| The best thing about tunnels is when the train | | | | probably guess what happened next. The loco |
| disappears into the blackness and then reappear | | | | was too high to get through the tunnel. I was |
| on the other side of the mountain. That is all good | | | | very annoyed with myself as it was something I |
| fun, but the important thing when building tunnels | | | | could have easily fixed and avoided hours of |
| is to be able to access the train if it derails. It can | | | | extra work and frustration. Please tell others!" |
| be very frustrating if you know where the train | | | | Tunnels can look unrealistic if the clearances are |
| is, but can not get it out without damaging it. So, | | | | too low or too narrow. A tunnel also needs to |
| always have a method of accessing or removing | | | | accommodate the longest freight or passenger |
| your trains from tunnels. Some model railroaders | | | | train you might ever want to run. Remember too, |
| build a secret removable panel into the side of the | | | | steam engines were taller than the model diesel |
| mountain for easy access. | | | | engines. So, if you ever want to run steam |
| Another important thing when building tunnels is to | | | | locomotives, make sure there is enough clearance |
| carefully calculate clearances. Recently I got an | | | | top and sides throughout the entire tunnel length |
| email from a fellow model train enthusiast asking | | | | (allowing for bends in the track). |
| me to tell others about potential clearance | | | | Building your own model railroad tunnels can be a |
| problems when building tunnels. | | | | lot of fun and you can buy ready-made tunnel |
| Anyway, rather than me explaining here is what | | | | portals (ends) to add a touch of realism. You can |
| the reader said: "I made a big mistake recently | | | | also purchase plastic kit-set tunnels in different |
| when building a tunnel through a mountain and it | | | | scales. Finishing off the tunnel with matte paint |
| caused me all kinds of problems. Please tell | | | | and adding some ground cover can be very |
| everyone as I would hate anyone to make the | | | | effective. Some model train shops and online |
| same mistake. I forgot to check that there was | | | | retailers even sell tunnels that have bends, or can |
| enough space for my biggest loco to run through | | | | be extended, or joined together. The possibilities |
| the tunnel before I applied the paper mache to | | | | are endless. |
| the chicken wire frame of the tunnel. You can | | | | |