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Model trains
May. 1st, 2019 03:20 pmMy parents recently returned from spending the winter in California. Based on some conversations we had at Christmas, my dad brought me some model trains. He has been planning to make a model railroad layout, ever since I can remember, but never actually doing it. He has a vast amount of Lionel O-gauge rolling stock, but no layout. Not even any track to speak of.
Courtesy of dad, now I have some rolling stock, too. He says he is bringing me a power supply as well, though it has not appeared yet. If we find a way to run these, I suppose more rolling stock will find its way to my house. I don't envision ever buying any new trains for myself; there are already too many in the family. :-)
I don't want to let the perfect become the enemy of the good, so I just did a cursory search and located some compatible track (Lionel FasTrack) that can be snapped together to lay out on the floor, and unsnapped to put away after play. I ordered enough curved pieces with the same radius, to make 1.5 circles, matching right and left hand switches, and a variety of lengths of straight pieces. I'm sure I'll discover I missed some essential shape/size piece, or that I'll decide I want different switches or something. But so what? I can order some more later if I need to. We'll put some down and play with it. Before I create a miniature town or whatever, I need to become opinionated on this topic. How better to get opinions, than to actually DO something with it?
I will admit that half of this is just an attempt to get my dad moving forward and happy, though I think it will be fun for us too. But wow, so many pieces and parts! It is kind of a heavy lift to even get started. I wonder if the sheer complexity that model railroading throws at your head before you can even get started, is part of what has stalled my dad for all these years?
Anyways if anyone wants to come over and play with the trains, we should have something moving soon.
Courtesy of dad, now I have some rolling stock, too. He says he is bringing me a power supply as well, though it has not appeared yet. If we find a way to run these, I suppose more rolling stock will find its way to my house. I don't envision ever buying any new trains for myself; there are already too many in the family. :-)
I don't want to let the perfect become the enemy of the good, so I just did a cursory search and located some compatible track (Lionel FasTrack) that can be snapped together to lay out on the floor, and unsnapped to put away after play. I ordered enough curved pieces with the same radius, to make 1.5 circles, matching right and left hand switches, and a variety of lengths of straight pieces. I'm sure I'll discover I missed some essential shape/size piece, or that I'll decide I want different switches or something. But so what? I can order some more later if I need to. We'll put some down and play with it. Before I create a miniature town or whatever, I need to become opinionated on this topic. How better to get opinions, than to actually DO something with it?
I will admit that half of this is just an attempt to get my dad moving forward and happy, though I think it will be fun for us too. But wow, so many pieces and parts! It is kind of a heavy lift to even get started. I wonder if the sheer complexity that model railroading throws at your head before you can even get started, is part of what has stalled my dad for all these years?
Anyways if anyone wants to come over and play with the trains, we should have something moving soon.
