Model Railroading

Model railroading connects us with history in a very tangible way. The railroad changed the US forever by connecting our coasts. It helped create our American identity. Model railroaders recreate an earlier time and place with painstaking detail.

Model railroading layouts can be made in one of many scales. Some of these scales include:

Z Scale - 1:220 scale (distance between rails is 6.5 mm or 0.256 in)
N Scale - 1:160 scale (distance between rails is 9 mm or 0.354 in)
HO Scale - 1:87 scale (distance between rails is 16.5 mm or 0.65 in)
S Scale - 1:64 scale (distance between rails is 22.4 mm or 0.883 in)
O Scale - 1:48 scale (distance between rails is 32 mm or 1.25 in)
G Scale - 1:22.5 scale (distance between rails is 45 mm or 1.772 in)

FUN FACTS ABOUT MODEL TRAINS

• The longest model train ever built was 361 feet, 10 inches long. This HO scale hobby train would have measured 5.969 miles long if it had been full-scale. It was constructed by Miniature Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany.
• The largest model train layout used eight miles of track to hold more than 100 trains, 4,000+ buildings, and 300+ bridges. Its highest mountain was 30 feet tall and its longest bridge was 40 feet. It used enough wood to build 42 large houses.
• Model railroaders build skills in carpentry, electronics, painting, and the mechanics of how things work.

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Scenery and Layout

Finding and arranging the scenery on your model railroad layout is often the most fun of all. With thousands of options of how to design your perfect layout, you could spend hours just picking out your theme!

Trains and Vehicles

Choose from thousands of model railroad cars and engines for realistic operation of your model railroad layout!

Video Tip

Click the video above to see an introduction on how to build a model railroad layout!