Welcome, Andrew!

Where are you located ... I ask only to hook you up with other modelers nearby, if any. If you know very little about the hobby, you should get hooked up with some other modelers and experience more of the hobby and running trains on other people's layouts.

Do you want to model what you see, or model interesting trains from history that are no more? Or do you just want to get some things that strike your fancy, regardless of whether they ever ran that way or not?

Andrew,

It's great to have you here and it's one of the best places to to get free information and help.  Joe is right on in that if you can find other modelers in your area it's a great way to make friends and enjoy the hobby even more.  Most of my early model railroading was as  "lone wolf" and I made plenty of unnecessary mistakes - but the hobby is very forgiving.

Figuring out what you want to is both fun and challenging.  I read somewhere to "get trains running as soon as you can" and used an Atlas standard track plan to get started.  I had trains running in about 4 weeks and my enjoyment increased 1,000 percent!  Above all else have fun!

Well Andrew, you have a great resource being here on the MRH forum.  You stated that you pass the rail yard on your way to work, so I would start there by taking photos and getting ideas of what you would like to model.  There are many facets to this hobby as there are many people out there to help you get started.

Welcome Andrew.

Glad to have you with us.  I am sort of a newbie too as I have yet to build my first layout, but all of the members here have been very patient with me and have answered all of my questions.  Like Rick said - they have helped me not make a lot of costly mistakes.

Hi Andrew

What at great time to enter the hobby.  You mentioned going to the library and reading books.  I would like to suggest John Armstrong's "Track Planning for Realistic Operation, Third Edition" as something you should read.  Crafting and running the layout is where the fun is.  Getting in touch with any local groups or individuals, as others have suggested, is good advice.

Alan

CTRiverValley RR

I live in San Diego, Ca. I am interested in the southern Pacific line. I started reading a book about the history of the company and have found it to be very interesting, and there is also an old southern pacific train in La Mesa which is right outside of San Diego. I have ideas about layouts and stuff but can't really seem to find information on how train work and more detailed info on real and model trains, and what the parts are called and a realistic operation of trains and what different train cars would make sense together. I went to a shop yesterday but I was too shy/ intimidated to ask cuz I don't have a clue about anything really yet. Lol I am looking to find people locally to talk to but initially that's why I turned to the internet.

Andrew,

 You live near one of the greatest model railroad clubs in the world.

http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/san-diego-model-railroad-museum

 I suggest you visit them this week end.

Art

A very gracious welcome to the hobby.

Stepping into this hobby, given the great number of options currently available, can be daunting. However, there are lots of other modelers out here who are more than willing and eager to assist Newbies get started. You have already made big choices by deciding to model in HO and to slowly begin to buy pieces. However as Joe mentioned hooking up with other modelers out there can provide a tremendous boost.

As Art mentioned the San Diego Model Model Railroad Museum is also home to a club. Check in with the volunteers “the Docent Group” at the Museum, as they are probably looking for victims oops I mean volunteers to assist in supporting the layouts (http://www.sdmrm.org/#/volunteer/4533422265).

Also check with you local Hobby Shop, and see if they can provide any references. Shows are great for meeting fellow model railroaders, especially those where clubs setup and run their layouts. Again ask your local shop and or search online for train shows in your area. Look near the end of Model Railroad Hobbies Magazine, and you will find a list of upcoming events (e.g, San Diego, February 9-10; BAKERSFIELD, March 9-10 [both missed but they will return next year]; San Bernardino, PSR, NMRA 2013 Convention, September 25th - 29^th, etc.)

Oh! And least I forget, continue to read MRH Magazine and to post any questions you have on the forum.

Download the MRH magazine:

The Tehachapi Loop Gets Scenery; What`s new on the La Mesa club`s monster layout; Charlie Comstock; Model Railroad Hobbyist Sep 2011 pg 32

In that article you will find much of the interesting facets of the museum.

Forum Link:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2011-09-sep/tehachapi_loop_gets_scenery

Charlie Comstock also created a short PDF slide show of the layout you can download from the subscriber bonus download area:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2011-09-sep/bonus-extras

The companion video for this article is on youtube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCZt3HZKgJA

Cheers,

Charlie