Antique Child’s Sewing Machine
Just getting started huh? Well, it’s most likely a great idea to begin uncomplicated to start. It’s good to imagine the initial simple layout as one of three possible seeds that you are going to develop into a huge more tangled design. Choosing one of them gives you a wonderful starting point from which to expand your model locomotive empire. So how should you go about it? Here are some tips:
Just like in real estate, the central part to consider at the start is “location, location, location”:
Attempt to pick the biggest most open place available for your track. Be aware there are some fundamental space requirements under which you really won’t be able to setup any circuit at all. Your tracks need their elbow room for turns. Too sudden a turn and you will have recurring derailments, so don’t attempt to do too much in too little of an area.
What are the fundamental location requirements by gauge?
Alright, well here are the extreme minimum requirements for location. Some experienced toy trainers could be able to discover a couple of exceptions to these but they will also tell you that they are scarcely worth the effort if this is all you have to work with. Its 2′ x 4′ for N gauge trains. If you have HO models like one of the many starter kits made by Bachmann, then you’ll need a 4′ x 8′ location. If you you’re into those O scale Lionel trains, you’ll need an 8′ x 16′ area. This is also about what you’ll need for those German garden trains, but those you should really put in your garage instead of keeping them cramped up indoors. You’ll only be capable of doing the most basic designs with these minimums. If you want more than a fundamental oval then the price is more real estate. Think seed, not fully developed tree or even sapling.
What are the best track layouts for these limited locations?
There are 3 basic setups that work in these locations. The first and most basic of all is the oval shape. The circuit simply goes around the edge of the area leaving the inside for a model city or for a pretend lake perhaps. I once saw one that circled around a mountain that resembled the Matterhorn at Disneyland. It worked pretty well. The figure 8 designs a different sort 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 found your track. Like the stone dropped in a pond effect? Then concentric circles is your setup. This works especially well if you make it into a train yard with a round house at the center.
Any other suggestions for rookies?
My big 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 huge help as you start to rethink your circuit design. They are also lightweight enough where they can be easily moved out of the way when not in use so you won’t have to have your circuit design interfering with the other daily routines of your household. You can let your track summer in the cool dim basement and winter in the warmth of the attic.
My main advice though is to get started. Most difficulties that you imagine never really materialize, while the complications you’re not even thinking of can really cripple a locomotive project. Part of the fun of model training is solving these difficulties, in fact. So why are you still here? Away you go!
Tom Taggart is a Model Train enthusiast. Here is more information on Model Train Track. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Train Tips.
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