If you are new to
model railroading and are thinking about building
your first model railroad. We will provide you
some tips and pointers before you start.
Feel free to watch this video for an overview of
basic model railroading.
Power to your
Model Railroad:
Modern model railroad
locomotives of various scales
run on two-rail
track,
which is powered by direct
current (varying the voltage
applied to the rails to change
the speed, and polarity to
change direction), or by
Digital
Command Control
(sending digital commands to a
digital decoder installed into
each locomotive). Some trains,
most notably by Märklin of
Germany, run on alternating
current, supplied by a "third
rail" consisting of small bumps
on each tie down the centre of
the track.
On
simple, usually temporary
layouts, power is supplied by a
power pack consisting of a
transformer and rectifier, a
rheostat or potentiometer for
regulating voltage supplied to
the track (and thus train
speed), and a switch to control
train direction — a double pole,
double throw slide or toggle
switch wired to reverse the
polarity on the rails.
On
permanent layouts, multiple
power supplies are traditionally
used, with the trackage divided
into electrically isolated
sections called blocks; toggle
or rotary switches (sometimes
relays) are used to select which
power supply controlled the
train in a particular block.
With the advent of digital
command control, block divisions
are largely eliminated, as the
computerized controllers can
control any train anywhere on
the track at any time, with
minor limitations.
Select a Model
Railroad Scale:
A model
train's scale is its size compared to the
size of a real train. For example, an
N
scale locomotive is approximately 1/160th
the size of a real railroad locomotive. The
most popular scale choices are
O scale (1/48th),
HO scale (1/87.1), N (1/160th), and Z (1/220th).
HO is the largest selling scale worldwide,
with N scale in second place. Great
Britain's most popular scale is OO / 1/76.2,
but this scale isn't too common outside the
UK.
There are a number of factors that will
influence your scale selection; among them
are your eyesight, your access to club
layouts in your area, your budget, and your
available space.
See our page
on Scale for more information.
Types of layout:
A model
railroad takes up space. If you're not
planning on building a permanent layout,
then a 6 x 4 foot table is great
for temporary layouts, provided its not too
flimsy. Some people use cables and pulleys
to lower model railroad tables from the
ceiling and raise them for storage.
There are numerous methods for storing a
model railroad, providing that it is not
too large.
Temporary Layout:
If temporary
layouts are what you have in mind you'll
probably want to start out with a train set,
and buy additional track and accessories as
the mood takes you. Even if you're not
building a permanent layout, keep reading.
There's still more in this article that will
be useful to know.
Permanent Layouts:
Permanent layouts
require space planning. O scale layouts take
lots of space. HO and N scale outsell other
scales because the average modeller can make
space for an HO or N scale layout in their den,
basement, or garage. Some apartment dwellers do
remarkable things on small tables or shelves
with Z scale.
Some people build modular layouts. There are
clubs devoted to modular layouts, where each
member builds their own modules, but all the
modules can be connected to make large layouts
at shows and events.
Planning Your New
Layout:
Once you've
selected your scale and identified your
available space, you can start planning your
layout. First you need to decide what kind
of model railroad track you'll be using.
There are a number of track planning
software packages available to help you
design your layout; but you need to select
the program's template set for the kind of
track you will be using.
It's also helpful to look at layout plans on
club and manufacturer web sites. Bear in
mind that these plans specify the use of a
specific brand of track. If you find a
layout that you like on a web site, don't
choose your track simply because the design
calls for it; with a little work you can
implement any track plan using any brand of
track.
Building Bench
work:
If you're planning
on constructing a landscaped layout complete
with trees, hills, cities, and roads, you'll
first have to build the bench work to support
it.
Power Supplies for
your Railroad:
A packaged
train set will usually come with a
transformer or power-pack. The photo shows a
DC power-pack that comes bundled with Kato
track and train sets.
In recent years more and more serious model
railroaders are turning to computer
controlled trains, so many transformers and
power packs are gathering dust. Digital
Command Control (DCC), a new industry
standard for powering and controlling model
railroad trains using computer technology,
is widely available in HO and N scale. Digital
control is available in O scale, however the
biggest selling O scale manufacturers tend
to have their own proprietary digital
control systems instead of using DCC.
Getting Serious
with DCC:
The photo
shows a Digitrax Zephyr all-in-one DCC
starter unit. If you are serious about model
railroading, you should consider starting
out with Digital Command Control. If you've
selected O as your scale, check out the
other digital control options available to
you. At the very least make sure that the
locomotives you buy are "DCC Ready". I've
heard a number of long-time modellers say
they're not converting to DCC because of the
expense of upgrading all their locomotives.
But these same modellers will admit they've
never heard of anyone who tried DCC and went
back to non-digital control.
What Railroad
will you Model?
Today many
historic railroads have been acquired by, or
merged into larger railroad concerns.
Class 1 railroads in North America like the Union Pacific (UP),
Burlington Northern & Santa Fe (BNSF),
Norfolk Southern (NS), Canadian Pacific
(CP) and
the Canadian National Railways (CNR) are
popular among model railroaders, but they
aren't your only choices. Lots of modellers
choose to model a "fallen flag"; a railroad
that has been taken over by a larger
company. Many modellers choose the railroad
whose trains they watched passing by as a
child.
Can I Buy My Trains
Now?
Now that you've
picked your railroad and you have your tack,
power, and era worked out you can start shopping
for your trains. You might find a train set with
your railroad and a track you like. If not,
you'll be buying separate locomotives, railroad
car sets, and individual railroad cars.
When
buying locomotives and cars from different
manufacturers, make sure that the couplers are
compatible. Couplers are the "hooks" that
connect your locomotives and cars. Couplers from
different manufacturers may not be compatible.
And within each scale there are often multiple
coupler styles. Dealers can change couplers on
locomotives and cars for you, but it does
increase the cost of the item a little.
