Resources
Without any information, one quickly gets lost trying to learn. Luckily, there is a wealth of printed material available pertaining to this hobby. There are two thoughts towards actually starting to lay track and getting operating. One view favors a learn-as-you-go adventure, learning from one’s mistakes. The other is to take some time to read about the hobby first, and starting a bit more prepared. There are many problems that can be avoided by starting a bit slower and being a bit prepared. It is also an opportunity to find out what the hobby is all about, and some of it's many facets.
A good source of information can be found in the monthly periodicals; Model Railroader, and Railroad Model Craftsman. These magazines have numerous articles for both the beginner and advanced modeler. They also have advertisements from dealers, which provides an excellent idea of what one can expect to spend for rolling stock, locomotives, structures, and scenery material. They also feature "how-to" articles on just about every aspect of the hobby. One can even take a pictorial visit to other layouts, both home and club size, to see the work of others. Also included are reviews of new items, with honest opinions as to quality, be it good, very good, or not so good. Both have listings of shows which are categorized by state and date. These can be found at local hobby stores, and sometimes in the magazine racks of larger super markets. They may also be available at your local library
Another resource is the "Walther’s" catalogue. This is a very comprehensive listing of what is available in which ever scale one picks. As HO is the most popular, the catalogue is about 700 pages thick. It pictures almost every item, and has a photo section showing the work of others. If something is not in the catalogue, it is probably not made. The only area that "Walther’s" does not cover is brass locomotives. These are mostly limited run items, and are often on a reserve basis, meaning you put down a deposit, and wait a year or two until the engine actually gets to market. Brass locomotives are hand built, and require many details, and this is why the market is so limited.
The Nation Model Railroad Association is also a good source for information. When the hobby was just starting, before the 1930’s, there was a lack of standardization. If one bought a Brand "X" engine, in would only run on Brand "X" track. Thanks to the efforts of the NMRA, that problems has been eliminated. They have their complete set of Standards and Recommended Practices available on the Web. As they are a volunteer organization, it takes a while to update certain areas. But they do have a DCC standard in place.
A trip to the local hobby store should also provide stacks of information. There are numerous books available for just about any aspect of the hobby; track plans, wiring, scenery, structures, and more. Some of these are meant for beginners and others are for the move advanced modeler.
Another means for gaining insight is to visit a local model railroad club. Here one will find others with the same interests and most will have gone through the experience of having built a first layout. With all the various skills involved in creating a club layout, members develop a certain specialty. Being a shared hobby, this can be a valuable asset, if a member does not know the answer to a question, it is very likely that they will point you towards the person that does.
Follow the links below for additional information: