Advice Request: A Modeling Crossroads

Hello Train Board members,
I have just joined today although I have read many posts on this forum before. I am seeking the advice of some of the wise and more experienced members of the N scale community. I am 17 and graduating high school in NJ next week and I am going to school at Catholic University in DC in the fall. At home, I have a layout of pink foam and unitrack (see attachments). It has taken me a long time to get space and the track for the layout, and now I am out of money for more buildings and scenery. I obviously can't take it with me, and I have just joined an NTrak club here in Jersey. I am considering selling the unitrack and building a module or two so I could take my modeling with me to school (focusing on academics and athletics first, obviously). I also don't think I can get the layout out of my basement when I move out after school.
The other issue I am dealing with is rolling stock. I developed Slobbering Pennsy Fan syndrome. I own a Kato E8 and GG1 with the Broadway Limited, a Kato Mike mocked to look like an L1 and a Bachmann 2-8-0 mocked to be an H10. I saw the steamers on an EBay auction and couldn't resist. I also have various pieces of PRR rolling stock. However much I love the Pennsy, I also have entertained the idea of focusing on a freelanced railroad of my own, the Black River Western. I think it would be a lot of fun to make my own railroad and history, and the rolling stock would be much more available than the current PRR market (aside from painting and decalling, which I would have to outsource until I have the resources and experience). I have a vision of two orange RS-2s pulling a string of hoppers by a roundhouse of Bachmann and Kato steamers with my logo on them that is tempting me to begin buying undecorated models. I do have a promise that I will get an M1 when (read:if) they are released, but I could justify that under my own line leasing power. I have accepted the current state of the PRR market where I am either drooling over brass steam (or building my own, which is out of the question) or settling for diesels, which are actually harder to find than I thought. Even getting my hands on an H-21 or Gla has been impossible. I love the PRR for what it is, and the the day I have a 20x20 basement, I will be building the benchwork for an Altoona to Gallitzin layout with all four tracks to run double-headed K4s and ABBA Bf-16s with a hundred hoppers. But should I start painstakingly collecting for the distant future when I can enjoy the Pennsy the way it was meant to be, or start out on my own RR and collect PRR on the side? And should I sell my substantial amount of Unitrack and build N-trak with a sizeable budget for a new roster or deal with running trains half the year? What I am asking is what do I do when the future is uncertain and my resources (time, experience and money) are limited? Any input is appreciated. To be honest, I am leaning towards starting my own RR while buying the best Pennsy stuff as "leased" for the future and keeping the layout (simply because it is less of a hassle), but I would love to hear the wisdom and suggestions of experienced modelers first. I hope this sparks an interesting conversation about my predicament without going down the whole "there's no (fill-the-blank prototype) available but there should be" road.

 

Thanks for the advice. It's a four and a half hour car ride or a very expensive five hour Amtrak ticket. I am most likely going to be in honors housing which gives me more space to slide a 2x4 in a closet or under a bed. What I really wish I had started with looking back is two modules with temporary curves to attach to either end to set up a continuous loop for home.

The worst that could happen at home is a cat curling up for a nap on the foam, which I tried discouraging but gave up on. I am afraid they might take scenery for a snack, so that might have to wait. The real estate is at the whim of the parental units also. They could decide to get a bigger couch and move the table to the garage, but they would probably consult me first.

As to the PRR branch, that's what my intention was at the start of this plan. It was heavily influenced by David Vollmer's layout, but I didn't have the flexibility of classic atlas and cork or another door for a freight yard, which was a must-have along with the sidings, New River Mine, tunnel, runaround, staging track and double-tracked mainline. This plan took a lot of frustrating tries to get the way I wanted it to be. I also have an Atlas Roundhouse and turntable, but those were the first to go.

 

Two possibilities.

1. A nineteenth century pike. The small power, small rolling stock and short trains lend themselves well to the sharper curves of a pike that size. You could use UNITRAK or buy PECO code eighty metal frog switches, some flex and some cork. If you want to run Atlas eight wheelers or moguls or the B-mann eight wheeler, you will need metal frog switches. The MDC/Athearn consolidated or mogul will operate on plastic frog switches.

2. N-TRAK. Northern Virginia N-TRAK operates in this area in the Virginia suburbs. You could build a Plain Old Four Footer module which will allow you to operate your PRR equipment on a large layout. The club meets regularly, and has some SPFs in it.

For a while, many years back, it did not have an SPF. When I was a member, I used to state, jokingly, that the club needed to put an advert in the POST Personal Section: Local Model Railroad Club ISO Resident SPF. I am no PRR fan, but even I know that NO model railroad club is complete without its Resident SPF. This club also sets up at weekend shows. They are in the Virginia Suburbs, in fact most live in Farifax County, but, I would venture that if you talk to some of these guys, someone will pick you up at a METRO station on his way to the meetings or set-ups. There is a METRO right next to Catholic U., so that is no problem for you. You might have to cab it or Uber it from a Virginia suburban METRO to the first meeting that you attend. Most of the suburban METRO stops have a cab line, and , as you know, if you download the application, you can get Uber almost anywhere. They are in the Virginia suburbs, here`.


NVNTRAK has a website. I know many of the guys there, they are a good bunch. I used to be a member, but I do not live in Virginia anymore and life intervened when I was a member, so , before I moved back to the City, I was not too active in it.

 

My own midnight thoughts are:
Scratch Building - Using whatever materials you can find, very few tools, and a
Reduced number of colors. All you *need* are, Red, Yellow, White, Black and Blue. Learn to combine them into the colors you need.
Add details to details - to every square inch
Reduced Space - Maybe just 6's X 4' - give or take. Force yourself into a corner. She what comes out.

 

Live the adventure ! Hang a 32 inch HCD above your bed with 2 "L" brackets...



Drop it down to play with trains...


Fold it back up at night. Piece of cake !!!!

 

You haven't said, but think about focusing on a time period and location. You don't have to be absolutely specific to the day, but it will help give you discipline in buying and modeling. Your holdings already seem to include steam. There's a fair amount of Pennsy stuff on eBay including X29 box cars if you decide on the steam or transition eras. Some people only want home road cars, but in most situations, home road cars are/were something like 60% or less of total cars moved. So go ahead get cars other than PRR.

I like BoxcabE50's thoughts so that you keep your Pennsy interests in the forefront.

You'll find out if you have time and energy to develop the pink foam layout and run on it. N clubs might provide your RR fix otherwise.

 

You say you will be involved with both academics as well as sports. That will leave you with very little free time which you will have to manage to the best ofyour ability. Don't forget that there are other tasks that need done and they do take up time. Here I am referring to sleeping, eating, laundry, socializing, etc. Let the hobby take a siding if necessary. It will still be there when you want it. Also I second the idea of joining an Ntrak club near school. You can learn a lot from the members there. Go to the Ntrak website at www.ntrak.org where clubs are listed by the state of their domicile alomng with their websites. It may also have contact information listed.

 

You're moving to DC - that's a general area with a lot of N Scale activity.

I think you'll find, as I did in the "previous century," that college life (studies, etc.) will consume more time than you think. Let yourself off the hook for that. Many of us have experienced, let's say a "lull" in hobby activity and then return later on. That was my experience in both undergraduate and graduate studies.

 

I have to agree with joining an NTrak group. We have several members who don't have ANY modules. They come to help with the club modules and anyone else who needs help (and there's ALWAYS someone who needs help). Model railroading is such a great hobby because there are so many facets of it...everything from woodworking to electronics to track to scenery to painting/decalling/detailing buildings/engines/rolling stock and more. There's always something that you will be able to work on. When I was traveling for work, I would always take a small box that contained either an engine shell or some freight cars, scissors, decals and solution, and a brush so I could decal stuff in the hotel room in the evenings.

First, wait until you are there and you can see how much time and space you will have and then start making decisions. Then find others with similar interests and connect with them...then see where things are headed from there.

 

I will say real quick...the general progression of "lifer" model railroaders is a hiatus during college. The aforementioned "dorm life", academics/athletics involvement, social activities, and general "PR issues" with being a model railroader and trying to be socially active, develop relationships, etc means that your really want to pare down what you're doing in the hobby. Maybe that's not the path you want to follow and that's cool too, but I would say if you polled 100 college-graduated model railroaders probably 97 of them would echo my sentiments.

 

Thanks for the advice. I probably should make my schedule before deciding. I think I will go for a few switches on a scrap of foam so I have something small portable and something to try scenery techniques on before starting at home. Someone said I would need PECO turnouts? Could I use Atlas code 55s instead?

 

Sorry for jumping in late. CUA is a great school and my son graduated there two years ago.

You will be most welcome in NVNTRAK and I would thing about a T Trak module or two as your space will be limited in the Freshman dorms. NVNTRAK has a T Track division. Check out our website. http://www.nvntrak.org/

NVNTRAK has operational layouts a couple of time a month which could provide operations opportunities if you can get away from campus.

 

Well, I'm only 70 and I don't pretend to know it all, but if your college experience is anything like mine that resulted in 6 years and two degrees, I would leave all this train stuff behind. Dorm life at best is chaotic and whatever you have will eventually be destroyed. This time out seems like maybe a big deal now, but I'm guessing you will be back and enjoy it later. Jim

 

Echoing what others have said about college and trains... if you're going to do it, keep it simple because you'll be moving it a lot (cheaper to fix) and lots of people you don't know will have access to it on a regular basis (with all the potential chaos that implies). Definitely don't bring any of your most prized models with you! Store them somewhere safe so they'll be there for you to enjoy after you graduate, or when you're home between semesters. What you take with you should be enough to scratch the itch, but not enough that you'll be beside yourself when something bad happens to it.

If you've really got the Pennsy bug bad, then I'd also suggest getting your hands on some inexpensive second-hand Minitrix engines as a spare time project. Their simple mechanisms are not too hard to work on and upgrade (Micro Loco Motion still sells a repower kit for the K4, IIRC), they're cheap, they're Pennsy, and it beats waiting another decade or so for BLI to finally come out with those M1s. Also, the Pennsy leased or sold bunches of K4s and B6s to neighboring short lines and subsidiaries (LIRR and PRSL come to mind), so they'd be perfect for your freelance plans.

 

I would bring some kits to assemble and a small amount of track. I had a model railroad in my dorm room at the Naval Academy.

 

I almost forgot about this thread. Thanks for the recommendations, but I have decided to take out and sell all of my Unitrack in order to buy PECO code 55 and an NCE Procab system with a much revised trackplan. I will post it in the layout design forum at some point. I created the Penn & Western, a PRR-affiliated shortline in Appalachian coal country. I will talk more about it with the trackplan. I thought that it would be better for the future to have DCC and some latitude when it came to rolling stock. I would still very much like to join an N trak club without modules. That would satisfy the itch. I could store my foam-padded box with a freight under my bed. I found out that I have honors housing so more room and no communal bathrooms!