Get to know the most popular scales

Model trains come in many sizes, known as ‘scales’ because they are built to some ration relative to the real thing.   Here are a few things to consider as you choose a scale.

Most people will land in either HO, or N scale trains. 

HO scale is the most popular, the most widely modeled and has the most products available.

Train Sets

Train sets are the easiest way to get started with a scale railroad. Many children have fond memories of the train set under the holiday tree. Today many sets are full of great ready to assemble models.

Expansion packs and kits are easy to find and add a lot of fun to your trains.

When you’re ready to advance beyond a basic oval there are countless ways to arrange track on your railroad limited only by your imagination and of course the space for your layout. Most track comes in two basic styles; traditional and roadbed.  They’re both available in HO and N scale with fixed-radius curves and varying-length straight sections.

Traditional – Easy to combine with flexible sections to allow varied curves and advanced track arrangements. If you decide to use flexible track it must be cut to fit exactly where you want it and anchored to a sturdy layout base.

Roadbed – Combines traditional track and roadbed into rigid sections.  Its advantages include fast setup and enhanced electrical options for more advanced operation. There are no flexible sections, so track curves are restricted to the size that the piece comes in but can be used without anchoring to a base.

Where to set up my trains?

You can set up your train on the floor, or any flat surface really.  If you’d like to make a permanent home for your train consider creating a train table. An old ping-pong or kitchen table can make a great base. If space is a concern, a piece of 2” thick foam insulation painted green to represent grass can be built in an afternoon and slid under a bed when not in use!  For the carpenters among you Walthers offers detailed directions for building a custom train table.  For these permanent installations, consider a basement, spare room or even a garage.

Bring your railroad to life with lush greenery, fall colors, or glistening snow, and add trees, water, crops, shrubs, and more for a vibrant and realistic layout.  Scenery is an important part of every layout. On your layout it can convey a sense of place – tall pines abound in northern forests amid rock outcroppings, deciduous trees are common in gently rolling landscapes.