The most exciting thing in O gauge

For me, it's LionChief Plus, and Menards.  I would like to see WAY more offered as LC+, and Menards seems to be expanding their O gauge offerings.  As a desire, I would like Menards to build in western Pennsylvania.  Keeping it positive, the people I have met on the Forum have been most helpful in my being able to make my hobby more interesting.  Bob S.

Good Call!

Let's focus on the positive for a while. I am excited that later this year we'll be able to control the trains from an iPad! This will allow my 8 year old who loves the digital world, as most kids his age do, to connect the digital and physical in a way not possible before.

We even bought a pair of Conrail SD60's to run together, his favorite railroad. No clue why, but he loves Big Blue.

What has me excited?

 

In no particular order:

• The enormous variety of engines, rolling stock, accessories, structures, kits, scenery supplies, figures, etc.
• The quality of the digital sounds in today's locomotives.
• York (still makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning! ).
• The friendships formed as a result of this forum and this hobby in general.

 

Andy

I'm excited about all the great locomotives we have today.  I don't mean just the new ones that will cost you what I paid for my first car, (it was only 3 years old at the time).  I mean all the lower cost models of today; also post war, pre war, MPC, Marx, et cetera; and the new offerings by a host of manufacturers.  There is something out there for everyone on any budget if you just look.

 

Second, but maybe more important, all the great friends I have met in this hobby and especially on this Forum.  I see two right above me on this topic I have met in person.  I'm no longer a lone wolf!

NYC Subways - especially those that are programable to announce station stops and stop at programmed stops. Steam and diesel engines that smoke and have sound. The details of the trains on the market - engines, rolling stock, subways, trolleys, etc. 

 

Hi Derek
Yes
There has been lots of ups and downs over the past 15/20 yrs---people passionate on either side of issues / trends / lawsuits / etc---however
I think things / controversies have tapered off
We really have nothing to complain about---so much available no matter what your interested in---scale world / toy side / etc

Myself
Building a super o layout
Finally braking into all this mint track I've purchased over the years---having a ball
Also
Enjoying Notch 6 podcasts ��

Talk to you soon
Joe S

I like what Menards is doing and I like the improved quality of the lower cost items.  

I agree completely with Bob.  As to more LC+ offerings, I could not agree more there, either.  I'm waiting to receive my new Legacy 4-6-0, and while I will be happy with it, I'm sure, I wish it was LC+ instead.  (And Lionel, if you are reading this, I would have paid just as much!).

 

I also am quite pleased - maybe excited is going a bit too far, with how good recent mTh steamers are as models.  The range of really good, scale steamers in just exceptional now, with Lionel, MTH, and 3rd Rail all making a lot of them.  MTH's are in many cases jewels, as good as anything I've seen.

For me, it's been RMT. I really appreciate Walter bringing back his version of the K-Line S-2, the S-4 with all the improvements - especially some modern road names! And the RDC car too! Both 027 friendly, with good pulling power... they look good on a smaller layout with similar sorts of cars.

 

Lionel too... I appreciate them doing some modern road names on traditionally sized rolling stock and hope the trend continues. It'd be super to see Lionel do some more new tooling on the traditional side, but us traditional guys are more forgiving. Lionel would have a huge hit by doing a compressed traditionally sized modern diesel engine that could be used in both starter sets and separate sale.

 

Although Lionel's list prices on the separate sale rolling stock are getting high for my budget, I can find set breakups for more reasonable prices. And as far as the occasional comment that Lionel's starter stuff is junk... well, I beg to differ... IT'S NOT! And I know because I buy it. Sorry, but I've never once had a DOA or warranty issue. Never, not once in 25 years.

 

I don't need nor want command control of any sort and prefer traditional/027 over the new scale stuff. But I'm glad there is an audience for this stuff. It's certainly helped contribute to the softening of prices for common traditional pieces on the secondary market, which makes me plenty happy.

 

 

 The most positive thing about O-Gauge today is likely the sheer breadth of product that's available to toy train enthusiasts -- regardless of how well or challenged we may feel the economy is doing.  From Menards and RMT products offering maximum bang-for-our-buck to 3rd Rail / GGD offering what are admittedly some of the finest "scale" products in 3-rail O-Gauge today.  Some of these may hit the bank account particularly hard, but they're there for those blessed to afford them.

 

In between the two extremes, we're very fortunate indeed to have Lionel, MTH, Atlas-O and Weaver producing locomotives and rolling stock in a competitively-spirited environment that keeps the importers reasonably in check with the market's needs/wants.  The fact that MTH is back in stride delivering product is a HUGE plus to keeping Lionel on its toes.  And it's great to see Atlas-O delivering product more regularly again -- and hopefully continuing to introduce new, top-notch offerings into this marketplace.  The recently delivered CZ observation dome is sweet, and the upcoming F7's due later this year should be a huge hit -- especially for folks targeting a set of them to head up their GGD El Caps due out shortly.  And their recently previewed intermodal cars generated a terrific "buzz" that are sure to generate a few orders when more specifics are announced.

 

Then of course, we have a terrific number of other vendors who offer specialty products that all contribute to the betterment of this hobby.  All we need to do is look at the top of each page on the forum to see the broad variety of suppliers falling into these specialty categories, whether it be track, electronics, scenery, or other train-related accessories and memorabilia.  If we're building a layout, the possibilities are endless.

 

Couldn't be a greater time to be in this hobby... whether O-gauge or even Standard Gauge... or both! 

 

David

It's hard to pick one so I will name a few:

 

1. All my new railroad friends

2. Almost having my stone arch bridge completed.

3. Working on trying to get a Spencer Packing Co. reefer made.

 

Great time to be a model railroader.

 

Art

Hello guys and gals....

 

i guess the most exciting thing was finding out the Scott Mann had the S.F. 5011 class

2-10-4 in the boneyard section for just sale at a price we barely can afford. 3 years 

later i am still exciting to take it out of the box to run it. 

 

Tiffany

That Lionel and MTH are offering weathering services and using talented artists like Harry Heike

....the next catalog.

 

rat

For me it is the MTH scale wheeled locomotives. I have 4 of them now with one on order and a PS1 Hudson which I am having the tender converted to scale wheels (the locomotive was done many years ago) and the electronics converted to PS 3.0. That one should be here in 2 to 3 weeks which brings me up to 5 on hand. I'm having a blast backing these engines on and off the turntable and that fun is giving me the motivation to build a layout.

 

York is always fun to go to and to see friends in the hobby but I don't think about York until it gets close. I want to enjoy the summer while it's here.

I'm really looking forward to affordable Bluetooth control.

Meeting good folks like yourself.

Buying items off my 'wanted' list!

Vision Line.

 

Additionally:

Helping others with their projects, wants, and train problems.

Learning new skills.

Scratch building/kit bashing stuff never made in 3RS.

 

Heck, I just love all this stuff.  

For me it's tough to pick the most exciting thing in O gauge since it's my preferred and primary hobby.  But to name a few:

• All the new scale passenger car sets recently from Golden Gate Depot
• Very nice scale diesel locomotives from all manufacturers
• Magnificent scale steam locomotives that look like they are alive!
• Nicely detailed scale freight cars and in varieties to make nice mixed freight trains or long unit trains
• Track systems for everyones taste
• The anticipation of the next catalog to see all the items I didn't know I needed!
• The incredible fun of building a layout, even if the process has fits and starts it's always for creating something better
• Attending the TCA York Meet, or any train show for that matter.  No matter how old you are, it's like walking into a wonderland!  Seeing all the trains and meeting up with friends and making new ones.
• The OGR Forum.  Where else can you discuss the latest, or the past, of O gauge railroading?  See everyone's ideas, layouts and experiences.  Meet fellow O gaugers, attend parties and events and even form a local group for monthly train parties and other events.  The friends I've made here have become family.
• All of the really great dealers in this hobby that I've had the pleasure of doing business with.

Yes, there are always nuisances as with anything else, but I am having a heck of a great time with this hobby!!

  I'm excited that it is summer time, so I can spend free time on my motorcycle, touring antique shops and flea markets looking for things to add to my layout.

  Summer means that fall is close behind, and that is when I really spend a lot of time in my basement, so I am always psyched up for that.

  This is a hobby. If I'm complaining, then I need to find something else to do with my time. Between the job, car troubles, politics, home ownership and healthcare costs, there are already too many things to complain about. When I walk down my basement steps, all negative concerns are left upstairs.

It's great to know that I can go into my Run Room at any time and play without having to stop and fix something.  As on any Railroad, an occasional "Bad Order" sticky note might be generated.

The sheer possibilities of being able to model whatever you want in whatever style you want.

 

Personally, I model postwar style, so what's been most exciting to me is this forum had helped me discover Williams which I wasn't familiar with before.  Now I can get those postwar style locos and cars without paying the postwar prices for some of the rarer items  

 

Also, of course, the ready willingness of people on this forum to help out and give advice.  Growing up in this hobby, when I was younger, other guys in this hobby dismissed me because they assumed I was too young or didn't have any money, so I was getting weary of interacting with others in the hobby.  Then I joined this forum and the amount of advice and encouragement readily available gives me better hope.  (now I just wish I had a layout to put all that advice into use!)

That is one of the best, positive outlooks I've heard in some time here.

 

I'm the same way.  Love the time I get to do this stuff!

There's a lot to love about O gauge, the woodland Scenics buildings, legacy and DCS, more scale engines, but, the most exciting thing in O gauge has to still be the swinging bell.

Menard's new stuff.

The OGR Forum.

Wide selection of trains.

The people.

 

Lionel Legacy Smoking Whistle...........it worth it.

 

JohnB

I walked into a newly opened train store (now my LHS) about 5 years ago after being out of the hobby for 30-35+ years. I have been excited since. I was overwhelmed by the products we have today. It's just amazing, the detail, the number of products, the quality, the electronics, sounds, command control, selections of track and power, accessories, just everything about O gauge. I am still excited and overwhelmed by it all and I still visit that train store every week with very few exceptions.

 

I have DCS and Legacy, mostly MTH engines with only a couple of Legacy engines all command control. I am very happy with everything I have (and happy to have it as well). I have had very little trouble with anything, nothing to complain about here, everything is working flawlessly. We have some really great products to choose from these days.

 

Keep it positive and exciting, if you're not emotionally capable of doing that, then don't post in this thread. 

 

I like it a lot.

This forum is the most exciting to me

For me it's having a hobby that my wife likes as much as I do. we shop for small toys and the like, then put these toys on flat cars.  the kids and adults at the museum really get a kick out of some of things we have put on flat cars.  it has been much easier since Menards started selling flat cars.

I think the fact that after all these years of hearing the hobby will die, that it is ending, there is no future (all the accounts were how toy trains were going to disappear, that tv and slot cars and RC and other things were going to kill it off back in the 60's and 70's), that it has survived and in some ways has flourished. We have a ton of stuff from prior generations available, and not at jacked up prices that hit in the 80's and 90's, we have track systems not available back in the good ole days , we have all these vendors making things like rolling stock and turntables and bridges and stations and so forth. We have the internet to bring us together (and get on each others nerves *lol*), and we have a group of people who are passionate about the hobby, even those who complain. 

 

Sure,I would love for fine scale engines to be more affordable, but the nice part is I can do really well with a lot more modest offerings I can afford. I think the neatest thing for me is that it is all out there, and when I finally find some time to get my layout space fixed up (too many other crises and work to work on it), there is a whole new world to explore that didn't exist when I first started, lion chief, legacy, DCS, and so forth. 

that after than more of a 100 years still alive.

and the O still round.

 

Andre.

Notch 6,

    Got to tell you the biggest positive thing in O Gauge is the remote control packages from both MTH DCS and Lionel Legacy, run together on the same layout you can run every different kind of modern and pre War Train.  I waited most of my life for this to be able to happen, our modern hobby technology is out of this world, especially now with the completely wireless remote control switch capability and slow speed control to boot.  To modern kids, this may not be a big deal, but to a 65 year old kid like me, it's a dream come true to see our original Lionel Tin Plate Trains run right along side the modern MTH P2 reproduction, both remote controlled.

PCRR/Dave

Pre-orders are exciting. After spending years hunting for postwar trains, being able to pre order something I want is great!

 

 

 When Lionel released the modern O gauge tankers with sound, things were going in the right direction for me. I had just got their other modern tankers and was happy with them, before the sound ones came out. Finally modern cars, excellent detailing, built well, etc. Just needed some work for my two rail venture.

 Atlas has their 2rl tankers too, and the long flat cars, articulated auto cars, high cubes, etc. MTH has released many great two rail engine models, and I bought all I could. There was too much coming at me all at once!

 I thought that it was truly getting better (and easier) to be in O. I'll start my layout soon and it seems that things are better than when I first looked at getting into O scale, almost fifteen years ago.

 Did I mention that even Lionel added scale coupler mounts!!

Its easy to pick a part this hobby... I like setting the bar high, makes what this hobby is today.

 

What I think is exciting and what I really like? 

 

Meeting new friends and that enjoy the hobby and being apart of a great "round robin"club.

 

Buying that next engine that you have been eyeing up and saving up for quite a bit of time.

 

Meeting some of the great people here at OGR

 

Riding the real steam engines and going taking the kids to the next steam festival

 

Sharing this hobby with my family

 

Teaching my son all about trains and how to keep things nice on the layout and show how fragile things are.

 

Researching how real railroads operated, the equipment, the people, and the History surrounding the railroads

 

Doing scenery and watching the scenes come alive

 

Repairing locomotives that need a second life.

 

Investigating new technology that makes the layout come alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most exciting thing for me is looking at my Original postwar "Cheap" Alco whirlpool set that is in a display case and remember sitting on the floor and watching the train go around and around.

 

Then, 30 years later - Watching my sons sit on the floor and watch their first MTH sets going around and around on the floor.....

 

Etc, etc, etc,

 

For me nothing will ever match the feelings and excitement of when I studied the 1965 and 1966 Lionel catalogs all those years ago. Wondering, dreaming, planning, wishing. What else can I say.

The Steam Era boxcars & reefers from Atlas.

For me it is...ALL THE ABOVE.