Scale train sets

Tunakid #1 wants a train set for Christmas and his Grandparents have agreed to pitch in to get something decent.

He likes N scale. We can build a basic set with good rolling stock and then build a scene around it later. He is thinking something relating to an army base.

I see Bachmann and Kato are good brands. I want to get something not-junk, but also something that we won't literally cry about if another Tunakid wrecks.

What is the best way to get started? Box-o-train on ebay used? No-name Chinese crap on Amazon? Stick to the good brands and spend $150 on a basic starter set? Buy used tracks and then a loco and then some cars and then some track, all through different means?

Help me out.

https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/bachmann/bachmann-n-scale/bachmann-steam-locomotives-1/Bachmann-51459-Baldwin-4-6-0-w-DCC-Nickel-Plate-Road-182/

That's what he't got his eye on rght now

HO is the world most popular scale, and cheapest per piece. Old Life Likes are cheap and study while still looking good.

I have no N scale experience, but Bachmann makes good HO stuff.

I’m a G-scale guy but in G-Scale I’ve found Bachmann to be good enough to not call it junk, but I wouldn’t really go any further than that. Sounds like it may be what you’re looking for, assuming that the quality carries over into the different scales. We will see what Wally says.

Good timing on the thread. I’m currently watching a cheap one (Kalamazoo, long out of business) go round and round right now and am going to pick up a starter set from Craigslist tomorrow AM, for a friends Christmas tree.

Oh, one other thing - I’ll try to sell G scale: if little kids are involved, I think it is better. Bigger, more durable, and the track is extremely durable. 

027 here. With a set older than I am. 

The kids and I tried N scale stuff a couple of times when they were young.  The plus side is you can build a decent sized layout in a relatively small space.  The down side is the cars are really finicky to get connected and rolling smoothly on the rails and the engines didn't seem to be very durable.  We definitely went "entry level" stuff, so maybe there are better/more durable engines out there.  It seemed like we only got a few months running time out of each one.  The kids eventually got frustrated and gave up.  We tried HO stuff and found it to be a lot more durable, but it takes up a LOT more space to put out even a decent layout.  

What do you use for power and speed control stuff? Everyone seems to have their own branded stuff, but can't it be as simple as 0-X volts? How does it all connect to the track? Is there an inexpensive track manufacturer that just sells you a box-o-track, or is it really "buy 1 box of three straight sections 6" long..."?

tuna55 said:

What do you use for power and speed control stuff? Everyone seems to have their own branded stuff, but can't it be as simple as 0-X volts? How does it all connect to the track? Is there an inexpensive track manufacturer that just sells you a box-o-track, or is it really "buy 1 box of three straight sections 6" long..."?

Power and speed control is done by a transformer. If your starter set doesn’t have one, let me know and I can send you a cheap one for free. As far as I can tell they’re the same for all the gauges. They connect to the track via a cord, but I believe that changes for each of the scales in terms of how exactly the connection works. 

tuna55 said:

What do you use for power and speed control stuff? Everyone seems to have their own branded stuff, but can't it be as simple as 0-X volts? How does it all connect to the track? Is there an inexpensive track manufacturer that just sells you a box-o-track, or is it really "buy 1 box of three straight sections 6" long..."?

You can buy single pieces, or sets of single pieces, but there is usually a layout you can buy in one fell swoop. Highly recommend getting a starter set though that includes train, track, and transformer to get started. 

Also, look on Craigslist and Facebook for extra pieces. 

Big starter set is a bit of money up front, but in terms of dollars per item you'll do better, and you'll get everything you need including a transformer.

Settle on a gauge and a track manufacturer.  There are different proprietary joining systems that are not compatible with one another. 

N-gauge is fiddly, especially for young children.

HO probably the best compromise and lowest cost.

Much of my stuff is Lionel O-gauge.  Too expensive, too big, but awesome.  My reasons for going that route had to do with a certain Grandpa over 50 years ago. 

Bachmann is certainly among the better brands.  Used rolling stock is plentiful on ebay.  A nice engine is going to set you back, regardless of gauge.

HO would be what I would recommend to a shopper, when I worked in a hobby shop 30 years ago. I still stand by that, today. N, while being able to fit more in a smaller space, is more expensive, comparatively. 

It used to be that track was either brass or nickle, and interchangeable although cosmetically different, but now it's more complicated. Pick a system, and stick with it. 

Rolling stock and locomotives should be compatible no matter what brand, with the exception of Marklin.

Lionel. Its big enough and sturdy enough to survive abuse. The newer set are totally compatible to Lionel back to at least 1946.  I started with N. It is fiddley as hell. OK if you can tinker and adjust, but not if you want good from the get go. If he is set on N, Kato and their Uni-Track are fantastic. Expensive, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy used. Shopgoodwill has some really good deals on complete sets some times.

Penn Flyer

Pennsylvania Flyer

New York Central

Sante Fe Super Freight This one is boss!

As someone who’s entire childhood revolved around trains, try to figure out what part of model railroading your son enjoys most. Is it operating/watching the trains? Assembling kits? Creating scenery, etc.? That will give you a better idea of where to focus your time & money. 

I also agree with others about HO being a better choice than N, if you have the room. 

Do you know if there are any model railroad clubs in your area? I was fortunate to have one in my hometown with a massive HO layout(in the baggage room of the old town depot!) that I spent almost every weekend at during the summers as a kid. 

Lastly, a question for those here who have more current knowledge of model railroading: I understand that digital control is pretty common now, does tuna55 need to be cautious/conscious of whether whatever he buys is/isn’t digital?

I inherited this little N gauge set from my older brother. It's probably about 50 years old at this point. But if you can find something similar, I'd highly recommend it. I also have an old Lionel HO set, but that requires hours of planning, setup and takedown. Sometimes, you just want to drag out the trains and play, and a set like this is perfect for that sort of thing. Most of the time, it never even left the box. I'd just open it up and plug it in.

sleepydad has been converting my old HO stuff over to dcc... and picking up some new bachmann stuff as well (engines and cars).  I think he was also converting them to newer couplers as well.  I think he's been finding the dcc stuff easier to work with than the old stuff.  Also, he's picked up some tricks about mounting track on some cheaper material that's glued down on 1x4, iirc.  Instead of cork and plywood.
There's a bunch of YouTube channels of people doing cheap/small layouts.  I may check in about them, and post later.

In reply to Pete Gossett :

DDC digital comand and control isn't absolutely nessesary. Especially when you are just getting started.

For those to whom this is Greek:

DC=Direct current. You control the track; all locos on it go the same speed (or get the same voltage, anyway) and in the same direction. You stop one, you stop them all. 

DCC=Digital Command and Control. You control each train independently. I looked into it for about a second, but will probably never have a layout big enough to run more than 2 trains at once so... meh. Very cool, but beyond what I’ll ever be doing. 

I recommend sticking with DC while starting out. 

Ill just parrot what others said.

HO is going to be the best bang for the buck and not so tiny that its frustrating.

N scale is super cool and adorable but ALSO fiddly and frustrating

O and O27 scale layouts are typically less realistic due to size and the way a lot of the original Lionel and Marx accessories were constructed but they can be fantastic when built.  The stuff is also durable and easy to work with being large.  Also very cool if you are into vintage stuff as there is tons of it thats tipping toward that 75 year old mark.  

I started with N, dabbled in HO, and now have an O scale for around the Christmas tree.  I built a 2" tall false floor to set my christmas tree on so I can chase all the wires under the false floor to make a pretty cool looking setup.  Also keeps Roomba from wrecking it.  

The HO scale is cheap and easy to work with.

The Nsacle allows a lot more options with layout size and design.

What I would buy, a nice Kato basic kit and used Kato track.  The locomotive and rolling stock  from Kato is amazing, and used track is cheap and usually in good condition.

Paul

DCC control is very cool and works very well, but definitely adds expense.  Basically, it runs full voltage to the track, and the module in the loco can be addressed by the controller and set to run at any speed.  Great if you're committed to a permanent layout and got money to burn.

Thanks to you bunch of enablers, looks like we may be getting Kazoospec Kid #2 a Kato N scale Amtrak set for Christmas.  If my research on the topic today is correct, apparently Kato's sets solves a lot of the reliability and track assembly issues we came to expect from the Bachmann stuff, leaving only the general "fiddliness" of N scale.  Allegedly, they are also much easier to set up and tear down than the Bachmann stuff, which is good because he might not have a spot for a permanent layout until Kazoo Jr. moves out. 

Fair summary?  

Seriously though the Kato stuff seems really nice.  The train shop I go to sells it and they really like it.

Sorry I'm late.

I spent a few years as part of a N-trak club. Still have all my N scale equipment just no layout or module. Modern N scale stuff is far more reliable than the crap from 15 or more years ago. Bachmann used to be a cut-rate brand but are pretty decent nowadays. However, if I'm looking for true reliability I'm going Kato every time. Though proprietary, their unitrack system of track is completely reliable. Normal Atlas track can be fiddly to assemble and the turnouts are hit/miss. Kato track just works...and you don't have to glue ballast down for it to look nice.

Their locomotives are also superior to just about everything out there.

The biggest PITA with N scale is getting the wheels on the track. I bought one of these ramps and it makes things very easy. Micro Trains re-railer ramp

When you buy rolling stock just make sure they have compatible knuckle couplers. Older/cheaper equipment uses big, ugly Rapido couplers. You can change them out but it can be expensive.

I would not bother with DCC. The only advantage is being able to run multiple trains on the same track, something you won't do with a starter home layout.

Running problems with Kato will only be a result of dirty track. Keep the track spotless and all should function properly.

I'm kinda partial to Lionel O gauge. 

As a kid, its a different experience with N and O. N you get kinda bored with, because they are so small. O gauge is indestructible, and easy to use. You'll pay more, but if you get a used set you can sell it for what you paid.