In our eagerness to get trains running, we all often make mistakes when laying track but don’t make these potentially expensive mistakes.
#1 Making it up as you go
When permanently securing your track think through and work out your layout first and then mark the track path on the baseboard. Changing track route — no matter how slight the alteration— after you’ve secured the track to the baseboard isn’t fun.
Some use track planning software — such as AnyRail — and print out their track map and affix this to the baseboard as a guide. If you can’t do this, layout and connect the track and sketch around it with a pencil on the baseboard so you have a clear guide and don’t deviate from this.
#2 Not keeping the rails clean when laying track
Although some people prefer to pin their tracks, quite a few use a glue too.
This is fine but can be messy, be careful not to get glue on the rails.
Take it from me, glued rails will prevent the trains running smoothly.
Use a wooden block to press the track down with — if you’re like me you’ll have glue on your fingers — and have a damp cloth handy to wipe excess glue way. If this is you, and your track is now a mess, it is possible to recover your track with these track cleaning steps.
#3 Work around track in one direction
I’ve done this won’t be doing it again!
In my eagerness, and not wanting to wait, I pinned down both sides of an oval circuit only to then find I couldn’t then get the connecting straight between the two halves in place. Several hours of carefully unpinning later I was ready to start again.
The take away: work your way around the track in one direction, bit by bit.
In the picture above, you can see a classic example of this. To sections of track are secured but fitting the middle element will now be difficult.
#4 Not waiting: adding scenery before track
Another one where eagerness gets the better of us. It’s all too easy to start placing buildings and other scenery on your layout before you’ve got all the track down to make it look better. Don’t. Just don’t!
Track laying and ballasting means working close to your baseboard and any vertical structures are likely to get knocked or damaged in the process. Keep those Ratio and Metcalfe models off the board until the track is laid and ballast applied.
#5 Lock the turnouts/points
If using glue near or under points — I use pins to secure turnouts in place — switch the points several times during and after fitting to free up the delicate springs and moving elements and ensure they haven’t become fixed and stuck.
That’s it for these 5 track laying mistakes to avoid. If you’d like more tips — I recommend any of these books on model railway building.
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> A final, personal, note: I spend a huge amount of time testing, photographing, writing and researching techniques for these articles and pay for all the running costs of MRE out of my own pocket. If you found this article useful you can support me by making a donation on my fund-raising page. Thanks and happy modelling, Andy.

Andy is a lifelong modeler, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 20 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian/early Edwardian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas. His website has won several awards, and he is a member of MERG (Model Railway Electronics Group) and the 009 Society.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.
Hello i am 10 years old and i am building my first ho scale model layout so if anyone has any tips let me know!!
Hi Charles, take a look around this website – the majority of the tips here will work for HO scale. Are there any specific areas you’re struggling with? Kind regards, Andy
Hi,
I am devouring all comments and suggestions, and have been since dismantling my N gauge layout to make way for baby’s cot. Yes, she’s now a fully qualified solicitor and has been for 20 years :)))
So, I leapt in and now have 3 O gauge locos, a controller, a few points and 4 lengths of BH track – but nowhere to put them! I need baseboards, and quickly.
Before heading down the usual 9mm ply 4’ x 2’ baseboards on 2” x 1” softwood frames, I have seen various other options for the frame. Some say 4” x 1/2” softwood or 100mm deep ply strips, but what is the optimum thickness of this ply, and what would be the minimum number of bracing supports per baseboard? Every foot, two feet? Is 6mm too thin, 12mm too heavy?
Your comments would be most helpful, thanks. RichardTheBeard
For the love of god, do not stop doing this, you have saved me hours of pointless work, and helped me make,(so far) a reasonable looking layout, still got lots to do but your helpful hints tips and guidance have stopped me making too many (expensive ) blunders
Hi, enjoying these helpful posts.
Enjoying making some of the mistakes you said to avoid and confirm, I should have avoided.
The only real one I made from these was having to alter a part of the layout after I had “sort of” finished laying the track.
I used screws to lay secure the track, which helped.
I found, after I had finished, some 2nd hand motorised points which I swapped into the layout, that was hard, I had a flex curve that was too tight, when I checked it with a loco, which needed fixing. In the end it is going well.
You are right, get the planning done up front, better still, do that and get it right???.
Such fun!
Hi,glad I found your site. Making my first layout ever at 69. So I know nothing about train sets at all,brought a flying Scotsman set not enough rails,brought some tracks of eBay but then out to be the older triangles on gauge type,which is ok but some of the rail joints are rusty,can I still get them anywere as they are bigger than the horny ones on the new tracks.
Hi Peter, if I understand you correctly, you’re looking for the joiners between that hold the rails together. If so, you can get these from most model railway shops, Amazon and ebay. Search for ‘Peco SL-11 rail joiners’. These will work with standard Hornby style OO gauge track. Let me know if I’ve misunderstood. Best wishes, Andy
Could you clarify a statement please in your text?
Take it from me, glued rails will prevent the trains running smoothly.
So is it better to pin only?
Hi John, happy to clarify, glue the track – under the sleepers being careful not to get it on the rails as this will cause running problems. If this still isn’t clear let me know. Thanks. Andy
Thanks, mate. I’ve returned to railway modelling after an absence of more than 45 years, and I had forgotten a lot of what I used to know, and a lot has changed in terms of equipment, materials and techniques. Many of your tips, not only on this page but other pages as well, have been very useful. Wish I’d read this page before laying any track!
Thanks John, glad to have helped. Andy
I’m at that planning stage where confusion reigns supreme! Ok; garden layout in 0 gauge. DCC locos. Is it possible to run radio controlled? I was tempted to run wi-fi but the signal in the garden is poor. Advice would be most appreciated.
Hi Andy,Your site must be just what I need,I have been collecting 00 stock and loco’s over past year to build a new model railway or extend an older layout in my walkin loft.This has not been used for about twenty years when the kids were in their teens.I am not sure weather to go for Dc or Dcc as half the loco’s are not dcc ready or Dcc fitted.They are mostly smaller Bachmann or Hornby
.It will be BR 4/5Era,and be a country branch line with Ex GWR and Ex LNER Loco’s somewere in the area of Woodford Halse to Banbury area.
The existing layout is x 6-6″x 4ft Hornby track with quite a few curved points and flexible track with three stations on two levels,it looks ok but has no underlay and is tacked down.I remember the 56xx always derailed as some points were 1st radius so more modern loco’s will be a problem.Your comments awaited.
Regards Mike
Hi Mike, will be extending / building on your existing layout or starting afresh. If continuing with the old layout, I’d stick with DC as it’ll tricky (although not impossible) to adapt it. If however, you’re building afresh, I’d definitely go DCC. Best wishes, Andy.
Hi Andy. I am returning to railway modelling after an absence of 30 years. I am just about to unpack all the stuff that has been stored and lovingly looked/preserved over the years. I am finding your articles, information, links and tips invaluable. Thank you.
Thanks Alan, glad you find the info useful. Kind regards and best wishes, Andy
Christopher Gardner makes an interesting point about the size of a baseboard.
I’m really very lucky that I have an old attic bedroom in my cottage that’s 25 feet by 15 feet. However, many visitors ask me about baseboard sizes for their modern houses, flats and bungalows. My advice is based on my own analysis of what my situation would be if I did not have this large room. I begin by asking that most pertinent question “what will you do with it when you are not actually using it?” Then I suggest something like an end-to-end branch line terminus with the train disappearing into a tunnel of 15-18″. When not in use, the board which I suggest is 1′ 15″ or 18″ X 6′ simply slides under a bed, stands on end in a pantry or broom cupboard and is brought out and supported on a pair of dining chairs or a table, that might itself fold up. If I ever have to go into an old people’s home, I’ll certainly take such a layout with me.
Hi, I’ve had a layout since I was 8 years old, almost 50 years ago. I’m just getting back into building my railway again after 20 years of it being boxed up when I moved house. I’ve enjoyed reading your tips and will continue to do so, so much has changed. My new layout will be DCC so lots of interesting months / years ahead. Thankyou for the time you’ve taken to help us all.
i have a z gauge electric points how do i test them to find out if thay work
Hi Dennis, do you mean the point motor or the point itself? Andy
>Very useful tips here. Thank you so much for the hard work you put in!
thanks so much for article keep going
Iam starting a G scale model can I use steel for track/./?
Hi Joe, yes but it takes quite a lot of maintenance to prevent it rusting etc. You say G scale, would this be outdoors? Andy
Hi Andy,
Just uncovered my old TRIX TWIN RAILWAY from the loft for my grandson. I have stripped and serviced the trains and cleaned the track also the contacts, however, one of the trains keeps stopping. It appears to be the forward/reverse switch. When activating the controller it clicks but nothing happened, the little push lever that actuated the cog fails to engage. I have cleaned and lightly lubricated it but it still appears not to work, do you have any ideas ?
Hi Roger, Wow I’ve always wanted to get one of these – the dual locomotive running has always intrigued me. Sadly, I’ve never got hold of one and so don’t know much about them but if I was a take a guess, I’d say the problem sounds like an issue with the gears.You could try contacting trix-twin.co.uk, he might be able to point you in the right direction. Andy
Hi Andy just like to say you have some excellent articles many thanks .O which points from Peco do you recommend on a digital layout many thanks .
Hi Chris, personally, I’d go Peco Electrofrog but that’s mainly most of my layouts are DCC industrial with largely short wheelbase locos. Otherwise, I’d go Insulfrog. Does that answer your question?
Dear Sir or Madam
Please can you help me with tips on how to solder Peco colour wires to my Insulfrog crossings {Double/single Slips} Getting no help here in the US-I am into DCC
Done most of the soldering; the wires to the rails/points..The insulfrog crossings do not have, has no loose silver wires like “Pecos code 75..Have all code 100”
Cut the track feeding length- wires about 8-1/2 inches for the feeders, and the points length feeders to about 11 inches, will lay the bus wires under the board and hope the feeders will reach
I was Pecos code 75 crossings will be easy to wires up-then insulfrog!!
Nigel Woodgate {[email protected]}
Hi Nigel, I’ll put this out to the MRE community and get back to you with their suggestions. Thanks, Andy
Hey Andy, just wanted to thank you for this great tip. It’s been about 20 years since I have had a layout and I am starting my second one. Looking for more of your tips, keep up the good work.
Thanks Daniel, glad it helped. Andy
Hi fella, nice site, keep up the good work! In regard to tracklaying, some people I’ve spoken to advise against pinning or gluing pointwork in place, and just fixing the surrounding track. Do you have an opinion on this (ps sorry if this is answered elsewhere)
Thank you Andy…. Janet
If l purchase different types of stream engines with DCC sound, will the sound be the same in them all
Hi Janet, great question! if you buy the same model yes but different locos should have different sounds. The good onces will also vary the sound that is played so they won’t all be making the same sounds at the same time. Andy
Really enjoyed reading all your tips. As a new modeller myself, a complete novice, they are not only extremely helpful and insightful but well presented and very easy to understand. Thank you!
Richard
PS an explanation of wiring electrofrog turnouts for dcc would also be most welcome!
Hi Andy liked your notes on track laying it helps to know someones mistakes before starting your own layout keep up the good work much appreciated Ken
I’m new to your site but have been messing-up, changing the layout, made loads of the errors you’ve mentioned, wish I’d thought about things first and much more for a couple of years now.
I just wanted to say that the site is excellent, I’m now planning to be a regular visitor. Well set out and lots of good stuff.
Your time and efforts are very much appreciated. Thanks.
Thank you James.
Hi Andy,
Don’t stop the blog. I have only been a railway modeller fo 18 months and out of all the stuff out there I find yours one of the more simpler to understand and the most constructive. I agree with Emma’s comment though. I find visual learning easier and it would be really helpful if you did some of the more complicated stuff and uploaded it to YouTube.
Charles
Don’t worry Charles, no intention to stop it but it really helps to have feedback! YouTube is an ongoing challenge for me as I’m never happy with my videos and coming up with ideas to add to the excellent ones already there isn’t easy. Hoping to upload more soon. Andy
Hi, just learning model railway. Your tips help greatly thank you. EdQ.
Thanks Ed.
Hi Andy. Good point(s), well made. I’ve made all the mistakes listed but it’s good to be reminded before I make them all over again on my next layout. Keep them coming and thanks for a great site.
Thanks Alan.
Thank you for all time and effort you put into these articles. Being a complete novice when it comes to the model railway world I have found all of them extremely helpful. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Rhys.
Have you considered about making a YouTube Channel, It would help people to visualise what you taking about too. I know my brother would love that.
Hi Emmaa, I have a YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/modelrailwayengineershow – but haven’t uploaded many videos to it, hoping to do a lot more in the future. Thanks. Andy
Last Christmas I bought myself a model railway.It wasn’t a starter pack either, It’s a Hornby Flying Scotsman.My main question is; Which is the best board to buy and how big should it be? I’ve been tempted to buy an 8′ x 4ft plywood board, but is this board strong enough and is it likely to bend over time, leaving me with an unstable layout.
Your knowledge would be greatly appreciated
Thanks Chris
Hi Chris, the size of the board depends on the size of the layout you want to build; lots of people work in 8x4ft. PLywood is a great material to build on although you should support it underneath with beams along the length and depth and across the mid-section. Andy