Model RR Lets see those TRAINS!

[giddyap 1,569]

All you RedSquare members can't be spending all your monies on tractors? Can you? How about a little diversion, you know variety is the spice of life. I built my train empire about 3 years ago for a little more than a grand and has a permanent location in our home. Lets see yours! 

Before describing my layout I acquired my Santa Fe on Cristmas morning 1958. Retired to a display under glass are two mint models I bought to replace my beaters. My Loco has a remote control for bells, whistle, speed, direction and our 3 & 5 year old grandkids love it. I hope in a couple years I can set it up in their family room when they reach 8 as I was 

My layout has 105 feet of "atlas" track in a figure 8 around the living room and front door foyer. With a partian wall, hall closet and fireplace mantle I only had to build about 40 feet of shelf. I also I had to build an incline because the figure 8 needed an overpass. The maxium slope a train can climb is 2 degrees so to reach 6 inches I needed 32feet . But on the other side the drop is twice that due to the limited space of the foyer and yet no matter the speed, I have yet to have a derailment.  

[SylvanLakeWH 25,562]

Only at Christmas!!!

 

 

Of course, I have a slightly larger scale:

 

[8ntruck 7,004]

That is a beautiful set of Lionel 200 series SF Alcos.  A set of those is on my acquire someday list. 

 

I also started with 1958 Lionel Alcos.  Mine are the red and white Texas Special version.  I was 2 that Christmas, and received them from my great uncle.  Dad and his brother had fun with the set while i grew into it.  Yup, still got them and enjoy running them.

 

Somewhere between 12 and 15 years ago, a Polar Express set was in the window of the local hobby shop.  I passed that shop daily going to and from work.  After a while, that set started whispering "buy me" to me.  I finally gave in.  That purchase got me back into O scale toy trains.  I've ended up chasing down items I've always wanted.  My collection has grown to somewhere around 200 items.  The oldest is my dad's train that dates to about 1918, while the newest are only a year or two old.  Yup, dad's train still runs.

 

When I log on to this forum from my computer, I'll post some pictures. 

[lynnmor 7,306]

If you want to see a great collection of model trains, a visit to the Taber Museum in central Pennsylvania is a treat.  The entire museum is nicely done and I was really surprised with the train display.

[giddyap 1,569]

5 hours ago, lynnmor said:

visit to the Taber Museum in central Pennsylvania is a treat

 

Indeed it would.

Near me and East of Cleveland in Middlefield Ohio is http://cornerfieldmodelrailroadmuseumandhobby.com/home.html

[slim67 2,735]

9 hours ago, giddyap said:

All you RedSquare members can't be spending all your monies on tractors? Can you? How about a little diversion, you know variety is the spice of life. I built my train empire about 3 years ago for a little more than a grand and has a permanent location in our home. Lets see yours! 

Before describing my layout I acquired my Santa Fe on Cristmas morning 1958. Retired to a display under glass are two mint models I bought to replace my beaters. My Loco has a remote control for bells, whistle, speed, direction and our 3 & 5 year old grandkids love it. I hope in a couple years I can set it up in their family room when they reach 8 as I was 

My layout has 105 feet of "atlas" track in a figure 8 around the living room and front door foyer. With a partian wall, hall closet and fireplace mantle I only had to build about 40 feet of shelf. I also I had to build an incline because the figure 8 needed an overpass. The maxium slope a train can climb is 2 degrees so to reach 6 inches I needed 32feet . But on the other side the drop is twice that due to the limited space of the foyer and yet no matter the speed, I have yet to have a derailment.  

awesome layout Jon. Have you been to the train shop on Medina square? If not you have to see their layout. I have a Lionel set with the two FAs and a B unit along with the rest of the consist. I would love to do just as you did but not sure where. My wife wants to do a garden railroad around one of our ponds. Worlds greatest hobby they say.

[squonk 41,118]

What a timely thread. I have been interested in trains for years. When I was small my uncle had a Lionel set from the 40's. He was in college then so the set didn't come out much. I was only allowed to play with the tracks with my toy trucks. Eventually we were allowed to set it up at our house one year. But something was wrong with the engine and things in the 60's weren't like it is today with the internet so no thought was given to fixing it. My Uncle became a Dentist and built a layout in his basement but we weren't allowed to even look at it.  He died at 39 and his son has all the train stuff in Boston.

 

I had an HO set in HS but we moved into an apartment and everything had to go. I still don't have a really good place for a layout but thanks to YT I'm getting some idea's on making something that can be taken apart in sections. I have my son's spare bedroom I may be able to do something in. My wife has told me she thinks I would enjoy a train to pass the time during these cold month's. I have a birthday next month! 

 

I've been watching a ton of layout video's on YT. Unbelievable stuff. Gobs of $$$ spent!  My favorites are Burr Stewart's HO video's as he models the Burlington Northern in 1973  https://www.youtube.com/c/BurrStewart and Sean's Train Depot  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZtRLLniAL39E5YDrhcxj0Q

 

[Pullstart 62,890]

I’m not sure what scale this is, but it seems this whole tote fit on a 4x8 sheet of plywood back in the day.  I’ve had a hankerin’ to set it back up some day…

 

Growing up,I once sketched the controller I wanted for Christmas and it was accurate enough by memory that Grandma was able to take it to the train store and they got me just the one I was asking for.  No bells or whistles, but I was king of the tracks in my day!

 

 

[Alex175 784]

My grandfather had a set in his basement, but he passed when I was young so I never saw it operational.  My grandmother had a tag sale one year and sold all the trains and cars to our local minister who is a huge train enthusiast.  I am happy he is the one who has them now, but still wish I had kept one.

 

I have thought about getting into it myself as well, for years growing up I collected Ertl diecast farm tractors, 1/64th scale, and one of my thoughts was always to set up a Farm/Train diorama, the biggest hinderance being that 1/64 is S Scale for trains which is not all too common, and when I see stuff in that gauge it tends to be rather expensive, and that's compared just to the common gauges which aren't cheap to begin with. Oh well, maybe someday.

Edited January 10, 2022 by Alex175

[slim67 2,735]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

I’m not sure what scale this is, but it seems this whole tote fit on a 4x8 sheet of plywood back in the day.  I’ve had a hankerin’ to set it back up some day…

 

Growing up,I once sketched the controller I wanted for Christmas and it was accurate enough by memory that Grandma was able to take it to the train store and they got me just the one I was asking for.  No bells or whistles, but I was king of the tracks in my day!

 

 

That looks like H.O. to me.

[giddyap 1,569]

2017 I had first chance to get 3 NIB trains for sale. The execuitor had no interest in them and certainly did not research what they were. His deceased relative had to be a 1999 Lionel Century Club member to purchase these investment trains and here I am with the opportunity to buy what I wanted. Silly me, for some stupid reason I bought only 1. I had no interest in the turbine but the jewel was the NY Hudson. I bought the "726" Berkshire, the second best. Each was priced at $200 and included a display case. In 2020 I traded it for the remote control train which was valued at $300 and kept the display case which now fetches $150. Fishermen are not the only ones who talk about the big ones that got away.        

[slim67 2,735]

My favorite locos are the 4-8-8-4 big boy, 4-6-6-4 challenger, 2-6-6-6 Allegheny and that’s what I would love to have in G scale but they are probably high dollar items.

[stevasaurus 22,741]

Here is a picture of my son running my "N" gage layout that I had back in the 80"s.  

 

 

Still have all of the "N" gage, but I ended up buying "HO" for my son.  I still have all of that boxed up also.  I'll have to take some pictures of all the Model Railroader's Magazines I have.  I have 2 full years of their magazine 1948-1949, a couple from 1947 and a few from 1950-1951.  

Here is the real 4-8-8-4 Big Boy as it came into Geneva, Ill 2 years ago.  What a thrill seeing that in person.  

 

[stevasaurus 22,741]

This link gives you over 100 live stream cameras of Rail-fan watching from all over the country.  If I am not on Red Square, I am watching live trains on this link.  This is also great for checking out the weather from around the country as it is happening. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIkT9bq-1N2BvrsBjhNlag

[Bill D 1,921]

I used to play with trains as a kid.  I have my Dad's American Flyer set along with a train set he got from my uncle.   Now I have a license to operate real ones.  Much more fun, though it comes with a lot of responsibility.  

[slim67 2,735]

2 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

Here is a picture of my son running my "N" gage layout that I had back in the 80"s.  

 

 

Still have all of the "N" gage, but I ended up buying "HO" for my son.  I still have all of that boxed up also.  I'll have to take some pictures of all the Model Railroader's Magazines I have.  I have 2 full years of their magazine 1950-1951, a couple from 1949 and a few from 1952-1953.  

Here is the real 4-8-8-4 Big Boy as it came into Geneva, Ill 2 years ago.  What a thrill seeing that in person.  

 

1.6 million pounds of brute force. It took 3 diesels to match 1 big boy , I read. Americana at its best. I like N scale and Z gauge is cool too but my eyes are getting worse with age and H.O. Is as small as I would want to go. I really like the narrow gauge models of 3 foot gauge like what was up in Eric’s backyard of Maine.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

1 hour ago, stevasaurus said:

This link gives you over 100 live stream cameras of Rail-fan watching from all over the country.  If I am not on Red Square, I am watching live trains on this link.  This is also great for checking out the weather from around the country as it is happening. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIkT9bq-1N2BvrsBjhNlag

 

I just visited that youtube channel @stevasaurus...

 

 

Don

Edited January 10, 2022 by Snoopy11

[squonk 41,118]

Had an N gauge set on top of the wife's piano one Christmas. She used to give lessons. I had a heck of a time keeping the thing on the rails and coupled. 

 

2 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

Here is a picture of my son running my "N" gage layout that I had back in the 80"s.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love the switches

[giddyap 1,569]

11 hours ago, slim67 said:

My wife wants to do a garden railroad around one of our ponds. Worlds greatest hobby they say.

 

That would be so cool. After I built my indoor layout i was not about to move it outside which I once considered. And the reason I bought the nickel/silver "atlas track". No need to build dioramas when you can build around real plants and rocks and over your pond. And equipped with video, it's almost like riding the train. 

[pfrederi 17,739]

Last year set up some of my LGB stuff to entertain the young kid across the road... Think he liked it

 

 

 

[slim67 2,735]

10 hours ago, pfrederi said:

Last year set up some of my LGB stuff to entertain the young kid across the road... Think he liked it

 

 

 

I think he did too!

 

[wallfish 17,000]

13 hours ago, pfrederi said:

Last year set up some of my LGB stuff to entertain the young kid across the road... Think he liked it

And the "young kid" within?

That little happy dance by the young'n was priceless

[edgro 677]

My HO Model RR stuff is still in boxes from moving last year, but here is an idea..............

 

[squonk 41,118]

3 minutes ago, edgro said:

My HO Model RR stuff is still in boxes from moving last year, but here is an idea..............

 

@WHX?? Here's an idea for your trailer! You can keep updating the total like one of those lighted advertising signs! 

[stevasaurus 22,741]

Here is a couple of pictures of my oldest Model Railroaders.  

On the left side of this picture are 2 from October & December 1947.  When Model Railroader started printing magazines they actually measured a little smaller in dimension.  December 1947 was the last of the smaller size.  The magazines on the far right are January thru April 1948 and the rest of 1948...May thru December is in the middle.  These magazines measure the standard size that is the same as today's.

 

This next picture shows the complete year of 1949 (the year I was born) on the left.  The ones on the right are from 1950.

 

 

 

 

What is interesting about these old Model Railroaders is looking at the old advertising. They also show plans for building existing railroad buildings from scratch and plans for building model steam engines out of brass and white metal...usually for "HO" scale.  They also show articles of "How To" scenery, wiring the layout and track plans.  It is an excellent walk into the past.