Cost of becoming an operator of trains

Haven't bought any plywood or 1x4's recently so I don't know how much you'd be spending on benchwork components, but I'd say you can set up a decent 4x8 starter layout for under $500 - maybe even under $400 depending on what operating accessory you have. I'm assuming that you're starting out with a boxed train set that gives you your train, (basic) track and transformer right off the bat. 

I think you may get a wide range of prices. Question contains a lot of varibles for pricing such as grade of plywood, what size wood for framing and legs, type of track, amount of track needed, ready to run sets have a range of prices as do accessories decided on. I'll throw out a price of 800 dollars...............Paul

I could do it for under $500.00.

A starter set, carpet central is easily doable. Then, you gradually expand depending on time and money. A few hundred?

Interesting question.  I will assume that we also have to assume new stuff, as otherwise I could say "Friend gave it to me" and that you have to have a layout table (you mentioned lumber) - no carpet layouts.  I think you could technically meet the scope of your specification for $500, as: (all bought at discoun)t

 $300 - RTR set

  $25 - a building or building kit (accessory)

  $50 - operating something or a building with blinking light (accessory)

  $75 - 4 x 8 sheet of plywood and 2x4s to make legs, braces, nails, green paint (grass)

  $50 - some trees, landscaping material (scenery)

Lots of free stuff (rocks from the backyard arranged into a hill, an empty spray can, some paper made into a silo and painted, etc.

The problem is I am violating what I think is the spirt of your quesiton:  I have a 36x60 RTR loop on a green 4 x8 board and very barren scenery.  Better would be another $100:

$300 - RTR set

  $50 - eight straight sections of track to make the loop 46 x 90

  $25 - a building or building kit (accessory)

  $50 - operating something or a building with blinking light (accessory)

  50 a few minor things for scenery like signs, billboard, cheap ($5) cars

  $75 - 4 x 8 sheet of plywood and 2x4s to make legs, braces, nails, green paint (grass), black paint (roads), blue paint (water)

  $100 - some trees, landscaping material (scenery), etc.

Again, use of lots of free stuff and innovation (and fun).

And of course, I really ought to have several buildings, switches, a siding, etc.  I'm not up to about $100 but have a nice little layout.

As my momma would have said , the skys the limit. I would go for a starter set with an operating barrel car, and operating barrel loader, with a few pieces odf extra track.

All set up on a used door on saw horses.

My first addition would be a pair of switches, a few more pieces of track, and if I had the cash aN operating milk car.

Then I would move in to the big time with a 456 coal ramp and a 397 coal loader, possibly another 346 dumper car.

Remember all this can be found used for 50% of new price, look around and be patient, remembering Railroads take time, thats part of the fun.  Go to as many train shows as you can and keep a tight wallet, looking not buying, first, talk and question as many as you can.

Rod

$125 Thomas set

$30 sheet of plywood

2 saw horses for $25

1 can of green spray paint $5

1 shoebox covered in construction paper to make a building $5 at the most.

Maybe $40 for an operating accessory.

Trees can be made from bamboo skewers and circles cut from a cheap furnace filter, another sub $10 project, and use the same green paint from painting the table.

So $240?

I shudder to calculate what I have spent, I started collecting for this layout in 1998.  Started building it in 2004.  Oh boy.....

I think Boilermaker1 nailed it in terms of minimum cost.  However, I think the layout would be much better with some vehicles, lights, carpet on the plywood and etc, pehaps $300.

Is this going to be our next layout contest after the micro-layout contest is complete?