Model Trains

[Wally]

Any model railroaders out there?

Your scale and gauge?

Period (steam, traction, logging, transition....


It seems this is a fading hobby for the wealthy.

[JY11]

I love trains--real and model. A couple of years ago I had a 4X8 N-scale layout called the PS&W--the Plattsburgh, Syracuse, and Western. It was a current era freight line with older diesels as motive power, such as RS-3's and GP9's. There are some short lines in upstate NY that are still using those old locos, (purchased 2nd, 3rd, and 4th hand from fallen flags) so that was my inspiration. I was running a few custom-painted PS&W locos, the color scheme being teal with blue trim. The rest of the motive power was from former and current roads in upstate NY. (NYS&W, NYO&W, Lehigh Valley, Erie Lackawanna, Penn Central, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, Rochester and Southern).

Alas, my wife thought that the layout was in the way, so it came down. It was far too expensive for me to continue building and sustaining anyway. It is indeed a pricey hobby when you aren't earning a great income.

To make sure that I didn't resume my hobby, the 40 gallon tub that my locomotives and rolling stock were placed into once I tore down the layout fell from its storage place, breaking many of the locos and cars. I was heartbroken, as I had hoped someday to resume the hobby. Lord willing, maybe I will again if we're here long enough!

[Wally]

JY,

Wow, only one response. Maybe that matches the poor offerings at most toy stores.

Yes, as we have children, my n-scale is in storage. WM is my favorite followed by RDG and D&H. I spent a week photographing the D&H from Rouses Point to Colonie to Binghamton to Scranton. It was COOL. I have a really great shot of an APR S-4. A Battenkill RS-3 and lots of D&H Alcos. No PAs sniff.

I am working on an idea of starting an N-Trak group with our local scout troop as part of a fundraiser. Once you get into training, it's great. There are still several train meets in the Allentown -Reading area as well as live steam, and museums. Hopefully I can restart soon as the young-ins grow and fly the roost. I know the first grandchild gets the BRIO trains.

[steve53]

Model trains - that takes me back ...

Had an HO set as a kid. Still have some stuff stored in boxes somewhere....

The stuff they were producing in the early 60's had some quality - I mean, take a boxcar for example; had steel wheels and axles, even the floor of the boxcar was metal of some sort - Locomotives made from 100% metal - Flash forward to the early 90's when I thought I'd get my son set up with a nice layout - the wheels and axles are plastic ... plastic junk...(sigh)...

[Wally]

Steve:

The old stuff was great at the time, Varney, Mantua, American Flyer, but when I got my first Athearn - HO... model railroading took off. Strangely my first train was n-scale (Atlas/MRC) and eventually got stored. I went deep into HO - mainly Atlas, Athearn, MDC, Rivarossi(steam) all high quality plastic, great detail. Years later, the n-scale market bloomed with offerings and I sold off the HO. Currently I have about 30 locomotives and 150 cars in storage. I'm waiting for the kids to move out to build my layout.

I also have a small batch of z-scale and dream of a garden logging railroad with a Shay, Clymax, and Heistler locomotives

Now a days you have to go to train meets to find the good stuff, unless you know where the real train shops are. (Tommy Gilberts in Gettysburg is the BEST). In the Reading PA area there are a few good shops - Iron Horse Hobbies - and even Hobbytown (Hubbytown) have good selections. If you are thinking of reveving your trains, I suggest stay away from Bachman and most of the sets out there. Lifelike Proto 2000 are good trains however they have a junk line too. And Atlas nickle-silver track will make training much more enjoyable. Kato track is excellent for set up take down layouts.

Check out Model Railroader Magazine for inspiration.

[fracturedInfinity]

I worked on a model railroad once. It was the kind where you have to build the track yourself, not the typical prebuilt stuff you see these days.

I've still got my old train that we set up under the christmas tree every year. I'd hoped to do a real setup of my own some day, but I don't see it happening any time in the near future. I think it's H scale that I have.

[Wally]

I suspect HO scale, I don't know of an H scale (about 1 inch between rails).

Did you use the TruScale milled roadbed with the ties cut into the wood or did you hand lay individual ties and spike the rail down? That is a challenge.

[No Bandwagon Here]

I have a 1:1 scale setup, about 182 miles long...

[Wally]

Lucky You. Class III or Just a worker on a Class I?

In Texas they model 2:1, everything is bigger in Texas.

[Wally]

Just seeing if the other engine appears. Yes the Heistler is ready.