In model railroading, a 'layout' is a diorama containing scale track for operating trains. The size of a layout varies, from small shelf-top designs to ones that fill entire rooms, basements, or whole buildings.
Attention to modeling details such as structures and scenery is common. Simple layouts are generally situated on a table, although other methods are used, including using a flush-sided door as a base. More permanent construction methods involve attaching benchwork framing to the walls of the room or building in which the layout is situated.
Hornby dublo poster as seen at Locomotion, Shildon
Track layout
Micro 'pizza layout' with 9 mm gauge track in 7 mm scale (09 scale)
An important aspect of any model railway is the layout of the track itself. Apart from the stations, there are four basic ways of arranging the track, and innumerable variations:
Continuous loop. A circle or oval, with trains going round and round. Used in train sets. Called a 'Tail Chaser'
Point to point. A line with a station at each end, with trains going from one station to the other.
Out and back. A pear shaped track, with trains leaving a station, going round a reversing loop, and coming back to the same station.
On a point to point layout, the train can increase the time it takes to get from A to B by going around a continuous loop a few times.
Single or double track or more, so more trains can run at the same time.
Intermediate stations, to distinguish between express trains which go straight through and local trains which stop briefly.
Branch lines, to add an excuse for more stations and different types of trains.
Use of multiple levels.
Arranging the continuous loop as a figure-of-8, possibly with one track going over the other instead of having tracks crossing on the same level.
Folding one loop of a figure-of-8 over the other loop to produce a looped-8, so as to reduce the amount of space needed while keeping a long continuous run.
Using one or more fiddle yards (US: staging tracks) to represent the rest of the railway system. A fiddle yard is regarded as off-scene; it may hold multiple complete trains, and may also be subject to direct human intervention (fiddling) to re-arrange trains,
Dog-bone arrangement of a continuous loop; the sides of an oval are squeezed together so it looks like a double-track section with a loop at each end where the trains turn around.
Rabbit warren; a continuous loop folded over itself several times with multiple levels and many tunnels for trains to pop in and out of - often a small layout with sharp curves and short trains.
In the UK, OO gauge is one of the most popular sizes as 1:76 is not 'too fiddly' nor too large to fit in one's room. Despite this, TT gauge (1:120 scale) is becoming increasingly popular because its tiny size enables anybody to have a larger layout in a smaller area. Still, the closer to life-size, the more detail can be added without using tweezers.
A comparison of different scales and their dimensionsA complicated scale rule used for scale measurements when drawing plans or modeling.
Some modelers use a scale ruler to ensure that something such as a brick wall is the correct height. For example, OO gauge uses the ratio 4 millimeters to one foot. So a 6 foot wall in reality would be 24 millimeters tall on the railway layout.
How do the trains and tracks work?
Train sitting on powered track (OO gauge) A DC power unit made by Hornby in the 1980sA DC power unit made by Tri-ang in the 1950sA DC power unit made by Hornby in the 2020s
You can read more about the other ways in which model trains were and are powered in this Wikipedia article
A model railway operates with the use of powered track (electricity) where a handheld transformer is used to alter the power of the track. A standard model train made by companies such as Hornby or Accurascale includes a motor driven by pickups that touch the metal wheels of the train thus carrying a current through the motor.
Similar to DC, DCC still runs power through the track but instead of using just a simple current, DCC uses binary signals to 'call' for each train. On a DCC layout, each train has an address enabling you to chose which trains to power, when, what direction, which headlights to use and how fast. Instead of controlling the track, you now control the trains themselves. Each DCC train has a decoder which understands the signals sent by the handset and thus powers the train when called for.
Another feature of a DCC layout is that you can control other assets of your railway such as points, signals (if not already automated), sounds, and other electronic devices that you may want to add for an even more realistic experience.
DCC diagram of a layout
Station layout
Terminal station modeled on the East Texas Model Railroad Club HO-scale layout
There are three basic types of station, and sometimes combinations of these types:
Terminus or terminal station. As the name implies, all trains stop here, and then go back to where they came from.
Through station. Trains can go through this station; express trains don't stop, while local trains do stop briefly before continuing their journey.
Use of trains which can be driven from either end, e.g. Diesel Multiple Units.
The simplest possible station for passengers consists of just a platform beside the track, with no points (US: switches) or sidings. Both terminal and through stations can be as simple as this; a junction requires at least one point.
Large manufactures
For a more general category of all companies relating to model railway or just simply 'models' visit this page.
A list of popular locomotive and rolling stock manufacturers
Some other popular manufacturers include Rapido, Oxford rail, Arnold and Kato but these are slightly less known.
Hornby platform footbridgeHornby station waiting room
There are also some other big names in the model railway hobby but not for manufacturing trains. Although Hornby, Bachman and Dapol are also large scenic, building and accessory manufacturers, the below companies have been some of the most popular layout accessory companies in the world for over 20 years. The bold products indicate the company's most dominantly sold category.
A list of popular track and accessory manufacturers
.jpg)
