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 Posted - February 26 2012 : 4:36:59 PM
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How to run a Railroad, by Harvey Wiess, was one of my favorite model railroad books, he built all his own structures from cardboard except I think the signal tower which was a Tyco or AHM kit. He had a tunnel and hill and this neat trolley loop with curves that would make anyone with a challenger or big boy groan. All the engines and rolling stock were Tyco and so were the vehicles on his layout. None of his buildings were glued down and he had different setups like a large university, museum, and other things. also their were instructions on building different buildings, they looked pretty good and required nothing more than some cardboard, scissors, glue, popsicle sticks and of course patience. Anyone else heard of this book?
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Posted - February 27 2012 : 8:00:09 PM
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I'd be interested in seeing the cardboard buildings.
Alco Fan
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Posted - February 28 2012 : 07:08:45 AM
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Amazon.com has several copies of this book, priced from about $7.00 to $13.00.The copyright is 1983. Just google : How to Run a Railroad by Harvey Weiss
Hope this helps- if you get it, let us know if it is of value-
scan a choice page or two for examples.
Siouxlake/Ron
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Posted - February 28 2012 : 09:38:29 AM
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quote:Amazon.com has several copies of this book, priced from about $7.00 to $13.00.The copyright is 1983. Just google : How to Run a Railroad by Harvey Weiss
Hope this helps- if you get it, let us know if it is of value-
scan a choice page or two for examples.
Siouxlake/Ron
Originally posted by siouxlake - February 28 2012 : 07:08:45 AM
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I have already ordered mine, from Barnes and Noble though, it was only $5 but if you want it soon DON NOT ORDER FROM BARNES AND NOBLE! I have been waiting for a week and a half since it supposedly shipped and have not received it. I would not be surprised if it comes today actually. When I receive it I will be sure to scan a few pages though so you can see what is in it. Mostly stuff on setting up a basic train set, buying a train set, wiring...etc. But the structures are nice, the author just left them bare cardboard but they could be easily covered with some of the textured building material paper currently available. The book also had plans to build large buildings, a control tower for an airport, an oil refinery, art museum, all sorts of things.
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Posted - February 28 2012 : 10:14:08 AM
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Hey CR:
Thanks for posting that. I looked on Amazon and I liked what I read. I'm about to give away a "Train Set" to a friend for her nephew. This book will help his Dad and him, grow in the hobby....
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - February 28 2012 : 10:32:00 AM
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quote:Hey CR:
Thanks for posting that. I looked on Amazon and I liked what I read. I'm about to give away a "Train Set" to a friend for her nephew. This book will help his Dad and him, grow in the hobby....
-Gareth
Originally posted by romcat - February 28 2012 : 10:14:08 AM
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Great. Glad I mentioned this book, then!
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Posted - February 28 2012 : 1:58:37 PM
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I'd be interested to see the buildings as well. There need to be some reprinted basic / imaginary model RRing books on the market. The focus is too much on hyper-realism these days, but I recall the days of using lego buildings and cardboard and styrofoam blocks when I was getting started.
I wonder how this compares to the Chilton / Tyco Model Railroading Manual? That was another good basic primer, IIRC it was published under different titles with some of the Tyco-heavy articles reworked a bit.
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Posted - February 28 2012 : 8:55:59 PM
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quote:I'd be interested to see the buildings as well. There need to be some reprinted basic / imaginary model RRing books on the market. The focus is too much on hyper-realism these days, but I recall the days of using lego buildings and cardboard and styrofoam blocks when I was getting started.
I wonder how this compares to the Chilton / Tyco Model Railroading Manual? That was another good basic primer, IIRC it was published under different titles with some of the Tyco-heavy articles reworked a bit.
Originally posted by spiderj76Â -Â February 28 2012Â :Â 1:58:37 PM
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I will definitely scan some of the good layout photos once I get my copy. No Lego buildings but some good cardboard ones! By coincidence, I have a copy of that book (a later print paired with articles on another, more realistic layout) checked out from my library. there are a few big differences, the Tyco manual focused on Tyco trains and buildings while the other book just had some Tyco in it. Also the Tyco manual focused on making a fully functional and realistic (for a layout made with all Tyco!) and How to Run a Railroad just focused on building a complete layout with scenery. Also the Tyco Manual focused on kitbashing while How to Run a Railroad focused on scratchbuilding. My favorite thing in that book is this giant scratchbuilt crane that can load lumber.
There is probably more differences, toPr
Edited by - ChessieRR on February 29 2012 09:42:22 AM
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Posted - January 29 2013 : 8:56:04 PM
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I KNOW THIS BOOK! My local library has a copy I often check out when I have the need to modify or expand my layout. (I currently have it in my lap as I am typing this!) It was obviously geared toward kids or teenagers getting started in the hobby, and today it may still seem relevant for those starting with standard-DC trains. It was published in 1977, so there's some good 1970s-era model railroad products depicted, mostly Tyco and AHM.
Anyone who wanted to see the cardboard buildings, here are a few scans...
With that said, Harvey wrote he started his railroad with a train set and a bit of additional track. It looks like he got the 1973 version of the Tyco Twin Diesel Freight set, and had it be pulled by an AHM 0-4-0 shifter steam locomotive.
quote:| "The set I bought originally came with a diesel engine. However, I preferred a steam engine. The store was able and willing to make the swap for me." |
(Hopefully since this was at a hobby store, and given how Tyco train sets were packaged back then, they simply removed the boxed locomotives from the set and put them on sale separately, then adding the AHM locomotive.)
Chapter 1 also shows photos (presumably stock photos from Tyco) of the Dixie Belle, the Inner City, the Mammoth of the Rails (Chessie version), the 1975-1976 version of the Twin Diesel Freight set, and the 2-8-0 Chattanooga steam locomotive. Chapter 6, "Track Plans," also has a stock photo of the Tyco System 200 train set ("This would be a rather elaborate layout to start with," Weiss comments.)
Man, seeing some of those photos of Tyco train sets, I think Bachmann needs to make some "elaborate" train sets like that, or similar to some of Life-Like's bigger train sets (like the Freightline U.S.A.) That could help kids really get started in model railroading, like it did with me and the Life-Like Railroad Empire!
It also recommends making your own trees, as Weiss says about ready-made plastic trees, "But all the ones I've seen look dreadful." My option would be if you are setting up an old Tyco train set that would fit on a 4x8 area, get the Woodland Scenics "Mountain Valley" scenery kit. Adapt old trains and accessories to new scenery! After all, Tyco never made stuff like that.
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Posted - January 31 2013 : 04:01:13 AM
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the beginner's bible.
There's a picture of a hobby dealer, pencil in his ear, pencil in his hand, mouth open...
another picture of his 4 x 8 sheet of plywood on the top of his car... a RivaRossi 0-4-0 A3 switcher making its maiden roll...
three sets of track loops, one's a tight figure 8 type with a very short diesel...
even a quaint switch yard...
All X2F/Horn-Hook couplers.
Wanna scan and post the picture of the hobby dealer?
John
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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Posted - January 31 2013 : 09:12:50 AM
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well I think the crossbucks & gates would be better in O or G scale 
Yes Still want this book
Edited by - microbusss on January 31 2013 09:13:21 AM
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