New to Standard gauge

200 series are the larger cars. No rules in tinplate though. Nothing's to scale anyway, so it's personal choice.

The smaller engines are 384's, 385E's, 1835's, and 390's. The 392E's and the 400E's are the larger engines.

Welcome to the fun side!

I pull 500 series freight cars with my 400E.

First of all welcome to standard gauge.  Pulled both 200 and 500 with my 400e. Can't say I prefer one or the other.  Just as jsfro said it is a matter of personal choice or as the cool kids say:  "It's all good!"

As others have noted, you can always run what you like with tinplate. However, if I were already set on buying a 400E, I would probably lean toward running the 200 series cars if only because few other engines are really big enough to look good with them. You can always buy a smaller engine to run 500 series cars at some later date. Also, there a few interesting cars (notably the big crane car, but also I think the dump car?) that are only available in the 200 series. As long as you're already getting a big engine, you might as well buy into a car series that gives you those options.

Thanks guys for all the info. I like steam better than electric so I figured if the 400E was the biggest steam why not start with that one. I should have bought a Brute even though its electric when they came out a couple years ago since now they are more money if you can find one at least that is what I have been told. I have been looking online and I have saw some boxcars that I like in both the 200 and 500 series. Does the 400E need a wide radius curve? I have not seen many 400E engines available for sale, not many on eBay. Seems like a lot of #10 engines out there. Thanks again guys. Frank

The 400E was made to run on standard 42" radius track. The longer cars like the blue comet cars also ran on standard curve track. However, the engine and cars over hang corners quite a bit, and the long cars look a bit odd going around the curves. But, they were designed to use normal track.

"I should have bought a Brute even though its electric when they came out a couple years ago since now they are more money if you can find one at least that is what I have been told"

Hi Frank,

First welcome to Standard Gauge, as has been said run whatever you like, its all good.

You like the steam, I like the electrics, having said that a 400E is an excellent choice but don't forget that IVES and AMERICAN FLYER made very nice steam locomotives as well and MTH has done reissues of these over the years.

As for the Brute....don't worry too much about missing them on the first go round and don't go crazy trying to acquire one. It will be offered again down the road, perhaps in State Brown as well as Milwaukee Road. Keep in mind it's a lifetime hobby and half the fun is in the hunt. 

Enjoy

Frank

Thanks for the added info guys. I am excited to jump into Standard gauge. Looking at buying some 200 series boxcars to start, then hope to purchase a 400E at the TCA York show in a couple months. LVfan you mentioned Ives which I have seen some for sale online. Question about the Ives, do the cars and engine have different couplers so I can't mix when running my freight train? What about the size of the Ives and AF cars compared to the 200 & 500 series cars? Does not look like much tinplate goes on the sales section of this forum. Thanks again, Frank

Pre-WW2 each manufacturer, eg. AF, Dorfan, Ives, Lionel, had their own proprietary coupler in an attempt to keep the train's owner buying ONLY their brand. Operators got around this problem by having one or more, different conversion cars with that would enable mating mismatched manufacturers cars.

Ron M

If you can get ahold of a copy of Peter Riddle's "America's Standard Gauge Electric Trains", it gives a very good summary, with photos, comparing Lionel 10, 100, 200, and 500 series cars with the Ives, Flyer, and Dorfan versions.   Also what locos were made to go with what cars.  He also has an excellent section on all the modern Standard Gauge producers - CMT, McCoy, Williams, Liberty, etc.  It's a little dated (1998), before MTH really took over the market, but the forward is by Mike Wolf.  Riddle also has sections on collecting, restoring, accessories, and on building a small Standard Gauge layout.  It's one of the very few books on Standard Gauge out there. It's out of print but Amazon has new and used copies.

As other posters have mentioned, Standard Gauge is pure tinplate toy trains, there is no set scale, and there is some really incredible stuff out there.  There are always new discoveries, the old stuff is magical, and the quality of the new repros is very high.  I was brought up on my dad's Ives from the 1920's, and the best word for Standard Gauge is "magnificent."

If anyone wants/needs a copy of the Peter Riddle America's Standard Gauge Electric Trains book and cannot find them via another source such as Amazon, I still have several of them available (I was the editor and publisher of that book).  $25, plus shipping.  Contact me via e-mail.

nice job.  i can't count the number of questions i've answered for myself and others using that book.  spotted some phonies and some treasures on ebay with it too.   i didn't know much about the modern standard gauge makers, and there's no greenberg's for most of them.

Welcome aboard! I know this is not the for sale forum. But I am selling off some of my MTH standard gauge Lionel reproduction trains to fund buying a big Deluxe Marklin locomotive. I have all the original boxes & packaging. And my trains just sat on a shelf in a dark room. Other than a little dust, they are in new condition. Ebay fees are killing me! I will sell at a very fair prices. Lower than any shops. Any of you guys are welcome to call or email me. I'm a TCA member & look at my ebay feedback, 100%.

Bill Hanks

TCA#96-42883

ebay handle; wrhtrains

ph (812)951-3467

cell (502)594-5549

I would heartily recommend the "Lionel Classics" dark gray 2-400E from circa 1991-1992. The tender has a diecast traditional air whistle, and the engine is finished in nickel trim.

I have owned two of these and have never been disappointed!

Expertly crafted in South Korea by Samhongsa.