Newbie to O Gage

Rick

 

Welcome to the hobby, to OGR and the addiction. This is a great place to find answers and to learn things. Kind a like Cheers.

 

Doug 

Welcome to the madness. It is an addiction that grows.

 

I would ask you to look around the areas you live in and try to support a local Shop.

Happily I suspect the place you ordered the Polar Express from is my LHS.

I got one there myself in Nov. And while the smoke is not prolific it makes decent smoke rings for a long time on a shot of fluid.

 

I was back there Saturday and he reported a very good sales season.

He only had 2 Lionel starter sets left. One Lionchief and one Traditional.

No MTH sets were left. I still prefer the MTH sets as you can transfer the engines to the Full DCS command system.

 

You also might try JT Megasteam smoke fluid, it smokes more than stock fluid, but remember to refill as needed. More smoke uses more fluid.

What a wonderful story how you just got started into this terrific hobby. I am not surprised that you appetitive has grown quickly.

 

This Forum is your passport for more enjoyment that you can fully appreciate now. Welcome and participate as much as you can.

Thanks for the info on Megasteam; I just ordered 4 bottles of it.  Their instructions indicate you may have to go thru 4-8 fillings to get full effect.  What was your experience?? Thanks.

Rick,

Glad you found Lionel trains!  Better late than never.  Also, I am glad you found the OGR forum.  I think it is the best forum or group on the Internet.  Please ask any question you can think of.  There will be many people who can help you.

No matter what we all tell you try to find your own path.  That takes some time and trial and error, but it will be worth it.

 

Pete

Welcome Rick to the best "O" Gauge train forum on the web.  A big bunch of helpful, friendly people here.

 

And,  " HAPPY NEW YEAR"

Welcome to the forum. I re-entered the hobby about a year before I retired 3 years ago. I have been really enjoying it and think it's a great hobby for your retirement years. Enjoy your trains and your retirement. 

welcome to the site, and enjoy the wonderful world of trains!

Welcome Rick!

 

What part of Florida do you live in? At least what major city are you close by to?

 

I have been in southeast Florida since 1983 and know where most of the hobby shops are at near West Palm Beach to south Miami FL. 

Some hobby shops have gone under while one or two have opened.

 

Some of the best deals can be had with internet dealers, not ebay.

 

Lee Fritz

Retirement and model trains.  Life is good.

Rick -

 

I hereby declare you "Offically Hooked" on trains.  Just one question...

 

What the heck took so long?

 

I also want to invite you to our club's open house in Griffith Indiana this weekend.

 

As best as I can tell it is probably a 2 hour drive for you straight west on I-80 and exit on Cline Ave (exit #5).   I think you find that it is well worth the drive.

 

Here is a link with the address and other information.  Open house is this Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am - 5:00pm.

 

http://www.hirailmodulartrainclub.com/

 

 

Ha, the usual - wine, women, daughter, motorcycles, boats, ultralight, house, waverunner, firearms - nothing new.

RickM46

Thanks for the info; I am spending the winter in Fla but will keep the above link for this summer when I come back to Ind.

Thanks Lee; I am in New Port Richey; the nearest opulent Lionel dealer is in south Tampa - about 56 miles.  I have gotten good deals from online Lionel stores - there are tons of them.

RickM46

Florida?

 

Better yet, how about if the club comes down there?  

 

Hope to see you in the Spring/Summer. 

Rick

 

I am in Gibsonton . My email is in my profile I can give contact info for my guy who sells trains in Riverview who deals pretty much in O Gauge and his prices are pretty reasonable.

 

Doug

Thanks, I think that is Holash trains.

Well, its about Time……LOL  welcome to the Fun House……. 

You got. I have known bill and Jean for 5 years now. You cant go wrong with him. There about 10 min from my house.

 

Doug

Welcome aboard!  This 'train' makes no stops, but I think you're already okay

with that, L O L.

 

     Hoppy

Hi Rick,

 

Greeting from a fellow newbie from Florida.  I am in SE Florida, but my wife is from New Port Richey and we have friends there.

 

I am in a similar situation as you.  I never had any trains as a kid.  I am 44 and have a four year old son.  Recently I decided to buy a train set for my son who absolutely loves trains.  Like you, I bought the Polar Express 10th Anniversary LionChief set and we both love it.  While I initially bought the set for my son, I realize now that I bought it for both of us because I love playing with it just as much as he does.  And I understand what people are saying about this becoming an obsession because that has already started!   

Hello Rick • Welcome to the OGR Forum

Ha, you have been bitten just like me.  I took a look at the Vision line and then the price and thought - no way.  However, now, a Vision Line loco is swirling in my head.  I will probably get serious about it this summer when I get back to my home in Indiana.

Yes I have!  Its happened to be before in other hobbies.  judging by others I've met here, it seems to be par for the course!

 

I know what you mean about upgrading.  For me its not going to happen anytime soon given that I'm trying to save to put three kids through college!  So for now, Its going to be the lower priced sets    But later down the road I can see myself getting more serious.  Being from Florida and interested in the local history of railroads, I have my eye on Lionel's Florida East Coast Railroad EMD E9 locomotive and the matching set of 4 passenger cars.  I saw a video of it on YouTube and it is very nice.   The only problem is that the combined price of ~$2000 would put a serious dent in my wallet!  I know others here have been gobbling up trains such as the VL Big Boy for that price, but I'm not there yet! 

Rick / Doug............  better get to Hollash's trains quick,  they are closing in the next few months...........   Mark

RickM46,

   Welcome to the wonderful world of O Gauge Trains and a new hobby for yourself.

Rick Melvin the boss here at OGR has put together the best forum on the Net, both in management and educational information.  As you participate you will see how many different knowledgeable O Gauge people we really have here to help you, especially getting started.  When you are ready to run DCS & Legacy let us know.

PCRR/Dave

 

 

Welcome Rick to "O" gauge trains and the best forum there is, anywhere.  Lots of great info and questions abound here.

Thanks for the info folks; some time has passed since December.

After the Polar Express, I got a Lionchief+ B&O, a VL Big Boy, and now finally a Berkshire Pere Marquette in prep for my layout when I get back home to Indiana.

I am maxed out for now; barely have enough room in the truck to pack everything for the trip.

VL Big Boy, You got Bit hard by the Bug.

 

Have Fun !!!

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of model railroading.

It wasn't my fault; it was the whistle and rail sounds.

 

Jim, thanks for the info.

I will not be back to Indiana till the middle of May but will touch base again at that time.

Welcome to a great hobby and to the forum. 

Welcome to the forum Rick! Hope you enjoy your new hobby!

Yeah, I know. Originally was by the end of summer. Plans change now it looks like April.  When I talked to last week he had closed most of his accounts and had canceled all preorders. He has some great deals on Atlas /Williams/MTH rolling stock. The show in Palmetto was his last one. A SAD DAY DEFINENTLY. Its going to really suck as only option is HR Trains and they are pricey. As a note: HR trains is for sale but the owner wants way to much for the business. Unless some one wants to loan me $1,000,000 that includes the land it sits on.

Rick,

Our May Open House dates are:

May 2nd. 3rd, 16th & 17th.  We should be pretty far along on our 20-track storage yard by then.

I know some history of FEC passenger service, sometime in 1964 the passenger employees went on strike and FEC shut down passenger service after that.

FEC was using GP-40's for a while and then bought some used SD-70's and put them into freight service. Not sure what FEC is using right now.

 

Lee Fritz