Psychedelic Model Trains

Here are some more information for Train Layouts:

Model Train Layouts - A Quick Summary

When it comes to model railway layouts, pretty much the skies the limit, depending on your resources and space. You can decide on various kinds of model train scale, and it really depends of what ideas you come up with.

HO railways are the common ones you'll see; they're at 1:87 scale, which is eighty seven times smaller than a real railway. You can also acquire different kinds within the HO scale that provide for narrower track lengths.

There are numerous ways in which HO scale model trains are the greatest alternative. Basically, first time train owners find them extremely easy to use, and they're easier to manipulate, especially with people with big hands.

It is a excellent 'show' train, and isn't so little that it makes designing layouts complicated. It's the easiest to locate in most local hobby shops, and the accessories are in abundance, and if you are creative, can be created at your house.

8x4' ply board is the regular size for a train design, but you can cut that as you see fit. If you wish to have an sampling of the dedication and time it takes to become a model railway enthusiast, look up some of the model railroad designs you can find online, and you'll see a score of painstakingly elaborate and complex designs in pictures and videos.

The infinitely dedicated model railroad hobbyist will spend a lot of time and money into making their layout as complex as possible. You can even find organizations with other people who like model railways, where you can pit your setup against others to see who has the best.

Most beginner layouts would start with a basic track design, usually some kind of oval or oval modification. You would have the track go around close to the outside edge of the board, granting access to the engine and cars easier.

Starting with this basic design, you can be as creative and imaginative as you wish. If you don't have the time to make your own, there are accessory kits out there that include buildings, miniature trees, people, and other decor.

You could make these yourself of course, but it may help to buy starting out. Realistic toy cars can help you create atmosphere, and all types of materials exist to manufacture your own houses from scratch and make them your own.

If you want industrial buildings like silos or other metal, cylindrical buildings, tin cans will substitute just fine; just stack them as high as you like and glue them together, slap a little paint on, and you have a realistic building for your design. There are many more props you can do.

There is a lot of information out there regarding model trains, designs for layouts, and explanations of the different railroad scales that are available. As mentioned before, you can locate sites that have images and videos that show numerous layouts and include photographs of the different types of cars and engines that you can purchase.

You'll see ideas for homemade accessories, such as, taking plastic greenery apart to use for landscaping on your outlay. Local retailers will have numerous accessories in stock that you can get ideas from, or there may be some excellent packages, where you purchase a train set, and the retailer includes a basic accessory kit as part of the deal.

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what is the usual consist order for an ho scale work train on a regular model railroaders layout?

I'm looking to get the necessary cars, but i don't know the usual consist for a real work train.

That would depend on the task at hand.

If spreading ballast today, hopper cars or ballast cars or both would make up the consist.

If laying ribbon rail, a ribbon rail train would be in the picture. This would definitely have to be kit bashed.

But you could be picking up scrap, in which case you'd need a flat car with a burro crane on it, with electromagnet and a gondola on both ends of it.

You could be working with a road-master off loading bundles of cross ties, again with the burro crane and flats loaded with ties.

Or you could go with the "relief outfit." I have modeled one of these after SP Roseville Relief Outfit, circa 1972-6. There is an old clerestory roof coach and heavy weight diner car first and second out from the engine, a baggage car that has been altered to become a tool car for the hook (200 ton crane), the hook and idler itself (the boom always trails when being moved), two cars of "track panels" that I made using kit bashed pulpwood cars, and a caboose. These are a combination of Athearn and Walthers rolling stock. With up graded couplers and wheels I have no more than perhaps $125 to $140 in it, so it can be done fairly inexpensively. Ballast trains are probably the least expensive to model.

Go to the website www.caboosehobbies.com. Huge selection and best prices, usually, but when I'm shopping I look at different sites to see if what I am after happens to be on sale at the time. These include www.hobbylinc.com and www.discounttrainsonline.com. These are in Colorado, Georgia and California, respectively, so if you are ordering out of state you may save some additional coin with not having to pay sales tax. This varies from state to state, however and shipping is reasonable, around seven bucks for any size order either by Fed Ex ground or UPS.

I have done business with all and the customer service is terrific at all. I'd like to go to Caboose Hobbies in Denver. Huge place. I believe there is a real, full scale switch engine right in the middle.

Have fun!

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