I'm a second generation model railroader from Pierre, South Dakota. I'm also father of 5, looking to get back into the hobby. I had a simple EZ track HO scale layout when I lived in Montana, but now I'm working on a simple EZ track dogbone layout in our new home. I enjoy working on it with my kids. Each kid has something they enjoy about it, from the 2yo watching the train go around, to the girls playing with the little animals and loading them on the cars, to the oldest helping me with laying track and operations. I'm interested in buildings and other accessories that actually operate. We have a gravel pit that actually loads onto the train. Not much for HO scale out there, more for O scale it seems. They can be powered, but don't have to be. Thanks for adding me as a member, look forward to gleaning info and tips from all of you.
Hi Dave, Welcome to the TrainBoard, glad to have you on board. It's great your kids join with you, each at their own level. We'll be happy to help any way we can.
Welcome aboard, Dave. It's great that the entire group can get together and have fun with the trains. And I have to say, I remember Pierre all too well from a long-ago family vacation, when our poor VW blew an oil pump. This being the 70's, there weren't a lot of VW mechanics in that area...and I can also still remember the Hotel Seneschal (might be mispelling).
Hi Dave, Welcome, it is great to have another EZ track guy with kids here! I am a granddad with grandkids, trying to finish up a 78”x160” EZ track layout. I have the EZ turntable that is motorized. I have used it to connect 3 engine consists with the EZ controller where the engines are all on the same address. I have used the short EZ track pieces to adapt some old accessories but did not like the results. When you are ready post your questions in a forum. You will get lots of good advice here. Bob
Thanks Bob. I see Bachmann finally caught up to me. A few years ago I bought an Atlas roundhouse and turntable with the intention of adapting it to EZ track, but now I find Bachmann sells them now. Do you use steel or nickel? dave
I'm not familiar with the Hotel Seneschal. Will have to ask around. How long did you have to stay before your VW got fixed?
Fixed? The repair shop we were drug to specialized in Ford tractors...when the mechanic asked my dad where the engine was (old squareback) we had an idea where we were at...a local VW fan, tho, happily traded a beat-up Olds 88 for it. Its a funny story now, but at the time, not so much!
Dave, If you post a question about the “Atlas roundhouse and turntable” (on the Layout Design Discussions or Ho Scale form), you should get a lot of interesting ideas about how to adapt it to the EZ track. Just don’t be surprised if you also get some suggestion about using EZ track. My experience only includes EZ track and I am committed for the time being. I use the nickel-silver. I am not interested in running wires if I don’t have too. I have laid it all around a full basement with a reverse loop at the end with no noticeable speed reduction in the locomotive. Of course a bigger power load or less power may have been a problem. I used steal on the turn table sidings for their black color. This may come back to bit me, if it eventually rusts. If you need the nickel track, I recommend buying it used in bulk. I have enough track that the grandkids can have fun making their own temporary large freestyle layouts. My extra steal track with some old/discarded stuff is now a “cash” train set. This helps save the rest of the trains. Bob
