Getting Into Trains (advice please)

[Tim_w]

Hello Everyone,

I have always been interested in trains since I was a child and as a result started collecting OO gauge. The realms of G scale has always been out of reach for me, partly due to the cost and practicality. However Playmobil has made this more accessible as the years have gone by and seeing all of the pictures on this forum has helped to stir up an interest again. Unfortunately after much searching I am hitting a brick wall as most sets I like seem to be discontinued and any new releases appear to have dried up. So here are my questions:

1) Where in the UK can I buy suitable G scale track / Playmobil rolling stock and locomotives without getting into the realms of the dreaded EBay sniping / bidding war ?

2) I would like to make an engineers train to start off with, are there any suitable waggons still available ?

3) If I wanted to make custom rolling stock and locomotives is there anywhere I can get suitable chassis, motors and bogie's ? Could I use LGB chassis and custom Playmobil bodywork ?

4) Can anyone provide pictures and possibly measurements of the old Playmobil engineers train please ? Measurements would only need to be as basic as height, width and length.

5) What is the maximum width and height of a G scale locomotive because if I make anything I want it to be in proportion with current stock.

Kindest Regards Tim

[playmofire]

Here are some answers, Tim.

1) Where in the UK can I buy suitable G scale track / Playmobil rolling stock and locomotives without getting into the realms of the dreaded EBay sniping / bidding war ?

Prices on eBay are not too bad currently, although very variable.  There have been some very low prices on, say, the 4018 ICE type set.  Do an eBay search on completed items for Playmobil 4018 and you'll see.

2) I would like to make an engineers train to start off with, are there any suitable waggons still available ?

If you do a UK Google search, you may come up with some new stock still, but I got some of my rolling stock new by buying it through DS in bits, but it's very limited what you can get.  The yellow P & M low sided wagon is a good one for a works train.  You can see one in my Knaresborough and Kirkbean photos,

3) If I wanted to make custom rolling stock and locomotives is there anywhere I can get suitable chassis, motors and bogie's ? Could I use LGB chassis and custom Playmobil bodywork ?

See above.  LGB chassis (anything LGB) is very expensive.  In addition, some of the LGB stock is designed as narrow gauge rolling stock and so has one central buffer and maybe looks a bit odd with Playmobil stock with two buffers.  I have a couple of short LGB wagons and find they easily uncouple from PM wagons and I get the inpression that this is because the loop coupling is a millimetre or two lower than the PM one.

4) Can anyone provide pictures and possibly measurements of the old Playmobil engineers train please ? Measurements would only need to be as basic as height, width and length.

5) What is the maximum width and height of a G scale locomotive because if I make anything I want it to be in proportion with current stock.

10.5cm is the maximum width of the steam RC loco and the 4018/4019 electrics.  The 4010 I would guess is the same.  For height, you're looking at about 15.5cm for the 4018/4019 and 16cm for the steam loco.

I hope this helps, Tim, and it's good to see you back.

Kindest Regards Tim

[Tim_w]

Hello Gordon,

Thank you very much indeed for all your help. I was wondering how you had got hold of those flat waggons ! I think I am going to have to look at Ebay and also see what I can pick up from DS. I could do with a few rolling chassis and bogie's mainly. That should allow me to make a few of the projects I have in mind. I am struggling for a suitable locomotive at the moment but the new freight train is looking very promising indeed. I didn't realise Playmobil trains could be so tricky and I haven't done this much head scratching since I looked at getting into slot car drag racing

Tim

[playmofire]

Glad to help, Tim.

The 4010 goods set is still available in the shops, although I don't find the loco particularly attractive, although it is based on an actual German loco called the Taurus (the Bull).

I forgot to mention, you can buy track from DS as spare parts.  Last year when I inquired, a straight was £2.20.  However, with careful shopping around on eBay you can buy cheaper than that.  Possibly as low as £1.50 a straight.  Curved track is very common and cheaper.

[zugpferdchen]

Hello Tim,

I think, first you have to think about, what you want to do.

Look at our FAQ, points 1 to 3 [CLICK HERE], if you want RC-Locos or with transformer (older system, but with more locos).
For the old system you need brass LGB track (RC-Locos also could go there), for RC-locos allone the plastic track is a little cheaper.
The wagons/cars are for both systems.


What do you mean with »engineers train«?
A working train or a steam loco/train?


I also think, for customizing Playmobil trains/locos/wagons, LGB parts are too expensive and perhaps too sensitive.
You can build customs with Playmobil parts (of lorries, cars, doors of houses,...), plastic plates and other useful plastic parts (like plastic bottles,...).


@playmofire:
I think the 4010 loco is not a »Taurus« (the »Taurus« is an austrian loco, built at Siemens/Germany), it's a little bit different from it (look at the lights, they are vertical, 4010 has horizontal lights).

The number is printed on the 4010 (BR 182 would be the same as the »Taurus«): 152 019-1 => it's a »Baureihe 152« [CLICK HERE!]

zugpferdchen

[playmofire]

@playmofire:
I think the 4010 loco is not a »Taurus« (the »Taurus« is an austrian loco, built at Siemens/Germany), it's a little bit different from it (look at the lights, they are vertical, 4010 has horizontal lights).

The number is printed on the 4010 (BR 182 would be the same as the »Taurus«): 152 019-1 => it's a »Baureihe 152« [CLICK HERE!]

zugpferdchen

Ah, thank you for that link.     You are quite right.

[Rasputin]

the "engineers train" are you thinking of the "Work Train" 4053 & 4053a?

[Walts-Trains]

The latest prices I have fro DS for Playmobil plastic track:-

Straight             30 03 5380 = £3.35

Curves             30 02 0130 = £2.40

Left Hand Point 30 66 8190 = £8.20

Right Hand Point 30 66 8200 = £8.25

Crossover        30 02 0140 = £5.55

Buffer               30 02 0150  = £1.45+ 30 02 0160 = £1.15

Short pieces     30 20 0970 = 50 p

[playmofire]

That's very useful information, Walter; thank you.

I'm particularly pleased at the low price of the cross-over; on eBay they go for much more.

And I hadn't realised that you could buy individual parts of the buffers.

[zugpferdchen]

Hello Tim,

please say a word to the »engineers train«!

If you mean the working train 4053(a), you have to take LGB (or Piko or Aristocraft or USA trains or...) brass tracks (or better metals), perhaps used tracks, and a transformer, no plastic tracks.

Or you have to customize the working train with a Playmobil-RC-engine block, it's not easy with 4053 (cause the RC motor is bigger).