Just starting with a start up set in garage, hope to use site often, thanks Bruce
Welcome Bruce, Lots of good info here for inside and out op’s!
cale
Welcome aboard Bruce J.
thank you, need to know where to purchase additional track, thanks Bruce
Welcome!
Bruce Johnson said:Hi Bruce, What kind of track are yoiu using, brass, aluminum or stainless steel? Ralph
thank you, need to know where to purchase additional track, thanks Bruce
That is what I need to be educated in, The starter set will come with steel I believe, going to set up in garage and run a couple of feet below ceiling, any help or what I should use, thanks Bruce
What kind of starter set? If it is Bachmann, it comes with hollow stamped rail.
Aristo Craft, Piko and LGB sets come with solid brass rail.
Ralph
That is what I need to be educated in, The starter set will come with steel I believe, going to set up in garage and run a couple of feet below ceiling, any help or what I should use, thanks Bruce
Welcome Bruce. What kind of starter set? Do you plan to set up outside at all or will it be a inside only or both?
Then there is also will you run track power or go with Batt power? All this plays into what would be the best kind of track for you and what the cost will be.
I personally run outside, use brass and very little stanless track. I run track power mostly so I favor brass but that has gotten costly.
Good luck have fun and enjoy.
Geoff
Bruce, you also need to decide what kind of theme you will be modeling on your railroad. The more modern the theme, the larger the radius of the curves will be required. Narrow gauge locomotives can take as small as 2 foot radius curve, but the modern locos need above 5 foot radius. Preferably 8 foot radius or larger.
Welcome Bruce. As you can see nothing is simple in large scale.
You probably have a Bachmann Big Hauler set with a ten wheeler, 4-6-0 (front wheels, driver wheels, back wheels under the cab) locomotive. It’s a “G” 1:22.5 scale narrow gauge model. The track that comes with the set is junk and can even rust out in your garage. The power pack is also junk. The cars are fine though its a good idea to upgrade the plastic wheels to metal ones.
Brass track is fine for indoor use. Your starter set track is four foot in diameter and the smallest size curve generally available. Many small locos and cars will run fine on it but bigger is better in this case. 8 foot diameter track will let you run most available locos and rolling stock but may be tough to fit indoors. 5 and 6.5 foot diameter are intermediate sizes.
Brass track is made by AristoCraft, USA Trains, Train-Li’s “Pro” line, Piko, AMS, etc.
Some good online stores -
http://www.ridgeroadstation.com/trains.shtml
http://rldhobbies.com/
http://www.train-li-usa.com/
http://www.staubinonline.com/
Please ask lots of questions!
-Brian
Welcome aboard!
Thanks everyone for your help, I need to see someones set up and find good used equipment for my layout, I am going to go around car garage, 40 X 50 approx., going to build shelving and trapeze hangers, I think that will be the least expensive item, next track, ( what is a good width of shelf to handle two tracks ) and the spacing between centers of track ? You said ask lots of questions, thanks again, hope to here from everyone soon, Bruce in southern OHIO
Seven inch centers works fine for most equipment. Go up to 8 inch center on curves.
-Brian
Careful! Your trains are likely to escape your garage into the yard.
I’ve heard that can happen, thats why I’m putting in a metal building, high and dry!!!
MWuahahahahahah That will change…he’s not met me yet…
Hey Bruce, Welcome Aboard!
Purchased a Shay Engine, awaiting delivery, will post photo as soon as I receive, first piece of any LS equipment, now one piece of track and a transformer, let me know if someone has an old one laying around, Bruce in southern Ohio