Hi, my name is Steve, I'm 57 and new to the hobby. Presently I'm gathering information to decide what to purchase. I'm settled on HO scale and the EMD E or F units as my first locomotive choice. I plan to go with DCC control and have been looking at Digitrax. Arizona has been my home for the past 30 years so I'd like to do a red rocks layout similar to something like what can bee seen if riding on the Verde Canyon Railroad, but the layout will probably be fictitious and I will use Southern Pacific, Santa Fe or Union Pacific equipment. I will be enclosing a 20x12 area on my back patio to create a hobby/train room and I should have a 16x12 space along two walls in a 4' deep "L" shape for a layout. Construction will start this spring so until then I will gather info and maybe pick up an engine and a couple pieces of rolling stock. I'm wide open to suggestions on what are the better brands to buy. For the trains I'd like to buy something that needs no mechanical modifications and just a little weathering to make it ready to go. Thanks! I look forward to learning from everyone and enjoying this great hobby!
Hi Steve! Welcome to Trainboard. We're happy to have you with us. I can't imagine having to start anew again. When I started, there was no where near as many choices to have to consider. But, now adays, I'm sure it will be a great asset for you to get started. Check out our sponsors as you go along. Spend time in the HO forum and don't be afraid to ask questions. There's no such thing as asking a "stupid" question in here. As a suggestion ... start small. Build a little at a time and finish that portion. Otherwise you may bite off more than you can chew, and you can become frustrated. Keep us up to date and we'd even like to see photos of your progress as you go along. Best of luck!
Hi Steve, welcome to the Train Board. We'll be happy to share ideas, experience, and especially photos. You say that you're planning a 4' depth along the walls. Unless you have exceptionally long arms, you may have problems laying track, planting trees, and recovering derailed trains that far away. I suggest a 30" depth, or maybe 36" if the layout is low enough to reach things by leaning over. Though leaning over and reaching risks uprooting trees by an uncontrollable belly...LOL
Welcome to TrainBoard! What Hank suggests for layout depth is spot on. Plenty of good rolling stock brands out there. For motive power, start with a look at such as Atlas and Kato.
Thanks guys! I appreciate the input; 30" it will be and a section at a time. I will look into the Atlas and Kato offerings. I've spent several hours viewing you tube videos of reviews, layouts and full scale trains. Some very inspirational stuff out there!
Welcome aboard, Steve. Sounds like a well-developed mental picture already exists of what you want to build, some of the scenery opportunities (mesas and "painted deserts") could be truly stunning. Good luck.
Welcome to Trainboard, Steve. Looks like some suggestions have already been made, and they sound good to me. I hope you create a great layout.
Thanks, Fitz! I'm making sketches today to try an get some ideas. If I can upload pics I'll post one for feedback.
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Hello, my name is Paul. I am 52 years old and new to the model railroading hobby. Chose HO scale and have built a platform and working on track layout. Need suggestions on track style Code 83 or Code 100 nickel-silver, wooden ties or brass. I heard PECO was a better product and mire available than Atlas. Suggestions? I would like to build my own scenery and buildings who has the best kits to do this? Thanks for the feedback and input in advance.
Paul - welcome aboard! You may want to pose some of those questions in either the HO forum or Layout Design. In either case it should get more notice, and thence more replies. To give some input up front - outside of second-hand, you'll be hard pressed to find brass track anymore (which isn't bad, really, as nickle-silver is a much better material). As to Peco, it may be more available from time to time than Atlas, but it is worth keeping in mind that it is designed around English track-laying practices rather than US (at least that has been the case historically).
Hi Paul, Welcome. Please go with nickel-silver track. Brass tarnishes in a New York Second preventing power pickup. I used brass 50-60 years ago and had to scrub it almost daily to remove the oxide coating. I doubt if I clean my Peco track once every three months, just run trains to remove the dust. Thank you for Nickel-Silver.
Track tarnishing is largely impacted by the part of the world you live in. With proper treatment, brass can be worry free and without care, nickel will not function. Nickel however will be more available. I'm a fan of Peco switches though I tend to use atlas everywhere else. I thought Peco had a US profile track line?
Also Atlas will be much more available than Peco in the US. It's Nscale that atlas has been having supply issues with. I prefer code 83 for looks, but I run code 100, because I'm cheap and it isn't enough of a difference for me
Thanks for the information. I will look into HO forum and Layout design, looking to started soon. So excited about my new venture and can't wait to lay something out on my platform.
