Anyone else love model trains?
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Talking About Trains...
- Thread starter Captain Caveman
- Start date
A secret passion of mine, but I have to pick and choose which special interests to spend my time, money, and energy on. I do have some collector series N-guage trains in a box down in my basement. When the boys were young, we set up a 4ft x 16ft train set up (HO gauge) in our basement. They were interested with it at first, then the novelty passed away and they were more into the big Lego sets and robotics. I already had expensive special interests already, a huge 300 gallon aquarium and my race car, so adding the trains would have surely pushed my wife over the edge of sanity. LOL!
We will see what happens when I retire. My mind needs to stay busy. I have my rock and fossil collection that I need to obtain some lapidary (polishing, cutting) equipment. I have my bonsai trees and orchid collection. Food gardening will take up part of my time. I would like to get another large aquarium. Not sure what I will do with those N-guage trains,...maybe do a set up in the solarium in the new house. Shhh. Don't tell my wife. Let it be a surprise. LOL!
We will see what happens when I retire. My mind needs to stay busy. I have my rock and fossil collection that I need to obtain some lapidary (polishing, cutting) equipment. I have my bonsai trees and orchid collection. Food gardening will take up part of my time. I would like to get another large aquarium. Not sure what I will do with those N-guage trains,...maybe do a set up in the solarium in the new house. Shhh. Don't tell my wife. Let it be a surprise. LOL!
I like seeing pictures of yours, @Captain Caveman.
Very fond of model trains. I don't have many, though, because I don't have space to run them or a lot of money (and they are shockingly expensive especially if you want detail or smooth running mechanisms.) I also don't talk about the model trains because people will think I'm weirder than I already am. Very fond of N-scale (1:160) and S scale (1:64). Unfortunately, S scale is largely for scratchbuilders. The old "American Flyer" tinplate is the main source of manufactured S, and it's not entirely to scale--looks proportionate for what it is, but it's still a toy more than a serious model.
My favorite locomotive currently on the market is the "Pocket Line" Kato electric steeplecab--it runs perfectly, requires little voltage, can pull quite a bit for a two-axle unit, and looks like any generic freight motor. Also cost $40.
My favorite locomotive currently on the market is the "Pocket Line" Kato electric steeplecab--it runs perfectly, requires little voltage, can pull quite a bit for a two-axle unit, and looks like any generic freight motor. Also cost $40.
JohnK
New Member
I always wanted a model train when I was a kid, but my parents never got me one. My grandfather was an engineer with Penn Central and he even let me sit with him in the engine on one of his runs between Rensselaer New York and Poughkeepsie, and even let me operate the controls! I've always cherished the memory of that experience. About the closest I've gotten to having model trains are 2 "Metal Earth" models I've bought in the last couple of years. The first was a 4-4-0 Locomotive which looks like a replica of the "The General" from the 1800's. The other is a 2-6-0 Locomotive, also from the 1800's which I'm still working on.
I like looking at others' setups, but I have never been motivated to build my own.
I was more of an aviation guy rather than a railways guy, but I used to love Hornby models, I got a huge set for Christmas one year, I’ll see what I can remember… To Google!
I had 2 Intercity 125 diesel engines with 2 passenger carriages in swallow livery and a Class 37 37040 in EW&S livery.
The track was a basic circle, but had a few changeable points and an X section. I had a few platforms, passengers, trees, signals, the classic green footbridge and a Hornby diesel maintenance depot R516 (complete with “Hornby rules, OK” graffiti!)
My grandad welded a few steel angles together and put chipboard on top to make a table for it all. I still have most of it in the attic.
I had 2 Intercity 125 diesel engines with 2 passenger carriages in swallow livery and a Class 37 37040 in EW&S livery.
The track was a basic circle, but had a few changeable points and an X section. I had a few platforms, passengers, trees, signals, the classic green footbridge and a Hornby diesel maintenance depot R516 (complete with “Hornby rules, OK” graffiti!)
My grandad welded a few steel angles together and put chipboard on top to make a table for it all. I still have most of it in the attic.
I actually don't really remember a time I wasn't into trains be they toys, models or somewhere inbetween!
Eventually as the model railway trade seemed ever keen to push up prices after just a few larger concerns started first undercutting the prices of the smaller concerns only to take over the smaller ones who went bankrupt, and then massively upped their prices more than four fold in not that many years (Though they have huge debts due to years of borrowing first to undercut prices and then to take over the competition), but the now massively high prices of model railways has meant that many who would have become involved in the hobby have not which is sad.
So over the last decade and a half I have been finding ways to address this and make the hobby exciting again, as back in the early years when just to get little things to run on rails in miniature form was an achievement, and they really had fun and in the UK all those years ago where I do admit, that if one did not make things oneself the few that bought ready made items had to be wealthy to own them, but they used to invite others round saying "Come and have a game of trains!" as it was fun! Now those who could not afford to buy soon used their inventiveness to make their own, and this is where the foundations for the smaller scales came from. The larger scales were the earliest and tended to be more for the wealthy who were more likely to afford them, and also had large rooms in lovely large houses to run them, something not everyone had...
But with the inventiveness of the few who developed the early form of 4mm to the foot scale, where Hornby soon then saw it and saw its potential to fit in smaller houses and manufactured at a more affordable price (It was still expensive but not as much as the hobby had been in the past! Frank Hornby (And others) had already done this in 0 gauge a decade or so earlier which had quite a following, but this time he was able to make it less toy-like to fit a smaller space. To enable the loco motors to fit bodies, 4mm scale was used instead of 3.5mm scale which was known as H0 or "Half 0", but motors of their day were easier to make in a slightly larger body size of 4mm scale as British locos were normally smaller than their American, European and Continental counterparts. They also chose 16.5mm gauge width so they had more space to build the valve gear and rods along with using wider than scale wheels to help model locos stay on the track. For many years they first used a 3-rail set up to improve electrical pick-up like they had done in 0 gauge, but they later realized that 2-rail electrical pickup could be made to work reliably so they later used 2-rail.
Now other manufacturers soon saw the potential and while Hornby was actually quick to adopt the use of plastics by the time they changed to 2-rail, other competing companies such as Triang and the French company Jouef, which both started their ranges to run on the same 16.5mm track to undercut Hornby who were not so quick to adapt, Triang more or less conquered the hobby as Jouef had gone a little too cheap in their designs so ended up having less of a following. Triang sales did well leaving Hornby unable to compete. Eventually Hornby (Whose range was called Dublo (Standing for "Double 0" or rather 00) just could not compete and slipped into decline providing the opportunity for Triang to buy them out. Triang then became Triang-Hornby and later dropped the Triang name selling the name to another company who started making child's ride-on toys along with garden swings etc, and the new version of Triang was re-branded as Hornby so by the 1980's Hornby was basically more Triang than the old Hornby. Incidently, the old Hornby Dulo range of models were sold to Wrenn and continued with Wrenn as higher quality models up until 1993. They were really strongly made models. Anyone buying Wrenn or Hornby Dublo needs to ensure they have either 2 or 3 rail as 3 rail stuff does not run on 2 rail track and vice versa. 2 rail rolling stock can be used on 3 rail track but 3 rail rolling stock can't be used on 2 rail track without changing the wheels as there would be a direct short. Lovely stuff though! Incidentally, 2 rail Hornby Dublo and Triang can run with modern models EXCEPT early Triang has large flanges. Hornby Dublo (And Wrenn) flanges are smaller so can run with more modern track as long as it is not finescale track. Triang can be made to run on modern code 100 track "If" one opens up and deepens the flangeways of the frogs, check rails with the turnouts... BUT use older track to do this if one tries it as new turnouts are not cheap these days!)
Now the hobby prices had been reasonable in 00, but as described above, today is certainly not. So I wanted a means to enjoy the hobby without spending too much and I have found the ideal solution. Older budget 4 wheel locos make ideal conversions into the narrow gauge form of 0 gauge. Why scale things up? Three reasons. One is that if one uses 00 or H0 track, one has access to secondhand wheels and drive mechanisms or budget 4 wheel (0-4-0) and short 6 wheel (0-6-0) locos which make ideal donor locos for making larger cabs and taller chimneys etc into this larger scale. Secondly, by keeping to shorter locos, one can turn in a smaller space, so they are actually space saving despite the larger scale. And here is where the real money saving abilities come in. One can make rolling stock for the locos to pull without spending much apart from a pair of wheels and paint and glue etc. Means one can build a model railway to a tight budget!
A pair of waggons (Not yet finished as need couplings etc) built very cheaply costing only a little more than the cost of their wheels. (Couplings and centrally mounted buffers will be made at very little cost). Bodies are made from rusty tin. Chassis are made from popsicle sticks (Lollypop sticks). Wheels are ordinary 3 hole 00 gauge 12.5mm wheels.
I do have lots more to show but don't have photographs yet. Thanks for replies to this thread. Is exciting!
Eventually as the model railway trade seemed ever keen to push up prices after just a few larger concerns started first undercutting the prices of the smaller concerns only to take over the smaller ones who went bankrupt, and then massively upped their prices more than four fold in not that many years (Though they have huge debts due to years of borrowing first to undercut prices and then to take over the competition), but the now massively high prices of model railways has meant that many who would have become involved in the hobby have not which is sad.
So over the last decade and a half I have been finding ways to address this and make the hobby exciting again, as back in the early years when just to get little things to run on rails in miniature form was an achievement, and they really had fun and in the UK all those years ago where I do admit, that if one did not make things oneself the few that bought ready made items had to be wealthy to own them, but they used to invite others round saying "Come and have a game of trains!" as it was fun! Now those who could not afford to buy soon used their inventiveness to make their own, and this is where the foundations for the smaller scales came from. The larger scales were the earliest and tended to be more for the wealthy who were more likely to afford them, and also had large rooms in lovely large houses to run them, something not everyone had...
But with the inventiveness of the few who developed the early form of 4mm to the foot scale, where Hornby soon then saw it and saw its potential to fit in smaller houses and manufactured at a more affordable price (It was still expensive but not as much as the hobby had been in the past! Frank Hornby (And others) had already done this in 0 gauge a decade or so earlier which had quite a following, but this time he was able to make it less toy-like to fit a smaller space. To enable the loco motors to fit bodies, 4mm scale was used instead of 3.5mm scale which was known as H0 or "Half 0", but motors of their day were easier to make in a slightly larger body size of 4mm scale as British locos were normally smaller than their American, European and Continental counterparts. They also chose 16.5mm gauge width so they had more space to build the valve gear and rods along with using wider than scale wheels to help model locos stay on the track. For many years they first used a 3-rail set up to improve electrical pick-up like they had done in 0 gauge, but they later realized that 2-rail electrical pickup could be made to work reliably so they later used 2-rail.
Now other manufacturers soon saw the potential and while Hornby was actually quick to adopt the use of plastics by the time they changed to 2-rail, other competing companies such as Triang and the French company Jouef, which both started their ranges to run on the same 16.5mm track to undercut Hornby who were not so quick to adapt, Triang more or less conquered the hobby as Jouef had gone a little too cheap in their designs so ended up having less of a following. Triang sales did well leaving Hornby unable to compete. Eventually Hornby (Whose range was called Dublo (Standing for "Double 0" or rather 00) just could not compete and slipped into decline providing the opportunity for Triang to buy them out. Triang then became Triang-Hornby and later dropped the Triang name selling the name to another company who started making child's ride-on toys along with garden swings etc, and the new version of Triang was re-branded as Hornby so by the 1980's Hornby was basically more Triang than the old Hornby. Incidently, the old Hornby Dulo range of models were sold to Wrenn and continued with Wrenn as higher quality models up until 1993. They were really strongly made models. Anyone buying Wrenn or Hornby Dublo needs to ensure they have either 2 or 3 rail as 3 rail stuff does not run on 2 rail track and vice versa. 2 rail rolling stock can be used on 3 rail track but 3 rail rolling stock can't be used on 2 rail track without changing the wheels as there would be a direct short. Lovely stuff though! Incidentally, 2 rail Hornby Dublo and Triang can run with modern models EXCEPT early Triang has large flanges. Hornby Dublo (And Wrenn) flanges are smaller so can run with more modern track as long as it is not finescale track. Triang can be made to run on modern code 100 track "If" one opens up and deepens the flangeways of the frogs, check rails with the turnouts... BUT use older track to do this if one tries it as new turnouts are not cheap these days!)
Now the hobby prices had been reasonable in 00, but as described above, today is certainly not. So I wanted a means to enjoy the hobby without spending too much and I have found the ideal solution. Older budget 4 wheel locos make ideal conversions into the narrow gauge form of 0 gauge. Why scale things up? Three reasons. One is that if one uses 00 or H0 track, one has access to secondhand wheels and drive mechanisms or budget 4 wheel (0-4-0) and short 6 wheel (0-6-0) locos which make ideal donor locos for making larger cabs and taller chimneys etc into this larger scale. Secondly, by keeping to shorter locos, one can turn in a smaller space, so they are actually space saving despite the larger scale. And here is where the real money saving abilities come in. One can make rolling stock for the locos to pull without spending much apart from a pair of wheels and paint and glue etc. Means one can build a model railway to a tight budget!
A pair of waggons (Not yet finished as need couplings etc) built very cheaply costing only a little more than the cost of their wheels. (Couplings and centrally mounted buffers will be made at very little cost). Bodies are made from rusty tin. Chassis are made from popsicle sticks (Lollypop sticks). Wheels are ordinary 3 hole 00 gauge 12.5mm wheels.
I do have lots more to show but don't have photographs yet. Thanks for replies to this thread. Is exciting!
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If I wanted to buy models it would be tractors. not into collecting.
You can make them? Is about trial and error to see which ways work when making them. My railway waggons took a fair amount of trying out different ideas before I was happy on final designs.
What is required it to develop a basic design to make tractors that can be easily altered to make different types of tractor if that makes sense? Resin casting is useful for wheels and things like that. Is not so good for model railway wheels (I tried it) as flanges need to be very thin but strong. Possibly I could add fine metal filings to add strength but for tractor wheels it would be good. Tyres can either be painted or one can actually buy rubber stuff which is mouldable, though I can't remember where I saw it or if it is still available.
But it can be fun making things from tin, or resin or wood etc., though you may find a larger scale is easier.
Something that works for me is to avoid fine details but instead have a good overall consistent impression in ones build as it is easier to achieve successful results.
Keeping designs nice and simple and having a consistent approach.
(Some more waggons as seen before on other threads).
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I'm autistic, not artistic too me the model and make matters.
You are what is described as a collector?
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I can't remember if I may have a HST in that livery. At one time I had a genuine 'Swollow" transfer but I stuck it up to the inside of the caravan I had and we left the caravan when we moved as it was no longer good for the road.
I think I do have the blue era HST's somewhere. Some are Hornby and some are Lima.
I wish I could remember more about my visit to the National Railway Museum in York. I remember them having a model railway, cases with Hornby models and a model shop.
A day in the life of the model railway - National Railway Museum blog
I remember getting to sit in the cab of an Intercity 225 (can’t remember if it was the number 1 main end or the number 2 “blunt” end) at Edinburgh Waverley Station on Christmas Eve sometime in the late ‘90s. The driver took the parking brake off and let me put it back on. He told me to press the button, so I pressed it then let go. But that wasn’t enough, I had to hold it down. So I sat there with my finger on the button for what felt like an eternity until the button changed to “ON” An interesting way to apply the brake, I thought, but maybe I needed to press it harder.
I found a high res pic of a class 91 main end cab and managed to locate the parking brake button in the lower left console, top row, second button from the left. A fun nostalgia trip!
A day in the life of the model railway - National Railway Museum blog
I remember getting to sit in the cab of an Intercity 225 (can’t remember if it was the number 1 main end or the number 2 “blunt” end) at Edinburgh Waverley Station on Christmas Eve sometime in the late ‘90s. The driver took the parking brake off and let me put it back on. He told me to press the button, so I pressed it then let go. But that wasn’t enough, I had to hold it down. So I sat there with my finger on the button for what felt like an eternity until the button changed to “ON” An interesting way to apply the brake, I thought, but maybe I needed to press it harder.
I found a high res pic of a class 91 main end cab and managed to locate the parking brake button in the lower left console, top row, second button from the left. A fun nostalgia trip!
Nice.
I used to often ride in the cabs but not been on a 225.
Take a look at this. The guy does not know his trains... The class 08 is pronounced as the letter O and then the number 8. Even though it is actually the number 0, any shunter in the TOPS code starting with a 0 is pronounced as the letter 0. Real railwaymen and enthusiasts know this though this guy doesn't.
Why the lady doesn't correct him I don't know!
Why the lady doesn't correct him I don't know!
One of my locos.
As a kid I had HO trains. I didn’t do the dioramas, it was more like building ramps and loading up cars with steel plates and combining transformers and seeing how much they could do.
These days I’m into the finding remnants and paths of old local railways, since most of them around here got torn out in the 80s. I remember seeing trains run on them when I was quite young.
These days I’m into the finding remnants and paths of old local railways, since most of them around here got torn out in the 80s. I remember seeing trains run on them when I was quite young.
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