Hi From Cowan, Tennessee

[danielstp]

Hi All,
I am new to the site and to G scale. When I was a kid my dad gave me his old O scale trains and track and I played a little around the Christmas tree for a while, but did not last for long. Now I have my sights on Garden trains. This is really a new venture for me. I am excited. I first ordered a starter set (USA train S4 set). Since I was born in Canada and grew up with CN Rail, I got excited when I saw a site with a SD40-2 Canadian National and went ahead and ordered it and just received it. I will start playing with it in my garage (we have a very large garage) to start with while we start organizing the site where I will be building the outdoor layout. This is a dream I did not even know I had until 2 years ago.
I also got an LGB Track Bumper with lights. I have never dealt with lighting before. There is a light with a wire with the bumper. To get power to the bulb, do I just connect it to the track or do I need something else to connect it to that would give it power? This is all new to me so I prefer to ask in this safe environment where people are patient with us newbies.
Looking forward to learning and having good conversations.

Daniel

 

[idlemarvel]

Welcome to the forum. Ref your question on lighting, if you're using DCC then yes you can take power from the track for the bumper light, although it is preferable to have a separate supply. If you're a DC analog user then you can't take power from the track. Some starter set controllers like from PIKO DC analog starter sets have an outout for track power and another for lighting.

 

[danielstp]

got it, so I connect it on the 18 V. accessory connection of the power supply., I appreciate the answer.,

 

[Software Tools]

Cowan, NSW, Australia...

 

[Paul M]

Welcome to the forum, Daniel. You'll have plenty of help on here, just beware of the humour! As for the light, I assume it's a filament one rather than n LED

 

[dunnyrail]

Welcome to the forum Daniel, amongst your planning if possible a station in the garage leading to the great outdoors is a very worthwhile thing to do. You can after a days running put stock into the garage for storage, expensive locomotives if you feel the need as I do can then be moved indoors. Have a look at my links below where you will see a vid (now somewhat out of date) and the build thread (blue text link) of my line which may give you some ideas.

 

[idlemarvel]

Cowan, NSW, Australia...

View attachment 313973

Nice picture.

 

[JimmyB]

Daniel welcome to the forum, lots of good advice, bad humour, but most important, please post photos of your trains and railway

 

[Gizzy]

Welcome to the forum Daniel....

 

[#1Photographer]

Hi Daniel from a fellow Tennessean. (Louisville)
You will find this site loaded with information and (when you ask) advise.
The Knoxville Area Model Railroaders is another G scale group you might want to look into.

 

[David1226]

The Knoxville Area Model Railroaders are worth a visit, they are based in the Children's Museum at Oak Ridge. They open their doors to the public on the third Sunday of every month. As well as extensive indoor layouts, the have a large outdoor G Scale layout. I have visited a couple of times when staying with my family in Knoxville, I have found them to be a very welcoming and friendly bunch , the model railroaders that is, not my family.

G Scale at Oak Ridge



David

 

[Dan]

You can use the track power with DC to light the bumper light but you only get light with a train running. For DCC be careful as the LGB bumper comes with an 18 volt bulb and my system outputs 24 volts to the track thus a short bulb life.

 

[#1Photographer]

The Knoxville Area Model Railroaders are worth a visit, they are based in the Children's Museum at Oak Ridge. They open their doors to the public on the third Sunday of every month. As well as extensive indoor layouts, the have a large outdoor G Scale layout. I have visited a couple of times when staying with my family in Knoxville, I have found them to be a very welcoming and friendly bunch , the model railroaders that is, not my family.

G Scale at Oak Ridge

View attachment 314064

David

 

[#1Photographer]

HEY! That's my Little River Shay and consist.