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re: Model trains and sets

Posted on 5/28/21 at 11:23 pm to
Posted by BuckyCheese
Member since Jan 2015
50089 posts
Posted on 5/28/21 at 11:23 pm to
quote:

context?


It's a model train in a model train thread.
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
142632 posts
Posted on 5/28/21 at 11:29 pm to
quote:

quote:

context?
It's a model train in a model train thread
Posted by chinhoyang
Member since Jun 2011
23686 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:22 am to
In the 60's, there was no model railroader greater than the Gorre and Daphetid Railroad. There are closeup photos where it is hard to tell that it is not a photo of a real train. The canyons and mountains on this HO railroad were huge.

The layout was destroyed in a fire.







Posted by SixthAndBarone
Member since Jan 2019
8346 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:24 am to
You mean before I discovered p&@$y?
Posted by Darth_Vader
A galaxy far, far away
Member since Dec 2011
64906 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:27 am to
Model tanks > model trains.

Started this JagdTiger Sunday.

Posted by chinhoyang
Member since Jun 2011
23686 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:29 am to
1935 Lionel Streamliner



During the depression, Lionel saved its business by selling $1 handcars like this one. This handcar was owned by a well known 60's fashion model who started collecting high grade toys and trains when she retired.



American Flyer wide gauge set:

This post was edited on 10/17/22 at 11:55 am
Posted by TheFonz
Somewhere in Louisiana
Member since Jul 2016
20486 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:35 am to
quote:

I only know one guy that was weird as hell he had one. It was kinda his secret shameful activity. The only people to ever see it were invited up when he was really drunk and then the next day he would not want to talk about it.


That might have been my uncle.

I never got into model trains. I do remember the shop at the Merchant's Landing flea market by the old Broadmoor Theater, and there was also a shop at the Riverwalk in New Orleans. This was in the late 80's into the early 90's. I liked looking at all of the stuff they had.
Posted by chinhoyang
Member since Jun 2011
23686 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:37 am to
quote:

Model tanks > model trains.


95 % of the quality train models run.

Military models of all kinds have strong appeal.

I have a few pre WWII tank "models," but they are tinplate.

Posted by chinhoyang
Member since Jun 2011
23686 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:38 am to
quote:

You mean before I discovered p&@$y?


LOL ... if you are a single guy on the prowl, you definitely need to play down the model railroading hobby.
Posted by Pettifogger
Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
Member since Feb 2012
79384 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:39 am to
Only one dude in my family did this and he sucked, so I have no experience.

Is there any reasonable value in putting something simple together for Christmas only or is it too much work for something like that? As in, something my son and I could do as a yearly Christmas mini-project tradition such that it requires a little thought/work/creativity (but not life-consuming)? I don't know the first thing about it.

Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
262007 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:41 am to
Looking for a new constructive hobby. I think I'd want to build my own sets so researching parts.

Posted by Saint Alfonzo
Member since Jan 2019
22336 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:46 am to
quote:

Is there any reasonable value in putting something simple together for Christmas only or is it too much work for something like that? As in, something my son and I could do as a yearly Christmas mini-project tradition such that it requires a little thought/work/creativity (but not life-consuming)? I don't know the first thing about it.

There are a bunch of Christmas train setups available. I have a Lionel O gauge set that uses their Fastrack system. You can literally set it up in five minutes or less. I've added a bunch of track, cars, and a Christmas village to it over the years.
Posted by chinhoyang
Member since Jun 2011
23686 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:51 am to
I have given my sons and a couple of friends "Christmas trains" for their families. These are 50's Lionel trains that are generally not that collectible. Four of the five were bought from a guy in the Carolinas who cleans them up and refurbishes all of the operating systems (smoke, whistle, operating cars). You have to buy the track (Menard's has cheap track) and I get a refurbished vintage transformer from the same guy. Runs $180 to $250 total, depending on the trains.

ETA: Saint Alfonzo's post is good advice if you want new stuff. The new Lionel has a lot of tech stuff. From a personal viewpoint, I have zero interest in the China trains and the old stuff (while not tech) runs great and is virtually indestructible.
This post was edited on 10/17/22 at 11:54 am
Posted by Havoc
Member since Nov 2015
28711 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:54 am to
quote:

Is there any reasonable value in putting something simple together for Christmas only or is it too much work for something like that? As in, something my son and I could do as a yearly Christmas mini-project tradition such that it requires a little thought/work/creativity (but not life-consuming)? I don't know the first thing about it.



Exactly what I was wondering. I've been wanting to get into it mainly to go with our massive Christmas village setup but the entry costs seem kinda high for something only put out and used for a few weeks per year.
Posted by chinhoyang
Member since Jun 2011
23686 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 11:58 am to
quote:


Exactly what I was wondering. I've been wanting to get into it mainly to go with our massive Christmas village setup but the entry costs seem kinda high for something only put out and used for a few weeks per year.


What do you consider "kinda high?" For use with a Christmas village set up, a well refurbished (and eBay is full of shitty refurbished trains) train, track, and transformer can be had for $250 to $300.

I sent my granddaughter's a 50's Lionel set with a steam locomotive that smoked and whistled, and it included a box car where the man opens the door remotely. $270 was my end price for everything and the granddaughters loved it.

Here is the actual set: 50's heavy diecast steam locomotive with 50's vintage cars

This post was edited on 10/17/22 at 12:01 pm
Posted by Ponchy Tiger
Ponchatoula
Member since Aug 2004
45244 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 12:09 pm to
There is a store here in Ponchatoula that specializes in that, have never checked it out. I had a cousin that was into it before he passed away. Had a room built in his business just for this. Pretty sweet set up. He had some old Lionel trains from the 40’s and 50’s. I picked up one of the engines one time and thing must have weighed 25 pounds.
Posted by Basura Blanco
Member since Dec 2011
8400 posts
Posted on 10/17/22 at 1:00 pm to
I soooo wanted this to have been real, yet I'm terrified that it was. And Im terrified x10 that it is still ongoing.



Posted by Filtiger
Philippines
Member since Apr 2009
352 posts
Posted on 10/18/22 at 4:47 am to
The April 1974 issue of Model Railroader magazine did an extensive write up about the Gorre and Daphetid Railroad.
The October 2018 issue also did a piece on it. These magazines can still be found in pdf format through torrents.
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
142632 posts
Posted on 10/26/22 at 6:18 pm to
Posted by dstone12
Texan
Member since Jan 2007
30518 posts
Posted on 11/3/22 at 9:13 am to
I keep wondering if I want to get rid of my Marklin r give it to my kids.
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