The most exciting thing in O gauge

Most of the "exciting" things have already been mentioned.

But I'd have to say that, for me, the hobby has actually created an interest in the history of railroading, real trains, and learning more about specific fallen flags that interest me. Without having the hobby come first I'd probably never have gone down that path.

Thanks for starting this thread.  A nice diversion from the Curmudgeons R Us we see all too often.

I always had trains - HO and then N. In 1995 I witnessed the advent of Lionel TMCC and Railsounds and never looked back. I think all the companies continuously present great innovations - control, track, motive power, accessories etc. Lionel did a great thing introducing Lionchief and Williams/Bachmann using Bluetooth adds a new dimension to conventional control. I hope there is more to come!

I'm particularly grateful for technical innovations such as the O Gauge Forum and similar internet communication and information capabilities, the Notch 6 podcasts and Lionel's Lion Chief and Lion Chief + locomotives in the last couple of years.  For the more distant past, the advent of command control, digital sound and a proliferation of products to choose from are particularly impressive.  Finally, and importantly, the internet has made it possible for me to make some trainhead friends I would never have otherwise met.  You know who you are .

All features and play value command control give you, manufacturers cataloging tons of product.

Never a better time to be in O gauge then now.

Many good responses also Atlas raising the bar on the Ca Zephyr Passenger cars and the announcement by GGD of the Harriman Passenger cars.MTH making a DCS 44 Ton Switcher,these are great times to be in O Gauge.

Mikey

The freedom to build your lay-out the way to would like. For me that means a high rail type of lay-out with animation (inspired by road side america). So behind that is the buildings by Menards, etc. and the advances in technalogy.

This Forum; the people I've met and the lay-outs I've been able to visit, the information it gives (including notch 6).

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA.

al K. 

I've come full circle (less the purchasing fever) in the last 2 years.  I go way back on this forum and back on the AOL forum so I understand and appreciate your request for this thread.

When I say full circle,  it's just about running trains for me,  enjoying the scale models in motion (I've patented this saying, smile).   I went to a train show here in Central Florida and ran into an old friend from 20 years ago who operates layouts at the local shows.  I used to join him when time allowed as he always asked me to bring some of my "Union Pacific monsters" to run.    That was Pre DCS days,  how things have changed.   Going to run some with him tomorrow and enjoy more the scale models in motion..........

Mark

Scale modern-rolling stock.  (In this case, by modern I mean things commonly seen on the rails today).

Atlas 25000 tank cars

Lionel Ethanol Cars

Lionel Auto Racks

Lionel 86' hi-cube cars.

Newly-announced atlas Maxi-iv well cars.

Its great to finally have stuff to run with all the ES44's and SD70Mac's made by the MFRs.

LionChief Plus

Menards - new buildings and cars

Whistle-steam

Finding that diamond in the rough then making it look and run like new again.  So it was in the beginning and continues on with the same amount of enthusiasm.

Bruce

As my tastes and interests change towards vintage tin, I'm finding the most exciting things in O gauge were made before I was born!

It is all good, Menards and and the neat stuff the Scenic express and Woodland scenery are doing, Millhouse turntables... I am even OK...well. not having a heart attack over the price increases in the recent Catalogs, seems the numbers are climbing faster then the Republican Presidential contenders, May the best Man, Women, train win!

A couple of things that are awesome...

1). The breadth of tinplate product that exists and is still being produced

2). This forum.  As I am in the starting phases of putting together a layout, this forum beats everything.  I have been able to "advance search" a huge number of topics or interests and get viewpoints, ideas, photos, and video that come from everyone's experience and knowledge at my fingertips.  The quantity and detail of information is staggering when you think about it. I have a number of decent books to refer to as well, but the forum just accumulates more information everyday (I don't know how long threads are kept but I'd vote for forever).  Thanks all for contributing!

I'm fairly new to the hobby.  It sounds like I missed a lot of complaining through the years.   I actually signed up for a the forum a few years ago as I tinkered with trains every year at Christmas.  However; my interest in trains has really taken off over the past 1.5 years.   Things I really enjoy:

-Family:  I feel I've carried on the family legacy with my love for trains.  My dad was a huge train buff before his health declined.  I run a lot of his stuff on my layout.  It makes me feel good.

-Friends:  I'm starting to meet some friends in the industry.   Very nice people!

-Heritage Units:  I'm hooked....on and off the layout.  I love tracking the real diesels and knowing when they'll come through town.

-Technology:  I'm in the software business so I love the technology associated with the hobby.

-Modern Equipment:  I like the modern era of trains.  I love the fact that I can buy any of the modern diesels I see as I travel around the country.

Me.

5,000 bonus points to both Craig and Al for shameless promotion 

Great responses so far folks! We are in a wonderful place right now with O gauge trains and trust me when I say there are more amazing things coming. Let's keep the positive comments coming. 

I don't doubt neat things are planned. I'm really happy to hear "there are more amazing things coming". Just tell them to spread them out a little so I can at least have a fighting chance of being able to afford them all. When they come all at once I have to limit my purchases and making these kinds of choices is extremely difficult. And stressful too! 

I have said this many times here, it's a great time to be in O gauge. I still can't believe we have all these many, many things available to choose from. That's also quite amazing!

The variety of switches in 3-rail 0-gauge now is astounding, compared to, say 30 years ago. We can now duplicate switch yards and different configurations with track that previously only smaller scales, for the most part, could achieve. And the realistic sounds that trains can make now are just incredible. (I remember the Whistle, and Mighty Sound of Electronic Interference in the 70,s/ 80's). Realism has made a quantum leap in the past couple decades of 0-gauge railroading.

Menards with their train cars that are super affordable for me to get. Also getting free train cars and locos(Not gifts from anyone, just someone cleaning their garage to expand their Live Steam Consist)

I'll second the vote from Al K. on LCCA, particularly their special runs, which have been, mostly, irresistible to me .  Their publication (The Lion Roars) and conventions and special events are also some of the best things happening in the hobby, to my tastes.

I've also enjoyed Notch 6 podcasts, poster replicas and shirts, and appreciate Derek's innovative spirit in this regard.

I look forward to Menard's announcements of new products. I also love it when someone announces a custom run of either a freight car, engine or a complete set. I enjoy looking at all the nice pictures that you people post on the weekends of your trains and layouts.  One other thing that I really enjoy is when somebody start a thread on MPC.

...clearly the people I 've met on this Forum the last 15 years....

Peter

The most exciting thing in O gauge is the?   

The thing I just finished building.!!!

Love, Passenger Cars. Tis, an Obsession!!

bigo426, you certainly nailed it there!!!    My first exposure to Lionel trains was the 1966 catalog.  I still have my original which I received from the toy train shop on Rt 22 in Green Brook, NJ... Tiny Tots was the name back then.  I recall the day my Dad took me to the store, and the store clerk gave us the catalog.  On some of the pages, he marked special prices for items the store had in stock "on sale".

Here's a couple I recall like it was yesterday...

• #2322 Virginian FM, $65 catalog price... marked down to $52!

• Santa Fe Passenger set w/4 cars and AA F3 diesels (track was included, but no transformer):  $125 catalog price... marked down to $99!

Back in those days, even $52 was a LOT of $$$$ for us.  So I stuck to the O-27 offerings which were more affordable for us.

Little did I know back in the late 1960's that these were to be some of the last catalogs (and trains!) of the REAL Lionel Toy Corporation at Hoffman Place in Hillside, NJ.   A few years ago, I found a source out West and purchased a couple of unmarked original catalogs from 1966 and 1969.  Paging through them is an instant throw-back in time... and it doesn't get any better than that.  

David

Andy,

Your post gave me a good chuckle this morning, Thank you! One thing is for certain. I've been telling people the same thing for years about my Std Gauge pieces. You would be surprised at how many shook their heads whispering,  "Yeah..Sure!" under their breathe. At least I earned another giggle for later.

Happy Pappy,

    Got to agree with him however!

PCRR/Dave

Its definitely the people you meet and make friends with  The trains are secondary

There are so many model train things to be thankful for.  

- The advances in technology are amazing, as is the variety of products from both large and small companies.

- I am very thankful to still have just enough brain cells left to be able to figure out how to implement this new technology.

- I am thankful for having this forum and all the talented members who have helped me so many times in the past few years. As a result I have been able to have a layout far superior than one I would have without the help..

Lastly I am so very thankful and blessed to have my layout to work on and take my mind off of the everyday difficulties and a wife who always encourages me in the hobby.

Ed

Gentlemen,

   Got to agree the people are the best part of any hobby including ours.  

Thanks for posting the pictures Ben, I really appreciated seeing them.

PCRR/Dave