Building a model railway can be fun, challenging, and rewarding, but it’s easy to make mistakes and overlook important details when starting. Here are some tips I’ve learned from my experience building over 25 OO, N, and HO model train layouts.
#1 Look at the size of that thing
Me, when starting my first model railway as an adult: I had big railways as a teenager and I miss those days, I’ll build a small railway that I can have some fun with and keep me occupied.
Now: I need a bigger house, just for my railways!
There are always more things you’ll want to add to your layout, from landscape features to buildings to track configurations.
What I wish I’d done: Allocate more space for my railway — but I’d still want more!
What you should do: Have a plan for more space in the future. Pick a room where you can expand, even if you don’t plan on doing so in the immediate future.
#2 Plan before you build
Before I’d tried laying track: I bought lots of different types of track — how difficult can it be? I’ll figure it out as I go.
Now: Hahaha. How stupid can I have been? I wasted a ton of track I didn’t need but also had to buy lots more because the sections I did have didn’t fit the layout I wanted. Big, huge, waste of money and time laying track, pulling it up and trying again.
What I now wish I’d done: Design the layout first, then run trains around in my head to see if it works how I want and then work out the track parts needed for it.
What you should do: Design a track plan before buying the track. Every minute you spend designing a track plan will save you hours, maybe days, later and don’t buy track until you know what track sections — curves, straights, left and right-hand points — you actually need. If you don’t know about designing a layout take a look at these 5 free websites & resources for track planning.
#3 Don’t spend a lot when starting
What I did: I love trains (in case you haven’t guessed) so when the son of a close friend expressed an interest in having a model train set I bought him an expensive train pack eager to share my enjoyment. It was glorious, and yes, I had to have a quick go — just to check it worked 😀
But, once handed over it got played with a couple of times and then sold!
I wasn’t happy was an understatement.
Now: If friends show an interest in model railways I buy, loan or recommend a small beginner’s railway set.
What I wish I’d done: Bought a cheap beginner set to let them explore the hobby first.
What you can do: When buying model trains for children, or yourself if you’re thinking about the hobby, start with a low-cost beginners kit and only spend more once the interest is proven to be more than a passing fad. If you’re about to buy your first train set or have just got one, see my beginners guides to model railways for my best tips.
#4 A model railway is never finished
What I thought before starting my first model railway: I’d create a wonderful layout in a couple of months and would then have hours of endless fun operating my trains.
Now: I’m on my fourth or fifth railway, have several underway and am continually improving, expanding and designing new layouts.
What I wish I’d done: Never got started in model railways, all the spare time I’d have! LOL
Building a model railway never ends and the real fun, for me at least, is picking an area to model, learning and researching its history and background and then making the railway, scenery, buildings, and landscapes to match along with problem-solving that goes with scratch model making. I’ve learned so much as a result and there’s so much still to come. It’ll last a lifetime.
What you can do: Start out small; create a small model railway — including the scenery and buildings. Don’t commit to anything until you’ve finished this and then decide which aspects you enjoyed and build the real layout to focus on those. Some of us like scenery modelling, some like track planning and some like operating (someone please explain where the enjoyment is with that? I’ll never understand the fascination!). Whatever find your interest and build on that.
#5 Location, location, location
The 80’s me: One of my earliest model railways was in my childhood bedroom where I’d spend every spare hour on my glorious creation.
But model railways are delicate, from the electronics to the trains to the scenery and models, not suited to “high traffic” areas like a bedroom and my layout was regularly damaged. Worse, as I grew up and needed the space, it had to give way to clothes, computers, etc and it was sadly broken up.
Under construction. The shed my brother built from pallets, while still being built.
Later: My later railways were/are built out of the way — in the loft, shed etc.
Looking back: I wish I’d built my then-bedroom OO gauge layout in the loft and could have kept it. I loved that railway!
Think about the long-term usage and suitability of a room. You might also want to consider building a modular railway baseboard that can be split up and moved around.
Extra: See What’s the best room for a model railway
What you should do: Don’t just build a layout in an empty area. If possible, use a room or space (such as a shed) that isn’t regularly used for other activities.
#6 It’s expensive
Before: I’ll buy some track, a few locos, wagons and some buildings. Few hundred quid tops.
Now: Ouch.
What I’ve learned: Learn how to make stuff yourself, set yourself a budget and seek out deals and offers. If you want to save some money, and who doesn’t, Hornby without breaking the bank will help.
How you can save money: Build what you can and save your cash for what you can’t easily make — trains and track. Join this Facebook group where other modellers share money-saving tips and ideas.
#7 The right tools matter
Before: I have a fully loaded toolbox and I’m not afraid to use it.
After several botched baseboards and ruined models: Trying to drill a hole for a track power feed with a big Black and Decker drill designed to hammer through walls wasn’t one of my better ideas. Equally, my electrical soldering iron just melted the rails.
What I wish I’d known: DIY and normal workshop tools aren’t much use when it comes to small-scale modelling.
You’ll want small tools that are different to what you probably already have around the house. See my tools for model railways post for some suggestions for getting started.
What you can do now: Read up on the tools I recommend, get those you don’t have and don’t wreck your railway.
#8 Keep ’em safe
My stupid younger self: I didn’t even think about looking after my trains. After knocks, scrapes and even instances where trains ran off the track and over the edge of the board to the floor below several of my trains had chipped paint, broken wheels or couplings and worse.
The older, wiser, me: Now my locos and rolling stock are boxed up or put into safe storage before and after use. See where do you store your trains for ideas.
Teachings of time: I could kick my younger self and I wish I’d taken care of those trains. I still mourn for my Hornby crane that came to an unfortunate end on the floor one evening.
Model trains are fragile and expensive. Needlessly damaging my beautiful trains was bad enough but the cost of getting them fixed quickly taught me the hard way.
How to protect your investment: Look after your rolling stock. Box them up when not in use, and respect them when using them.
#9 Protect your track
When building my railway: I was in a hurry to get my early railways finished. In the excitement of building landscapes and positioning buildings, glue, paint and worse were splashed onto the track and the rails often got coated with PVA etc causing problems later. Worse, tools slipped and hit rails or points damaging them.
Having built a LOT of railways: I protect my track work when working near it. It takes slightly longer when doing the work but it’s time well spent if you don’t want to spend ages clearing your track and repairing points.
History wish: I wish I’d taken care of the track on previous layouts. When treated properly it’ll last years and years and can be reused.
What you can do when next working on your layout: Mask track when working on it.
Along with the rolling stock, your track is the most expensive and most difficult to replace (once laid) aspect of your layout. Look after it, and especially don’t clean it by doing this.
Final takeaway tips
- Plan and prepare BEFORE you build your layout.
- Look after your rolling stock and track.
- Use the right tools. Read my guide to the best tools you’ll need to start a model railway with.
After many years these are just some of the things I’ve learned and wish I’d known before I started building model railways, but there’s still plenty more to learn. I want to hear from you and what you wish you’d known. Add your suggestions below as a comment and help others learn from your mistakes.
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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.
Hi Andy
I am looking for someone to build me a N scale Coffee table set. Is that something you can do or know of someone that can custom build one for me? Thanks Ken
Hi Ken, I don’t offer this but you could try https://layoutsbycardiff.com/ or https://www.thelittlelayoutcompany.co.uk/. I’d love to see some photos when your layout is complete! Andy
Aiming to build spiral double or triple track around perimeter of large attic using full height multi level leaving centre of attic for Livingroom got lots of reading to do plus convert insulation create warm attic have joined local club
Andy great article thanks!
I’ve tried to follow your link for your fb page but sadly it doesn’t open up properly – please can you help thanks
Thanks for pointing this out, I’ve corrected the link now. It should have been : https://www.facebook.com/groups/ModelRailwayBuilders. Andy
On point #6 Andy one way to save money these days (2022) is to buy secondhand items and in the case of locos working or not. Often something minor happens and a loco stops working like a wire detaching so the motor doesn’t get power.
The prices of new models from the main manufacturers are now in the stratosphere and well beyond the reach of many people so buying secondhand models is a good way to save a few quid. I recently bought some older LMS Coronation Scot coaches from a well known website as I can’t afford the latest ones from Hornby. Living down under the full train of nine of the latest coaches without the loco is $1,000 then you have postage on top of that. So the previous offering that was poo pooed by so many can be kit bashed to have details added to them.
Model railways is a hobby where skills can be learnt but so much today seems to be keeping up with the Jones’s and as soon as a new model is released then it becomes a “must have” item. I’ve bought a Black 5 and an 8F both secondhand and both missing details like the smoke box door dart, buffers, vacuum hoses etc but all these items can be purchased from the detailing cottage manufacturers in brass and white metal and far long lasting than the flimsy plastic originals.
I have just started setting up trains 1 month ago and I am looking forward to creating my own N scale track in a month or so… This has really helped because I do not want to ruin my first “and only for now” track. I can not wait to start building smartly!
Good article! I’ve been a building model trains 40 plus years. It is truly easy to get overwhelmed with things. You are the creator, you can make it as simple or detailed as you want. I have never perfected any one thing. I have used snap track for years now because It’s easier to make changes if you decide to . I hav e always modeled Ho until last year when I added 027 to the mix. I avoided it at first because of the cost and amount of room it takes to build it. But I’m hooked now. I have added the 027 single line to the out side of my layout so I can run my trains. The inside tracks are still Ho. I know this is not the norm but it works for me at this time. I have a basement room devoted to my trains. Storing, and displaying has always been a problem. Thanks for letting me share my experience.
The more I learn the more I realize how little I still know.
Hi Johan, I’ve been doing this for 40+ years and still learning, that’s the great thing about the hobby 🙂 Andy
Can you run 12 v& 14v on the same track
I finally ended up planning my layout using Atlas’ software. It worked well for me and was easy to use. Am now in the implementation process.
https://shop.atlasrr.com/t-software.aspx
Writing as a novice RM enthusiast, but capable modeller, it seems to me that one should consider and build the layout AFTER one has has landscaped the the area. No real railway runs on dead flat land. Nearly always it is on an embankment or in a cutting. But I cannot find this discussed in any advice pages. Elevating ALL of the track bed before laying track would give one the opportunity to make and incorporate as realistic the rise and fall of natural land features.
Hi Josephine, I don’t think I said lay the track first? Plan the track layout yes but laying before landscaping, no. I’d certainly build the foundations of major scenic aspects before starting on track work for precisely the reasons you mention.
Having said this I would lay the track before applying surface level detail to scenery (scatter material, static grass, etc). Getting to the track for wiring, ballasting etc – needs space at the sides and delicate landscape items or buildings could easily get damaged while the track is being worked on.
Case in point, my layout has track on an embankment running over a river and then making its way up an incline. There’s obviously no way the river and embankment could be built after the track is laid so this was done first. Equally, the hills around the incline (made with Polystyrene board with a modroc surface) are only done to a basic degree so I can rest on them while working on the track. Hope this makes sense? Would love to hear more about your layout, it sounds fascinating.
Andy
Great article, even for those already deep into the hobby.
Cheers Will. Glad you liked it.