Hobbies And Interests
Scale
Scale is the most important factor for a beginner to consider before starting a model train hobby. You may have your eyes on a large model train but if you're restricted to a small table you simply won't have the room. You should match the scale to the room that you have set aside. "G" scale trains are 24 times smaller than a real train and are perfect if you are setting up in your garden. "Z" scale trains are 220 times smaller than a real train and can fit on top of a desk. However small scales can be fiddly and difficult to work with and it will be hard to make out detail. The whole point of model railroads is to build a scene, with people and buildings. Ask about the available accessories for a scale in a hobby shop before buying; if there aren't many, pick another scale. HO is the most popular scale because it is not too fiddly but small enough to fit on a continuous-loop track on a 3-foot, 6-inch-by-4-foot table. A range of accessories is available for HO scale.
Gauge
Beginners often confuse gauge with scale. Gauge is the distance between the two rails of the track. A 9 gauge track means there are 9 millimeters between the rails. While scale and gauge should not be confused they are closely related. If you buy a train and find it won't fit on your track it's because the gauge and track are incompatible. Ask at the hobby shop when you are buying a track if it fits the scale of the train you have purchased.
The Train
The train can make or break a model railroad; watching the locomotive derail or suddenly slow down can ruin the experience. Buy a train with flywheels to ensure it is smooth at both starting and stopping. Shorter trains are better performers than long ones, as they are more likely to stay on the track while turning. Metal wheels pick up electricity from the track and transfer it to the motor; the more sets of these wheels the better the train. Look for at least two sets of metal wheels.
Accessories
The scenery is what makes a train set. Add to your scene with cars, people, trees and buildings. Plenty of accessory packs are available that come in different themes and even different periods of time. Before buying any packs you should consider what you want the final scene to look like; buying packs without thought leads to mismatched scenery. Once you have a plan in your mind then start building it. If you would prefer to be even more creative, avoid premade accessories and make your own. Paint a tin and flip it upside down to make an oil refinery tank or tear apart a plastic plant to make your own shrubbery.