Model railroads.

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Fisher

Old Guy with a Cool car.
Joined
Jul 22, 2012
Messages
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Location
Regina Sask Canada
So i recently started into a new hobby. I decided to get into HO trains. I am in the process of building my layout table, Going to be a 12x8 L shape. Looking at a Rapido Diesel unit, going to build my layout in a 1966-1974 era, i grew up in a train station from 5 yrs old till 14 yrs old. We lived in the CN train station during that time.

Anybody else into this hobby that can offer some advice and places where to buy from?
 
E-Bay. Hobby shops are few and far between here in Canada. I bought quite a bit of rolling stock about 10 to 15 years ago for my future layout and it was as small hobby stores were closing down here in the Lower Mainland of B.C. I got quite a few deals on Proto 2000 locos as they were clearing out stock ($40). I wound up buying probably half my collection on e-bay though.

The fact you’ve narrowed down the era you want to model will keep you focussed as you acquire the rolling stock.
 
i am going to do a small town prairie landscape as well with a Switching yard. Our landscape is flat flat flat. lol Will be a lot of buildings and trees etc .
 
I still have my model railroad from when I was a kid. My kids still play with it. I get most of my stuff from Ebay, Amazon or other online hobbies stores. I really like this store been using them for the better part of 20 years! It's been a while since I ordered from them. Model Trains
 
I have been a model railroader since before I was 10. I am 54 now. I haven enjoyed N, HO, O, F, G and currently am working on an On30 layout. I prefer narrow gauge for the freedom of imagination. If you can imagine it, it probably existed on narrow gauge lines. As an example, if this was on the rails, you can imagine most anything else was, too. Narrow gauge has it all beat, IMO.

VW RAILTRUCK.jpg
 
I used to have a HO scale layout, I collected L&N pieces as I grew up around them in the 60's and 70's I had all pieces from that era. Most of my stuff was Athern and pro2000. Grand kids and space took a toll on mine, I sold it all a couple years ago to a friend. Some of my old stock is used in the model railroad museum layout in New Haven KY. I couldn't shake the bug and have now started collecting N scale trains. I bought most of my stuff from a hobby shop in Louisville KY. Called L&N trains and things, I also got a lot of stuff from Hobby Lobby but they have quit carrying quality stuff, they still have some landscaping stuff but that's about it.
 
So i recently started into a new hobby. I decided to get into HO trains. I am in the process of building my layout table, Going to be a 12x8 L shape. Looking at a Rapido Diesel unit, going to build my layout in a 1966-1974 era, i grew up in a train station from 5 yrs old till 14 yrs old. We lived in the CN train station during that time.

Anybody else into this hobby that can offer some advice and places where to buy from?
Your era is the same as I used, most locomotive's from that era were EMD GP 7's, Gp 20's and my favorite EMD Gp 30's, I also had a couple Alco RS 3 switchers. And a couple GE U boats.
 
I have been a model railroader since before I was 10. I am 54 now. I haven enjoyed N, HO, O, F, G and currently am working on an On30 layout. I prefer narrow gauge for the freedom of imagination. If you can imagine it, it probably existed on narrow gauge lines. As an example, if this was on the rails, you can imagine most anything else was, too. Narrow gauge has it all beat, IMO.

View attachment 1715311026
That is interesting iv never heard of narrow gauge before I'm gonna have to research that
 
I have been a model railroader since before I was 10. I am 54 now. I haven enjoyed N, HO, O, F, G and currently am working on an On30 layout. I prefer narrow gauge for the freedom of imagination. If you can imagine it, it probably existed on narrow gauge lines. As an example, if this was on the rails, you can imagine most anything else was, too. Narrow gauge has it all beat, IMO.

View attachment 1715311026
Love the VW, that's cool! They had a narrow gauge in my area that used to haul folks down to Mammoth Cave. It used a small steam engine called the Hercules, it's still on display there. That VW reminds me of a truck they had, the wheels were converted to run on the track.
 
You could also use some EMD SD 45's the CN used a lot of them in the mid 70's I've saw some running around the Detroit area and saw a few in Cambridge Ontario, they still have a few in use in my area on the short tracks.

IMG_20150823_172745.jpg
 
What type of track are you using, Fisher? Brass or nickle silver? 3' long sections or short ones? Long term, soldering the rail ends together and using a 'track cleaner' (an 'eraser' looking thing) will contribute a lot to smoother and more reliable operation.

I assume that cork roadbed with a layer of ballast is still the way to simulate a raised roadbed....

All of which you may already know.
 
I am going to use all Atlas code 100 track, and will be soldering as well as running a completed wire bus grid underneath. And yes a cork base with a grey and black ballast .
 
Nice... Did you use screws and glue at the joints of the framing?

I woulda given you my layout but it is a tad far to haul LOL. Any takers... PM me. I gotta clear some space.... badly.
 
Yes we used glue and 2-1/2" screws for the framing. I am going to take my time and set the torque on the drill when i secure the top so it stays nice and smooth i hope
 
my favorite part of railroads was always building the scenery, the houses and such

for a while, my boy had a track to race cars on (cant think of the name, but you know the kids, two lanes, two controllers, gotta slow down in the curves or you fly off the track) i had some houses and stuff on that too, i liked it

come to think of it, there is one member who has a ridiculous layout for those cars as well
if i ever remember his name, ill let you know
 
Back in the 80's we built a 4 lane Watkins glenn slot car track, we surrounded all the curves with 1/2" drywall so the cars would slide around the corners flat and not fly off. I have a buddy who is 8 hours away from me, he has a serious train layout which he has been working on for the last 10 years. He is doing 1930 era stuff, his buildings are all authentic scratch built from kits. He has this weathering technique that is so cool. He has been guiding me a fair bit so i appreciate all his help as well.
 
Yes we used glue and 2-1/2" screws for the framing. I am going to take my time and set the torque on the drill when i secure the top so it stays nice and smooth i hope
Or use a drywall setting bit to get consistent depth.
 
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