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How to Build a Toy Train Table for Kids

Model toy trains are an intriguing hobby for both young and old, where creativity can be unleashed in building a train scenery with villages, trees, and visual landscape items. To set up a train set, a level and stable flat surface is needed on which to set all of these items along with the train track itself. Such a surface can be built that suits the purpose well, while remaining light enough to move if necessary.

Things You'll Need

6 Plastic sawhorses, 4-feet high (from automotive department stores)
2 Sheets of 4' x 8' plywood
Tape measure
Electric drill with 3/8-inch drill bit
12 1/4-inch diameter screws, long enough to go through the top of the sawhorse and halfway into the plywood (length will vary depending on thickness of the sawhorse tops selected)

Instructions

- 1
  Lay one sheet of plywood on a level floor surface. Turn one of the sawhorses upside down so the top is facing downward, then place it on the sheet of plywood so that the top runs parallel to the end edge of the plywood sheet. Position it so that the top surface of the sawhorse is 1 foot away from the edge and so that there is equal space between the sides of the board and the ends of the top portion of the sawhorse.
- 2
  Drill two 3/8-inch pilot holes through the sawhorse top, centered and six inches inward from each end. Drill deep enough so the hole is drilled all the way through the sawhorse and then halfway into the plywood thickness. Don't drill all the way through the plywood, since screws shouldn't be protruding through the top of the train table.
- 3
  Screw a 1/4-inch screw into each of the pilot holes with a screwdriver, screwing all the way through the thickness of the sawhorse top and halfway down into the plywood tabletop. Each of the screw heads should be flush with the bottom of the sawhorse top once this is completed, securing the sawhorse firmly to the tabletop.
- 4
  Position a second sawhorse one foot in from the other end of the plywood top, placing it upside down onto the surface and parallel to the edge on that end, centered with equal space between the ends and the side edges of the board. Drill two holes and fasten with two screws as you did on the other sawhorse.
- 5
  Place a third sawhorse between the other two and screw into place. This sawhorse will support the weight of the train set in the middle of the board.
- 6
  Repeat Steps 2 through 5 on the other sheet of plywood, then turn both boards with attached sawhorses upright so the legs of the sawhorses are standing on the floor, with the tabletop now facing upward. Slide both tables together to form a large 8' x 16' train tabletop. Use duct tape under the tables, along the line where the two come together, to prevent the two from sliding apart easily.
- 7
  Arrange the toy train tracks onto the surface, and affix model buildings and other items.

Model Railroads