I’m not aware of any “model railroading supermarkets,” as the hobby, by its very nature, has FEW “big guns.”
William K. Walthers (est. 1932) is the largest overall, between being a distributor, manufacturer and importer. They do not sell directly to consumers, but through an affiliate business set up for that purpose. It used to be “Terminal Hobby Shop,” but has since been renamed.
Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Colorado, has been around a long time, is makes its home in a former grocery store. In addition to being a retail operation, they also sell via mail order and the internet.
There are also various train meets around the country at different times, where a variety of dealers get together to sell all manner of train-related stuff; the Greenberg shows come to mind. Another big one is the Great Scale Model Train Show held several times a year in Timonium, Maryland. (All these train shows, whether traveling or not, charge a modest admission fee for entry.)
Model Railroad TRACK has three primary measurements:
1) Scale – is the ratio of the model to the real thing: in HO scale, the model is 1:87 the model is 1/87th the size of the real thing
2) Gauge – Gauge is the distance between the rails, and the standard gauge in North America is 4′ 8 ½”. (that means in HO scale, the rails are 0.649 inches (16.5 mm).
3) Code – is the height of the rails. Mainline rails are taller than spur and yard rails. In HO, the two primary “code” sizes are 83 and 100.
HO railroading isn’t particularly given to outdoor use.
Here is a link to the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), the US standards group, which has great information: http://www.nmra.org/
For a DC voltage of 0-12 volts – the perfect potentiometer would be one with 100000 Ohms of resistance. This 100000 Ohm potentiometer would give you the most control over the voltage.
How to choose Potentiometer/Pot for model train throttle twelve volts DC?
Hi, I am building a throttle for a model train set. I am trying to figure out which type of potentiometer would work for 0-12 volts DC. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
How do I find out how much my model train set is worth?
I have an old model train set, possibly an antique, I’m not exactly sure, how do I find out how much it is worth? Thank you for your time!
What is the standard track size for a HO Model Train?
I have been given a size HO model train as a birthday present and I would like to build a model railroad in my garden. I am a newbie and I want to start buying materials but I have no idea what size track to buy. I would like to know what is the standard size track for a size HO model train?
What is the biggest model train company in the United States?
I want to know if there is a store where you can go that is the biggest model train company in the United States, where you can buy all the different-sized model trains, like O scale, HO scale, and N scale and stuff like that, and as well as a large selection of locomotives, diesels, and cabooses and stuff like that, as well as garden railroads and quarry railroads and junction railroads. Does anyone know where to go to buy them? Anywhere in the United States, is there the biggest train store?
What is the average cost for garden, junction, and quarry model train railways?
I have been thinking about getting three different types of model train railways: garden, junction, and quarry railways. I plan to make each one of them at least 25 X 15 feet each. I will have 5-10 trains running on each one, and they are all about $45-$120 each (the trains.) I will be buying about $650 dollars worth of scenery, buildings, tracks, and accessories for each railway. So how much would be my average for each one?
January 12th, 2011 
dwalton ![mobile] Model Train Set ...](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1178/1233353023_97b8e6e511_z_m.jpg?zz=1)
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(“Junction railroads”? What are they?)
I’m not aware of any “model railroading supermarkets,” as the hobby, by its very nature, has FEW “big guns.”
William K. Walthers (est. 1932) is the largest overall, between being a distributor, manufacturer and importer. They do not sell directly to consumers, but through an affiliate business set up for that purpose. It used to be “Terminal Hobby Shop,” but has since been renamed.
Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Colorado, has been around a long time, is makes its home in a former grocery store. In addition to being a retail operation, they also sell via mail order and the internet.
There are also various train meets around the country at different times, where a variety of dealers get together to sell all manner of train-related stuff; the Greenberg shows come to mind. Another big one is the Great Scale Model Train Show held several times a year in Timonium, Maryland. (All these train shows, whether traveling or not, charge a modest admission fee for entry.)
Look on ebay for a similar train set
Unless you have an inside line on all the stuff you’re asking about, $650 might cover one layout.
Here’s some links to back up my statement:
http://www.towerhobbies.com/trains/train_listings/train_set_g_scale.html
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/category_s/332.htm
http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/CTGY/SETSGBACH
Model Railroad TRACK has three primary measurements:
1) Scale – is the ratio of the model to the real thing: in HO scale, the model is 1:87 the model is 1/87th the size of the real thing
2) Gauge – Gauge is the distance between the rails, and the standard gauge in North America is 4′ 8 ½”. (that means in HO scale, the rails are 0.649 inches (16.5 mm).
3) Code – is the height of the rails. Mainline rails are taller than spur and yard rails. In HO, the two primary “code” sizes are 83 and 100.
HO railroading isn’t particularly given to outdoor use.
Here is a link to the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), the US standards group, which has great information: http://www.nmra.org/
For a DC voltage of 0-12 volts – the perfect potentiometer would be one with 100000 Ohms of resistance. This 100000 Ohm potentiometer would give you the most control over the voltage.
How to choose Potentiometer/Pot for model train throttle twelve volts DC?
Hi, I am building a throttle for a model train set. I am trying to figure out which type of potentiometer would work for 0-12 volts DC. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
How do I find out how much my model train set is worth?
I have an old model train set, possibly an antique, I’m not exactly sure, how do I find out how much it is worth? Thank you for your time!
What is the standard track size for a HO Model Train?
I have been given a size HO model train as a birthday present and I would like to build a model railroad in my garden. I am a newbie and I want to start buying materials but I have no idea what size track to buy. I would like to know what is the standard size track for a size HO model train?
What is the biggest model train company in the United States?
I want to know if there is a store where you can go that is the biggest model train company in the United States, where you can buy all the different-sized model trains, like O scale, HO scale, and N scale and stuff like that, and as well as a large selection of locomotives, diesels, and cabooses and stuff like that, as well as garden railroads and quarry railroads and junction railroads. Does anyone know where to go to buy them? Anywhere in the United States, is there the biggest train store?
What is the average cost for garden, junction, and quarry model train railways?
I have been thinking about getting three different types of model train railways: garden, junction, and quarry railways. I plan to make each one of them at least 25 X 15 feet each. I will have 5-10 trains running on each one, and they are all about $45-$120 each (the trains.) I will be buying about $650 dollars worth of scenery, buildings, tracks, and accessories for each railway. So how much would be my average for each one?