An Introduction
My name is Eric Siegel and I'd like to welcome you to my 3-Rail O-Gauge/O-Scale train website. My train adventure started around 1990, when I was about 14 years old and inherited my father's old postwar Lionel set. The set had been in storage for many years in a dark and damp basement, so much of it was is pretty bad shape. However, with a little work, I was able to get the majority of the set back into operating condition. Additionally, I was able to add a large amount of new equipment to the set, resulting in decently sized 16'x8' layout.
By the late 80's and early 90's, Lionel had been reduced to making really cheap plastic trains and accessories. Though the trains and accessories of this time were a bit better than the garbage Lionel cranked out in the 70's (fundimensions era), they were a far cry from the legendary postwar trains and accessories. The new lightweight trains were flimsy and the plastic pieces broke very easily in the event of a train wreck or even under normal wear and tear. The low level of craftsmanship in the new trains was something of a disappointment, but what could I do? There wasn't really an internet at that time, so finding Postwar trains was both time consuming and expensive. I was forced to make do with what was readily available. This era of cheaply made trains was truly a time when a father could say to his son, "They don't make 'em like they used to". But all that would soon change.
In 1994 I went off to college. My mother sold her house and I had to put the train back into storage in my father's basement. I took a great deal of care in packing it away, as I knew I would one day take it out again. Jump ahead to 2005. I graduated from UGA in 2000 and was living in a big loft apartment in downtown Atlanta and decided to pull the set out and start the adventure all over again! I've since discovered that the new century has ushered in a new "golden age" for O-Gauge trains. In the early `90's, Lionel once again started to make quality products again. Additionally, serious competition entered the O-Gauge train scene and Lionel began to lose it's near monopoly of the O-Gauge train market as manufacturers like Atlas and MTH brought a level of quality and realism to O-Gauge never seen before. Competition between the train makers has led to great leaps in technology and realism. Hooray for capitalism! Some of the new Lionel die-cast cars that I've recently acquired are even more beautiful than the original postwar versions! MTH and Atlas are making incredible trains and accessories that give Lionel a serious run for their money and even surpass Lionel in many areas. In addition to the return to quality construction, modern technology has taken over and completely revolutionized model railroading. Computerized train systems, such as MTH's DCS system, allow train enthusiasts to control the ENTIRE train set via a single hand-held remote control! With multiple companies now making high quality O-Gauge trains again and technology taking model railroading to new heights, it's a great time to get back into the hobby! Things have certainly changed from when I was a kid and with my son now getting into the hobby for himself I can say to him, "Son, they sure don't make 'em like they used to, and thank heavens for that!"
The first new layout that I created in our old loft apartment was a modest 12x8 size. I dismantled it in November of 2006 in preperation for the move into our first house! We have now settled into our house and the new layout is under construction. The new house has a basement that's around 900 square feet and it's 100% for the trains! You can keep up with the latest layout progress be reading my journal.
My current setup mainly uses MTH's Digital Command System (DCS), although I do also run some Lionel Trainmaster Command Control System (TMCC) equipped trains. The trains all run on Atlas O 3-rail track, but I'm considering using Ross Custom Switches in some areas of the layout. The layout is, and will continue to be, a modern themed scale pike. I did not grow up in the steam era, nor did I grow up in the streamlined diesel era. I grew up in the 80's and 90's when it was all modern diesel power. Just like anyone who grew up with steam or early diesels, I too have fond memories of the trains of my era. I can remember sitting in my parents' car at a crossing and watching with fascination as those big ugly diesels thundered by with a long stretch of weathered and beaten freight cars. While I have a few diesels here and there that are from the 50's and 60's, the majority are 70's and later model diesels and rolling stock. The roads that I try to concentrate on are the ones that are still around today and that I see around where I live: Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern and BNSF. I'm also getting into some of the older roads that have been merged into the previously mentioned roads, like Southern Pacific, Conrail, Santa Fe and the like, since it's still possible to see engines and rolling stock with the livery of those older roads on the rails today. Basically, anything that might be seen on the rails today is fair game. For more information on the current layout, check out this page. Anyway, I've put this site together to show off my train set. I hope you like it.
Enjoy,
Eric Siegel
And now, let's check out the trains!
MODERN TRAINS - O-Gauge trains and that I've added since 1990. This includes anything made after 1969.
POSTWAR TRAINS - Postwar O-Gauge trains and accessories (1945-1969) from my dad's collection and from ebay auctions.
ACCESSORIES - All non-postwar O-Gauge accessories can be found here.
JOURNAL - Follow the construction of the layout as well as any other stuff that comes to mind.
LAYOUT - Get the details on my current layout.
JOSIAH JUNCTION - My little 6 year old got his first O-Gauge set for Christmas 2005. Check it out here.
REAL TRAINS - There's a CSX intermodal yard behind our building, and even bigger CSX & NS yards minutes away. Enjoy.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE - Check out my tools, materials, techniques and tricks. As I learn, these techniques change.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - If you're confused, you might get some answers here. Or you might just get more confused.
MY WISH LIST - This hobby makes finding a present for me pretty darn easy. When in doubt, get Eric some O-Gauge train stuff!
LINKS - A list of favorite sites and resources.
Email me at: eric@ericstrains.com
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