2. Landscape

You can add depth and dimensions to your layout by adding a realistic landscape to your model setup. Start with laying down the track and ballast. Then you can start designing the landscape around the tracks.

Instead of a flat track, try using a circle or an oval track, and maybe include some sidings where trains pass each other, or load and unload goods, or change wagons and locomotives. You can do a lot with your railroad to keep your viewers interested in your setup.

Adding a mountain in the middle of the layout and watch the train disappear behind it and then reappear is often a good technique to keep the viewers interested in the activities on your layout.

3. Model Railroad Buildings

Apart from the trains and train stations; having buildings in your layout is also very important. This will add a lot to the depth of realism that you are trying to capture in your scale railroad. There is an excellent range of printable n scale city buildings and ho scale city buildings on this website to download and print on paper. The scale model city buildings in this series even features a city model of a city fire station.

The downloadable scale building kits you add in you train layout should be according to the scene that you are trying to depict. For instance if you show a city in your layout then you can add skyscrapers and scale model city buildings, but if the train is in a remote place then adding a farm or a log cabin kit will make it look more real.

If you want to capture a scene from the past then make sure that you add the weathering effects on the structures that you add in your railroad. This will help age them and make them look as if they have been there for a long time exposed to the elements.

Buy model train buildings from this website and you’ll discover the difficult weathering is actually pre-done for you. Many of the structures include cracks, flaky and peeling paintwork, scratches, rust marks, mold stains etc. to add to the realism. The model railroad kits are easily downloaded ready for printing using a home computer.

4. Model People and Animals

Adding people in your train layout is absolutely necessary because wherever there are trains there will usually be animals or people in the area. When you add people or animals
in your layout make sure that they are part of a scene and not just randomly placed around. You can buy model kits with groups of people or animals. Here are some ideas that you can use to add people in your railroad:

• A boy finding his dog around the train track.
• People waiting to get on the train.
• Families seeing off their loved ones at the model train station.
• A man and a women taking stroll in the station.
• People putting luggage on the train.
• A sports ground with players.
• A street scene with pedestrians.
• A fire scene with firemen and onlookers.

Cities and towns need a lot of activity especially around scale model city buildings.

5. Lighting and Signs

No railroad model is complete without the addition of the minor details such as stop lights, signs, and intersections. These things not only make your layout look real, but they also make it a lot more interesting.

Add these elements in your layout and watch it come to life in front of your eyes. It will not only mesmerize you but it will also captivate the viewers of your railroad.

Train stations are many and varied in the real world. Some are fully automated with automatic ticket machines. Others have ticket offices where passengers can buy train tickets for their journey. Some railway stations include fully enclosed waiting rooms, lost and found offices, a left luggage office, arrival and departure boards, toilets etc. Some stations have taxi ranks, or bus stops located outside.