|
          
"How do I become a member of the MSSLS?"
- Fill details will be available in the Membership section when it
is completed. The short answer is: We charge a $10/year
membership fee to make sure we have the funds needed to keep the club going.
We also require that all members be
NMRA members as well. By having
all members also be NMRA members, all our members are covered by a $1
Million Liability Insurance policy, through the NMRA, when we are running
our Steam Engines at club sponsored events. A basic NMRA membership is
$23/year. So for $33 you can become a member of the MSSLS.
See the Membership section for complete details.
"How can I get started in this hobby?"
- It really doesn't take much to get going. You can build a basic
engine yourself from parts available on the Internet, you can purchase a kit
to build your engine or you can buy one already built and ready to run.
Start by reading the materials in our Getting
Started section.
"How much do these locomotives cost?"
- That's just like asking how much does a car cost. It depends on the
model, the detailing, the size and many other factors. The answer is:
Anywhere from $200 to tens of thousands of dollars. Many great running
engines can be had for under $2,000 if your looking for a good running
Locomotive that has already been built. Like most people though, it's
good to start with a basic engine in the $200 - $400 range. Then you can
learn how things work and what types of engines you really like.
"What do these things run on?"
- Most of today's Gauge 1 engines run on butane gas. The kind of gas
you put in cigarette lighters. Some new engines and many older engines
run on denatured alcohol. A few project engines run on Sterno and a few
others out there actually run on Coal, just like the big boys!
"Where do you put the Smoke
Fluid?"
- When people first see these locomotives they associate them with electric
trains. (Sparkers) What you really see coming out of the stack is Steam.
There might be a little bit of oil that burns but for the most part its just
good old steam. "Don't Touch!"
"If a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, can I
chop it up and haul it out with one of these things?"
"Are there used Locomotives available?"
- Yes. People are always trading engines and buy and selling.
One of the best places to find used equipment is to watch the Swap Shop at
Steam in the Garden.
Some of the other community web sites, with discussion groups, also have an
area for selling items. Links to some of these sites can be found in our
Retail
Sales section.
You can also read the article "Miniature
Small Scale Live Steam Locomotives"
which answers many questions.
|
