build your table so you can put 072 curves. a table 7 footX whatever dimension will keep you in good form,if you want to expand engines and rolling stock as boys get bigger and discover scale and monster rolling stock(89' autoracks,86' boxcars 33000 gallon tankers

I'm very glad your boys are getting involved with the hobby at a young age and a floor lay out is great.  Their knees and other joints will not be a punishment and dad your of the age where you will have as much fun watching your sons as playing with them.  Just enjoy this time in your life.  I sure did and that was 40 some years ago and the same held true for my dad as well.

Took ya'lls advice. Swung by the hobby store today and they had these two used babies.  $12 each.

One in the box had copyright 1989. Man I was a handsome devil when that was made.

I'll hit up menards this week thanks again!

You can't beat that!

The floor layout is a fantastic idea. I used to have hours of fun with my old HO trains and wooden trains. My layouts got much more complicated than a simple figure-8 or oval as I got older and got more track. Now I have a Fastrack O-Gauge shelf layout with Legacy control and a twelve-car train. My advice is to build the separate loops of track and add to them as the boys get older. Later, when the boys are a few years older, maybe you could add a TMCC system, Cab-1L set, or Legacy system and other cool tech stuff. Older kids like stuff like that. One more thing. Since Lionel's newest train set locos have Bluetooth, maybe you could add the Lionchief App. As I said, kids like cool tech.

Regarding power, if you ever combine your boys' train sets in the future, invest in a CW80 or GW180. The bigger transformers can run trains and a couple of accessories, which make train running more fun. The GW180 is a 10A transformer with plenty of power for trains and accessories, and if you add full command-control, the bigger power supply will be better for running the larger locos.

Birthday in a week.  I'll start setting it up in the room (keeping it closed off).

I was able to get quite a bit of track from a forum member which I'm very excited about.   

Can anyone tell me how long I can make a track before I need more power?   And how would I do that?  BTW I have starter set Lion Chef.   Then I'll have another one a month later - but they will run on separate tracks - both with zero switches.

I'll be posting photos when I'm getting set up!

Hi Mark,

Last year I had a target date for my Grandsons 5th birthday. Right at the beginning of Covid. I hadn't seen him in almost 6 weeks & it was uncertain if we would get together for his birthday. I planed on setting up a temporary outdoor layout & build a custom built engine also. His birthday was April 28 & the weather wasn't cooperating the weeks before. It looked doubtful. I was still setting up right till the last minute. My Grandsons & their parents showed up, wearing their masks, we all wore masks. I got the layout running but it fell short of my expectations.

The point of my story, one week away is pretty close. At least setting up indoors, you don't have the weather to worry about. The important thing is, get the layout running flawlessly in time! I ran into a couple of reliability issues with the fastrack. You can always add more track, larger transformer, etc., after the fact.

Here's a couple of pictures of the engine in progress & a movie on the birthday. The theme was from an animated movie from 1936 called "Play Safe", a favorite of mine as a kid that I shared with my Grandson's, and they love it, even if it is a little scary.

When you post pictures, PLEASE click the button to "Insert all images and videos into post body (large size)" so you will include the image IN YOUR POST!

It looks like this:

And when you click it and post your images, look what happens!

Amazing...

will do

Well here is the initial set up!  Room locked so they can't see it.

It works fine but I came across one issue (maybe it's normal forgive my ignorance)...There is a wobble in the locomotive I took a video of.  Is this normal or a simple fix?

That's a little too much wobble - it doesn't look like the engine is sitting properly on the rails.

Did you try running it like that ?

Yes it is seated properly.  I ran it at full speed forward and backwards.  Didn't seem to be making any unnecessary noises and didn't derail.  Just seemed like a lot of wobble to me. 

Thats not really normal and can be a simple fix. Did you check to see if the traction tire or tires are seated correctly. They should seat in the groove perfectly. Does it wobble like that if you place it on a flat surface, like a desk top or counter top? If you don't see anything obvious making it wobble I'd suggest taking it back to the place of purchase if possible, especially since its brand new. Does it wobble when running?

That's a nice starter set & the track layout is perfect for the boys to get a feel for running the train & a good start. The boys will probably want to run it at full speed. Have you tried running it at full speed? Does it stay on the track? Does that engine have bluetooth? You can set the top speed to a slower setting that should stay after you disengage it from the smart device & back to the manual control. The same can be done with the sound settings if you like.

Also, check the rollers to make sure they are compressing enough to let the wheels sit evenly on the track. They may need to be lubricated.

Is that wobble present on other sections of track? If you can place a couple of straight track sections on a hard flat surface to see if all the drivers are resting on the rails & check for wobble then. If they are, the wobble could be caused by some irregularities in how the track is resting on the carpet.

A video of the engine running would be interesting to see.

So I ran my train down to the local hobby shop. The man there looked at it and said it did have too much wiggle going on.  He removed the one (and only one) rubber traction tire. Now it sits nearly perfectly level.   He said he's never seen that before.

He's going to research a solution for me with lionel.   In the meantime it will still work and pull the complement of cars that came with it just fine for now

If it still pulls well with no slip, sounds like you're all set.

If it doesn't, the solution might be to put a traction tire on the opposite wheel to balance it out. In fact, it may be that was the way it was intended from the factory and someone just forgot to put the other traction tire on.

While the traction tire on the other side might level it out, if it doesn't have a groove, it wouldn't get a traction tire. Can't imagine it would stay on very long without a groove.

It's something you would like to have figured out eventually, but for now, as long as its running to your satisfaction go for it. Nothing is worse than having the boys all excited & than have the engine is in the shop!

Good luck!

Well here it is.  Apologies for the junkie carpet I thought that would be the best place for it cause the boys won't care.

I got a ton of track in bulk from another forum member so I can go for miles if needed.   I tried to add another starter set power supply (it's close to the end of the tunnel), but when I plugged it into the wall everything went off...nothing happens.. No more chirps from the train or anything.  So I unplugged it and it started working again from the single power point.

Train goes all the way around with minimal slow down so I'll roll with it for now! 

Hi Mark,

The one power pack is all you need for now. There are a few things you need to do before you hook up a second power pack. I believe they both need to be in phase & you should set up 2 power districts.

@Mark is Cool posted:

Well here it is.  Apologies for the junkie carpet I thought that would be the best place for it cause the boys won't care.

I got a ton of track in bulk from another forum member so I can go for miles if needed.   I tried to add another starter set power supply (it's close to the end of the tunnel), but when I plugged it into the wall everything went off...nothing happens.. No more chirps from the train or anything.  So I unplugged it and it started working again from the single power point.

Train goes all the way around with minimal slow down so I'll roll with it for now!

Friendly suggestion...for the future, consider ditching those wall warts and get a regular train transformer. There are plenty out there (new or used) that won't break the bank. It's also a great way to plan for expanding the layout. Which you will definitely be doing!

For sure, a transformer upgrade may be the next step. The wall wart that comes with the set is more than enough for getting you started. There are a lot to choose from as John has mentioned. If you do have a local train store/hobby shop you might want to start there. It sounds like you have one & starting a relationship there is rarely a bad idea.

BTW, I like how the layout is already starting to develop, a lot more interesting than a loop? I can see it growing in the near future.

@ironman1 posted:

will do

Great paint and running with the kids. They have so much fun when they are allowed to be All In. WOW that engine is Streamliner for sure. Well done

@Mark is Cool posted:

Well here it is.  Apologies for the junkie carpet I thought that would be the best place for it cause the boys won't care.

I got a ton of track in bulk from another forum member so I can go for miles if needed.   I tried to add another starter set power supply (it's close to the end of the tunnel), but when I plugged it into the wall everything went off...nothing happens.. No more chirps from the train or anything.  So I unplugged it and it started working again from the single power point.

Train goes all the way around with minimal slow down so I'll roll with it for now!

Great Fun Mark... I laughed out loud at your early post regarding asking 5 train modellers a question and you will get 7 answers... I have a carpet layout and the lads are now making their own layout every other time they stop over. Some day we will have room to put a layout on tables. So Far we are adding home made buildings and mountains and tunnels and imagination and FUN. Also a tip: I installed train sounds app on the note pad, bluetooth speaker on the layout. They love scrolling through the sounds, steam, whistles, bell, "All Aboard".

Well it was hit! 

Now I have to find out where to put the 2nd line lol. Thank you everyone that contributed.

That's great! Looks like its running perfect. I really like the station!

@ironman1 posted:

Here's a couple of pictures of the engine in progress & a movie on the birthday. The theme was from an animated movie from 1936 called "Play Safe", a favorite of mine as a kid that I shared with my Grandson's, and they love it, even if it is a little scary.

Ironman, you totally iced it! I remember that cartoon, "Play Safe", a classic, by Max Fleishman, the artist. You have captured that awesome and a bit scary engine's face, I think. Wow, very impressive. What is under the paint and added loco and tender dimensions? You deserve some recognition for spotlighting this great railroad cartoon/work of art!

Hello Virginian65,

Thanks for the compliment! Below is the original thread for the Max Fleishman "Play Safe" cartoon.

https://ogrforum.com/...3#144734384879847173

It looks like Mark is off to a great start with his boys. I'd prefer not to hijack the original intentions of this thread, so I'll continue on the original "Play Safe" thread, if that's ok.

Joe

Hey Mark,

How's it going with the boys & the trains? Are they still interested or has the novelty worn off?

We play with it nearly every day. The second train set is coming in 2 weeks so I've completed the platform for it to be on this weekend.

Very cool! You have a very nice layout progressing.

OH BOY!  Tunnels and Two Levels... once, you get the trestle set!

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

OH BOY!  Tunnels and Two Levels... once, you get the trestle set!

With Three ... you get desert

I hope there's ready access to under that platform, because that's where the first problem is going to surface!

So for the those that haven't kept up with the saga.   Kid 1 get's the top section - it will be a figure 8.  Kid 2 get's the one the carpet - it just turns around underneath nothing fancy.

This way I have 2 kids, 2 trains, 2 tracks, no collisions no switching. 

@Mark is Cool posted:

it just turns around underneath nothing fancy.

Famous last words!

Well here are the results after birthday number 2.   As you can see it took less than 2 seconds for the noise to drive me crazy. 

I then went down the black abyss of "how to make fasttrack quiet" which ultimately has no answer despite people's claims.  So I found some junk carpet and at least for that half of the figure 8 it's somewhat reasonable.

Anyway thanks for everything and everyone's help.

You weren't thinking of using that bat to attack the problem were you?  (The noise can be very frustrating.)

Mike

Mark,

Lots of good opinions here. I would stress that the hobby for the kids will likely work differently than the hobby for you. My point is that you can do both at the same time and involve the kids gradually in your above the floor world as prudence dictates. I have lots of experience with trains and layouts and even more with kids. Rather than provide a lengthy opinion here about what I recommend, send me an e-mail and you and I can discuss in real time. I can then ask some questions and you will direct yourself. I will stress that this Forum is the best of all possible worlds for someone in your position. There is more experience and expertise here than anywhere else I know. The biggest issue in using this Forum is that the divergence of suggestions may be daunting. All are good, but mixed together it will be a tornado in Kansas.