Thoughts on getting newbies (30-somethings) into the hobby

I also happen to be a 30-something with a home and on a budget; 37 to be precise. I bought in 2019 before th housing market went nuts so my train budget is decent, plus I have been collecting my entire life so I can sell stuff to fund new purchases as needed.

If they’ll be on a budget and looking to buy trains (in addition to receiving gifts from you), I’d get them plugged into the used train marketplace (local shows, Ebay, Trainz, local stores if any; NOT FB Marketplace) and show them what’s out there and educate them on pricing. There’s a lot of nice trains out there from prewar to 90s and 2000s models that can be had very inexpensively these days. If you know where to look, what to pay, and have some patience, a hobbyist can scoop up some great deals.

Also, since they are new to trains, it would be good for them to see all the different eras and what features/control the trains had. I often take for granted the perspective I have on the train market and forget that newer hobbyists aren’t aware of much of the models and manufacturers that exist. When they discover there’s a whole world beyond the current Lionel catalog, it becomes exciting for newbies to see all the wonderful trains that came before.

Sounds like you’re on the right track. TMCC controllers are a good starting point for command stuff since it will unlock that door for them and the system is compatible with much of the modern stuff.

I think you are on the right track on introducing them to this great hobby. My only change would be buying them, as a gift, a used 180w brick. It’ll protect their electronics and provide more than enough power into the future.

I wouldn’t treat them any different than a 50 year old newbie. I got way back into O gauge when I had kids. It kept me home more.

Im 36 and have little budget like most folks my age. You just have to be willing to hunt for bargains and see if your local stores will do layaway.

If they are going to have locos with modern electronics (anything since 1996), a modern transformer like the CW or a Powerhouse 180 watt with the associated lockon, might be safer than a postwar ZW in terms of both user and locos.  A fully serviced ZW or KW with modern circuit breaker/TVS would be fine, but is a more involved system to set up unless you know yourself about servicing, or purchase from a reputable dealer/repair person.

I just gave away for free a lot of nice used Lionel postwar 027 tubular track and switches.

I did that because I called a LHS about selling this stuff for a pittance, and they were not interested even if I gave it to them for free.

So, if I was in my 30s getting started in this hobby, I would get either used 027 track and switches for free or a pittance, or get used O gauge track and switches for a pittance.

I built a pretty big basement layout with such 027 equipment about 35 years ago, and 25 years ago converted to O Gauge tubular track and 022 switches, have a good size basement layout with it and am happy with it.

As far as trains go, I would start out with conventional used postwar in good working order and/or LionChief Plus, which are relatively economical choices, get a ZW transformer in good working order, cut my teeth on them, and if I continue in the hobby long term, get some more expensive modern trains like MTH Proto 2 and 3, DCS, and/or Legacy, Base 3, and an MTH Z4000 or similar very good modern transformer, etc., provided I could afford them.

Only if I knew I loved the hobby long term would I consider modern O gauge track and switches like Atlas, Ross, Gargraves, Fasttrack, etc, provided I could afford it. Arnold

This is all about what trains to buy. I was hoping it would be about getting them interested in the first place. Is the assumption here that first you give them a train?

Used FasTrack is plentiful, and much easier to work with than tubular. I am sure you can even find people on OGR who would be willing to sell used FastTrack very, very cheaply especially those who have it laying around after 'graduating' to Atlas, etc. That would be my recommendation for track. You can also find the used PW180 brick for 75-100, and if they only run command, that's a great option and will be enough power for a long time.

I'm a 30 something with the house, small kid, etc. I got back into trains a few years ago and spent a little time in LC2.0 before the scale bug caught me and then I had to work through selling all of that (at a loss) in favor of scale Lionel/Atlas/MTH. It really depends what type of trains interest them. Steam? Diesel? Transition Era? Modern? A lot of that will determine the best approach. Is this something they want to get into for themselves or for the kids? Or both?

My advice is to sort that last question out...find a focus that appeals to them, which will make buying/collecting the 'right' trains a lot clearer and probably cheaper. Maybe that is a specific railroad, type of locomotive, type of train, etc. Then you can help them hit the used market...here, shows, the Facebook groups, etc. There are a lot of good deals to be had on Legacy/PS3/PS2 equipment of all types if you know where to look and know what to look for. As someone who has spent a good deal of money on new trains lately, I would strongly encourage 'beginners' to start on the used market as long as they have guidance/help to know what to buy, what to watch out for, how not to get scammed, etc...you can pickup some really nice stuff for a fraction of the cost of new.

@Ken Wing posted:

This is all about what trains to buy. I was hoping it would be about getting them interested in the first place. Is the assumption here that first you give them a train?

Well, the OP expressed that he has already established interest in model trains and is wondering how to proceed in getting them more invested in the hobby, especially being on a budget. Achieving the interest is the hardest step: you can’t convince anyone to become interested in a hobby, they have to take the plunge by their own free will.

If you are trying to see if a family member is interested in trains, giving them a train set is a pointless endeavor on its own. You need to foster that interest through experiences, especially if we’re talking kids. Take them somewhere that has a large train display or something related to real trains like an operating museum, tourist railroad, or even watching revenue trains. If you have a home layout, create experiences with the family there. Its these experiences that will nurture an interest in trains and model trains.

I grew up going to TTOS club meets, big train shows, watching real trains any chance I got. If a steam locomotive, like Santa Fe 3751, was passing through my dad made it a point to take me somewhere to watch it. As a kid, we didn’t have a permanent train layout so during the summer, we would set up an 8x8 layout in the garage and I got to dig all the Lionel out of the big storage cabinet. Later on, we moved and finally had a train room. By this point, I was a teenager and could work part time and my dad and I grew our collection. I have many fond memories with my dad and many TTOS members I have long term friendships with. Some of these memories involve certain trains in the collection and those memories are forever tied to those pieces. This is the stuff that builds an unbreakable bond to this hobby. As such, I have never left the hobby and never intend to.

@Ken Wing posted:

This is all about what trains to buy. I was hoping it would be about getting them interested in the first place. Is the assumption here that first you give them a train?

Yes, I gave them something to start with (one conventional, the other two some older TMCC). All three could simply buy a transformer and track (or use some of my excess track) and start now. I was mainly interested in know what the two with older TMCC engines should do. Leaning toward getting them or telling them to get their own Command Base and Cab-1 which would also control an LC+2 engine.