Benchwork and Planning your Model Train Track
The most crucial element in the smooth operation of your train is the model train track. If you fail to get this right, it won’t matter much about the rest of the work. You may remember when you were a child and your train kept crashing because the track didn’t fit together properly. For this reason, you need to plan your track on paper before you do anything else.
It may wear on your patience to draw and plan before constructing your track, but that is the only way to do it properly. One of the first things to learn in model railroading is to be patient. The hobby is slow and methodical by its nature, and you must learn to proceed that way.
Benchwork is the heart of modeling. Ideas come to fruition there. That is why it’s so important to decide how large a layout you want to have early in your design. When you invest many hours into the scenery and how it fits together, changing up to expand the set later results in a lot of reworking.
Decide on how much space you will need for your setup. This depends on the scale of the train, the train’s turning radius, the size of the area you have to work in, and how large a setup you want. Other factors might be how many cars you plan to add to your train, how many trains you may run at one time, and if you are going to have switching tracks and train turnouts.
Accessibility is a big concern because of the extended time you will spend working on scenery. If you have a setup that is against a wall where you only access it from one side, you wouldn’t want more than 2 to 3 feet of width so you will be able to reach things on the back without a lot of trouble. If you have access from both sides, your width could be as much as 5 feet.
The height of the benchwork should take into consideration access, too. If you plan to stand up and work on track and scenery, 36 to 42 inches should be about the right height. Most people prefer to work from a stool. You can work well from a bar stool with the top of the benchwork at 42 inches.
After determining the size your benchwork will be and the projected configuration of your layout, you are ready to draw up your design. If the overall length of your benchwork is 10 feet or less, you can draw your layout on a poster board at a scale of about 1:4. Always use a pencil when you are drawing out the track configuration so you can erase and redraw until you have it the way you want it.
If you plan to change elevations of the rails on the benchwork, note that on your drawing, and make elevation changes very slowly. A sudden change in elevation will cause a derailment. On your curves, be sure you do not go below the manufacturer’s minimum
radius because this is another way to get derailed.
Only start to lay track when you are satisfied that the plan you have will work. Keep your drawing to work out the locations of scenery items, after you have laid your model train track.
While this may seem like a lot of work in the beginning, it will save you time and headaches in the end. When your train runs smoothly without derailing, you will know your forethought and planning was well worth the time and effort you put into it. All aboard!
