| Makin' Tracks & Getting Wired | | | | made of, what form you can expect to find it in when |
| You've got your benchwork up and your | | | | you buy it, the types and grades available to you. |
| topographical foundation set. Are you ready to get | | | | Track, for the most part, is composed of one of four |
| down to the nitty-gritty of deciding on your train | | | | materials. You find it in brass, zinc-coated steel, steel, |
| route? It's time to lay some track and wire 'er up! | | | | and nickel sliver. Of these, brass and zinc-coated |
| Wow! Just where do I begin? For the first | | | | are the most common, but some hobbyists swear by |
| year or so of your hobby, you may find it much easier | | | | nickel silver. Brass is a good conductor of electricity, |
| just to buy tracks than to scratch build them. (Yes, | | | | but the care and cleaning associated with it tends to |
| those truly devoted to this hobby actually build their | | | | be a bit overwhelming sometimes. |
| own!) And that's fine. The point of this hobby -- and | | | | For on thing, the oxide that forms on it is a poor |
| any hobby for that matter -- is to simply enjoy | | | | conductor. That tends to inhibit the optimal working of |
| yourself. As a newcomer to the subject, jumping in | | | | the train. In order to keep the train in running |
| with both feet, trying to do everything at one time -- | | | | condition, you need to clean the rails frequently with |
| build tracks, scenery, even cars -- may be a bit too | | | | track cleaning block. The other way to remove the |
| overwhelming. Many people prefer just purchasing | | | | oxidation is to keep running your cars over them. |
| products -- all their products, including scenery and | | | | The zinc-coated steel also has more than one |
| other structures -- and just enjoy the locomotive and | | | | disadvantage. |
| its cars. And you know, that works for me! But if | | | | When the zinc coating wears away (as it eventually |
| I'm going to talk about tracks, I may have to, by | | | | will), it leaves the steel exposed. Yes, you can see |
| necessity talk about manufacturers. It just comes | | | | the problem right away: steel definitely rusts. While |
| with the territory. When I mention certain brands or | | | | nickel silver is not quite as good as conductor of |
| models of tracks (as well as other products), please | | | | electricity as the others, its residual oxide works every |
| don't take these to mean an endorsement of them in | | | | bit as well as a conductor as its original coating, |
| any way, shape or form. As you progress in the | | | | providing you with reliable, consistent track no matter |
| pursuit of this leisurely pursuit, you'll see what I mean -- | | | | what the circumstances. Go figure! Bringing your |
| and you'll discover some favorites of your own! Talk | | | | first set home When you buy your first model |
| to just about any veteran model railroader and he'll (or | | | | railroad, you'll notice that the layout of your set is not . . |
| she'll) tell you in no uncertain terms: good trackwork is | | | | . well, terribly imaginative. For the most part, your |
| essential to your operation. In the next breath, they'll | | | | initial model comes with a circular layout. Perfect for |
| probably start talking about some horror story of | | | | under the Christmas tree, but a little boring to watch |
| somebody - or even themselves when they first | | | | for any length of time outside of Christmas morning! |
| began -- of trying to do a "quick start" at the hobby | | | | Before you bring this set home, though, you may wan |
| and laid their rail down quickly. They soon | | | | to give some thought to where you'll be setting it up in |
| discovered that they encountered derailments (trains | | | | your house (yes, other than the under the tree!) |
| falling off tracks). Locomotives and cars may have | | | | Your circular set, if it's an S gauge will probably be, |
| been damaged beyond repair in the process. It's | | | | once laid out, about 40 inches in diameter. This |
| possible even some of the scenery they worked so | | | | means you should plan on a space about this size. |
| hard to build got damaged. | | | | Now you could place your set on the floor to start, or |
| "Quick and haphazard" doesn't work for the real | | | | you could put a large piece of plywood on a tabletop |
| life-size railroads and it certainly doesn't work for your | | | | to get you started. The choice is yours.............More on |
| model either. Makin' Tracks: | | | | Jonah's book "Ultimate Comprehensive Guide to Model |
| What to expect Before you even start, it's best to | | | | Train Building". |
| know a little overview of the track itself, what's it | | | | |