Large Scale Trains on a Small Time Budget

Think you can't have a garden railroad on a shoestring? Think again!

Many folks think that big toy trains equal big expenses - and they can... But they don't have to. With a little thought, some patience, a bit of creativity, and a willingness to compromise, you can have a very attractive layout WITHOUT breaking the bank!

Lesson 1: Think Small while thinking big! -  Sure broad curves, huge locomotives, and long trains are impressive. They also eat up a lot of real estate and cash. Real life railroading isn't just big mainline stuff. There are plenty of places that run much smaller industrial or plantation equipment, and yet they are still considered quite 'real'. In large scale the smaller stuff is often much, much more affordable, and can use those less expensive sharper curves without looking silly. - Which allows you to do a lot more in less, with less. On that note, starter sets, with their small locomotives and sharp curves can often offer a great bargain. The only caveat is that some track brands, like Bachmann, are totally unusable outside.

Lesson 2: Resist temptation! -  We've all done it, saw something we just 'had' to have, and totally blew our budget with that one purchase. Let me share a secret. There's very few things in large scale that are truly "rare".... and of those, there are fewer still that you actually need.  Most items simply aren't worth doing without basic necessities or making your significant other upset for even 5 minutes over. If you really, really want it... fine. Save for it and wait for a sale. Sooner or later one will probably come along at an even better price (or when you can better afford it), trust me.

Lesson 3: Buy used, but not abused! - Ebay, Craig's List, and train shows can be your best friend - or worst enemy. There's lots of great used bargains to be found.... and lots of total crap. Most sellers are honest - others, not so much. Sometimes problems are obvious, sometimes not so.... So how do you tell? Ask! If the seller gives you a vague answer, or if he tries to evade or misdirect, then walk away or possibly, if you're feeling brave, go forward under the assumption that it doesn't run, PERIOD. Better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed and out good money.  Some fixes are easier (and less expensive!) than others, and you can't always get parts.

Lesson 4: Inexpensive plants can help hide that empty look! - Some garden railroads are a miniature railroad outside, and some are a railroad in a garden. If you don't have a lot of money to spend on trains and buildings, then plants will often fill up the space quickly and cheaply. Yes, many folks coming up from smaller scales don't much care for "trains through the tulips", but faced with a choice of that or "trains through a moonscape", I know which way I'd go. A single Petunia can fill up a pretty big hole and will flower all summer if you keep removing the spent blooms. Word to the wise though... stay away from Vincas or any other fast growing groundcover, give them an inch and they'll take over the whole yard!

Lesson 5: Can't buy it? Build it! - Scratchbuilding and kitbashing give you a chance to explore your creative side. Occasionally, you can even save money - As long as you don't go overboard purchasing detail castings! Basic buildings can be tossed together in an afternoon from used scraps (see: here for an example), or even made from birdhouses. Rolling stock, and even locomotives can be built from other people's cast offs, basic shapes, and parts. Some perenial favorite materials of large scale builders that can be gotten very cheaply or free are: coroplast advertising signs, scrap lumber (aka "alleywood"), metal coffee, food, and soda cans, and wooden coffee stirrers....Building from these is very low risk. If you make a total hash out of it, so what? Salvage what you can, toss the rest, and start over again (and perhaps again) until you are satisfied. with the result. It will also help keep you out of bars.

Lesson 6: KISS! (Keep It Simple and Solid) - There is a lot to be said for simplicity. Less things to go wrong., for instance. Sure battery, DCC, R/C with digital proportional sound, blah, blah is really super cool. It's also an unnecessary expense. You can still run model trains with (gasp!) analog track power! The train itself doesn't care, so why should you? A transformer from a set is usually adequate for a small locomotive and layout. Sure you'll have to clean the track occassionally. Do it while you're weeding and checking for obstructions, it only takes a few minutes. Now, as for solid. Spend some extra time on your subroadbed now and it will save you money later. Bent rail because it got stepped on (and it will) is no fun. Neither is repairing a wrecked train. One other 'solid' thing that is definitely worth the expense is rail clamps.... on at least one side of every single joint. Good electrical connectivity, and a strong physical connection as the track moves due to thermal expansion equal less headaches for you.

There you have it. If I can manage to build a Large Scale layout living on Disability, so can you.