Hi from the SF Bay Area

[nouveau.ukiyo]

Hi all, just registered. I bought the standard LGB starter set last Christmas to put around my tree, which reawakened my childhood interest in model trains. Growing up my father had many different kinds of model trains but I most liked his European LGB locomotives and rolling stock. We had the DR 99 6001 and OBB 2095, as well as various box cars, different sets (Christmas, circus train), a cable car, and various Pola buildings. He had lots of American trains and buildings as well, but they never captured my interest like the European trains. As an adult, I lived in Japan for many years and really admired their rail infrastructure as well but never had the space or money to accumulate models.

Today I have young children and want to share my childhood experience with them. Besides the starter set, I don't have any model trains nor do I have much space to collect them. I do have a small yard and I'm considering setting up a basic garden railway. I'm renting, so the layout must be temporary. I am frankly lost given the costs and the complexities of electrification and digital systems, so I thought I'd lurk on G Scale Central to learn what I can. I'm also considering buying some smaller scale starter sets and playing around with them to learn before scaling up.

I'm looking forward to learning and meeting folks. I'll end with a Japanese expression for these types of situations: yoroshiku oengaishimasu. It's usually translated into English as "nice to meet you" but it's true meaning expresses a desire for a good relationship and can be used in situations when relying on someone's help or cooperation.

 

[Northsider]

Welcome to the Forum! Do you have a name we can call you by? Those early LGB models are probably responsible for many of us ending up on here.
A portable railway is always tricky, but if you have hard surfaces in your yard, then you should be able to set up a quick layout for a few days and run some trains. That kind of 'pop-up shop' line should get your children interested. Do let us know how you get on!

 

[Gizzy]

Domo, and welcome to the forum....

 

[Paul M]

Welcome to the forum. I'd keep things simple until you get a permanent set up. It's only when you start having complicated set ups with reverse loops etc that the electrics can become complicated, but there will be plenty of help on here for you. Just beware of the humour, and pictures are popular

 

[grizzmo]

Welcome to the forum and have fun playing trains with your kids.

 

[dunnyrail]

Welcome to the forum, perhaps my auto Christmas layout will interest you shown during testing. Set up in my drive just for the day of a Royal Party in the street. The one on grass for a BBQ party at a friends

 

[BakerJohn]

Welcome to GSC! I am also from the US, Massachusetts, myself, but my Sister-in-Law actually lives in SF.

I rent as well. I went simple and laid down some rail in my flower garden. It's a very temporary solution and it will move easily either by frost, critters, or earthquakes, but it serves it's purpose for now.

This is my second attempt at this apartment and this photo is from last week when I was trying to get the track laid down. Dunny's solutions are also great options for temporary set-ups. I've considered laying extra track into the yard for parties and such at the house. Haven't gotten that far... yet.


As said, we love photos, a good name to call you, and watch out for the "humour". haha

 

[maxi-model]

Welcome. I remember one Christmas some friends asked if I could bring round my railway ! They lived 80 miles away, and I drive a SMART car. No problem. I had some LGB straight track sections and 3 of their R3 switches to hand (rail upgrade in process). Took about 5 minutes to clip it together to form a neat "inglenook" shunting puzzle on their patio Inglenook Sidings Shunting Puzzle - Track Plan & Layout Size Brought some wagons and my radio controlled live steam loco and we all, kids included, had some fun. 5 minutes and all packed away again. Small is beautiful, and extendable. Max

 

[casey jones snr]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

 

[playmofire]

If you're going to buy some more starter sets, then you may want to buy some track to create a siding inside the oval for the extra rolling stock. However, points/switches in LGB aren't isolating ones as they tend to be with small scale layouts, that means the track is live on them and so you cannot store extra locos on a siding unless you isolate it in some way.

 

[pugwash]

Greetings from Luxembourg 'new world'? It's great hear with plenty of information and help so take advantage of it. I don't think you need to test with smaller scale railways as the problems (and fun) are almost identical. Above all enjoy yourself here!

However, points/switches in LGB aren't isolating ones as they tend to be with small scale layouts

Not so, both kinds are available and used, I use non-insulated points though.

 

[playmofire]

Greetings from Luxembourg 'new world'? It's great hear with plenty of information and help so take advantage of it. I don't think you need to test with smaller scale railways as the problems (and fun) are almost identical. Above all enjoy yourself here!

Hi from the SF Bay Area

Hi all, just registered. I bought the standard LGB starter set last Christmas to put around my tree, which reawakened my childhood interest in model trains. Growing up my father had many different kinds of model trains but I most liked his European LGB locomotives and rolling stock. We had the...

www.gscalecentral.net

playmofire said: However, points/switches in LGB aren't isolating ones as they tend to be with small scale layouts

Not so, both kinds are available and used, I use non-insulated points though.

I'm not sure which part of the quote you are referring to here. Although you can use an isolating track section with LGB points to isolate a siding, I haven't come across an LGB point which is an isolating one. If you're saying that for small scale layouts points may be isolating ones or not, then I agree with you, I did say points in small scale TEND to be isolating ones, not that they are all isolating ones.