Realistic Model Railways

There is a great breadth of knowledge and skills required to create a realistic model railway transportation world. As an example of the diversity of learning needed in the hobby, look at the following listing of knowledge and skills involved when creating a model railroad. They are categorized by sequential but recursive phases of activity. Feel free to make suggestions or correct my errors and omissions by using the contact info at the foot of the page.

Research

Knowing about how real railways developed and how they operated leads to a more realistic model train empire and greater satisfaction in the long run. One should immerse himself into study first to know the tradeoffs taken when the layout is designed, constructed, and operated. However one does not have to be absolutely prototypical in any phase and in fact too much concern detracts from the 'fun' aspect of the hobby. Always be pragmatic about accuracy versus fun.

• Economics - what industries developed because the railway was there and which ones needed the railway to continue operating?
• Geography - what is the physical setting of area serviced by the railway? Is it urban, rural, seaside, flatlands, desert, mountains, forest, etc?
• History - What timeframe (pre 1900, steam, transition, diesel, modern) and what social and political environment allowed the railway to develop as it did?
• Sociology - what were the job classifications and organizational structure of the railway?
• Physics - how do steam engines work? how do diesel-electric engines work? what about momentum, string-lining and dynamic brakes?
• Engineering - trackwork, bridges, tunnels. buildings, signaling etc.

Planning

Planning is the stage where research is digested and remolded according to resources available to the modeler. These resources are time, finances, physical facilities, energy level, and personal motivations. Tradeoffs are made and drawings evolve. Some even choose a professional to get it right the first time!

• Purpose - exhibits, club, proto replica, operations, modeling, personal entertainment, etc.
• Approach - prototypical, free lance, combination.
• Scale and Gauge - scale is the model's proportion (eg 1:87) and gauge is track width as a symbol (eg HO or N)
• Layout Style - point to point, loop to loop, out and back, dogbone, etc.
• Layout Construction - tabletop (island), shelf, peninsulas, portable, around the room, combinations, modular, sectional, domino, LDE, etc.
• Layout Design - passing track, facing points, trailing points, switchbacks, crossings, interchanges, transfer points, staging areas, house track, team track, drill (lead) track, runarounds, escapes, ladders, servicing, rip track, caboose track, stub-ended vs double ended yards, etc.
• Layout Standards - easements, clearances, super elevation, etc.
• Operator Interface - signaling, communications, work stations

Construction

At some point sweat equity investment is necessary. For some this is fun as it is an extension of their skills in home ownership. For others it is a phase that just needs to be done! And a few choose to let a pro do it for them.

• Carpentry - benchwork, materials, tools, techniques, etc
  Layout Construction E-mail group
• Trackwork - handlaid, flexible or snap, grades, ballast, switches, etc
  Proto87, Fast Tracks, Tortoise Switch Motors, Wabbit Switch Motors
• Electrical Engineering - wiring the layout for train movement.
  Wiring for DCC for hardware or RR control systems for software.
• Systems Engineering - track power, switching, signaling control, computer controlled railways, etc.
  CTC Parts, DCC Specialties, Ken's Electronics, Paisley's Electronics, Tractronics Logic Ladder,
  Turntable controls Dodd's Staging Yard Controller, WheelSet Painting
• General Electronics - fast clocks, marquee lights, etc.
  GML Enterprises, Logic Rail Technologies, Mike Dodd. M. Rollins notes, General Listing

Modeling Crafts and Skills

For some, the heart of railway modeling is the model. For others it is the means to the end. And others rely on professionals and friends. There is only the layout owner to please in this hobby.

• Arts - painting backdrops and creating scenery, including ground cover and trees. Evan Designs, Model RR Scenery E-mail group
• Model Making - building cars and structures from inexpensive kits such as Atlas, Design Preservation Models, IHC, Rix Products and Westerfield. A great instruction on assembly is featured at the gateway.org site. And Dover Publications offers quick and easy paper buildings.
• Decals - give model engines and cars a finished look. Champion, Microscale and Tichy.

Sounds

Background sounds add to the realism of a model. They can be achieved through dedicated hardware (eg. MRC Sound Systems), DVD sound effect discs (eg. Fantasonics Engineering) or interactive modules (eg. Pricom Design).

Operations

Operations is the reason that model railways are not like railway models! Operating trains in a prototypical fashion is what it is all about for some. Others (and in fact the majority) just don't get it. They prefer to model equipment and scenery and operation is just a few laps of the track by a long train. But everyone has their own interpretation of what is fun and there is no federal inspector dropping by to enforce any code. You may want to view my attempt to understand basic operations, freight forwarding and train operations.

• Computer Software Engineering - dispatching, car forwarding, etc.
  [See RR waybills/switch lists for available software]
• Simulation - virtual railways, car switching problems, etc
  [See RR simulation for available software]

Reference Links

Where would students be without some good general reference material. For more specific references see Operations References, Freight Operations References and Train Operations References.