Brand spanking new and need tons of help (for charity!)

Hello everyone :].

First off I hope this is in the right forum heh.

So as the title says I'm brand new to this hobby and could use plenty of help and advice as to just exactly what I need to do.

My first plan is to make some relatively simple, yet nice, layouts to donate to various childrens hospitals for their playroom areas so they can have something a little more interesting than a few legos and coloring books and the like. (First plan to start off in the Atlanta area, Emory specifically as that is where my girlfriend/other friends are currently at and we have several high up friends that work there so shouldn't be too hard to set things up etc )

I saw the Woodland Scenics layout kits in a box type set up they have and thought that would be great for what I want to do as just about everything is in the box and all. I know they may be a bit over priced for what you can gather together on your own, but I like how it's all in one go and money isn't really an issue. I've watched their videos and such and I think the scenery part shouldn't be an issue. Going specifically for the Scenic Ridge layout as they call it.

Track

They do have packs of track already put together which is convenient, but I do believe I read something that says they may not be the best type of track to use. Any truth to that? I believe it is code 80. Also heard that the layout plan using that track doesn't translate directly into other track types as one or two of the piece types aren't made in the other types (assuming that made any sense ha.


DC vs. DCC

Now I know a bit about DC and DCC more or less. DC from what I understand is pretty straight forward and easy although limits you (for the most part) to just one train at a time. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The key part here is to be easy and simple to use for kids that would be using this set up. If one were to go with DCC is there some option to have separate controllers from the main unit that are limited to what they can do? Basically start stop direction power (also limited so they don't crash them ha) and the like. Thinking it would be a good idea to have more than one train so more than one kid can play at a time, but not something too complex where they won't have any idea of what to do and crash things etc ha.

Now wiring and all that other fun stuff I haven't the faintest idea about. Will need plenty of help on what exactly I need to do there.

Layout/switches

The WS Scenic Ridge (N Scale) layout kit has some switches and the like and ways to go more than just one route I suppose you can call it (know nothing about the terminology here ha). How does all that work out and how easy would it be for little kids of various ages to understand and use? Would it be best to eliminate that section of the layout and put it towards scenery and towns and the like? Any help here would be great.

Trains

I've been thinking going with locomotives of Rail lines that operate in the region would be best as that is what kids/people would be most likely to recognize. So in this case I was thinking of Norfolk Southern and CSX. Any other suggestions?
Speaking of locomotives, I've been looking online for a few to get. I can get a few Bachmann locos for around $30 bucks which is cool but I have heard they can be iffy to some degree and don't run as smooth. Would this be an issue? This layout and setup needs to be pretty self sustaining so to speak as the staff won't really know what to do and I want it to be able to pretty much run on it's own. Would I be better off spending a bit more (again not really an issue) for some Kato units? I've read reviews that they are great and run smooth and well etc.


I do plan on asking around local model train shops if any one there would be interested in helping out and providing maintenance for the layouts for the hospital. I figure ma and pa type places would be the best to go to as they would be more receptive to the idea than chain stores and the like. At least that's my opinion anyways feel free to correct me ha. It would be preferable if whom ever would do this for free (seeing as it's for charity and all heh) although I am able to set up a fund of sorts to offer payment if need be. Anyone have any ideas of any where (said any a lot there...) or anyone who would be willing to do something like that? Any members here interested?


I think that covers most of the issues although feel free to add anything that I missed, as again I have limited knowledge on all of this ha.

Thanks for taking the time to read through all of this and I hope it made at least some sense!


P.S. If anyone is in the Atlanta or surrounding area (am willing to travel some what) and would be willing to be a tutor that would be awesome!

Thanks again, and as always: chugga chugga CHOO CHOOO

 

First, congradulations on your effort to bring some joy to children, Hospitalized and away from home.
Second, N gauge may be to small and delicate for this purpose. You might think of Lionel 027 or G gauge with a Thomas and Friends trains. They are available in both gauges and children identify with them more than prototypical models.
Third, be warry of helpers who promise something and never deliver or show up to help.
Fourth, try to develope some sponsors who can provide some funding or materials in exchange for free advertising/Credit for the display. Good luck in your endevor

 

Forgot to mention I would have some sort of plexi glass cover of one kind or another to keep it hands free ha. Space is also a consideration trying to keep it around 3x6 or maybe 4x8 at most. So From my understanding I don't think G gauge would work at all ha. How much room does O gauge need? Do they make Thomas goodies in HO? That might be a possibility. Also thinking of having a steam loco as kids might be able to connect with steam more so than diesels ha.Thanks for the advice

 

Keep in mind that many kids have little appreciation for handling delicate models, and/or take out frustrations of the anxiety of medical waiting rooms, regardless of age and education. I've been in enough waiting rooms to realize why most are equipped with blocks, durable wooden vehicles, and the like. The suggestion of Lionel 0-27 equipment may be the best for your intended application.

I think plastic covers, preventing interaction with the "toy", may increase frustration. I'm afraid it would create a museum-like atmosphere, not the imaginative diversion you intend.

 

I have to agree..If you're gonna let them play with them,better off something bigger.Or,better yet,for little kids,make a full blown Thomas The Tank Engine layout.I built one for my grandsons,built totally fantasy.It had castings of fake pine trees,just cone shaped,made on a lathe,painted roads & lakes,track all glued down on a piece ot plywood.They could play with it all day,and it never needs maintenance.It wasn't finished in the pic,the track & edge of the platform got painted brown,the unpainted area on the side of the track got light gray...

 

Okay I am about to commit heresy here and risk being sent back to my punishment cave by Fotheringill for an extended stay. But I suggest the HO scale Thomas the Tank sets. Relatively inexpensive as compared both the N scale and HO scale engines and almost immediate recognition by the kids. A little more difficult to jar off the track when a kid bumps it. Checking on the cost of a single Thomas engine in HO scale I found one at $29 not including cars and track. Bachmann offers the sets at far less than a Scenic Ridge set and in fact you can probably buy two sets and some extras for what the Scenic Ridge costs. And Thomas in HO is far more cheaper and available than Thomas in N scale.

I think you probably can put together something fairly nice in a 3 X 4 format and include a simple siding to allow switching with all the controls for that outside of a plexiglass cover.

 

I ran a train oriented hobby shop for a while, so believe me when I say just get a wooden Thomas set. Children will DESTROY an electric train set. N scale, HO, lionel, doesn't matter. You will have broken trucks and couplers, and damaged engines that don't run. I'm talking a life expectancy that can be measured in hours. Plexiglass top will just be a frustration, who is going to rerail the train the first time the table gets bumped? And then what, put the cover back on till it happens again five minutes later? On the other hand, kids of all ages LOVE the wooden Thomas sets (even teenagers!), and they are absolutely bullet proof. Get a decent size set up, and a table to go with it. Tack the track down to the table with brads and a nail gun. The kiddos will flock to it, and have to be dragged away kicking and screaming.

 

This is a great idea!

I would go with the wooden Thomas the Tank sets. Even my 4 year old grandson cannot destroy them and he loves playing with them.
Most of them you push along by hand but they also have some that take a battery and will run by themselves.
Someone at the hospital should have a box of spare cars as they will disappear but I would bet that some people would drop boxes of cars off as their kids out grow them (like my 4 year grandson that now prefers to run his Zephyr on our N Scale layout).

No need for a cover as it should be hands on entertainment and no more than 32" wide and about the surface should be between 18" & 22" high.
Make certain there are no sharp/pointy aspects (i.e. rounded trees) as kids will be falling into it etc.

 

No need for nails.I just white glued my Thomas RR together.No sense putting nails in that can be ripped up by rough play,and become dangerous.The glue absolutely can't be pulled off..The only thing that happened to the one in the pic was crayons,spilled drinks,and their stupid cat deciding it was his favorite claw sharpener when they stood it up against the wall..

 

Well it looks like I should just abandon the idea and if anything get some wooden Thomas sets. Darn. I wanted to be able to do some modeling and build some layouts while in Georgia for a few months or so but wouldn't really have any where to keep them hence the donating idea. Not giving up on helping the kids but shelving this idea for now.

Any other ideas of places to donate layouts to?

 

Yes, consider schools. However, not as a classical model train layout, but as a transportation system with two or more destination terminals that challenges the child's intellectual ability to solve cargo switching movements as interactive physical problems.

Model Railroader has published articles on this subject over the years, which the MR staff might be happy to help you locate. The featured layout usually was a 4x8 sheet of plywood with a well thought out track plan containing a continuous loop and two "destinations", each with relatively complex yard and siding designs. The layout contained no scenery, just some buildings representing warehouse or customer locations to add some realism.

The real challenge was for the school to have an imaginative teacher with a technical or mathematical background who could develop cargo movement and switching problems for the students to solve. Of course the problems (and layouts) would be designed to match and challenge the education level of each grade, from elementary through high school. This is where sectional track such as Kato Unitrack would be helpful, giving the teacher the ability to quickly construct a non-permanent layout to match a specific grade-level ability. In more advanced grades, the teacher would have two teams of students challenge each other by having one team design layouts and switching problems for the other team to solve.

The beauty of this is that it teaches students to think by solving physical problems with their hands and minds, rather than just sitting while a teacher talks about concepts written on boards.