Building a Model Railroad Layout

Find or build a large, waist-high table. Model railroad layouts take up a large amount of space, especially as they grow over time. A large table, or several large tables sitting against each other, will get you started. Place the table somewhere, like a basement or spare room, where it won't be in the way.

Draw out the track elements and major scenery on pieces of paper or index cards. Lay out the cards on the table and use them to design your track. Start model railroading with a simple design. Some people use a high-resolution mapping program, like Google Earth, to view and copy real-world train layouts. Decide whether you want one hub, where most train activity takes place, or multiple hubs.

Pick out a model of train to use on this track. The model will also determine the type of scenery. You shouldn't have a bullet-style train cruising through a 1850s village. Once you have the train and buildings, choose other scenery elements. Use waterfalls, mountains, rivers, fields and anything else to make the layout more attractive. Buy or build the scenery elements that you'll need. Use wire mesh with a paper overlay for large structures.

Remove the cards and lay out the actual track on the table. As you place the pieces next to each other, or snap them together depending on the type of tracks that you have, feel free to adjust your design. Often, you'll design a much more complicated track then you're ready for, so remove a few of the loops or offshoots until you get better at building model railroads.

Place scenery around the track, starting with the buildings and then moving to the landscape. Take your time here and work the scenery until you get it the way you like it. Use items around the house, like coffee grounds for dirt or steel wool for trees. Never use running water unless you're sure about your design, as the track will be electrified.

Set up your track wiring so you can run the trains and control the switches. Model railroad wiring is a very complicated process. One rail of your track will have a positive polarity and the other a negative. This is easy when your track is a big circle, but much more difficult when you have loops, offshoots and turntables. The National Model Railroad Association offers wiring advice. Don't hook up the power to your track until you're sure it's wired correctly, as a short circuit can damage your equipment.