Model Railroad Construction - Building a Model Toy Train Layout

Toy Train Catalog

A Short Primer On The Differnt Scales Of Toy Trains HO - G - N - Z - O

Testing The Toy Model Train Layout

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Let’s review how far your train layout has come so far.

You’ve chosen a scale, layout plan, and laid out the track. The risers, incline sets, and roadbed are in place. The power supply has been installed - track and switch connections have been made.

Now it is time to test run the train to see how good a job you’ve done. Check all track connections by running your fingers over the joints. It the rails don’t join properly, now is the time to fix it.

Next test all the switches to make sure they are working. Flip them several times, checking to make certain they are fully opened or closed.

Place the locomotive on the rails after cleaning the rails with track cleaner and a track stone. Turn the power on and increase slowly by Turning up the dial. Run the locomotive slowly around the track, watching for possible problem areas. Note places where the locomotive slows down or derails. Switches are always the most probable areas for problems. Make any necessary repairs and run the locomotive again. After you have the track problems ironed out, run the locomotive in reverse. If it runs smoothly, turn the locomotive around, and repeat the process.

Now do this again with a few cars behind it. Run the train slowly at first. You are trying to iron out problems, not set speed records. When all is running smooth, run the train at higher speeds, making sure to run the trains through all switches from both directions. When the bugs have all been worked out, you are ready to start roughing in the landscaping.

Start with housekeeping! Clean up the layout by removing all the tools, extra track pieces, and other stuff which has collected during the track building process.

Track plan in hand, take a felt tip marker and draw in the major landscape features which you want to incorporate. It is important to remember that at no point is the track plan set in concrete. Feel free to make changes at any point. Change is normal in layout building, and it is constant. Even after the layout is ‘finished’ you will find things you will want to change.

At any rate, draw in roadways, creeks, lakes, industries, cities, houses, and farms. The important thing at this point is to make sure the features you really want are included in the layout - so take your time at this stage and don’t be afraid to change the plan. Be creative!

Mark areas which will need to be built up like hills and tunnels. Decide the location of retaining walls, culverts, bridges and other features. This is the most fun part of the layout - you are creating your own little world - and your the Boss!

When you are finished drawing, the real work of layout building is about to commence - installing the scenery. It’s scenery that makes a railroad come alive. Buildings, lights, people, trees, water, rocks, and other features create an illusion of realism that is the fascination of model railroading.

Scenery is easy because it’s so hard to make a mistake. If you do make one, it’s easy to cover, fix, or change.

The next installment of this series will cover beginning the scenery. Building the terrain, installing bridges & retaining walls, other basic steps to get started

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