Your first step should be to draw your track design on a piece of paper. Planning your design is a good idea because you can even build your design in functional phases with each additional phase making your layout larger and more interesting.

It is easy to decide on the length of the track you require after drawing your layout. You can even draw your layout directly on your workbench, which will make calculating track length and construction even easier.  Depending your design, you might require the use of half track sections or odd track lengths. If necessary, you can create custom track by cutting track sections using a hacksaw and a vice.

There are two basic track sections that you will need: straight and radius.  The radius tracks are offered in different radii so you have to choose which radius would be best for your specific design layout.

It is not common that all the dimensions of the curved tracks are declared in terms of radius. 0 scale products use terms such as 027 or 036 on the tracks and locomotives. The numbers after the 0 are the diameter of the curve in inches. The track dimensions are declared in radius for HO scale of the trains. The 24 inch radius Atlas HO True-Track requires 16 sections of 24 inch radius track to complete a full circle, 48 inches in diameter. On the other hand, the 18 inch radius Atlas HO True-Track requires 12 sections to complete the full 36 inch diameter circle. The different labeling systems will take a little bit to get used to, but you will be fluent in them before you know it.

As well as curved and straight tracks there are other track components such as, crossings, turnouts and flex tracks.  The parameters of each component varies between manufacturers.

Before you buy products make sure that they are compatible with each other.  Although all of the locomotive sizes have been standardized into scales, manufacturers still design certain components according to their own specifications.

Flex Tracks are directly attached to the roadbed and, as the names implies, they are flexible.  Using Flex Tracks you can make turns of any radius and design gorgeous and interesting railroad routes.  However, a gorgeous design is no good if your train is not able to maneuver through it, so make sure the corners are not too tight.  For example, O scale train sets take much wider turns than N gauge trains do.

The Atlas Super flex is a Flex Track brand that bends easily to form any shape you need.  This product comes in 3-foot sections, but can easily be custom cut to any length using a hacksaw or a modeler’s super-saw.

Crossings are the junctions through which two tracks heading in different directions cross each other. The crossings come in different degrees of intersection, which are defined by the specific brand of track the crossing is designed for.

Turnouts allow the entering trains to decide which route to take, choosing from two or three different directions. Turnouts are also known as switches. A closed switch will tell the train to stay on the current track and if the switch is open or “thrown”, then the train chooses an alternate path.

After reading this article I’m sure you understand that it is not a good idea to start building a model train track without any prior planning. Planning your layout will ensure that the design you want is functional and fits into the space you have available. You will be happy you spent the time making a plan before you started constructing your model train track. There is an old saying, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” and these really does apply to building model railroads too.

HO scale has been regarded as the scale that is easiest for children to handle because it is a convenient size. The N gauge trains are meant for adults, with tracks being 9mm apart and cars being 3 to 5 inches in length.

To get started on your compact layout, you will need to find yourself a half inch thick sheet of plywood that you will use as the base of your model train layout.  Make sure it is cut to the dimensions you require and then obtain a 2 inch thick sheet of Styrofoam cut to the same dimensions.

Once glued, it makes a strong base for the train and the Styrofoam keeps the carpets safe.  The model train layout will be created on the plywood side and the Styrofoam side will be on the carpet.

Next, draw the layout design of your model railroad on the sheet of plywood and see how everything fits.  Make sure that parts such as the interconnecting loops and switches are also drawn in. Once you have the design drawn to the proper dimensions, the rail bed materials can be easily prepared and installed right on top of your drawing.

The rail bed materials can be glued down using plain white glue. Using corkboard for the rail bed will reduce the noise of your train. Using corkboard is not really important; it is just an optional step you can take if you like. Now you can start laying the track; use small nails to join your rail components. To make sure that track sections with switched polarity are kept separate and be sure to use insulated track connectors.

After all of the tracks are laid down, you should attach the wires at the recommended places. If you bought a model train kit then all of the connections will be explained in the installation manual. To attach the required components, you should drill holes through the base and run the wires through the holes. This helps in keeping the surface of your layout free of clutter. Once you have everything connected and all the components are attached in the right place, it is finally time to attach the power supply.

Now you can fire it up and if your train runs without any problems then you are finished with your model train building for the day.  Once the train is running, you can start creating a landscape or city for your train to rumble through.

By building your train on a 4×6 sheet of plywood, you should be able to move it around easily, work on it, and then tuck it away easily when you are done.  Having a smaller layout does not make model trains less fun!

The orders for the material purchases are released only when the engineers have confirmed that their designs have been precisely implemented according to their specifications. At that point, the companies who submitted bids for the materials contracts are given notice, and the lowest bidders usually get the contract.

It takes around 3 months to prepare the artwork which is usually based on real-world color schemes. Often, each model railroad train has more than one color scheme and the more schemes that have to be created the longer the process takes. While the company is waiting for the delivery of certain parts, they can work on the color schemes.

It takes around 3 months for the motor to arrive whereas it takes just 2 months for the rest of the materials to arrive. It is necessary that all parts be there before the manufacturing starts. Although it takes a long time to reach the production stage, usually only a few days are required to produce the completed replicas.

Once the order of parts is used up, the production stops.  However, if a particular model is very successful, the production for that model may start again in the same year.

Normally, a model train will be in production twice every year, but for the extremely popular ones, production can resume up to 4 times in one year. No matter how much time they leave between production runs, the good manufacturers are always able make fine quality trains that meet the highest standards of excellence. Atlas model trains is definitely one of those good manufacturers.

It takes around 1-1.5 years for a model train to be manufactured starting from the design approval process to the final production stage. Costs related to the pre-production and design are already paid for by the company prior to the arrival of the first train from the production line.

Usually, the sale of the first production run of new train lines is most successful, and the sales of each subsequent production run drop down by up to 80%. This means that the pre-sell for the initial release of a new model train is vital to the firm.  They need to make the first production run successful in order to be able to invest further and develop new models. Timing of the advertisements and ideal placing of the ads it is key for the model train manufacturer.

The production cost of a single model railroad train is higher than that of the cost of a new house, so it would be foolish for companies to try to develop large numbers of model trains at once. Careful planning and market research is just as important to the company as the quality of the final product.

That little model train that you just bought contains a lot of little details required to make them look authentic. Luckily, train designs are similar to one another and that helps reduce the pre-production time because many of the little details are seen on many different trains.  However, it still does take a lot of people a lot of hours to make a single model.

There are many options both in types of electric train sets and in pricing, which can cause a lot of confusion for beginners buying trains for themselves or their children.

This article will give a brief explanation of the world of model trains, what you need to think about before starting your new hobby and which products are most appropriate.

Electric train sets are suitable for people who are between 8-11, depending on the level of interest and maturity. The electric trains offer realism and fine details that bring the trains to life and ignite passion among model train enthusiasts.

Once you have decided on a electric train, there are some things you have to take into consideration.  Most notably scale and gauge.

Scale and Gauge

When buying a train set, the sales person will ask you what size of the train you want. If you are not yet familiar with model trains you may answer, with “what options are available?” Following are the common sizes of model trains.

G Scale Train Sets - 1:22.5 – also known as the garden variety train. Being the largest of all model trains it is an ideal outdoor model and is also great for youngsters. But they will require the help of their parents to set it up.

O Scale Train Sets – 1:48 – a large and popular train created by Lionel brands.

HO Scale Train Sets – 1:87 – this scale is in very high demand amongst enthusiasts.

N Scale Train Sets – 1:160 – there are a huge collection of accessories with environments in the N-scale.  The N-scale, along with the HO-scale, are the most popular with hobbyists. More on N Gauge Trains here.

Z Scale Train Sets – 1:220 – the smallest size of electric train and it is often used in combination with N-scale trains.

The width of train tracks is called the Gauge and standardized gauge widths match the scale of the model train sets.

There is a huge collection of accessories to pick from no matter which electric train you are considering.

Most of the last century was dominated by train sets created by Lionel and Hornby.

The reason building model railroads can be so much fun is that there are so many different options.  You can choose from freight or passenger trains, different locomotive types, and a huge number of buildings and landscapes that are available.  If you take your time and do it right, you can make your layout look ultra realistic.

There are so many options; there is literally something for everyone.  Now is the time for a budding electric train enthusiast to venture into this fun and rewarding hobby.

For children under 5 years the of age, a wooden train set is often best.  There are no sharp edges nor small pieces that could be swallowed and they also cost less and are less labor-intensive than electric trains.  Another important feature is that these wooden trains are tough and can resist rough treatment from children.  The wooden train sets are available at a lot of toy store outlets both online and offline. Maxim and Brio are said to be the most popular among toy stores. The most popular train among children is easily ‘Thomas the Tank’ (yes, Thomas is actually a train, not a tank).

A good strategy is to buy your child a wooden train to see if they are interested in the hobby and then if they are, you can get them more involved train sets by getting more involved model trains, like electric ones.

Let’s now consider that you have purchased the train you want and you also know the size of benchwork you need. Make sure that all areas of the benchwork are easily accessible. If you are creating a large layout, make sure it is set up so that you can access any part of the layout without having to lay on top of existing scenery. Like other modelers, you will probably lay most parts of the track and scenery only once, but there will be areas that you redesign many times.  Accessibility is key.

Build and fasten your benchwork in such a manner that no one can knock it over by accident. Spend some time building strong legs and fastening the ¾ inch plywood to the framework using screws so that no part can move free of the others. Screws should be kept towards the outside of the benchwork; in this way you can avoid putting track and scenery on top of them. Using screws also help in disassembling and transporting of the benchwork.

There should be enough cross support members beneath the plywood, so that the workbench surface is stable everywhere. Joist should not be more than 2 feet apart and they should be no closer together than 16 inches. For every 4 by 6 foot sheet of ¾ plywood you need a minimum of 6 legs to ensure that the benchwork will not budge while trains are running. If you do a poor job of supporting the tabletop, there will be vibrations in the benchwork and that will cause things to shift, which means you will be constantly readjusting.

Most importantly, you will want to include an extra plywood shelf below the main benchwork surface to hold your tools. In this way, you can organize your work and you do not have to look for tools every time you need them.  You can also use a rolling stool to sit on while you are working on the setup.  This will save you from wearing out to quickly because standing for long periods of time can be very tiring. I will say this again because it is important, make sure your benchwork is soundly secured because that will make building model railroads much less frustrating.

The name, N gauge, comes from the gauge of these trains which is nine millimeters (‘N’ for Nine).  The ratio for these train sets is 1:148 or 1:160, depending on which country you live in. It is recommended that you keep these types of trains out of the reach of children because there are many small parts which could be accidentally ingested and choke a child. Gauges are standardized sizes which ensures that all manufacturers have a standard upon which to design their products.  In this way you can mix and match the products of different manufacturers. The different scales of model train are just replicas of real-world trains scaled down to different sizes.

N gauge trains, being used in conjunction with Z scale trains, are popular in places like Japan where space is very limited. The N-Z combination also creates different visual effects, including the optical illusion that the train is a longer distance away than it actually is.

By adjusting the voltage supply, you can change how fast the N gauge trains travel, while adjusting the polarity of the power will change the train’s direction. Digital Command Control (DCC) is used in the newer model railroad systems and these controls handle the direction and the pace of these trains using surface mount technology.

For N gauge trains, there is a difference in the standards used in different regions of the world. A ratio of 1:160 is meant for European markets whereas a ratio of 1:150 is meant Japanese versions. Australia has also started the production of N gauge trains, joining the company of the UK, Europe and the US who have been manufacturing these models for a long time. Being small does not take away from the attention to detail that the manufacturers give.  An excellent layout with N gauge trains would the pride and joy of every model train enthusiast.

If you desire long trains with a lot of carriages, then N gauge trains are for you. Since they are lightweight, very long trains can run without any loss of power.   A lot of very popular brands offer affordable and high quality starter kits, which includes a locomotive, tracks and coach cars. These starter kits can be affordable if you take the time to look around. You can also buy complete scenery packages that contain plants, signals, buildings, etc.  You can find dozens of online retailers selling accessories for N gauge model trains on discount if you take the time to look around.

N gauge train sets make great fits for a fellow train hobbyist.  When considering the right train set for yourself, make sure that you include the amount of space you have available, in your calculations. Space limitation is actually the most important factor to consider, followed closely by personal preference.  For serious train enthusiasts, there are a wide variety of choices; N gauge trains are just one of those choices. Read more about electric model trains here.

Pricing: The first thing you will notice is that the O scale trains are pretty expensive when compared with N gauge trains or other train sets, but you have heard the old saying, “you get what you pay for”.  This also holds true for model trains. Luckily, you should be able to get your hands on O scale train sets that will not cost an arm and a leg.  However, you should be prepared to spend a bit of cash on the scenery.  A railway system that just cruises around a plain plywood table is pretty boring.  Scenery can be expensive, just because there is usually so much of it to buy in order to fill even a medium-sized layout. But that is something that you can build up to and buy along the way.  You do not need to have all your scenery in place immediately.

The space required: Space is crucial.  If you are worried about your space being limited then the most suitable train might be the N scale train.  The O gauge train sets require at least 6×6 foot of area (36 square feet). Although the O gauge trains are a little bigger than the N scale trains, the space is actually not required because of their size.  Rather, the O scale trains require more space because they take wider turns than the N scale trains.

Realism: O gauge train sets are quite realistic and if you prefer realistic trains then this would be the one to choose. These trains have a lot more detail, closely resembling the real-life trains they are modeled after. And since the trains are very realistic you will have a lot of fun building your scenery to match the realism.

Serious collectors: If you are one of the serious collectors, then surely O scale trains are the right choice for you as they were and still are one of the most popular trains of all time. When you are collecting the old model trains, you will find that most of them are O scale trains because they are the model that was most popular back in the day.

All in all, O scale trains have something for everyone and they are a great place to continue your model train building after you have become familiar with model railroading using beginner model train kits.

The price for these model train kits varies according to the size. The train kits for adult are quite complex, very large and have many small parts, so they are not recommended for children. Being that the adult train kits are more complex, they are usually more expensive. In the 1950s, plastic train kits became very popular and that is mostly because they were very easy to assemble. Although, they were easy to assemble, you could not do much with them. These days, the metal and wood models give you almost complete freedom to create any landscape and rail system you can dream up.

Usually, beginners go for less expensive ready-made kits that are easy to assemble since they have yet to decide whether they enjoy collecting trains and if they want to continue to do so in the future. It is recommended that you buy a model railroad train from a professional store since they can assist you with finding the right model. This hobby can keep you busy for hours and it is a great way to relax and take your mind off things. By joining a train society, you would come across a number of other train hobbyists who are very passionate about trains. I highly recommend searching out a model train society or club.

There is a wide variety of model train kits that have different layouts ranging from realistic scenery to simple oval tracks. A lot of experienced modelers go through lots of trouble to create near perfect landscapes using identical copies of cities and towns. Many complex kits are available for skilled hobbyists and they are assembled from scratch. The things included in a normal model train kit are a locomotive, wiring, power pack, carriages, scenery and more. Individual components could be purchased once you become committed to this hobby and then you can opt for OH or O scale model  sets in case you are running low on space. As a beginner, always purchase a full kit containing all essential items.

Model train track is available in different materials from brass to nickel-silver and steel rail heads. Since nickel-silver tracks require less maintenance they are the most popular among hobbyists. They also look more realistic though they do get dirty and rust much faster. The beginner model train kits are not very expensive so I suggest that you dive right in!

The first large model trains, built in Germany, had a scale ratio of 1:24.  By the 1920s, these same model trains made their way to the United States.  Over the years, the ratio has changed, and today it stands at 1:22.5.   The O scale train sets, along with the G trains are called ‘large scale’ model trains. A one gauge track is required for these trains along with a space of 45mm between each rail. These model trains, when compared with smaller scale model trains, are said to be more durable and stronger since they were made to travel outdoors and carry people. The G scale train sets also require the tracks to be made of brass, which can make these model railroads quite expensive to build.

The brass helps the tracks stand up to harsh the conditions found outdoors.  At first, all sorts of materials were tested for building the tracks, but many materials could not stand up to the dirt, sun, water and other elements. By using brass railway tracks, you are free from high maintenance and the only tool required for maintaining these tracks is steel wool. Both aluminum and oxidation resistant stainless steel are sometimes used to create outdoor railways. The size of the G scale train sets also makes it easier for younger children to work with and they are very popular with families who have young children.  You will also find G trains in the back yards of people who are young at heart.

G scale train sets are also quite easy to setup and handle.  The tracks come in large pieces so parents can easily put them together and set the train engine on the tracks for use by their children.  Parents can set these up in the back yard, or in the living room if it is big enough.  The design of the G train railway can be very simple or very complex, depending on what you want.

A G scale train set of 202 feet long train made from redwood is considered to be the longest G train railway ever to be built.  It is displayed at the Livin Desert, Palm Desert, California.

In the 1960s, railroading became the favorite American hobby. It seemed like everyone was bringing these scaled models into their homes. “Model railroader” was the term used to refer to train lovers in America. The same thing happened in Britain, but the railroad hobbyists in England use the term “railroad modelers” to describe themselves.

In industrialized countries, it is very common to transport goods around the nation and between nations by train. Even though trains are not the fastest modes of transportation a large number of people still take vacations by way of trains. These are just a couple reasons that people become train enthusiasts start building model railroads in their house. The electric system can vary in size from small enough to fit on a regular sized shelf to big enough to ride on, like the ones you see amusement parks.

Some time ago, it was quiet difficult to collect trains and create layouts because the products varied from vendor to vendor. Ever since the scaling system standardized the electric model trains it has become very easy to build a working layout because all the vendors follow the same guidelines when creating products.

The Z model is the train with smallest standard scale. It is 1:220. The G scale train sets are the largest and its ratio is 1:22.5 and it can be found in amusement parks and is often used outdoors.  Adults can look quiet funny when riding on these miniatures, but that just goes to show you how passionate some adults are about model railroading.

One of the most famous and popular model electric trains is the HO model. Its ratio is 1:87 and there is a huge selection of accessories and train types to choose from in this scale. Another scale of model trains that should be mentioned are the O scale train sets with a ratio of 1:48. As far as model trains go, the O model is the best fit for children.

Due to standardization, using scales, it is easy to mix various manufacturers brands to completely customize your trains. The most popular and largest electric model train companies are: Lionel, American flyer and Bachmann.

The model train hobbyists that worked with the very first electric model trains remember that they ran on battery units.  Today, AC or DC electricity from a power outlet in your house is used.  That provides a much more consistent source of power.

If you are new to the hobby you will find that there are many associations and clubs you can join to find people that share your passion for electric model trains. I highly recommend finding one in your area and joining it because you will learn a lot and it can be a lot of fun.