QUOTE (Expat @ 24 Mar 2008, 17:27)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Dave,
The first things you need to establish
are:-
1) The amount of space you have available
2) Do you want end to end running or a tail-chaser
3) Main line or Branch line (I would guess at branch as it's a village setting)
4) Modern or steam era.
Once these are decided it will be easier to make recommendations for locos/train sets etc. though rather than buying a 'train set', which will probably come with just a plain oval of track, I would suggest you get hold of a layout plan book (Peco do one but there are many others) then buy your trackwork separately to suit your chosen design. That will enable you to buy locos etc which match your chosen theme/period.
Regards,
Expat.
Thanks for the reply, Expat.
I have a good sized area (6m x 1.1m) and what I'm planning to do is have two loops with a City bound and an outbound passenger train with a goods train running if I want to.
The setting will be old style with a 60's trend but artistic license will be stretched.
The main reason for this is the modelling and scenary and to learn as much as possible about the hobby without it being too technical.
So far I've thought of buying two Blue Pullman sets and a Goods Master set. The loops will run thru the scene, then behind a visual block.
The track behind the VB will just be straight and thru the scene, I'd like some curves, points etc.
The scene itself will be a small village with maybe an orchard or fruit industry and a nice station and shopping strip.
The reason I'm leaning towards these three sets is they are fairly good in terms of track provided and I'll have 3 functioning trains from the start.
My only worry is the Pullmans running OK on the radius 2 curves....