Garden Scale Trains - Accessories - Layout - Design - Construction
Of all the hobbbies out there to choose from, I can't think of one more involved, more durable or more flexible than Garden Scale Railroading. What was once a rich man's hobby is becoming more and more affordable to all. You do not need much technical knowledge to start your own year-round outdoor or indoor layout. Virtually ALL components of a Garden Layout can be left outdoors in all weather conditions. Honestly, the only piece that need brought indoors is the locomotives or engines. So put down the video game controller, you can come back to it later, your Facebook friends will wait, and get outside and enjoy the weather with your new Garden train hobby. I'll help you make it happen for less than you think.
RULE #1 BE PATIENT !
As you plan your layout, cruise tjhe photo galleries on the web and price different items at your local hobby store or on the web, it is far tooeasy to become overwhelmed by prices and size limitations. You are well on your way to talking yourself out of a wonderful hobby. Be paitent - Start out small. You will come to find out that the challenges and ideas never stop coming with your railroad. You can always add to, redesign and expand your empire as I have done many times and will continue to do so. My advice is that you get a Starter Set with brass track and a few sections of 5' Flex Track. This is a pay as you go hobby and if you've not yet noticed, virtually all items either hold their value or increase in value so you're not throwing your money away. It's a win-win hobby as any father-son - father-daughter or husband-wife will tell you. This can be a hobby the whole family can easily get involved in and contribute to.
WHERE TO BEGIN
Without an engine all you have is scenery. I'm going to offer up my own reviews on engines I've owned as a beginner to help you decide what's best for you. If you're just starting out I do NOT recommend purchasing a top of the line locomotive. It's best to go used for you will in fact encounter train wrecks as you learn about engine speed, speed on curves and grades and yes, bridges and possible failures. Just post a want ad in your local paper or watch eBay. ( even though I can't stand their GREEDY business practices, it's still the best exposure site.)
BACHMANN-WILLIAMS - A durable and weight proportionate engine that comes with a lifetime guarantee regardless of owner. If it's an out of production model or cannot be fixed they will replace it FREE. I know this from experience. Just send it in with a $30 service charge for G-Scale. Downside is that there is a 90 day turnaround but you still can't beat the value. The smoke units on these are excellent and were rated number one until recently. Engines are mainly Steam Engines or trolley. Their top line, Spectrum, are highly detailed and more expensive. I recommend Bachamnn as a beginner also because the engines are very picky regarding track level, cleanliness and diameter as well as being cheap to fix. Sounds bad I know, but troubleshooting your track with a picky engine will save you problems later on with a higher end model.
ARISTOCRAFT - Another economical model train that is a little more than a Bachamnn but a wider variety of diesel style engines and lightweight for their size. The steam engines however are a different story. Nice and heavy but lose traction on higher grades. This is not necessarily a bad thing but a traction tire addition would really help these beasts. The only problem that I had with Arist engines as well as their rolling stock is that the knuckle couplers will not work with other brands. The design is different as well as the height when compared to a Bachmann, LGB or USA train.
USA TRAINS - Quite possibly my favorite line to date except for the made in China thing. You'll pay a little more for a USA but not much more. Used Bachmann's typically go for around $ 80 whereas a used USA will set you back about $125. These little guys run practically forever, the parts are cheap from the supplier or the Hobby shop and handle train wrecks like a trooper. (except for the typical glued on details as with any model). When looking at Diesels be careful of GP & SD, for example one engine I really like is a GP-38. The GP stands for General Purpose. The engine has four wheels on the front and rear "trucks". An SD-38 however has six wheels on each truck and requires a wider radius turn. You can't go wrong with a USA train or starter set which I recommend to everyone I meet.
LGB - If you want ti "invest" in trains, Lehmann Gross Bahn is the way to go. From cute and cuddly to large European engines, LGB is highly detailed and somewhat expensive. However, they hold their value much longer than most other models. They are a little expensive if you have to repair them which shouldn't be for about 10-20 years! Great company with an excellent product. Think of it this way, that's the difference between buying a Buick or buying a Jaguar. You get what you pay for.
HEARTLAND - Located in Ill. this company puts out the finest looking steam locomotives I've run across. Excellent weight and the smoke units are pheonominal ! A good Heartland loco will set you back about $450. on average. The level of detail, the weight and the running "power" of these little trains have wow'd me from day one. You might want to consider when shopping for an engine these points as well. Does the engine smoke? Is there sound with this model? If you've begun your layout and want an excellent train, I recommend the Heartland line.
BACHMANN-WILLIAMS - A durable and weight proportionate engine that comes with a lifetime guarantee regardless of owner. If it's an out of production model or cannot be fixed they will replace it FREE. I know this from experience. Just send it in with a $30 service charge for G-Scale. Downside is that there is a 90 day turnaround but you still can't beat the value. The smoke units on these are excellent and were rated number one until recently. Engines are mainly Steam Engines or trolley. Their top line, Spectrum, are highly detailed and more expensive. I recommend Bachamnn as a beginner also because the engines are very picky regarding track level, cleanliness and diameter as well as being cheap to fix. Sounds bad I know, but troubleshooting your track with a picky engine will save you problems later on with a higher end model.
ARISTOCRAFT - Another economical model train that is a little more than a Bachamnn but a wider variety of diesel style engines and lightweight for their size. The steam engines however are a different story. Nice and heavy but lose traction on higher grades. This is not necessarily a bad thing but a traction tire addition would really help these beasts. The only problem that I had with Arist engines as well as their rolling stock is that the knuckle couplers will not work with other brands. The design is different as well as the height when compared to a Bachmann, LGB or USA train.
USA TRAINS - Quite possibly my favorite line to date except for the made in China thing. You'll pay a little more for a USA but not much more. Used Bachmann's typically go for around $ 80 whereas a used USA will set you back about $125. These little guys run practically forever, the parts are cheap from the supplier or the Hobby shop and handle train wrecks like a trooper. (except for the typical glued on details as with any model). When looking at Diesels be careful of GP & SD, for example one engine I really like is a GP-38. The GP stands for General Purpose. The engine has four wheels on the front and rear "trucks". An SD-38 however has six wheels on each truck and requires a wider radius turn. You can't go wrong with a USA train or starter set which I recommend to everyone I meet.
LGB - If you want ti "invest" in trains, Lehmann Gross Bahn is the way to go. From cute and cuddly to large European engines, LGB is highly detailed and somewhat expensive. However, they hold their value much longer than most other models. They are a little expensive if you have to repair them which shouldn't be for about 10-20 years! Great company with an excellent product. Think of it this way, that's the difference between buying a Buick or buying a Jaguar. You get what you pay for.
HEARTLAND - Located in Ill. this company puts out the finest looking steam locomotives I've run across. Excellent weight and the smoke units are pheonominal ! A good Heartland loco will set you back about $450. on average. The level of detail, the weight and the running "power" of these little trains have wow'd me from day one. You might want to consider when shopping for an engine these points as well. Does the engine smoke? Is there sound with this model? If you've begun your layout and want an excellent train, I recommend the Heartland line.
