The Basics of Model Railroading: Getting Started
If you are just beginning your adventure into model railroading, you may wish to check out my Overview page on the new Google Knol. In addition, there are a few basic things to know that will help you in your decision-making when it comes to model railroad planning and design. Three major concepts to think about as you plan your railroad... ~Theme ~Scale ~Display
The first thing you should do is decide on a theme for your railroad. ~What is your railroad's purpose? Where are your trains going to and coming from and why? ~What is the setting: the location and era? These can be either specific or general. ~What kind of model trains or equipment do you want to run on your layout? ~What type of service will it provide and to whom? What industries and/or towns will your trains be carrying goods (or people) to and from? These are very important decisions that will lay the foundation for how you will design and build your layout. For more info on this subject, see the "Design" page. Scale You then need to decide on what scale to use. (Scale refers to the ratio between the measurement of a model compared to that of the prototype.) In other words what size trains do you want to run? There are several different popular train scales available. Which one you choose depends on a) How much space you have, b)how much money you can comfortably devote to the hobby, c) whether you like a lot of scenery vs. more emphasis on the trains, d) whether you would prefer long running trains or shorter trains, and e) whether you have the patience, the visual acuity, and finger dexterity to deal with very tiny engines on tiny tracks. Incidentally, the words scale and gauge are often confused. Scale refers to the ratio between the measurement of a model compared to that of the prototype. Gauge is the term used to describe the distance between the 2 rails of track - usually 4 ft 8-1/2in ("standard gauge") in the prototype. "Narrow gauge" is a term used for rails that are closer together than standard gauge - usually around 3 to 3 1/2 ft. To get more detailed information to help you decide on what scale to use, go to the "Scales" page. Displays The third thing to decide in your model railroading adventure is how you will show off and operate your trains. Do you want a huge wall-to-wall empire, or a small switching layout on a shelf, or something in between? There are other possibilities and considerations as well... Are you building this railroad for your own enjoyment? Will you have friends helping you and participating in the operation of the railroad when it is completed? Is it mostly for your children or grandchildren to enjoy? Will it become part of a larger club layout? Do you want to build a small scene that you could sell at a craft show or on eBay? There will most likely be some limiting factors that may enter into this decision also, such as space, time and monetary considerations. For more on this subject and some examples, check out the "Displays" page. So you can see there are many things to consider when deciding what kind of railroad you want and how you want to show it or operate it. Some of these decisions are not easy and it may take a while to figure out what your preferences are. However, I would advise you not to get so hung up on the decision-making process that it prevents you from moving forward. Like they say in the commercial, once you have considered the options, "just do it".
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