Building Your First Model Railroad

55 years in the hobby with the same layout. It started out as a 4x8 oval, and now is a 26’x 26’ empire.

Advice to beginners: You may find you actually love your layout so when you build yours, be sure to allow for expansion. Keep everything level and solid. Right on cool you got it

This is not just a hobby, it's an art form.

Model Railroading is the Best therapy hands down.

My dad, brother, and I recently got into the hobby that is model railroading. It’s awesome. We don’t really care if our engines have sound or smoke or anything, we just like the fun of it. We have N-scale, and our trains consist of a diesel train running a passenger train, courtesy of the Silver Streak Zephyr, and a steam freight train, courtesy of the Union Pacific Big Boy (which I got for my birthday) and 4 freight cars including a caboose that I recently purchased. Our strategy is to have 4 types of engines pulling 4 types of trains. My brother is covering the passenger trains, and I’m doing freight. We need now a steam locomotive to pull passengers and a diesel locomotive to pull freight. We’re really happy with what we have right now.

Just bought my first Lionel set I'm 47 years old and have always wanted to do this thank you for a great video

This isn’t a hobby, it’s a type of therapy! Just watching this calms me, really wish I had space for one though

For Shortcuts: Table/Benchwork 2:21 Track laying 14:42 Control 20:36 Structures 24:35 Scenery 29:10 Timelapse 48:36 Conclusion 48:58->49:35

At this point, this video is childhood nostalgia for me

If you have the room, time and money to do a railroad, the experience is like nothing else. The people we met while researching and buying our equipment and supplies were a unique bunch. Artists all and passionate especially for their own work. From the guy who scratch built everything except the locos to the guy who made a hump yard so complex, he didn't have room for scenery. The challenges of any layout you decide on can keep you engaged (and possibly broke) for years. The world is yours to create or replicate and I'll guess you'll want to do both at some time in the hobby.

This video was done about 25 years ago. I had brought the DVD 10 years ago knowing it was an advert for a specific company, as it was plastered all over the magazine. I just liked the bit of tuition this video offered.

It’s been my dream to have one of these Model Railroads for years

model railroading takes my sadness and lonelyness away i can finally have peace and enjoy a miniature world watch trains roll by

Here is a professional tip. Before you glue the track down, drill holes for the switch wires.

What I agree with and what I disagree with. Agree: The scenery advice is good. I'm gonna try this technique for my grass and mountains. For those of you wondering, use foam as depicted here. Bare wood will make too much noise. Disagree: Don't use bare Bachmann EZ-track. If you use it at all (it is easier than cork) add ballast. The same is true for Atlas True-Track, Kato Unitrack, and Life-Like Power-Loc Track. Additionally, make the most out of your space. Don't waste so much space. Finally, make a track plan that has turnouts, letting people get to the world outside your table. Don't lock it in. Obviously, you wouldn't run the trains off the edge, bit simply having the track improves the look. Oh, add a yard and siding too. All in all, great video, great tips. Follow them, but don't rely on them. *Note: I can't say an opinion on the bench work as I have not used this plan for my own layout.

Families that play together stay together, excellent video! Thank you.

Having Burt Gummer narrate/host this makes this much more entertaining

What the heck! Bert Gummer playing Mr Rogers was the last thing I expected…

Model Railroading isn't just a hobby , no sir... IT'S A WAY OF LIFE! :-)

Nice, this hobby is so great, thanks for sharing this🙏🏻🚂👋🌟👌😊