Buying your first model train set, part 2: Components
Part one of our buyer's guide suggested what to look for in a train set and provided age and scale recommendations as well as a glossary of model railroad terms. In this part, we'll cover the components typically included in an electric model train set so you'll know what to look for when you go shopping.
Speaking of shopping... part three of this buyer's guide covers the common train set manufacturers and advice for train set shopping.
Speaking of shopping... part three of this buyer's guide covers the common train set manufacturers and advice for train set shopping.
Locomotive
- Steam locomotives should pick up electricity from the drivers and the tender wheels.
- Flywheels are good to have as part of the drive mechanism on a diesel locomotive. Flywheels help the locomotive operate more smoothly and negotiate dirty track better.
- Avoid traction tires. These little rings of rubber around some locomotive drivers and wheels are intended to overcome poor adhesion. However, the cure is almost always worse than the disease. Traction tires contribute to an irritating wobbling and also can't pick up electricity.
- While they may be appealing, inexpensive steam locomotives generally won't run as well as inexpensive diesels.
Diesel locomotives should have all-wheel electrical pickup and at least eight-wheel drive.
Cars
Most likely the cars in your train set won't be the highly detailed kind you see on layouts in Model Railroader. These would make the train set's price tag considerably higher. But you certainly can add these kinds of cars later. Easy-to-build kits and ready-to-run cars from Accurail, Athearn, Atlas, Life-Like, Micro-Trains, Model Die Casting, Walthers, and other manufacturers can be found at a well-stocked hobby shop.
You might consider swapping out the stock "horn-hook" couplers for more realistic and better-operating knuckle couplers. The hobby shop can show you some inexpensive replacements and how to easily install them.
You might consider swapping out the stock "horn-hook" couplers for more realistic and better-operating knuckle couplers. The hobby shop can show you some inexpensive replacements and how to easily install them.
Track
Look for a train set that has a built-in, cast-plastic roadbed system with nickel-silver rail for ease of assembly and reliability. Pictured from left to right are: Life-Like HO Power-Loc track; Bachmann HO E-Z Track; Bachmann N scale E-Z Track; Kato N scale Unitrack; Kato HO Unitrack; and Atlas HO True-Track.
Many train set manufacturers today include track pieces for HO or N scale sets (the two most popular model railroading scales) with built-in, cast-plastic roadbed; they are easy to assemble. Using track with plastic roadbed helps keep the track sections together and takes the place of having to lay cork under the track. Well-known brands are Atlas True-Track, Bachmann E-Z Track, Kato Unitrack, and Life-Like Power-Loc.
Track won't stay clean forever, so to keep trains operating smoothly, see our Back to Basics track cleaning tips.
TIP: Put the track on a sheet of plywood, a tabletop, or other hard surface. Carpet fuzz and floor dirt can hamper smooth operation.
Track won't stay clean forever, so to keep trains operating smoothly, see our Back to Basics track cleaning tips.
TIP: Put the track on a sheet of plywood, a tabletop, or other hard surface. Carpet fuzz and floor dirt can hamper smooth operation.
Power Pack
The power pack (also called the "transformer" or "throttle") takes Household voltage normally 110 - 240 AU-volt alternating current from your household wall socket and converts it to 12-15 volt direct current for the train set's track and up to 18 volts alternating current for the accessories. These lower voltages are not dangerous, but it's safest to attach wires to the terminals when the power pack is unplugged from the wall.
Most train set power packs don't have the capacity to run much more than one locomotive and one or two accessories. If you want to have lots of accessories, get a larger power pack, one that can deliver 18VA (volt-amps) of current or more. Then use the train set power pack to run the accessories.
Make sure the power pack that comes with your train set is UL listed, and follow the instructions that come with it when connecting the track feeder wires to the terminals. To learn more about power packs, read our Power pack roundup
Most train set power packs don't have the capacity to run much more than one locomotive and one or two accessories. If you want to have lots of accessories, get a larger power pack, one that can deliver 18VA (volt-amps) of current or more. Then use the train set power pack to run the accessories.
Make sure the power pack that comes with your train set is UL listed, and follow the instructions that come with it when connecting the track feeder wires to the terminals. To learn more about power packs, read our Power pack roundup
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