- Start with a very simple, not overly ambitious layout with a handful of sidings and at least one run-around track. The mistake many of us make when we get started in this hobby is to bite off more than we can chew. This causes one to get bogged down and sometimes lose interest because there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. There is much more to it than first meets the eye. The primary focus of your first layout should be the wiring, trackwork and control system so you are able to build something that works. This is your “get the trains running” layout. This way you will have greater confidence when to build your next, somewhat more ambitious, layout.
If possible, get to know someone who has experience in the hobby and ask if they can mentor you. I would be pleased to do this for anyone starting out.
After having learned the basics to the point where you are more comfortable, it’s time to start on a new layout – but don’t make the next one the empire that will be a lifetime of work. Again, you will get bogged down and won’t finish. Use this second layout to hone the skills you have learned and avoid the mistakes you made with the first layout. This would also be an opportunity to explore various scenery techniques and a somewhat more elaborate track plan. - Purchase a DCC system and at least one DCC locomotive with sound and some decent quality cars that have Kadee couplers installed at the factory. Later on you can explore installing your own DCC modules in a DC locomotive and add Kadee couplers to cars that don’t have them but this isn’t something you should be fussing with as a newbie.
- Purchase or subscribe to one or more model railroad publications. They all have very good writers who provide a great deal of useful information and generally have topics that are suited to beginner, intermediate and experienced modelers. You will hear people vociferously talking up or down various publications. Ignore these comments and try them all for yourself. I have subscribed to all of the following for many years.
Most editions of the following contain a lot of useful information but, as with any publication, from time to time the articles just happen to be mainly about things that don't currently interest me -- but, chances are in a year or three I'll be going back and digging out the articles because my interests have changed.
Model Railroader Magazine (“MR”) has more articles for beginner and intermediate modelers than some others; they have an outstanding video library for which they charge extra to see everything but it’s not expensive and it contains a treasure trove of information; they also publish an archive containing every one of their magazines published since the 1930's as well as a huge number of track plans you can download – even simpler ones that provide a beginner with some good ideas.
Railroad Model Craftsman (“MRC”) has more articles for intermediate and advanced modelers than some others. It is also of very high quality.
Model Railroad Hobbyist (“MRH”) in an online-only magazine, the base version of which is completely free and contains many times the information in each edition than either of the above publications. There is an expanded version called “Running Extra” which costs only $US19.99 per year but it is well worth it. MRH is as professionally written as the others but with much more content; all past issues are available for download in PDF form. It has a fantastic website with extensive forums and blogs and, for an additional charge, Trainmasters TV which has outstanding videos tailored mainly to the intermediate and advanced modeler. It is free to create a user name and password to use the website and I know they don't share your information or send you emails you don't want.
Lessons Learned
Some lessons I have learned from many years of model railroading. If I knew then what I know now, I would: