery objects. I’d like to see some links of other peoples model railroads so I can see what’s all possible out there for me, what all can be done, help give me ideas and options. After I get my table built, what’s the next logic step I should take, etc…

If you need to ask me questions to better help me, please ask. I want to learn, I want a cool model railroad, it was fun when I was a kid and I want to get into again and it be fun.

So please if your willing, help me and keep this thread on topic.

Thank you.