naive novice.

S

steve the dreamer

Registered
Country flag
Hi, love trains, big and small, I have potential layouts in most scales and am now semi retired and physically unable to ride bikes anymore I want to try to put something together, on a whim last year I bought a Bachmann big hauler, I have not checked it yet, it might work - last week I bought a U.S. railcar, it might work, today i bought a largish oval of LGB track, it looks like it might work, my questions, I have seen LGB 5003 and 50083 controllers for sale, what is the difference? It seems the voltage is greater than the ancient H&M controllers i have acquired. What is the voltage of the Bachmann locos? These are probably very basic questions but I don't know where else to look, any advice gratefully accepted, I want to run things around my garden while it's still sunny! thanks.
 
Welcome Steve, what part of Norfolk do you live? There's a few of you up there. You'll get all the help and advice you need, plus some awful jokes
 
Paul M said:
Welcome Steve, what part of Norfolk do you live? There's a few of you up there. You'll get all the help and advice you need, plus some awful jokes
Click to expand...
Hi, near Snetterton, the railway/model shop started in a container, grew into a huge space, (G Gauge all around the ceiling) then it belly flopped big time, shame, could have spent huge amounts of money there.Apparently biggest model shop in the world.
 
Steve asked the same questions a couple of years ago when I started. The voltage is allegedly 24v, but you will find for your current loco 12v will get it running, anything above 1 amp. Later you will probably need a bigger controller, but just get your train running.
Oh, and welcome :)
 
Hello Steve. The 5003 is a starter set controller and only about 0.5 amps so I wouldn't purchase one being the very minimum for a 1 motor locomotive. The 50083 is a 1 amp controller which is still not a lot but will suit a small set-up fine. Large scale trains run on around 18~24 volts or so, depending on brand etc. Volts relates to the speed of the locomotive as it does when you turn the throttle down so your old 12 volt stuff will run it fine too but at a reduced speed. Many transformers/controllers are now rated in 'Volt Amps' or VA which is often ambiguous. The 5003 is specified as 0~18V 0.5 amp or 9VA but the amp rating at 18V is unknown.
 
Last edited:
Welcome Steve. As mentioned, 12volts will be OK (I run my trailer set-up off of car batteries). I can run several trains at once (mainly Big Haulers) and, on my garden line I generally use the simple Bachmann controller although I can use something better if I could be bothered. I'm purely analogue and anything beyond that mode (like DCC) leaves me in a daze!
 
Steve, I have found that an HnM will run things pretty well, but once you get to bigger loads the Amps will tell on you. Also larger Voltage assists with current drop in the Garden, a real problem if you have a big layout and no additional feeds nit that that will bother you just now. At this early stage you probably need to consider the following:-
1 Do I wish to continue with Analogue control, having to do everything from a central control point?
2 Do I wish to go DCC with the possibility of Radio remote control DCC?
3 Do I wish to have on board Battery Radio Control? No Track Cleaning or wiring except perhaps for points.
4 Do I want a ground level line, scenically nicer?
5 Do I want a higher level line, easier on the body no bending down?
Take a bit of time to research these options, plenty of info on here in the varying Forums before you start to spend big money. In the meantime just play with a small circle on the patio if you have one to get a feel for what you have.
 
steve the dreamer said:
Hi, near Snetterton, the railway/model shop started in a container, grew into a huge space, (G Gauge all around the ceiling) then it belly flopped big time, shame, could have spent huge amounts of money there.Apparently biggest model shop in the world.
Click to expand...
Yes half way up the A11. I went there once literally months before it closed. Loads of stuff, and a non-working layout, but that seemed to be all. A bit like a supermarket.
Still a nice area to live, fairly close to the distillery
 
Welcome Steve!

Once the rain stops.. :rolleyes: Get some track down, and have a play..
Use one of your older controllers, but only put one train on the track.. As long as the loco is not to worn, it should run. - You might neen to clean the track / squeeze the odd joiner / clean the wheels..

Enjoy!
PhilP.
 
steve the dreamer said:
Hi, near Snetterton, the railway/model shop started in a container, grew into a huge space, (G Gauge all around the ceiling) then it belly flopped big time, shame, could have spent huge amounts of money there.Apparently biggest model shop in the world.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the wilds of Norfolk Steve. We're a bit thin on the ground in these parts - It's a veritable desert here at the coast.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum Steve.

I visited the shop at Snetterton just after it closed.

The stock was being cleared, due to the passing of the owner. His family weren't interested, so the whole stock of LGB and other toys was sold off.

I reckon the presence of the nearby USAF bases were a factor of trading reasonably well as it was out in the sticks between Cambridge and Norwich.

Although I often visited if I was passing, I rarely brought anything Large Scale, as in my opinion, the prices were a little expensive....
 
Hi All, amazed by all the replies, all filled with good advice, I think I shall just initially run just the large oval at ground level to get the feel of things, ideally in time I may use a fairly large landscaped area of my garden fed by elevated lines from a shed, this gives plenty of scope for future wishful thinking, on the subject of control, I 'm an old fashioned idealist who likes steel(brass) rails and single controller per line, however I can see the many advantages of battery power and radio control. We'll see what develops, I don't want to spend all my time on track cleaning!
Again, thanks for the welcomes and advice. (very gratefully received)
 
steve the dreamer said:
Hi, near Snetterton, the railway/model shop started in a container, grew into a huge space, (G Gauge all around the ceiling) then it belly flopped big time, shame, could have spent huge amounts of money there.Apparently biggest model shop in the world.
Click to expand...

In Norfolk, anyhow. ;)
 
I haven't been scared off yet - I seem to have entered buying frenzy for various pieces of track, all lgb so far, no turnouts yet. ( they seem a lot of money for small distance traveled!) I will probably bite the bullet and buy one of the station extension packs, I notice lgb & pico both do these at a similar price, does any know which is preferred/better?
 
The big issue with track is the radius (but everyone talks in terms of diameter- LGB and Piko offer a diameter as small as 4ft. Anything LGB will go around 4ft diameter curves but they are, in fact, very tight. The ideal minimum is 8ft diameter if you have the space.

Now the fun starts. LGB identify their 8ft (just under actually) curves as R3, but Piko R3 is something different.

You can fin the radius details on Google (I don't have the links to hand)

I'm in Norfolk - near King's Lynn. Once the pox abates a bit more, you can come over.
 
I'll try not to, all my N gauge is Peco, (yet another long term project, - along with the three rail Hornby) I somehow came up with three different spellings of Piko and still got it wrong!
 
If you are buying track...

You are probably better finding a 'job-lot', as it will work-out cheaper.. - Anything you will DEFINITELY not use, you can sell-on..

DSC01588-up.jpg

Of, you just try to hide it, in the shed! :giggle:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom