Track Plans for Model Railroads
Just getting started huh? Well, it’s probably a great suggestion to start basic to start. It’s great to conceive of the primary basic track design as one of three possible seeds that you are going to develop into a larger more tangled design. Each of the kernels will grow into a slightly different kind of tree. So how should you go about it? Here are some tips:
Just like in real estate, the major aspect to consider in the beginning is “location, location, location”:
Remember that the more area you have the more options you give yourself for expanding your empire. Be aware there are some fundamental area requirements under which you really won’t be able to have any track at all. Your tracks need their elbow room for turns. Too sudden a turn and you will have constant derailments, so don’t try to do too much in too little of an area.
What is the minimum location?
Let’s review the minimum requirements real quickly. You can never get too huge but you can definitely get too small. Its 2’ x 4’ for N size locomotives. If you have HO models like one of the many beginner kits made by Bachmann, then you’ll need a 4’ x 8’ area. If you you’re into those O size Lionel trains, you’ll need an 8’ x 16’ space. This is also about what you’ll need for those German garden trains, but those you should really put in your backyard instead of keeping them imprisoned indoors. Also, remember these are minimum requirements not tip requirements. If you want more than a simple oval then the price is more real estate. You should really think of them as a starting point and not a goal.
What can you do within these basic requirements?
The three basic designs are oval, figure 8, and concentric circles. The donut shape is the most popular and straight forward setup for most beginning toy train enthusiasts. You leave the inside vacant like a donut hole or fill it with a creamy peak or jelly model city and then just wrap a track around the edges. I once saw one that circled around a mountain that looked like the Matterhorn at Disneyland. It worked pretty well. The figure 8 makes a different type of effect. It divides the track into four areas, though none really leaves much room to do much. Not into the scenery or toy city? You’ve discovered your track. Finally, there is the concentric circles set up where you have two concentric circles for your train to go around. Most beginners end up making this into a locomotive yard and then expanding outward from this seed.
Any other tips for rookies?
My giant suggestion would be that you use what are called hobby tables. With these tables you can configure your display location to any shape you can imagine. This is a big help as you start to rethink your circuit design. Wife bothering you about what an eye sore your circuit has become? Just move it. It’s no huge deal with train tables. So you’ll still be able to park your car in the garage.
My major advice though is to get going. A lot of the sorts of complications that you might anticipate are easily answered as you get into the process of creating your model railroad. But figuring out a solution to a seemingly untenable problem can be half the fun of toy trains. So why are you still here? Away you go!
Here is more information on Model Train Track. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
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