Model Railroad Track Operation

May 18, 2009

Poor track work can lead to ongoing problems and frustration with a model railroad layout. It is well worth spending extra time to get the model railroad track work just right. It is no fun when trains keep derailing every time they go over a bad turnout, or over a spot that’s out of gauge.

Despite your best efforts train derailments can still happen, so it is important that every part of the track is easily accessible, either from the front of the model train layout or from an operators aisle behind.

Color code the track lines to differentiate what each track is for and install a large, easy-to-read schematic control panel. As an example, you might want to make the body tracks white, the yard lead blue, the A/D tracks red, etc. The next thing is to label anything that might be confusing.

I guess what I am saying is to think through whatever it is you are planning to do. It is better to spend some extra time in the planning stages than trying to fix problems that could have easily been avoided with a little forward planning.