Most Common Misconceptions About Model Railroads

Getting into model trains can be quite the experience, whether you want to have a small setup or dive into larger-scale staging areas. That said, it’s essential that when you get into the hobby, you keep some of the most common misconceptions about model railroads in mind. You don’t want to find yourself in over your head!

Some newer hobbyists commit to certain locomotive designs that they later regret or set their sights on a specific look for your layout that ends up not working out. As you dive in, be aware of what issues other novices ran into. Take your time when planning your model railroad, and always try to catch yourself before making a mistake or believing a common misconception. Remember these when plotting your layout and spending money on models; you don’t want to start your hobby on the wrong foot.

You Need To Prepare Your Room Before Constructing Your Layout

A good railroad set will need a lot of little accessories, such as lights, miniature buildings, constructed hills, railways, etc. It’s a common thought that aspiring model train hobbyists need to prepare their train room before purchasing any trains or having a solid layout in mind. However, this can be backward thinking.

If you commit to too much too early, you’ll inevitably find yourself stuck with a certain layout and design you can’t easily change. Give yourself some time to really think about the look and design you want to go for; it’s normal to switch your aesthetic choices throughout the early steps of the process. Let your room and accessories follow your layout instead of letting your layout follow your accessories and room.

Buy All Your Model Trains Before Getting Started on Design Choices

In the same vein as purchasing all your accessories and scenery pieces beforehand, some model train enthusiasts will tell you to get all your models before laying down any track. After all, you love the designs, so you’ll find a way to make them fit into your chosen layout. That’s not necessarily the case, as people often revise their plans or change their minds before committing to a design.

It’s critical that you have a solid idea in your head of what you want your layout to look like and revise that idea until you’re satisfied. Don’t just go with the first plan you have; most likely, you’ll end up changing it as time goes on. The model trains you love aren’t going anywhere, so make sure you have the right design to highlight your locomotives.

Multi-Level Layouts Are More Convenient

Some think that having a multi-tier layout allows hobbyists to have more realistic train runs and rail lengths while providing more room to house more models. While multi-level layouts do provide more vertical room, it does tend to significantly inhibit movement and flow in your staging area.

If you lean too heavily into multi-tier layouts, you risk bumping into your designs, potentially causing everything to come crashing down. It’s essential that you stay keenly aware of your spatial limitations; make sure you can comfortably move throughout your staging area without risk of damaging your models.

Go Big or Go Home—Railroads Need To Be Expansive

Similar to the previous point, many newer hobbyists think that there’s no point in having a smaller, more modest model railroad. There are some railroad hobbyists who feel that the bigger the set, the more impressive the design—of course, that’s not always the case.

A smaller, more detailed layout can pack a much more impressive punch than a layout that is large yet less intricate. Quality all depends on how you utilize the space, models, and accessories you have, so it’s not just a matter of how much you have. It’s easy to have a visually interesting railroad set that doesn’t take up the entire length of the room, so don’t feel any kind of pressure to expand your rails beyond your means.

Know what you’re comfortable with regarding upkeep and how much rail your room can reliably contain. If you do want to have a larger rail space, it’s advisable to start small and work your way up to something more substantial. You don’t want to jump right into the deep end without enough experience. Take your time when building up your rails and learn how to make an interesting, small layout before stepping it up to a bigger scene.

You’re Stuck With the Layout You Choose

One of the most common mindsets train model enthusiasts get into is that they’re stuck with whatever layout they choose forever. They feel that once you lay down your rails and dress up your staging area, there’s no going back or altering plans. This is a very detrimental and limiting idea to have as you make aesthetic choices throughout your design phase.

You always have the power to go back and revise your layout, change accessories and decorations, and alter lighting; nothing is set in stone. Regularly look for ways to enhance your layout’s design or watch out for ways you can improve your own enjoyment of your model set. You have complete creative control, and you can do a complete design 180 if you decide to.

Make no mistake—if you have a very intricate, large-scale layout, you won’t be able to change everything in 10 minutes. It may take some time to switch up your railroad’s design, but it’s not impossible. While the decision to change your layout might feel overwhelming at first, you can successfully revise your setup as long as you have a plan of action.

Have What You Need To Bring Your Designs to Life

Whether you want a large- or small-scale layout, it’s essential to have easy access to what you need, like train sets, tracks, and accessories. At Midwest Model Railroad, we have a wide variety of different model locomotives, structures, and scenery pieces to bring your design into reality. Look through our HO train locomotives to find the pieces you love today. Keep these common misconceptions about model railroads in mind throughout your design process to create something you love.