I'm new here and fairly new to the atlas board as well. I'm trying to read all I can to make the right moves in model railroading but it's still pretty confusing. I won't bother with any real details but I would be open to suggestions on obtaining the better quality locos, ect. My area to run will be small, to say the least. To be honest, I can't afford to do anything yet, but I really want to buy that first item to look at and motivate me. I'm looking into doing the early to mid 60's PRR in Ohio. I could do early PC though. I have no one to talk to about this type of thing in my area. I'd like a nice loco that will travel smoothly at low speeds on my future track. I'm having no luck at the moment locating that era of a caboose either. This is pretty frustrating too as the closest train shop is about a 120 mile round trip. They have many items but not much on PRR or that time period. Unless I'm looking over it, the only things on ebay I'm seeing is the tyco type and I want better quality ... sorry if that offends anyone. HO is right for me as my eyesight isn't that great and I've been wearing bifocals for several years now. I don't know why, but I feel the need to pick up a caboose ( goofy perhaps ) to get the pleasure & motivation. Sorry about the long post ... I'm sure it's all too transparent that I'm a greenhorn. All suggestions will be sincerely appreciated. Pastor David
WELCOME !! Pastor David, To our humble forum. As far as loco's Atlas, Life-Like Proto 2000 or Athearns make decent lookers and runners for not a lot of money. Personaly I stay away from E-bay but I know there are a lot of people who use it. You can always check out hobby shop web sites and order by mail. One example is www.some train store.com . They are a sponser for this forum. Hope you enjoy your stay here on Train Board and come back often! There are a lot of great folks out here. And I'm sure a few of them will get back to you on this question.
Welcome aboard! As you describe above, I can tell you that this is an excellent first step. Read. The next step, which you've begun here, is to ask questions. There are no dumb questions. If you ask someone, and they respond as if it is dumb, you're simply not talking to the right person. There are plenty of us willing to share. It's part of the fun! The best way to learn, is asking of others who have already made the mistakes, so you can avoid any pitfalls. Above all, take your time. Rushing into something can lead to frustration. We certainly do not want that to happen! Boxcab E50
Thank you Those are a cpl of posts that I appreciate and are making me feel more comfortable about registering here ... and I mean that sincerely Trust when I say, I'm not rushing into this as I've been wanting to get into model railroading for many years. I've found that this is a costly hobby unless one wants to run an entry level "set" that you can purchase at the local dept store. Of course, costly means different things to different ppl depending on their level of income. I also am severely limited on space. I never was a man of means ( read, money ), so this is something that will take time, but I'm willing to go it slowly. I have no hobbies and realize that this hobby is a good choice for me A train shop I went to was a lot of fun ... but frustrating as well. The shop is a 120 mile round trip for me so I won't be able to frequent there. Information about the hobby isn't cheap ... those magazines and books to buy ... yikes. And, so many varying opinions are difficult to sift through too. It can be overwhelming. I'm determined to first buy a caboose ... something I can look at and admire in the box or handle with gloves and inspect. I need the insentive of that "first" thing as well as something real, other than just the idea, to satisfy myself, even just a little. Then, I'll perhaps get a freightcar, ect. I've never had a hobby before, not to any real extent. I really don't wish to deny myself of this opportunity. Trains have always been something special to me. Too bad I wasn't paying more attention in my youth to this as I took it for granted and actually learned little. My grandfather had 50 years in the PRR. He was an engineer. My father had over 30 years as a maintainer and retired from Conrail. I used to get on the locos fairly frequently as a child. Every engineer was, without fail, pleasant I used to frequent the local tower with my father and I'd get to help throw the switches, ect. Big stuff, eh? I sure thought so. The memories are many but I won't bore you folks with them as I just realized I'm rambling on something awful here ... sorry about that. My best to all, Pastor David
Welcome to Trainboard! I'd add Kato to the list of quality loco's, but they are doing mainly modern ones in HO scale at the moment, nothing Penn Central for a while. Atlas isn't afraid to produce black engines, they have done a few recently and they are very good quality. They certainly are not the cheapest, but going for one that will give years of trouble free service is possibly worth paying for. In terms of finding information, try using www.walthers.com sort of as an online catalogue. Their prices are always 'list price' which means you may get a better price at a local store, or by mail or internet order, but it makes a pretty good way of searching for what is available to buy. Sites like Trainboard are pretty good for learning or passing on ideas and techniques, or talking through any problems. You may also find you have a local club, some folk get on with these and some dont, but they do give you access to folk locally with similar interests and can get you somewhere to run your trains even if you have no home layout. For a Penn Central caboose, Bowser do a few ex PRR variaties as kits, and Atlas is about to come out with an ex New Haven one, which gives you a few options. Give a little thought before you start buying to how much detail you want. Looking through the Bowser ones, there are very simple caboose kits or ones with lots of separate handrails and details to add. The price tends to be higher for the more detailed ones, but that's a decision that we all make based on our 'wants' and available budgets. Sometimes having a large layout puts you at a disadvantage as you need more loco's and cars to run it, keeping it small might mean you can spend the same amount on your trains but use better quality equipment. There are lots of options, the expensive ones are not always right.
Welcome aboard. You found the right place to ask questions, so ask away. No stupid questions are ever voiced here, everything is relevant, and there is definately a fellowship amongst us that extends even to the need for actually holding the trains. I personally really love the heft of an old lionel steam engine when the train fondling urge strikes, all that pot metal just gives them that extra oomph I need.
I know for six axle good quality loco's Stewart had PRR C-628 ALCO's and Kato had an EMD SD45. Both would require 22 inch radius curves, and cost anywhere from around $89 to $140 max. But check places like Standard Hobby Supply and one of this boards sponsors, Internet Trains. As for four axle power Atlas may have some GP38's in PRR. About 7 or 8 years ago Bachmann did a Fairbanks Morse 4 Axle baby Trainmaster, which ran decent for Bachmann. Stewart may have also done EMD F units and a GE Uboat but I can't be certain. As for a caboose, Bowser made a good PRR caboose. I hope that helps and welcome aboard.
Welcome to trainboard Pastor David! As everyone has mentioned, theres no such thing as a stupid question, besides the unasked one. If you cant get an answer to a question on this board, there probably ISNT an answer. Lifelike Proto 2000 (or simply "P2K" to most) offer some locos are extremely good prices that have pretty good detail and absolutely exceptional performance. With a limited budget, and emphasis on low speed running, take a look at their Switchers...The S3 and SW8 in particular wont cost you a lot. They also come in a LOT of different roads (I have C&NW and Penn Central models), as well as undecorated. I personally think, and this is without knowing your budgetary constraints, that you should actually start with a loco and a little piece of track rather than a caboose.... Its absolutely amazing the feeling of watching the loco go forward 3', back 3', forward 3'....simple things amuse simple minds, but its truly a great feeling. Hard to do that with a caboose or freaight car on its own. Of course, if money is THAT tight, detailing a caboose or freight car and putting it on static display can also give you a major rush. Satisfaction is what its all about, whether thats running trains, detailing rolling stock, or making and detailing buildings......
Pastor David, welcome and I hope you can learn all you need to there are some great modelers and friends willing to help here. I am usually just reading from afar but had a little something to share along the lines of saving money, if you have a special book, or tape that you would like try, Half.com I have bought things here that were almost brand new for a third of the price of the LHS. I agree with others to stay away from Ebay for locos and the like unless your dealing with an online store because usually your getting things that others have had problems with. Hope this helps, Pat.
You are all too kind It makes my day to hear these posts ... all friendly and uplifting. I even feel a little less anxious now about asking the "stupid" questions. I'll be looking over trainboard for all of you and your info that you share. Thank you all again for the kindness you have shown toward me Blessings, Pastor David
Pastor David- I note the line you have at bottom of each message. Certainly it applies to all of life. But it certainly strikes me as fitting for model railroading! Boxcab E50
I'm with you Boxcab!! but I think it should read the other way. There is no wrong way to do a right thing!!!!!!!!!!
Pastor David, As a suggestion to get your mind going towards RR'ing, without having to build an entire layout.... I'd first buy a decent looking locomotive or caboose or whatever you want. For inexpensive but decent locomotives I'm partial to Athearns. They have some well known shortcommings, but they're also well known fixes for them. Athearn also has a good selection of fairly inexpensive cars that you can buy as kits. I'd check them out. Second, I'd put a little track on a nice piece of oak that has been stained and varnished. Something with not a lot of room to spare for your "showpiece". Put your locomotive/caboose/car on it and have it in your office on a shelf/bookcase/desk. People will ask about it, and it'ss remind you of what you're wanting to do. I want to do this with a Big Boy some day while I build my basement layout. Welcome to the hobby, and remember - think like a kid! Mark in Utah
