This page has many links to suppliers, forums and various groups. It is updated regularly and the information is provided to benefit members and visitors. Take care to visit sites and do your own homework.
Do you have a collection or models to sell? The GCMRC does not buy trains or collections and we can't always respond personally to emails or calls about selling trains.
Selling Tips
1. List items individually. Be honest with descriptions and you will increase the chance of selling more, and for more money.
2. If it has been tested, say so. If you have not tried out the item, be clear that you are not sure.
3. Use PayPal where you can to provide you and the seller protection.
4. Look for similar listings prior to listing your item to help you set a price.
5. Large layouts are hard to sell as they are difficult to transport.
Pages and groups where you can sell your trains are listed below.
The top place for model Train sales is eBay, with Gumtree also worth a look. They do have a fee structure so do your research to work out your costs.
Search "model trains".
Facebook Marketplace is popular for train sales and has few if any charges. Check out the sellers first prior to buying.
Popular Facebook sites:
Listed below are some websites we can recommend for local model supplies, including the USA and the UK.
Australian Suppliers
Aurora Trains - (QLD) locos and rolling stock, DCC chips and parts, scenery, track and points. Brisbane's largest train store
Casula Hobbies - (NSW) Australian supplier of models. locos, rolling stock, spare parts, Second hand Brass HO
Hobbyrama - (QLD) trains and rolling stock.
Modellers Warehouse - (QLD) scenery supplies.online store. Open Wednesdays.
HobbyTech Toys - (WA) good for Digitrax supplies in Australia. Fast mail order services.
Auscision Models - (NSW) supplier and retailer of Australian outline models.
British Suppliers
Hattons - British and Euro models.
USA Suppliers
www.walthers.com
www.modeltrainstuff.com/
www.tonystrains.com
Do you have a collection or models to sell? The GCMRC does not buy trains or collections and we can't always respond personally to emails or calls about selling trains.
Selling Tips
1. List items individually. Be honest with descriptions and you will increase the chance of selling more, and for more money.
2. If it has been tested, say so. If you have not tried out the item, be clear that you are not sure.
3. Use PayPal where you can to provide you and the seller protection.
4. Look for similar listings prior to listing your item to help you set a price.
5. Large layouts are hard to sell as they are difficult to transport.
Pages and groups where you can sell your trains are listed below.
The top place for model Train sales is eBay, with Gumtree also worth a look. They do have a fee structure so do your research to work out your costs.
Search "model trains".
Facebook Marketplace is popular for train sales and has few if any charges. Check out the sellers first prior to buying.
Popular Facebook sites:
- Monty's Model Train buy and Sell: www.facebook.com/groups/1581766025378674
- HO buy and Sell
- Auscision, SDS, Trainorama , Buy Sell & Swap: www.facebook.com/groups/1852051601712004 -
- Australian HO Trains & Estate Sales:
Listed below are some websites we can recommend for local model supplies, including the USA and the UK.
Australian Suppliers
Aurora Trains - (QLD) locos and rolling stock, DCC chips and parts, scenery, track and points. Brisbane's largest train store
Casula Hobbies - (NSW) Australian supplier of models. locos, rolling stock, spare parts, Second hand Brass HO
Hobbyrama - (QLD) trains and rolling stock.
Modellers Warehouse - (QLD) scenery supplies.online store. Open Wednesdays.
HobbyTech Toys - (WA) good for Digitrax supplies in Australia. Fast mail order services.
Auscision Models - (NSW) supplier and retailer of Australian outline models.
British Suppliers
Hattons - British and Euro models.
USA Suppliers
www.walthers.com
www.modeltrainstuff.com/
www.tonystrains.com
Not sure how to get started? Follow our guides below. Start at the top, do you research and you will be on your way to enjoying the best hobby in the world!
This is the fun bit - but where do you start? Club members are always helpful and can help guide you along as a beginner. Let's start with the basics.
Gauge? What is it?
The Gauge is the distance between the tracks. Our club has layouts from N Gauge (smallest) to G Gauge, one of the largest for model trains. Have a look at the club and see what trains interest you. N Gauge takes up less room so you can always have more, but HO/OO gauge is the most popular and has the best availability for models, tracks and parts.
Here is a great video guide to help you decide
DCC or DC?
At our club you can run either one. DC is the original way all trains ran - 12 volts to the track and a controller and you could run a train, however if you wanted to run more than one loco it was hard to do.
DCC was invented so you could control multiple trains on one line. A small DCC chip is fitted inside the loco. The DCC (Digital Command System) sends signals to the chip in the loco, and each loco can be individually controlled along with realistic sounds and more. Whilst DCC adds a cost to each locomotive, more realistic running can be enjoyed.
Here is a video guide to DC or DCC
What brand of DCC should you use?
As DCC chips and accessories all comply with NMRA standards, it's wise to standardise on a brand for your command system. NCE and Digitrax both make the core system that you need to start your model railway. Various manufacturers make the chips that are installed in locomotives and these are compliant with either system.
Our club has settled on the Digitrax brand, which means that to run your trains at the club on our various layouts, a Digitrax controller will be required.
Here is the Digitrax YouTube Channel
Digitrax Guide to Programming
DT 402 Throttle Basics
DT 602 Quick Start Guide
Consist Locos
A guide to gauges by Hornby
Resetting Decoders
2. We use DCC and here are the DCC Basics - Digital Command Control
Easy programming for Digitrax - Tom's Trains and Things
Wiring your layout for DCC - Model Railroading
Convert an old loco to DCC - Model Railroading
Decoder tips and tricks - Gerry Hopkins MMR
From start to finish - Model Railroad Hobbyist Magazine
3. Scenery
From start to finish - Model Railroad hobbyist Magazine
Luke Towan - One of the best scenery makers in Australia
4. Using JMRI to tweak your locos
JMRI is a terrific tool (that's free!) for making changes to the CVs on your locos. It gives you a visual interface for changing the number, modifying speeds, braking, which horn/whistle the loco uses and a lot of other things to numerous to mention here. Tweaking loco settings is just one part of what you can do with it, as it can also be used for controlling points/turnouts on your layout and all sorts of other things. There are a number of applications that work with it such as CATS which allows you to have a despatcher's screen of your entire layout.
A phone app that can be used at our club is Engine Driver which you can use to control your loco from your phone.
Here's how to calculate the radius of an arc in case you were interested.
This is the fun bit - but where do you start? Club members are always helpful and can help guide you along as a beginner. Let's start with the basics.
Gauge? What is it?
The Gauge is the distance between the tracks. Our club has layouts from N Gauge (smallest) to G Gauge, one of the largest for model trains. Have a look at the club and see what trains interest you. N Gauge takes up less room so you can always have more, but HO/OO gauge is the most popular and has the best availability for models, tracks and parts.
Here is a great video guide to help you decide
DCC or DC?
At our club you can run either one. DC is the original way all trains ran - 12 volts to the track and a controller and you could run a train, however if you wanted to run more than one loco it was hard to do.
DCC was invented so you could control multiple trains on one line. A small DCC chip is fitted inside the loco. The DCC (Digital Command System) sends signals to the chip in the loco, and each loco can be individually controlled along with realistic sounds and more. Whilst DCC adds a cost to each locomotive, more realistic running can be enjoyed.
Here is a video guide to DC or DCC
What brand of DCC should you use?
As DCC chips and accessories all comply with NMRA standards, it's wise to standardise on a brand for your command system. NCE and Digitrax both make the core system that you need to start your model railway. Various manufacturers make the chips that are installed in locomotives and these are compliant with either system.
Our club has settled on the Digitrax brand, which means that to run your trains at the club on our various layouts, a Digitrax controller will be required.
Here is the Digitrax YouTube Channel
Digitrax Guide to Programming
DT 402 Throttle Basics
DT 602 Quick Start Guide
Consist Locos
A guide to gauges by Hornby
Resetting Decoders
2. We use DCC and here are the DCC Basics - Digital Command Control
Easy programming for Digitrax - Tom's Trains and Things
Wiring your layout for DCC - Model Railroading
Convert an old loco to DCC - Model Railroading
Decoder tips and tricks - Gerry Hopkins MMR
From start to finish - Model Railroad Hobbyist Magazine
3. Scenery
From start to finish - Model Railroad hobbyist Magazine
Luke Towan - One of the best scenery makers in Australia
4. Using JMRI to tweak your locos
JMRI is a terrific tool (that's free!) for making changes to the CVs on your locos. It gives you a visual interface for changing the number, modifying speeds, braking, which horn/whistle the loco uses and a lot of other things to numerous to mention here. Tweaking loco settings is just one part of what you can do with it, as it can also be used for controlling points/turnouts on your layout and all sorts of other things. There are a number of applications that work with it such as CATS which allows you to have a despatcher's screen of your entire layout.
A phone app that can be used at our club is Engine Driver which you can use to control your loco from your phone.
Here's how to calculate the radius of an arc in case you were interested.
E-zines, Blogs & YouTube sites
British Bi-monthly magazine - http://www.modelling-inspirations.co.uk
N Scale Modellers Australia - http://www.nscale.org.au/nsm
Model Railroad Hobbyist - http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com
Australian Model Railway Magazine
Will James Railways
Ron's Trains N Things
The DCC Guy has a lot of tips on DCC plus general things to do with your layout
Looking for some model rail related humour?
British Bi-monthly magazine - http://www.modelling-inspirations.co.uk
N Scale Modellers Australia - http://www.nscale.org.au/nsm
Model Railroad Hobbyist - http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com
Australian Model Railway Magazine
Will James Railways
Ron's Trains N Things
The DCC Guy has a lot of tips on DCC plus general things to do with your layout
Looking for some model rail related humour?
Local Businesses which have sponsored our club
We thank Coast to Coast for their support of our club.
Coast 2 Coast Earthmoving
We thank Coast to Coast for their support of our club.
Coast 2 Coast Earthmoving