| The easiest way to get started in model | | | | tucked under their bed. However, the reduced |
| railroading is to buy a set. It isn't necessarily the | | | | space is at the expense of detail. |
| only or the best way, but the easiest. When | | | | You next need to set a budget for your new |
| choosing your first electric train set there are | | | | railroad. You can spend as much or as little as you |
| many factors to consider: size, quality, and budget | | | | want, but haphazardly stumbling into a hobby |
| to name a few. | | | | store and buying bits and pieces can get very |
| Before going out to buy a set, you need to think | | | | expensive, very fast. The best thing to do is to |
| about how much space you can dedicate to your | | | | have a focus. Choose a railway to start with. |
| new hobby. Is your new set going to be pulled | | | | Most people choose lines they remember as a kid; |
| out occasionally? Laid out on a plywood sheet? Or | | | | Lines such as Santa Fe, Canadian National, and |
| do you have a man cave you can turn into Penn | | | | Union Pacific to name a few. Having a focus helps |
| Station? | | | | with planning and budgeting. |
| Trains some in a wide variety of sizes called | | | | The next consideration is track. Make sure you |
| scales. The most common scales are O, HO and | | | | are using the correct gauge! Gauge is the size of |
| N Scale. Obviously, the larger the scale, the more | | | | the track (the distance between rails) whereas |
| room you will need to dedicate. | | | | Scale refers to the size of the model train. O |
| O Scale is the largest popular scale it varies from | | | | Scale will run on a larger gauge of track than N or |
| 1:48 in the US to 1:43.5 in the UK. O scale trains | | | | HO scale. |
| (or Trains O Scale) have the most detail and are | | | | Choose track that has an integrated roadbed. The |
| incredibly popular with serious enthusiasts (with | | | | roadbed is the raised bed the track lays on. When |
| serious space to dedicate). | | | | you go to real railroad tracks, you usually see the |
| HO Scale or HO trains (not to be confused with | | | | tracks on a raised bed of gravel. This is the |
| Snoop Doggy Dogg) is by for the most popular | | | | roadbed. Having a roadbed makes assembly and |
| scale. HO Scale is Half O Scale (1:87) hence, HO | | | | disassembly much easier and efficient. If you are |
| Scale. Due to its popularity, HO model train | | | | just getting started, you probably won't be laying |
| accessories and sets are easy to find and | | | | out a full-scale railroad just yet. |
| widespread availability. HO Scale offers lower | | | | A rule of thumb is always buy the same brand of |
| space requirements while still affording a good | | | | integrated track - brands aren't interchangeable, |
| amount of detail. | | | | they have proprietary bed heights and connecting |
| N Scale is the smallest popular scale at 1:148 (but | | | | mechanisms. |
| far from the smallest commercially available scale). | | | | Hopefully, this is enough useful information to help |
| N Scale trains have the lowest space | | | | you make a sound decision and get you off the |
| requirements and are great for older children since | | | | platform and onto a scale train. Your journey |
| they offer more flexibility than a boring oval track | | | | awaits! |