Model railroading offers so many different options, that it sometimes pays to stick with a theme. Perhaps select an historical era that you are interested in and then select your trains, building and scenery from that era. For example: a model train layout depicting California logging railroads in the 1920s might interest you.

Researching a railroading theme can be particularly enjoyable by adding to the fun and also making the model train layout seem more realistic.

Assuming you have a favorite period in railway history, then you might want to base your model railroad layout around that. The alternative is to cover a wider time frame for your model train layout. Think carefully about what time scale you want to model your train layout on.

Click the following link for more helpful model railroading tips and ideas.

The scale you model is usually dependant on the space you have available. However, there are advantages in building a smaller model railroad layout even if you do have plenty of space available.

A big advantage is that a smaller model railroad layout can be fully developed far more quickly than a larger model. Building a smaller layout means the investment in both time and materials is much smaller than for a larger model railroad layout.

Building a small layout means you won’t have to wait as long to see the finished result. As a result, you are probably less likely to give up or lose interest part way through the project.

If you do make major mistakes during the construction process then the cost of wasted time and materials will be much less than would be the case with a large layout.

Finishing the layout earlier may mean that you are ready to start a new (perhaps bigger) project much sooner. It really depends on you, and what you want from the hobby. We are all different and biggest is not always best.

When faced with only a small amount of space, a model railroader will usually opt for building a smaller n scale or z scale layout. Another option is to incorporate a shelf layout into the design. This can be in addition to the traditional ‘oval’ or ‘continuous run’ layout, or instead of the typical train set loop type layout.

Since shelf layouts typically occupy less space they can present some problems for the modeler. A shelf layout can limit the possibilities of incorporating continuous run and track loops. Trains can’t usually be left to run in the same way they can on a loop layout. A shelf layout generally requires a more “hands-on” operation which will appeal to many in the hobby.

Shelf layout operation usually means individual train movements are completed relatively quickly. Operation on a shelf layout is much more intense when compared to operation on a basic loop layout.

A shelf layout is certainly an option worth considering during the planning stages especially if space is limited.

It pays to start with a plan when building any model railroad layout, but keep in mind that most decisions will be made as the model railroad layout develops. Having a plan does not mean that you must decide at the outset precisely what needs to be done in which order. A plan is a general direction in which you are heading remembering that most of your purchases and construction will go in the same direction.

When building a model railroad layout there needs to be some flexibility to change facets of the layout plan, construction methods or components of the model railroad layout depending on how things develop and your level of skills.

For example, you might decide to change from building a mining scene to building an agricultural or town scene. You might plan to get more track sections to add a siding, or another steam locomotive, a diesel or more freight cars depending on how thing develop.

You might come to the conclusion that if you add too many cars when you still have limited trackage, your train will overcrowd your lines and hamper easy operations. On the other hand you might blow your budget in the first few months of construction, or find some extra money to add an extra feature or locomotive to your progressing model railroad layout.

I guess, what I’m really saying is – have a plan of action but stay flexible in your ideas.

An often asked question relating to planning a model railway layout is, how much track is required to achieve a scale distance of one mile or one kilometer?

These are approximate figures for some of the more common scales:
Scale one mile one kilometre
1:22 (G) 151 feet (45.5 metres) 242 feet (72.8 metres)
1:43.5 (O) 76 feet (23 metres) 123 feet (37 metres)
1:87.1 (HO) 38 feet (11.5 metres) 61 feet (18.4 metres)
1:76.2 (OO – UK) 44 feet (13 metres) 70 feet (20.8 metres)
1:160 (N) 20 feet (6.2 metres) 33 feet (10 metres)
1:148 (N – UK) 22.5 feet (6.8 metres) 36 feet (10.9 metres)

On most railroads even the closest railway stations are several or miles apart so, on a model railroad layout, it is not usually feasible to lay the huge length of track required to represent the true distance.

Here is an interesting question from a model railroader about O gauge, layouts and steam locomotives verses diesel locomotives. He wants feedback and input from other model railroaders who want to share ideas. If you want to comment or offer some help to this fellow model train enthusiast, then simple click on the comments tag under this posting to have your say. Here is his question:

“I am a 59 yr old new model railroad enthusiast has built a 5′ x 12′ Table, Layed O-gauge track. Put in a 054 Curve Oval and a inner 026 Curve Oval with ability to switch from one track to the other. Then a 054 switch off the inner oval to a straight siding. Presently wiring the switches so they all work.

Bought a cheap Engine and Tender and find that everything so far runs smooth and level with minimum noise since this is in my basement.

Instead of using Homosaton top of the plywood can I just use cork strips under all the track??I am not against a wall so I have complete access to this table. I have been told to continue purchasing the items that will go into the layout, bldgs etc. this seems logical but it then could be a long time before I actually fasten the track down and put in the ballast.

I would think fastening the track and putting in the ballast then adding to the layout would be much more fun and keep the interest high.

Any thoughts or comments would be great! I have mixed feeling about Steam engines compared to Diesel engines, sort of like them both can these be mixed on a layout?”

If you have the space you can have a yard like this on your layout. While this size of yard on a prototype railroad would not be considered overly large, for a model railroad this size yard is quite large and offers a lot of operational possibilities. Notice the tracks in the foreground which are used to store trains, and the industries in the background. There is also a passenger depot behind the foreground tracks.

Click the link for more information about how to build a yard for your model train layout.

This request for help is posted by a keen model railroader (Glen) who is hoping one of the readers of blog can contribute some ideas. If you think you can offer some suggestions to help Glen then please post them on this blog.

Here is what Glen has to say –

“I would like help from a reader. My situation is this: I’m 87 years old and no longer active. I like to draw home floor plans on my computer. My latest floor plans include a full room above a four car garage. Very large!!! The room is about 15′ X 60′. I decided I was going to use the entire room for an HO guage layout.

Many years ago I was very active in several HO clubs and I have had my own HO and N guage layouts. My problem is—sizing/dimensioning/or whatever you call it. Everything I put in my home drawings is to scale, i.e., pianos, beds, stoves, sinks, etc. all to the same scale as the home.

I want my HO to be to scale also but I have not been able to locate any documents on the internet that give me what I want. I need physical dimensions of engines (modern diesels, as well as old timers), cars (flat cars, box cars, passenger cars, etc.).

I also need track layout dimensions, i.e. how far apart are two high speed parallel tracks both in straight and curved areas. Also in passenger stations and in freight yards. What are turnout sizes? Turnout radaii? etc. “

Glen goes on to say –

“I have read most of the Model Train Help ebook I downloaded yesterday and I very much like what I read.”

HO scale (pronounced “H-Oh”) is the biggest selling model railroad scale. For that reason there is generally a wider selection of HO scale model train sets and model railroading accessories available including locomotives and rolling stock.

The HO scale market is the biggest so the model train manufacturers cater well for the HO scale market.

HO scale is popular because most model railroading enthusiasts prefer a middle of the road scale size. Although HO scale is convenient for most people, it is difficult to run 50-car trains on even medium-sized HO scale model railroad layouts.

Enjoy your HO scale model railroading!

Most branch lines run through countryside giving the possibility for creating some truly amazing scenery. But, when creating a small model railroad layout branch line, you’ll need to accept that it can be hard to depict the wide-open space of the countryside on a small model railroad layout. One option is to use forests to “box-in” the scene.

Another option, which works well, is to depict a branch line in a cityscape. This makes sense considering that most branch lines start off in a larger town. That way you can build a small station located in this larger town. The buildings will have the same effect of “boxing-in” the theme.

Also, on your branch line layout you can add connections to several industries, although this does conflict with a countryside theme.

Before purchasing a model train set do your own research to familiarize yourself as to what’s available. Surf the net because there are lots of useful hobby and model train sites. Also, read hobby magazines or model train books. Search for information on the model trains that most interest you.

Surfing the internet you’ll see that a lot of model train sites specialize in certain aspects of model railroading or different scales such as HO scale, N scale or Z scale model trains. Many of these model train websites offer in-depth information and excellent model train tips and railroading ideas that will help increase your knowledge and stimulate your creative juices.

Search the internet for model train retailers and find out as much information as you can online. Re-visit the hobby shops in person (spend an hour or so in each) and ask more questions. Shop around and then shop around some more.

Happy Railroading!

Space limitations makes it difficult (if not impossible) for a small model railroad layout to duplicate, in scale mileage, a point-to-point railroad.

One solutionis to have an out-and-home layout instead. An out-and-home layout has only one terminal which is basically a point-to-point system doubled back on itself.

The train leaves the terminal and travels through scenery, a town (or whatever) to arrive at a terminal. The terminal it arrives at, just happens to be the same terminal it started from.

When compared to a point-to-point layout, an out-and-home model railroad layout allows a little more mileage between terminals. The problem is that the train still arrives back home in a relatively short time unless you have a reasonably large layout space.

In larger model railroad layouts, both point-to-point and out-and-home systems can be combined with continuous pikes, to offer variety and realism.

A continuous layout is usually the most practical option for most model railroads because it allows for interesting and varied train movements.

Real railroads go from one place to another place rather than go around in a circle. Real railroads may have sidings, branch lines, and other subsidiary systems, but the main line starts at one point, travels to another point, and stops.

Although a point-to-point system works well on a real railroad, it’s not generally very practical when applied to the average home or garage model railroad layout.

The problem is, that a limited space makes it difficult (if not impossible) to duplicate, in scale mileage, a point-to-point railroad.

On a point-to point layout the trains are turned around at terminals by means of extensive yards, wyes, loops, and turntables. It is usual for the single or double-track main line to go from point to point.

Point-to-point railroads have switches and yards at one end, and a turnaround of some sort at the other. However, most small model railroad layouts would lack the space to accomodate two terminals.