Build your Model Railroad without going broke

[@mmerc9838]

Sticker price smacks you in the face. *points to gash on forehead* lol

[@nedmerrill5705]

Hi Jimmy, great advice for the beginner. Just my 2 cents, but I think beginning model railroaders would also benefit from expanding their knowledge base. Back in the day I did that by reading books by various model railroaders. I suppose these days more information is spread by KZbin channels such as yours. There is a wealth of model railroading information that should be explored, which is almost a fun hobby in itself. It stimulates the imagination.

[@kevinmacneil5636]

KZbin videos are great and useful, particularly where you want to learn a particular skill, but nothing matches the information density of the book. Having recently re-entered the hobby, KZbin provided me with lots of starting points and some ideas of the kinds of questions I should ask myself, and the books provided deep dives into those questions. KZbin is also great for enjoying the hobby through seeing what other people have accomplished or are working on. I am more than a year into planning my new railroad and when I look back at my first handful of designs, drawn before I had read any books, but after I had spent some time watching KZbin, I can't imagine that I would have been satisfied with those had I moved forward with construction. Belt and braces!

[@Nederlansetrein]

I just started building my own Shell layout and i am now starting with the scenery

[@Nederlansetrein]

Sorry i ment shelf

[@chrisjones4423]

Drinking English Breakfast Blend While watching another great Video. I scour every Train show I can get to, I do have a large HO Layout, but I really like collecting Trains.

[@davidf9630]

Great video, Jimmy. My Train Club host today train show last week here in Central California and I invited my brother to come out and just poke his nose and hang out and experience what I get to play with. He left with a starter set an extra 8 feet of track And a Cotto locomotive and four extra pieces of rolling stock for $200! He scored! But the main thing is, I got to hang out with my brother. So I’m forwarding this video to him so he can understand that what we did at the train show was spot on with what you described. Thanks for a great video Jimmy have a wonderful weekend CMF

[@Corky3D]

One big tip I got, is go to a hobby shop that has trains and knows what they're talking about. They can help you a ton. When I got back into it after many years, I went to a hobby shop. (Wanted to make sure I actually wanted back into it.) Looked at their train sets. Highly considered buying one. Then I started adding up track, engine, rolling stock and controller. In Ho scale. I got an Athearn Roundhouse GP40-2 dcc ready (They did have cheaper locos there), 5 Walthers rolling stock, enough Atlas non roadbed track for a 4x8 board 22" radius and a DC controller. All that only cost about $50 more than a Bachmann set and I got a better loco, rolling stock and track. Although I got the loco and 2 of the 5 rolling stock on a really good sale. I didn't need the help finding anything, due to previous experience. Although there was someone there to help if needed. That's one reason I say go to a place that knows what they're talking about. They can help you with picking stuff out, where you might be able to spend a little more than what you'd pay on a set, but could get better stuff in the long run.

[@CountryCarReviews]

The BEST way of getting more bang for your buck is lots on eBay or estate sales. I was able to get for the layout I’m building currently 5 buildings a bunch of track and some figures I picked it all up for about $20. My first layout was a $5 countertop and a $30 lifelike train set that I used as the “bones” of the layout. I made the scenery and added structures. You can do it start small and work up.

[@Cbtrainnut]

Drinking Earl Grey Tea today. Don’t forget my S Scale American Flyer and American Models and Now Scale trains are in the S Scale Business.

[@rayopeongo]

As you say, a layout isn't built in a day, and there are lots of expensive hobbies out there that I DON'T partake in. How much does it cost for a round of golf; to fill up the gas tank of a recreational car, truck or boat; to go skiing for a day; to buy a nice bottle of wine once a month; to take an overseas holiday; etc., etc., etc. For that matter, how much does it cost for my wife to get her hair done once a month, vs a trip to my local barber shop for me? Even buying an expensive coffee every day adds up pretty quickly too (maybe not the best thing to bring up in the comments section of an episode of "Coffee and Trains'). I can also offer railway suggestions for gifts on birthdays, Christmas, and Father's day. And I don't feel the need for 'rivet counter' types of models or other kinds of extreme adherence to the prototype, which also helps avoid high costs. So, I can go to my local hobby shop once a month or so, peruse the offerings, pick up a thing or two, watch for sales and bargains, and slowly build my little empire and have a good time doing it.

[@doctorno3912]

I pulled the trigger this week on my h0 build. Track is a basic oval with sidings. Dc controller was $80 aud. Auscision Tait loco and 3 carriages $700 aud Peco track = $200 aud

[@SoulTouchathePoet]

Great info. I'm a new subscriber and I've been thinking of getting into this hobby for a couple of months. You definitely made researching very easy.

[@christopherkelley1999]

Good advice, Jimmy! Patience is key. Generally, nothing worth while happens overnight. PS, hope your noggin feels better!!

[@thecanadianredneckfarmer]

I am very excited and love your videos i am 15 and ive been model railroading for 2 years but wasnt great, now i have a job so i can afford the supplies and equitment and i have skills from building old railways and model farms. I cant wait and thank you for all you do. I am drinking water because I cant have caffine because of my ADHD

[@jamessneed8789]

First be careful out there i've hit my head a couple of times😅 I'm still drinking Folger's coffee. And I've been out of railroad for over 20 years. So when I got back into it sticker shock was something to deal with. But you've given me some good advice. 👍

[@blyons58]

Another suggestion on how to get started economically is to connect with friends and family or join a club. You can "play" with other people's trains for free, or very low membership in a club. If you build those relationships, that can pay off. For example, when I first started with N scale in the 1970's, a friend had a small starter set, which he gave me when he went away to school. Then, just a couple of years ago, my brother-in-law passed away, and my sister-in-law gave me his entire collection and layout - locomotives, other rolling stock, buildings, people, etc. The layout was too big and expensive to ship across the country, but I was able to salvage a few scenes which I am integrating into my new layout. I am naming that town "Johnstown" in his memory and honor. The hope is to pass it all on to his grandson someday.

[@brucelong5261]

Red rose tea here.

[@skerbs7755]

Drinking Gevalia Columbian coffee (it was on sale!). Well said, Jimmy! Great video! I have a very limited budget, yet I have been able to use Ebay and sales on hobby shop websites to slowly build up my fleet. I have not gone into pre-order yet, but I hope to do so once my budget allows. Currently, I am focusing on detailing scenery since this is a lot cheaper for my limited budget. Have a great day!

[@thesheq5023]

One thing thats helped me is just painting my layout brown/ green and being ok with a state of incomplete completion. This way i can run my trains around something other than foam and can put some cheap buildings down and have some fun while im saving for track for my yards and industrial areas and getting my engines upgraded to dcc (current project) and cars upgraded with couplers and lights.

[@modelsncrawlers3209]

Man lol... Ain't that the truth! I've finally completed the track work I set out to complete and painted all the plaster cloth so I can at least run a full loop of the layout without a whole bunch of pink and blue foam screaming at me lol. It's the little things lol!

[@thesheq5023]

@@modelsncrawlers3209 true- my layout is fairly large and money is hard to find at my age so brown paint makes a good temporary solution haha

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Start with trainz for your PC where you can build as big of a railroad as you want and drive it in your computer. Then you can dabble with eras and sizes...

[@Cloudman572]

Upvoted but be very careful as the cost of extra virtual rolling stock etc in dlc's soon gets very expensive and steals money from a layout.

[@R.....1-56]

I have a 6x 4 n scale layout I'm building this video was a lot of help thank you

[@jimmyseaver3647]

Have been sipping on Dunkin' Hazelnut for the past while. Train shows are very much a go-to since I can haggle decently (my personal rule of thumb is to start with multiple items and go 10-15% down from total asking price to the nearest $5 mark). Hoping to catch one this Sunday and expand my Conrail fleet further.

[@MBouffant]

I got a Bachmann starter set w/ an oval of E-Z track, then a couple of the Bachmann sets w/ the turn-out, car, building & a few pieces of track, but as things expanded I went to Atlas turn-outs & track. Then about six months ago, when most of the E-Z track was at least three yrs. old (& who knows how long in a warehouse before that) I made the accidental discovery that the E-Z roadbed could be separated from the track & ties by bending the roadbed from underneath until the glue gave out. Did have a couple of pieces where the ties & track separated , but just at the ends, so not a great loss. I didn't want to try snapping the turn-outs free, but they have four tiny screws that were fairly easy to remove. So suddenly I had nearly 50% more track, & two more switches. Not suggesting anyone else try this at home, but if you do have older E-Z track around ...

[@kadenwike1679]

I'm drinking a cold mtn dew and working on my n scale union pacific layout

[@geronimoabn]

Hey Jimmy. Found you by listening to the "Around The Layout" podcast while at work today. Great episode! I'm currently guzzling Blackout Coffee.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

My favorite podcast! Honored to be on there. Glad you’re here!

[@randallellison6421]

Excellent advice, especially the part about estate sales! You can find some great bargains if your at the right place at the right time. I bought 2 train sets for $20 each with one set mint in the box! I've also bought high quality rolling stock for very little money as well. It just goes to show, you don't have to break the bank to get into model railroading if you look in the right place , and a little patience doesn't hurt either!

[@khoshekhthecat]

Not coffee, but hot cocoa!

[@michaelsmith441]

For a beginner I definitely recommend Bachmann echo valley set. Locomotive and Dcc controller are worth the price alone

[@davidfromtexas9681]

Very interesting Jimmy. I've been a life-long model railroad fan but over the years I have not consistently had an operating layout. In fact many years I had stuff in boxes in the closet that I held onto with the thought that I would someday have the space to actually do a layout. During Covid and as a result of several of those government payouts we opted to convert our garage into a air conditioned room. We live in Texas so not having an air conditioned space was not going to be healthy for expensive electronics. The fact I held onto items that I've had over the years, its been about 12 years since I last had a layout started only to have to scrap it. This one will be staying with me for a long time. In relation to the subject for this video I had to think, if I had not saved all of the items I have amassed over the years would I have been able to start this new layout? The answer is likely no, or at least it would have been on a smaller scale. I'm about three years into this one and I did have a pause for a year while I was dealing with some other things in my life but its full speed ahead now and I'm really glad I have all my things, old and new.

[@philhamsher3977]

as always, very informative and encouraging.

[@melkitson]

Sound advice Jimmy. It is too easy to over reach with your dreams vs reality.

[@flagman515]

You are preaching to the choir here! I got hooked back in the hobby with my grandson a few years back and started with the large oval with him. Later, I was gifted a small layout from a local widow and I haven't looked back. I am working on plans for a starter layout before my "final" one. I plan to pass along the first layout to someone else in hopes to give them a boost into the hobby. I have quite the collection of motive power and rolling stock I need to put into revenue service on my pike!

[@RayBoebel]

Great video Jimmy!! Another thing for a beginner would be dont be afraid to try things. Some will work, others, not so much. I'm in the process of using foamcore for different aspects. The newest is a model of a house that belonged to grandparents in law. And yes, most model railroads that you see in the mag's or on KZbin didnt look like that when when they started. Mine has been a work in progress for 4 years now!!

[@terrajarrett4178]

I'm having a Starbucks blonde roast... My son and I are just starting to build our layout..... hopefully soon it will be up and running

[@MarylandRailfannerKid]

For your N Scale layout did you Nail, or glue your track or does it just sit their connected?

[@TheNorthwestWind]

JimmyJames! Congrars on 50k subs! Are you going to do a celebration video?

[@mosindesire]

I started with kato's master 1 set and got a new engine and used rolling stock at a local store. My layout has expanded and I'll probably end up with $1000 worth of track. Kato unitrack isn't cheapest but it will last the longest. Budgets for this hobby should be set every year as you will always be adding to your wish list. 🎉❤

[@midwestrailroader5793]

It took me 9 months from layout being planned to just getting the table and area all completed. Think it changed 500 times and still has had changes made to it as I’ve started laying track.

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

Yes Jimmy you are wrigth, That's the way i start in the hobby in 1976

[@johnbanicki7232]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing.

[@brodrick3164]

Water only water since 2016 when I took the green IV out.

[@thoughtengine]

0:23 $169? I was shopping for N locos last night and the best I could get was that much... Water with dinner.

[@tompica3884]

Whatever is on sale WM usually less costly.

[@latiosss9751]

i dont got to make a layout but i am collecting HO bnsf stuff got like 7 locomotive of them are s and about 80+ cars around 50 of them are for a coal train, it took me around 10 years but that is because i started around when i was 10.

[@kenshores9900]

Great discussion. I don’t agree with getting a starter set, especially in N scale because you have no choice regarding the road name for the locomotive. I bought a large group of individually numbered box cares (being sold by a train club at a train show). They were in a road name I was looking for (one that has disappeared).

[@hardtime3769]

My guess on the Athearn pre-order is the N.C. Amtrak loco. Are they ever going to produce that thing? Nice vid. My best advice to beginners is don't just buy to be buying,figure out what you want and need first. You don't want a box of unused items that you payed hundreds if not thousands of dollars for.

[@OldcampRanch]

Very cool 👍🏻

[@byecracky8908]

I wish you had posted this last month, I was on the couch watching TV last month when the idea of building a model railway got into my head, Unlike other ideas that go in one ear and out the other this idea stayed in there and bounced around in the empty space. I made the mistake of telling my 12 year old grandson about the idea and that was that. So I looked around the house to see where I could put it and the only room I could use is the dining room. So good bye dining room table. I am just past one month on this railroad that I told my grand son will take between one and two years and the monthly budget has gone out the window. I had no idea how expensive this was going to be, and it is like an addiction buying these little houses and buildings for the town. At around $60 a house this town is causing me a budget deficit. My grand son and I thought it would be fun to start a KZbin channel on the build so we started this channel and I upload the progress on the build once in a while, we are having fun that's all that matters.

[@davidwilliams1060]

Boston’s Best in the Keurig. Another plug for the NMRA: we have older members downsizing or leaving the hobby. Periodically there will be announcements at meetings of sales of high quality items at low cost that might not be widely advertised.

[@MisfitRailSystem]

I'm about to get clobbered on layaways next year. Worth it if it means the stuff I want gets a sale to convince companies to make more. Also worth noting that kits should not be overlooked for budget railroading. I can still pick up new Accurail and Scaletrains kits for under $25, and both are decently high quality. Both do need metal couplers and Accurail needs metal wheels if you're super serious, but both are fantastic performers out of the box.

[@PaulFotschky]

Did you get that head tat before or after you announced the 50,000 sub giveaway or because of it?

[@N_scaleunionpacificsantafe]

I cant wait till i build my n scale layout coffee im drinking is costco keurig

[@loispadgett6306]

Great advice. Luckily are Hobby shop does have a clearance section plus I like shopping the train show. Christmas time at the Hobby shop has great sales some up to 40% off on cars and engines. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🎄💖🚂💖🎄💖

[@ketchy9]

I missed a ho basement layout by 5 minutes at an estate sale.

[@AstroKnight118]

Model Railroader magazine should do an article about your layout

[@bradonthefarm]

Hi Jimmy. I'm just recently found your channel and I'm now hooked and binge watching all of your videos. I do have a question for you though. N scale railings are super fragile. How do you repair yours if they separate from the body of the loco?

[@donaldnewton4947]

Drinking fresh ground coffee from Charleston Roasters purchased at Costco.

[@TimSchoenenberger]

For those liking S, Lionel has S gauge/scale drinking Bstforf snf Brondon

[@garryhulshof4383]

Buying stuff on eBay is expensive. Not the item itself but the shipping. Especially in. Canada.

[@geographyinaction7814]

Cost is the one reason I haven't taken the plunge...yet. It seems that even with fewer companies, fewer hobbyists, and advances in tech and production...model trains appear to be going up, not down.

[@Eclipse1988]

I'm thinking about using the Kato track. My Dilemma is I used to model railroad when I was much younger, and I already have a whole 4x8 worth (and some extra) of bachmann ez track and powered turnouts. For financial reasons, I'm hesitant on purchasing a bunch of track I feel I already have. A little wipe down and they're fresh! No corrosion or nothing that I can see. Plus I've seen videos on how to ballast them so that fake plastic look wouldn't be much of an issue. I feel I should focus more on a DCC conversion. Any thoughts?

[@GeepSLSF]

Hey Jimmy kicking back drinking Hot Chocolate w/ Egg Nog One place to look is swapmeet found a few items but you have to haggle a little

[@maccoat]

I am planning to make an n scale switching layout and i am debating between getting a Bachmann Yard Boss set or a Kato Pocket Line switcher and buy some cars separately. What would you recommend? I am going to use flex track so my main concerns are if the Bachmann 0-6-0 is a smooth enough runner for a switching layout to make it a good enough deal to get the set. Thank you for your advice.

[@vikingofengland]

Bear in mind Hornby is OO not HO so 4mm to the foot. Only a slight difference but still a difference.

[@Cloudman572]

It is even more complicated, width of hornby/uk trains is HO 1/87, height and length of trains is OO 1/76. So unless you scratch build track and all rolling stock as true 4mm scale you will never have a true scale UK setup. HO/OO started in 1920s as the only way to get clockwork/motors into smaller UK locos for the standard HO scaled track was to produce them to OO high and long.

[@ricktell7454]

Is Bachman steel or nickel steel better?

[@joshjosh6526]

As far as Bachmann goes, Nickel Silver all the way

[@joshuatoro8977]

I'm in about almost 7 grand for my layout and I've been working on a 18 ft by 10-ft layout

[@derekbessie5453]

Man, you've had some head injuries over the years, lol.

[@JagOfAllTrades]

Folgers Black Silk, black as always.

[@billschneck9107]

Blond roast Starbucks k cup here ☕️

[@CannonMusic05]

I’m looking to start a railroad but I don’t want to go big I just want a small layout and I would like to start with a Param Marquette number 1225 Berkshire I’ve been thinking about purchasing the Lionel lion chief +2.0 Berkshire Pierre Marquette number 1225. What do I need to get that running and where can I get everything for a decent price? Can anybody help me?

[@IMRROcom]

But why not do inflation value for 2023? 2019 was so 3 years ago and inflation has gone up a lot from that point

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

The economy kind of went haywire and I did not think it was an accurate representation. So I picked the last stable-ish year.

[@averageguy7136]

Model RR stuff is super pricey for some reason. Especially rolling stock. It pisses me off that some pieces of rolling stock cost almost half the price of a locomotive, plus another $10 if you need micro trains couplers.

[@geesharp6637]

Waiting 3 years for preorder? Pfff ! I just got a preorder in the mail that I waited over 7 years. Ugh. But 3 years is stretching a little.

[@El_Crab]

Hello

[@Death_angel_productions]

I don’t drink coffee but I drink chocolate milk

[@gravesclay]

Still cheaper than ham radio. I've fully committed.

[@jcs_trains]

Jimmy are you sure you didn't hit your head on the sink and have a revelation about time travel?