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Model Railroading: Getting Started

If you are looking for a new hobby and are considering building a model railroad layout the first thing you need to consider is space. You can create a railroad on a tabletop or take over an entire room depending on the scale that you choose and the type of railroading you choose to model. There are four common scales in use today N, HO, O, and G. Choosing the right scale for your needs and interests is important.

N-Scale is the smallest of the commonly available model railroad sizes. It is built to a ratio of 1:160, or one centimeter of model is equal to one hundred sixty centimeters of the real railroad. This small size allows you to create a very realistic layout in limited space, and is best suited for recreating long trains running through majestic scenery. It is not recommended for young children as it is has many very small pieces and is very hard for them to get back on the track if the train derails.

HO-Scale at 1:87 is the most often used model railroad scale. HO-Scale is large enough to allow for intricate switching moves and realistic operations, and still small enough to create extensive scenery in relatively small spaces. Because it is the most commonly used there are more choices in equipment, trackage, structures, and detail parts. HO also has many small parts, and very small wheel flanges to hold it on the track, and is therefore only recommended for individuals over ten years of age.

O-Scale at 1:43 has been around the longest. Many of our parents and grandparents started out with a Lionel Train set under the Christmas tree. Lionel along with MTH, and K-Line, offer highly detailed large sized trains for the collector or operator. They also offer rugged starter sets for the younger model railroader with heavy die-cast metal locomotives, and plastic train cars, of a size that is easy for a youngster to grab onto, with larger flanges to hold the train on the track.

G-Scale, more correctly called Large Scale, is the largest and newest of the common scales. It covers many scale ratios from 1:20 to 1:29. The scale is determined by the railroad that is being modelled. Most railroads in the world have the rails spaced 4 feet 8-1/2 inches apart, this is known as Standard Gauge. Many early railroads, or railroads in mountainous areas were built with rails spaced at 3 feet apart or even less, to reduce construction costs. These are known as Narrow Gauge railways. Large Scale trains are mostly based on Narrow Gauge railroads. While the scales may be different they all use the same trackage, and can be mixed if you wish. Large Scale is most often built outside in the garden and often becomes a project of the whole family.

Starter sets, which include a locomotive, a few cars, a controller, and a simple loop of track, are available in all four of these scales. They offer enough to set out on a table, or the floor, and let you watch the train run. Often modellers will add to their set by buying, more trackage, a track turnout or two, and a few buildings. These items are added to the table, possibly on top of a basic grass mat for scenery.

As modellers become more sophisticated, it becomes apparent early on that this type of layout is not very realistic, challenging or conductive to expansion.

It is at this stage that some decisions need to be made, and some research should be undertaken. Here are some questions that you should consider before moving forward with your layout.

What type of railroad do I want? There are many choices here. You can model mainline transfer freight, intermodal operations, commuter passenger service, way freight service, branchline trains, or many more.

What era do I want? More and more modellers are choosing to model current day railroading, with large diesel locomotives and specialized trains or equipment. Some modellers prefer an earlier age when a particular locomotive was used, or a specific railroad service was offered. Still others go to the extreme of operating a specific railroad in a specific year. This gives them the maximum realism but requires a lot of research.

What location/ geography do I want? Matching the type of scenery to the railroad you are building is very important. How each railroad was built was usually determined by the geography it was built through. The Canadian Shield area of Ontario gave rise to spectacular scenery on the north shore of Lake Superior, but gave railway engineers headaches. The limestone areas around Kingston, and the Niagara Escarpment, had similar rocks, yet each gave civil engineers different problems to be faced, and as such appear totally different. How to model these different areas is a separate area of research in itself, which will be discussed, in a later article.

Where should I put my railroad? Tabletops are often the most common place to build a layout. They can be located in the basement, recreation room or a special location dedicated to your model railroad. Some very creative modellers choose to create a shelf type layout. A narrow shelf, as narrow as one foot wide, can handle an extensive railway operation. The shelf can extend all around a room, or along one or two walls. Doorways can be accommodated with a lift out bridge or a hinged drop down section. The key to the design of such a railway is creating highly detailed scenes, or prototype operations that attract the eye, separated by relatively non-descript scenery, creating a sense of greater distance.

The Credit Valley Railway Company carries a large selection of “How To” books and reference books on specific railroad related topics. These include books on layout design, prototype operations, how to build and detail structures and many other topics related to creating realistic looking model railroads. Our staff has had many years of model railroad experiences, and is always willing to provide you with specific information, advice and answer any of your questions! You can also email your questions to us at query@cvrco.com