Following is an introduction to myself and the projected Swede Town Valley Rail Road.
I am Kenneth Johnson, 60, and have wanted a layout for fifty years. I live on a remote Alaska island, 575 WSW of Anchorage, Alaska. Due to a nomadic life and 24 years working the sea, a layout was impracticable until now. They don't fit well on boats, which were my home for a quarter century.
The RR will be 5' X 10', HO gauge. I had at first thought to use Code 83 rail, but have now decided to use Atlas Code 100 Flex Track and Peco #6 turnouts, for reasons of economy, durability, reliability, ease of installation, and general track strength. As with everything else, weathering will make the major difference. The time period will be, I think, the 30s or early 40s. But, my primary emphasis shall be steam. In any event, as it will be my personal toy and not a life style, this hypothetical RR will not be especially prototypical.
Control will be DCC, as I have nothing to unlearn, and choice of brand and model is the next major decision. Advice on that would be appreciated.
Purchase of motive power has begun this day. A Bachmann three truck Shay and a Climax from Discounttrainsonline.com, and a new Rivarossi Heisler from Mizell Trains, which I feel lucky to have found. Rolling stock purchase will begin soon.
The RR will be based on Bo Justusson's three level logging/mining RR, which may be seen at http://www.algonet.se/~justus/railways/index.htm This layout will be modified. As it shall be on a 5' X 10' surface, there is room for a large radius oval for long haul freights and passenger service, eventually. I hope some day to have a couple of larger locos for same.
Scenery will require a great many trees, and I am now researching construction methods. Also, as I spent 24 years asea, there MUST be a harbor, and I will have a roundhouse and turn table of some sort, some where.
Anyway, I just want to say hello. Between this forum and trainboard.com, I suspect there will be more good advice than I can absorb.
And, the first major question: which DCC brand might be the best for my situation? I am computer savvy to a degree, and desire something more than a beginner's module, yet since I have limited funds cannot afford (nor shall I need) the best and most expensive.
So, whaddaya think? Which DCC for me? Biased personal opinions are EXACTLY what I want!
Thanks in advance.
I am Kenneth Johnson, 60, and have wanted a layout for fifty years. I live on a remote Alaska island, 575 WSW of Anchorage, Alaska. Due to a nomadic life and 24 years working the sea, a layout was impracticable until now. They don't fit well on boats, which were my home for a quarter century.
The RR will be 5' X 10', HO gauge. I had at first thought to use Code 83 rail, but have now decided to use Atlas Code 100 Flex Track and Peco #6 turnouts, for reasons of economy, durability, reliability, ease of installation, and general track strength. As with everything else, weathering will make the major difference. The time period will be, I think, the 30s or early 40s. But, my primary emphasis shall be steam. In any event, as it will be my personal toy and not a life style, this hypothetical RR will not be especially prototypical.
Control will be DCC, as I have nothing to unlearn, and choice of brand and model is the next major decision. Advice on that would be appreciated.
Purchase of motive power has begun this day. A Bachmann three truck Shay and a Climax from Discounttrainsonline.com, and a new Rivarossi Heisler from Mizell Trains, which I feel lucky to have found. Rolling stock purchase will begin soon.
The RR will be based on Bo Justusson's three level logging/mining RR, which may be seen at http://www.algonet.se/~justus/railways/index.htm This layout will be modified. As it shall be on a 5' X 10' surface, there is room for a large radius oval for long haul freights and passenger service, eventually. I hope some day to have a couple of larger locos for same.
Scenery will require a great many trees, and I am now researching construction methods. Also, as I spent 24 years asea, there MUST be a harbor, and I will have a roundhouse and turn table of some sort, some where.
Anyway, I just want to say hello. Between this forum and trainboard.com, I suspect there will be more good advice than I can absorb.
And, the first major question: which DCC brand might be the best for my situation? I am computer savvy to a degree, and desire something more than a beginner's module, yet since I have limited funds cannot afford (nor shall I need) the best and most expensive.
So, whaddaya think? Which DCC for me? Biased personal opinions are EXACTLY what I want!
Thanks in advance.