Entry Level O Gauge Railroading

Arnold, I heartily agree. My current layout is all MTH and DCS, but was financed entirely through the sale of the postwar Lionel that I have amassed over the years since the 1615 I recieved on Christmas 1956. Anybody can enjoy our hobby with minimal financial investment. This, is I believe, the genius of Lionel. A dusty old box under a table at any train meet may contain a 60 year old gem that runs as well today as it did back then and might be negotiated down to twenty bucks or so. Much less expensive than a game boy and far more enjoyable than stareing at an I phone. Also stimulating imagination not isolating the user. I've always felt that 12 inch to the foot trains bring people together but 1/4 inch to the foot trains bring families and friends together. And the can do it economically too.

what I did was buy a little at a time.I had 3 engines for the longest time.Had to save and save. to get what I have collected.I could be wrong ,but stay away from impulse buys.sometimes they work out them some u will regret buying. I have some rolling stock I wish I never should have bought. If possible ask friends for advice. Or ask forum members.This forum has a vast wealth of smart people.This hobby is the best hobby in the world. U have a bad day at work or other issues u come home run some train and all is good again.

I would suggest MPC Lionel trains, Marx track and switches and a few plasticville buildings. All are cheap and work for ever. Don

Arnold,

Welcome back from vacation. I do agree that one can begin with O gauge trains for a relatively small expenditure. However, the internet, manufacturers, catalogs, hobby press, train shows, model railroad clubs and train friends expose us to layouts and the impressive array of equipment that is available, thereby creating a great temptation to spend more money, no matter if it's for the latest and greatest stuff or classic prewar/postwar trains. Yes, one can limit their expenditures for the hobby, do a lot, and still enjoy it. For others, the hobby can become expensive. The question then becomes, are there ways to fully participate in the hobby with an affordable investment? I think the answer is "yes" but the definition of "affordable" varies from one person to another.

MELGAR

With a little patience and research the trains, track and transformer can be had for a reasonable cost. Good news is that the most important part *your imagination* is still free.

Again Arnold ... very nice thread!  

In my early twenties when I packed away my last layout, an HO layout I set up in my apartment, I knew that one day I'd get back into the hobby.  It took almost 30 years, however, I did come back on exactly my 50th birthday.

 I had the day off so decided to visit a flee market which I had been meaning to stop at for almost a year.  It was while browsing at that flee market that I came across a box of Lionel trains .... RS3 loco, 9 freight cars, and caboose.   I turned to the gentleman selling the trains and asked how much.  He said $300.  I replied with a gasp thats too much for me.  He then said " well all this comes with the boxed set."  He began pulling out boxes from under the table and in those boxes was a ZW, a box of new Lionel straight track ( if my memory serves me correct it was 100 pieces ), eight automatic switches, 2 automatic grade crossing gates,  a Lionel operating gateman, and a Lionel suspension bridge with a flashing light. (  In full disclosure, I had been pricing and studying O gauge trains for 3 years prior to my hallmark 50th birthday so I had an idea what O gauge items were worth. )  He told me everything had been tested and it all worked and that if I purchased it all I could return any non working items to him for he was a regular at this flee marked.  I said all I have is $150 to which he immediately said " Okay good enough ".   The gentleman even helped me take all the boxes to my car.   I immediately took the ZW and locomotive to a Lionel repairman and after installing a new cord on the ZW and lubing/testing the loco, he pronounced them in good condition.  I tested the switches and grade crossing gates, and the Lionel gateman.  They all worked just like the fellow had said.   

So for $150 I was back in the hobby.  I then got out my own postwar Lionels and took them to the repair guy for tuning up.  I was now back into the hobby full tilt boogie!  I could not get enough.  I devoured every train catalogue I could find and read everything possible about model trains and real trains.  I visited train shops frequently engaging personnel in conversations and gleaning everything I could from these folks.  I was at trains shops so frequently that I would know where every item was located in the stores.  Sometimes I knew the store better than the people who worked there.  

Before my 50th birthday as I anticipated getting back into the hobby of O gauge, I vowed that I'd only use all the packed away postwar trains, track, and Plasticville items, I had as a kid.  I further vowed to myself that I would not purchase any of the super cool new stuff from modern Lionel and MTH and other manufactures,  even though that stuff looked and sounded very cool!  Well it didn't take long to break that vow LOL!  

As others have said " it's the imagination " that is really key to having the most fun in this hobby.  As kids our imaginations went wild as we read train catalogues the first time or the 50th time.  Our imaginations went wild as we piloted our toy trains around that simple loop for many hours day in and day out.  As adults this can still happen no matter the size of our layout, big or small, or if the trains are the latest technology or from pre world war two or even earlier.   It's the human imagination that makes this hobby go round and round.  

trumptrain posted:

Again Arnold ... very nice thread!  

In my early twenties when I packed away my last layout, an HO layout I set up in my apartment, I knew that one day I'd get back into the hobby.  It took almost 30 years, however, I did come back on exactly my 50th birthday.

 I had the day off so decided to visit a flee market which I had been meaning to stop at for almost a year.  It was while browsing at that flee market that I came across a box of Lionel trains .... RS3 loco, 9 freight cars, and caboose.   I turned to the gentleman selling the trains and asked how much.  He said $300.  I replied with a gasp thats too much for me.  He then said " well all this comes with the boxed set."  I began pulling out boxes from under the table and in those boxes was a ZW, a box of new Lionel straight track ( if my memory serves me correct it was 100 pieces ), eight automatic switches, 2 automatic grade crossing gates,  a Lionel operating gateman, and a Lionel suspension bridge with a flashing light. (  In full disclosure, I had been pricing and studying O gauge trains for 3 years prior to my hallmark 50th birthday so I had an idea what O gauge items were worth. )  He told me everything had been tested and it all worked and that if I purchased it all I could return any non working items to him for he was a regular at this flee marked.  I said all I have is $150 to which he immediately said " Okay good enough ".   The gentleman even helped me take all the boxes to my car.   I immediately took the ZW and locomotive to a Lionel repairman and after installing a new cord on the ZW and lubing/testing the loco, he pronounced them in good condition.  I tested the switches and grade crossing gates, and the Lionel gateman.  They all worked just like the fellow had said.   

So for $150 I was back in the hobby.  I then got out my own postwar Lionels and took them to the repair guy for tuning up.  I was now back into the hobby full tilt boogie!  I could not get enough.  I devoured every train catalogue I could find and read everything possible about model trains and real trains.  I visited train shops frequently engaging personnel in conversations and gleaning everything I could from these folks.  I was at trains shops so frequently that I would know where every item was located in the stores.  Sometimes I knew the store better than the people who worked there.  

Before my 50th birthday as I anticipated getting back into the hobby of O gauge, I thought that I'd use all the packed away postwar trains, track, and Plasticville items, I had as a kid.  I vowed to myself that I would not purchase any of the super cool new stuff from modern Lionel and MTH even though that stuff looked and sounded very cool!  Well it didn't take long to break that vow LOL!  

As others have said " it's the imagination " that is really key to having the most fun in this hobby.  

Patrick, I think you got the best deal of all time, when you got all that stuff at the flea market for $150. I will share your story with others I bump into who show some interest in getting started with O Gauge trains. Arnold

Absolutely, if you're willing to buy used and not the top of the line scale stuff they're making nowadays.  I got into Lionel Postwar because I was able to teach myself how to fix them (at about age 10).  If you're willing to put in some time, you can build some "sweat equity" as they call it in the real estate world.

When I was without a layout in college and then afterwards in a small apartment, I was buying "lots" of broken postwar accessories and cars off ebay.  A lot of the time the stuff just needed a bath, some new wiring, and/or cleaned motor brushes.  Amazing how quickly so much of it came back to life.  Sure, there was some stuff that was unsalvageable, but most was worth it.  And to be clear, I don't trust myself with a paintbrush so I strictly do mechanical and electrical, but most of the time it was just getting the dirt off and it looked pretty good.  That's how I got my set of 2500 passenger cars so cheap; they looked like they had sat on a shelf in a garage for about 20 years as one side of them was practically black; about an hour's worth of cleaning and they looked practically new.

My other point was after I bought these lots and fixed everything up I'd keep what I wanted and sold the rest, sometimes I'd even make a profit on top of what I kept (which of course went right back into trains).

Yes, some things I really wanted I had to pay up for, but you save up for it and buy a little at a time.  When I had my first layout, I really really wanted a switch yard.  We had like 3 manual switches.  I remember when I got my first set of 022 remote switches, I though it was so cool.  Now I've got a box over flowing with them ready for the next layout (everything's in storage at the moment).  Same thing with O72 track and switches, thought I could never afford them, but picked up some pieces here and there and now I've got a whole bunch ready to go.

Same thing with passenger cars.  I really really wanted a long streamlined passenger set.  I first had a set of O27 passenger cars, but always dreamed of bigger.  A few years later I sold that and I got the above mentioned 2500 set.  Over the years a few opportunities arose here and there and now I've got 5 or 6 different passenger sets.

My point being, at the onset, it all seems impossible, but working your way up to it, you'll get there.

Then again, I consider myself an operator, not a collector, so it works for me.  I have an appreciation for the modern stuff, but it doesn't appeal to me to spend well over $1000 for an engine that all I hear is it has issues right out of the box and you take it apart and find nothing but circuit boards.  I have a degree in Aerospace Engineering, I'm not unfamiliar with new technology, I just enjoy getting my hands dirty with the old stuff   I especially enjoy working out all the conventional circuits to activate accessories with isolated rails and have blocks of track.  My buddy has the EE degree, but the conventional stuff is easy enough for me to visualize.

Very inspiring story you have, AXP889, re how to affordably get started in O Gauge.

By the way, with your Aerospace Engineering degree, you should connect with Melgar, if you have not already done so. Arnold

My guiding thoughts:

One does not need to buy new all the latest and greatest short life problem plagued gizmos to have a decent RR. 

Most everything I have has been from trades, swap meets & distress sales.

Half of my late model engines with neat electronics are in a failed state.  My conventional engines never miss a beat.

Hi`, i agree, you don`t have to break the bank to have trains, you can go to  ebay, train shows, garage  and estate sales and find trains at decent prices, my small collection i got mostly from ebay and shows and they all run great....

We all need to remember- that the "Starter Set", whether by Lionel or by MTH, in O Gauge, S Gauge (Am Flyer) etc.-  even HO- are ALL great values today just like they were in the late 1940's,  '50s and '60s.  For slightly more than the value of the train and cars, you get track and power supply.

But many would rather buy something new vs. something old.  Sound,  smoke, walk-around control and even crew talk are all included in the modern toy trains of all sizes, even the "cheap" ones.  And many value and would rather purchase  something that has technology of today.  

The current technology "got me"- three years ago when I saw a modern Lionel steam engine running at a hobby shop. 

I knew all about HO scale, and had tried that for 10+ years.  I became frustrated that the HO equip,ent is so "fiddly"- always affected by the slightest dirt on the track, etc.   Also, thinking that to have walk-around Command Control layouts one had to install decoders in locos, have multiple "divisions", each protected with separate, expensive electronics like circuit breakers, reversing circuits,  and so forth. 

The availability of a SIMPLE RTR system (like AC power, and Lion Chief) was what got me started in O Gauge.  From there- I became interested in, buy, chase and value postwar equipment.  I might even start collecting a few prewar trains.  But it all started by seeing the current available technology.   It SEEMS more likely to me to gather in new people and kids. 

So, I  have since set up three sets of grandchildren - all of them with Lionel LC Pennsylvania Flyer sets.  I think they are a great value at about $ 250.  Two are used strictly as Christmas sets, and one is built on a door with casters and stored on a bed for use whenever my 6-years old Great Grandson wants to use it.

Although "collecting and chasing" IS  fun, many would rather not chase postwar products, used and unknown.  AND kids still a fascinated with trains!!

If a newbie can test used equipment before buying, and even better get a guarantee or buy from someone they know, then used trains can save money and be a great way to start.  RR club sales can also be good, just tell the seller you are new and you want assurances.  

But unless someone can tinker if problems are found, I would not recommend buying used equipment like at a tag sale.  IMHO, LionChief sets would then be a better way to start.

scale rail posted:

I would suggest MPC Lionel trains, Marx track and switches and a few plasticville buildings. All are cheap and work for ever. Don

Whole-heartedly agree.  But I would also add Marx trains.  You can find excellent sets complete in the box for $100.

MELGAR posted:

 I think the answer is "yes" but the definition of "affordable" varies from one person to another.

MELGAR

'STruth.  

This is definitely an affordable hobby to get into and enjoy. I started with a simple train set that was on sale. Then I added a few pieces of track here and there - twenty years later, I am still using that 0-27 track because it works for me. You don't need much space either: I started with a 3 by 5 fold-away table. I enjoyed developing and following a theme - and changing that over the years too. There's all sorts of items one can pick up anywhere that 'fit' a layout. That's part of the fun too!

 Arnold

Share the below link with Scott.  Fellows like him are the target for my layout building topic and it tells how to acquire trains and how to build an inexpensive toy train layout for low cost.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ra-027-layout?page=1

Charlie

A 26 week bowling league will cost $20-40 per week. 18 holes at the county park will set you back $50 or so. If you can budget $20 per week for model railroading and buy used whenever possible, the sky is the limit. I helped a few estates dismantle layouts after someone died and got to keep a lifetime supply of small nuts, bolts, screws, wire, etc.

Model railroading does not need to be any more expensive than any other leisure time activity.

I agree with all of the above. One thing I would like to add is a suggestion that everyone join the TCA,LOTS or LCCA. There is no reason not to join all three, if that is what you want to do. Joining one, or more, of these organizations will give you access to train shows and train publications, like the TCA bulletin, which have listings of used trains for sale at very reasonable prices. Some of the best friends I have I met through the TCA. My fellow TCA members are also very helpful in finding pieces I would like to have and fixing pieces that need repair. 

I believe the value and "bang-for-the-buck" you receive today with a Lionel or MTH entry level set is absolutely tremendous. For a relatively modest initial investment you get train, track, power and state-of-the-art electronics, lights, sound, smoke and excellent performance with something the average person can set up in less than an hour and that will provide endless hours of enjoyment for young and old alike.

My guess is that, as a percentage of average weekly income, the cost today to get started in our hobby is the lowest it has ever been. Sure, you can spend a lot more if you want and as you go along and grow into the hobby, but there's not much of an economic reason for anyone not to get started in model railroading today if they have the desire. The real issue is getting the general public exposed to how it can be done, even on a limited budget.

palallin posted:

MELGAR posted:

 I think the answer is "yes" but the definition of "affordable" varies from one person to another.

MELGAR

'STruth.  

Agreed! 

scale rail posted:

I would suggest MPC Lionel trains, Marx track and switches and a few plasticville buildings. All are cheap and work for ever. Don

I agree with the MPC as an inexpensive option Don. I have tons of it, and could fix Scott up with a good batch for a reasonable price. I'm not as convinced that Marx track is the way to go, at least not the switches. As a kid, I discovered that the Lionel trains didn't like them. I recommend regular O gauge track. 

I'm 67 and have bought nearly all of my trains (used) one piece at a time at TCA meets and Greenberg shows. The exceptions are some MTH items that no one else had produced models of, and Williams repros that were much more affordable than Lionel originals. Add my support for MPC too.