Developing A Model Railroad Layout

When planning a model railroading layout there are a number of things to take into consideration. These items and concepts need to be given careful thought and planning so that your experience with this new endeavor will be a pleasant and successful one. Yes, you can always just purchase a beginner’s set and take it out of the box and then set it up in a most convenient spot so that it can be enjoyed right a way but there will come a time when you will want to go beyond this and create a full scale layout. The layout will take time, planning, money and careful consideration. Develop the layout so that in the end the completed layout will be what you set out for in the beginning with very little need of changing details. The completed work that you have put those many hours of your time into will give you many hours of joy and satisfaction.

Wow, with that said, maybe just setting up a beginner train set on a spare table somewhere, out of the way, in your home would be the safest and most appropriate way to go. Well, maybe, if you were just going to use it as a toy, however the interest in model railroading is returning with gusto. To create an interest in this hobby that will be lasting and an enthusiasm for future generations, then creating a permanent layout to demonstrate and show the great enjoyment of model railroading has to accomplished.

When you begin this project you first have to decide how much space you are able to use in your home or are willing to give up for the project. Make sure that it fits into everyone’s plans as it is easier to make a smaller layout now than to have to try to downsize later. You can add to your layout at a later date by making detailed plans when you construct your layout. Additional layout components can be added in the future.

You need to decide which size model scale or gage you are planning to build around at this time. This will determine the amount of space you will need available for the layout of your project and how much of a train line you want when finished. You also might want to have a 3D effect by using different scales, in specific areas of the layout, to create the depth that you are looking for in your finished product. This aspect is not crucial but it is something to think about. I have seen this done with great success. For most model railroaders, they just use one scale for convenience. You have O, HO, N, S, and Z scales to choose from. It will depend on the model railroader which scale is used on the layout.

The first thing to do is decide if your layout will be an exact replica of a specific train line or a combination of different train lines. You may want to create a fictitious train line by using adaptations from known train lines. Once you have decided on this aspect then you can begin to develop the plans for the layout of your choice.

To develop the plans for your layout you can be very creative and very technical in the fields of electronics and computers, or you can do it with simplicity and hard work. This does not matter just as long as you do your planning consistently and with precision.

In today’s age of computers those who have become computer literate are using applications like Adobe Photo Shop to create back drops and photo images for their railroading layouts and CAD programs to design their layout. These applications help to put all of the pieces of the layout together so that there is order in the design for the hobbyist. You do not have to use this up to date technology but if you have the knowledge and the ability it will go a long way in making the design process easier and you will have all of the information and data in one place. It also cuts down on the clutter caused by design diagrams all over the place. Another thing that is helping greatly these days is the digital camera. You can take your own pictures to incorporate into the design of your layout, copy them into your computer and then edit them through programs like the Adobe Photo Shop or Corel Paint Shop Pro X.

If computers are not your thing then you can design your layout from scratch with pen and paper. If you have a friend with computer expertise ask them if they would be willing to do some computer designing for you so that you can have a more realistic layout. I read an article about a model railroader and his wife who wanted to make their layout as real as possible right down to traffic signs. They took pictures of different signs and scenery with a digital camera and had a friend with Adobe Photo Shop turn these pictures into works of art so that they could be used on the layout. There are all kinds of ways to improve the look to your layout even if you do not personally have the computer or the computer programs.

There are many books out there that can be used to give you great ideas about your design as you are planning and developing it. These books will take the guess work out of planning and developing your layout so that you will be able to get on to the finished product. These books are not always easy to find in common bookstores like Coles. I have not tried Chapters bookstore but they might carry these books. If not you will be able to get them from the http://www.modelrailroaderbooks.com/ web site;

1. Planning Scenery for Your Model Railroad by Tony Koester
2. The Model Railroader's Guide To Bridges, Trestles & Tunnels by Jeff Wilson
3. Scenery for Your Model Railroad by Mike Danneman
4. Mountain to Desert by Pelle K. Soeborg

or from http://www.cttbooks.com/ web site;

1. Trackwork for Toy Trains by Peter H. Riddle
2. Lionel Accessories at Work on Toy Train Layouts by Neil Besougloff
3. Wiring Your Toy Train Layout by Peter H. Riddle
4. Build a Better Toy Train Layout by John Grams and Dick Christianson

Once the designing has been completed then it is on to the development of the layout. It is here that the project may seem to take the longest to do. There will be carpentry, electrical and finishing work in completing the layout. If you feel you are not good in any one of these areas you might want to enlist the help of a friend or two who will be able to help. You also want to calculate the amount of materials that you will need to complete your layout. This will include plywood, structure material, nails, screws, wiring for electrical, foam or other material for layout shaping and landscaping materials etc. It might seem like this is an unnecessary step but it will save having to go back to the hardware store etc. for more material, when at a critical stage, trusting the store will even be open.

Now that you have your list together it is time to get started assembling items that you will need to build the structure of your layout. Once you have the structure built then you can move on to the platform where you will display your layout. One thing to really take into consideration at this time is to make sure that the underside of the layout is set up correctly. Be sure all of your wiring for the layout is in the correct place and in line to make the very important wiring schematics work. It is an unpleasant task to have to go in and redo the layout’s wiring after the fact. At this time consider adjustments or add-ons that you might want to do for future expansion. If you have decided to build in sections for easy transport or just for being able to move it when needed, now is the time to make sure that all connecting hinges have been fitted correctly for this to take place.

The structure itself might have gone together just as planned but once this is together putting in the wiring for the layout might not so easy. Take note of your electrical skills or your group electrical skills to determine whether you should use simple or complicated wiring. A simple design will be a much easier to move if that is your plan. Remember if you are planning to have add-ons in the future make sure that your electrical wiring and electronic system will be able to handle the upgrade when the time comes.

With this completed the next step is to start on the layout scene work. This can be very time consuming depending on your backdrop, how much detail you want and your expertise. There are always the options for creating the scenery items or buying them prefabricated to incorporate into the layout. The main structure scenery needs careful thought in terms of scenic terrain, materials and time. If you are creating a hilly terrain it will take more time to develop the different layers until you have the desired terrain you want and you will also want to create hills and mountains with tunnels.

Another thing to take into consideration is when to install your track. You can do it while you progress with the scenery of your layout or you can lay it down after. If you lay it down after, you have to remember to make allowances for the track being incorporated into the layout. You can choose from a number of different types of track, which include Flex Track, E-Z track, True Track, Snap-Track etc. It might be easier to lay the track down after you have the scenic structure down but before you incorporate the scenery itself. This way you can do such things as lay down ballast on your track to make it look as realistic as possible. You will find that it is much simpler once the track is down to lay out the scenery for the look you desire. Remember that if you have developed your layout around the concept of sections, you will need to have the areas where these sections connect and the tracks connect, easy to access for removal when the time comes to dismantle your layout for moving or storage. It is very important to be meticulous on this point. You will have little reworking of your layout when you reassemble it again and also there will be less need for replacement parts.

At this point the grunt work for your layout should be completed and you should be able to start running your trains.

How you set up your train system and how you run it will be entirely up to you. Maybe you will just turn on the switch and let the trains go around your layout with a sense of accomplishment and fun. Maybe you want or your railroader group wants to do everything by the book therefore you have researched and found the different timetables and schedules for you railroad train line. Your group might have also found “Train Service” books for your train line. Any research into your train line will make the running of your train line all the more fun. The satisfaction of having created your new railroad will give deep meaning to the work in creating the layout, choosing the train era and train type.

Now you can go ahead and run the train(s) on your layout with the precision that you want and have hours of fun, enjoyment and satisfaction for years to come.