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How to Put Together a Table Train Set

Model railroading has been a favorite hobby of both children and adults almost since the train's invention. Passed down from father to son and mother to daughter, model railroading has endured even into the digital age of online games and social networking. Virtually anyone can get started with model railroading simply by putting together a table train set. Fortunately for model railroaders, tabletop railroad sets are relatively inexpensive and can be set up in under an hour.

Things You'll Need

Dining room-sized table
Tabletop Train Set
Screwdriver (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Unpack the train set completely and inspect the contents to ensure that you have all the necessary pieces and that nothing is broken.
- 2
  Decide what you want the layout of your track to look like. The simplest and most commonly used layout is an oval consisting of two long sides and a semi-circle at each end. Other layout options may be circles, squares with turns at the corners or figure eights.
- 3
  Lay out the track pieces in the pattern that you've decided on for your layout. Laying the pieces out before connecting them allows you to ensure you have enough track to create the layout you've chosen.
- 4
  Connect the track pieces to one another by placing them together end to end. Some model train set track requires metal clips to hold the track together (included with the set), but newer types of track snap together securely without the use of clips. Connect all of the track pieces end to end until your layout is a complete circle, loop, etc.
- 5
  Most train sets include a portion of track that has an electrical plug attached to it on one side, which must be included in your layout. For this type of train set, simply plug the power pack that comes with the set into the electrical plug. Other train sets will require you to attach two power wires to red and black power terminals included on this portion of track. Simply attach the red wire to the red terminal and the black wire to the black terminal to connect this type of set's power supply.
- 6
  Place the train's engine onto the track, being careful to be sure that each of the engine's wheels rest on top of the train track.
- 7
  Test your new layout by plugging in your power source to a wall outlet and turning the train's power control toward "forward" or "ahead" slightly. If the train moves, you'll know that everything in your layout has been connected correctly. If not, recheck the connections between track sections to be sure that there are no breaks interrupting the power.
- 8
  Add the other train cars to the track, and gently "bump" them onto the end of the train so that the car couplers connect to one another. Your set is now complete and ready to run.

Model Railroads