| Many people's first introduction to model railroading | | | | There are many ways to light a railroad. |
| happens when they put together a simple circle or | | | | Background lighting can add a degree of realism, |
| oval on a sheet of plywood. There's no backdrop | | | | or street lights may add "atmosphere" to your |
| of any kind, and there may not be buildings or | | | | city. The lights may be strictly decorative, or they |
| vehicles to provide any kind of realistic | | | | may actually provide lighting for nighttime scenes. |
| background. | | | | 3. Rail Cars |
| For those who become passionate about it, | | | | The locomotive comes first and is often the focal |
| however, adding accessories to the railroad | | | | point of any railroad setup, but rail cars will let you |
| become necessary as they strive for realism. For | | | | expand the look and length of your train. There |
| enthusiasts, this can become a lifelong hobby, and | | | | are many kinds available. |
| can grow exponentially as they continue. | | | | 4. People and Animals |
| Every layout is different and everyone has | | | | A city or rail yard wouldn't be complete without |
| favored accessories, but the following 5 | | | | people included as a necessary part of the |
| accessories are some of the most common. | | | | scenery. And if your railroad's track travels |
| They will add realism to your model railroad and | | | | through mountains or countryside scenery, |
| make it more interesting to use. | | | | animals also add realism to the backdrop. |
| 1. Train Station | | | | 5. Landscaping |
| Most people add this to their layout as one of the | | | | You can provide landscape for a railroad in endless |
| first accessories. It gives the railroad both a | | | | ways. Add things like grass, trees, lakes or rivers |
| beginning and ending, and may be the locus | | | | to the background and scenery. For more detail, |
| around which to build an entire town or city, | | | | add hills and valleys for your train to travel |
| eventually. | | | | through. You can even include tunnels going |
| 2. Lighting | | | | through the mountains. |