Hello from Essex

[bridgefog]

Hi all, I thought I should register having finally purchased a modest LGB G Scale set last week.

I have fond memories of playing with G scale in a friend's garden and had to test whether the spark was still there - and it is most certainly was! I grew up with 00 at home (my Father has a good collection) but things have moved on since then. I'm currently reading around digital setups and on the look out for trains to roam around a planned permanent railway in the garden. If anyone knows of any good places to find affordable trains (I don't mind second hand given my budget) other than eBay and Gumtree I'd be interested to hear them.

As a long-time lurker I'd also like to thank you for putting together such a great community with threads so inspiring I finally bit the bullet...

 

[beavercreek]

Welcome to the forum foggy.
Here you will find information and answers to all of your needs...even if you did not want it!
Are you a member of the G Scale Society.?
I am also in Essex (north) and there is a very active G Scale Society tribe operating in the county...and beyond into Suffolk.
We have open days (usually on Sundays)
A few of the members are also on this forum.

 

[bridgefog]

Hi beavercreek, thank you for the welcome!

I'm not yet a member of the G Scale Society but that sounds like something I should do. On signing up will I have access to events etc? I'm sure my son would also like to pop along - he's young but completely obsessed by trains already!

I'm based North of Chelmsford - we're both in the nicer part of Essex!

 

[JRinTawa]

Welcome aboard "foggy".

As Mike says, joining the GSS and going along to open days is the best advice one can give a newbie. Visiting other railways and learning from there successes and mistakes was the best thing I did when starting out. I sure did, and still do, find our great wee forum a valued resource but nothing beats being there in person!

 

[Zerogee]

Welcome to the forum!
As you've been lurking for a while, you know what goes on here - just feel free to ask anything and you'll get lots of answers, some of them even helpful!

What part of Essex are you in? Like Beavercreek Mike, I'm also in North Essex (or "honorary Suffolk", as I like to think of it....) - actually only a handful of miles from Mike's.
In addition to the GSS garden open days the Mike mentions above, held on most Sundays of the summer months, we also have a monthly get-together at a village hall over the winter, where a large loop of track is laid on the floor and anyone is welcome to bring a train and run it, or just come along to watch, chat, eat sausage rolls etc....

Second-hand purchases from shops (as opposed to evilBay etc) will always be a little more expensive because you're not buying direct from the current owner - but you also get a little more security, you can see stuff running and so on; we are reasonably lucky in the area with three or four G-scale specialists within reasonable driving distance (again, depending on which part of the County you are in?) - we have Glendale Junction just north of Peterborough, Kent Garden Railways and Chalk Garden Rail both just "Sarf of the River" in north Kent, and Garden railway Specialists in Princes Risborough if you don't mind venturing just west of London.

Jon.


EDIT: sorry, I was still typing this when you posted your answer to some of the questions!

Glad to hear you are in the "civilised" bit of Essex.....
Yes, joining the GSS will give you access to all the info on the open afternoons, and you're more than welcome to bring the family along - several regulars bring their Better Halves (who enjoy a pleasant social time mutually commiserating about us blokes playing trains....), and there are usually some kids and/or grandkids in attendance.


FURTHER EDIT: Ooops, almost forgot a fifth (and even more local) stockist - Garden Railways Limited, in Bishops Stortford! A relatively new business, who started by buying out Martin's Models a couple of years back and thus became the main Regner live steam agent for the UK.

 

[Henri]

Welcome!! I'm relatively new here as well and oh boy I'm enjoying the -peep- out of it!!! (See Rabbit Hill Tramways topic).

I had (and still have) LOTS of questions, but the good people on this board have helped me tremendously with their advice and opinions.

I'm also 100% new to G-Scale. Bought everything second hand and so far did find good 'stuff' for very reasonable prices.

 

[bridgefog]

Thanks John and Zerogee - will get signed up shortly!

Garden Railways Ltd is too close - I could make that journey and back in a long lunchtime!

ETA - thanks too to Henri and Nigel! This is a very friendly place!!

 

[Zerogee]

You're very welcome, Foggy!

Regarding the GSS, Gordon (our Essex GSS group leader) isn't active here on GSC I don't think, but I can put you in touch with him off-forum if you wish..... just send me a "conversation" message.
There is actually a meeting this Sunday afternoon down near Billericay, for obvious security reasons I can't give you details over the open forum but if you're free then I can put you in touch with the relevant folks to talk to about it....?

You mentioned you have an LGB starter set - are you planning to stay with Euro outline stock, or are you tempted by the lure of the big US trains....? We're a complete mix in the area group, Beavercreek Mike is 100% USA, I'm all German/Austrian outline, and we have many more of both, plus Swiss, and several more into live steam and British profile - so whatever your particular interest, there will be plenty to do and see.....

Hope to put a face to the name soon!

Jon.

 

[Madman]

Welcome aboard.

 

[casey jones snr]

Hello Foggy, welcome to the forum.

 

[trammayo]

Yes - welcome!

 

[Gizzy]

Welcome Foggy.

I'm in the posher bit of North Essex.

Cambridgeshire....

 

[bridgefog]

You mentioned you have an LGB starter set - are you planning to stay with Euro outline stock, or are you tempted by the lure of the big US trains....? We're a complete mix in the area group, Beavercreek Mike is 100% USA, I'm all German/Austrian outline, and we have many more of both, plus Swiss, and several more into live steam and British profile - so whatever your particular interest, there will be plenty to do and see......

Re rolling stock, I think I will probably stick with European - I've done some travelling in Europe so many of these locomotives are known to me. That said, I'll probably (budget depending) buy some key US and UK based locomotives (like the Class 66 ) for my own enjoyment and amusement (and it would be very amusing watching a Class 66 navigate a R1 curve!). I also have a soft spot for British steam, especially the Class A4 (which my Father currently occasionally works on - he's ex-railway and now involved in the preserved side) but I haven't even seen one available...although that's not an area I've researched yet.

I'll drop you a conversation message shortly.

Thanks to Mick, Casey and Dan (ETA and Gizzy!) for their welcomes too!

 

[Gizzy]

Word of warning?

Class 66 will not negotiate an LGB R1 curve. Something to do with the bogies having restrictors.

R3 minimum if you are planning ahead....

 

[Cliff George]

Hello and welcome.

Hope you do join the GSS and we see you at some meetings.

I'm in Chelmsford so anything I can help with let me know. I'm might be able to help you with any digital questions or issues.