model railroad and woodworking

**spartacus** · 10-18-2006, 05:56 PM

I am working on a design for a christmas tree stand for an artifical tree, based off a design in Popular Woodworking magazine that my grandfather had years ago. I am wanting to incorporate a toy train into it on top, but I don't know JACK SQUAT about toy trains. (Like why for example are they so dang expensive?) Do any of you guys know any good web sights that explain the scale, electronics and such? Any help would be awesome. I've been looking on the web at retail sights but I can't figure out anything from the specs they give.

**arcticfox46** · 10-18-2006, 08:20 PM

I am a model railroad enthuiast myself. When I come to a railroad crossing - I usually stop and wait for the train to cross, rather than trying to beat it. I have been know to walk abandoned R.R. tracks to look for "roundhouses". One time I paid over $100 per ticket to ride a "Boston and Maine" train in Conway New Hampshire on an all day excursion. That was "Rail Fans" day at Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway New Hampshire.

I actually, for a time was buying model railroad stuff wholesale and trying to make a side business by selling it - mostly on EBAY. I still cannot for the life of me figure out how the compitition on EBAY could sell their stuff so cheap. Some of it was selling for less than I paid wholesale.

Anyway - I still have some stock left and am planning on selling it this winter on EBAY just to clear it out.

I bet dollars to donuts - you have never seen really expensive model railroad stuff.

How bout around $800-1200 for ONE - Big Boy Brass steam engine.

Just a point - the Cheap sets, 25-50 dollars for a complete set, are truly JUNK. You will be more frustrated than happy.

How can I help you?

Maybe via email would be better than getting a long thread going here, would be best.

**JBark** · 10-18-2006, 09:36 PM

www.scalemodelindex.com

John

**arcticfox46** · 10-19-2006, 08:40 AM

Model Railroading is the Worlds Greatest Hobby.

There are 5-10 model railroading hobby stores to every one woodworking store.

http://www.greatesthobby.com/

Personally, "my" big hobby is woodworking and I like model railroading.

Still, I can help you if you want. But, I would prefer to do it via email - not in a woodworking forum.

**spartacus** · 10-20-2006, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the offer. I couldn't find your e-mail so if you could send me an e-mail at

spartaduck@yahoo.com

I'd be thankful.

**arcticfox46** · 10-21-2006, 07:52 AM

My email like yours is in the upper right corner of every post.

Move your cursor over those icons and let it stop for a second. A little box will open up and tell you what each icon does.

First one on the left that looks like an envelope with a piece of paper and pencil is for email - next one to the right is fro a PM message - then the profile - then the buddy list.

Look forward to helping you out here.