Model railways can be play toys, but they can also be a lifelong hobby. Just as every occupation has its own specific terminology, so does every hobby. Railway modeling is no different. Many of the terms used in the railway world are also used in the model railway world, but there are also some terms that are unique to the model railway world.
For a beginner just starting out, the terminology may seem as foreign as a foreign language; understanding that language can be the key to enjoying and being a successful modeler. Whether you view your models as a long-term hobby or short-term playthings, understanding the lingo that goes along with them is imperative.
These are some of the terms a model railway beginner might come across, with a brief definition.
NMRA is the National Model Railway Association, an organization of railway modelers dedicated to advancing scale model railways and providing education, standards and advocacy.
In the world of modeling, a prototype is the real life object, in this case a train, on which the model is based. Scale is the relationship between the model and the prototype. The most common scales are HO (1:87), N (1:160), and Z (1:220).
A train set is a set that has everything a beginning modeler needs: an engine, carriages, tracks, and power supply. A Shake the Box kit refers to the simplest model kit, where very little assembly is required, much like Ready-to-Run. Kit Bashing, or Kit Mingling, is when a modeler uses parts from different kits to make an original model. Building a model railway without the use of any kit is called ‘building from scratch’.
The layout is the setting for a model railroad, including the train, track, buildings, and landscape. An Access Area is an opening or space in a railway layout that allows a person to reach an area of the layout that would otherwise be unreachable.
Train tracks are made of Rails, which are the T-shaped parts of the tracks that are laid end to end in parallel lines, and Braces, which are the cross bars that are attached to the rails.
Flextrack is a flexible track that can be cut to size to create a straight or curved track. Once it’s nailed in place, the track is firmed up. The rocks that hold the tracks in place are called Ballast; in the modeling world, it also helps reduce noise. The Roadbed is the base on which the train tracks are placed. It is often made of cork or foam, both of which can be purchased at craft or hobby stores.
Models or designs may require white glue, which is a water-based glue (like Elmer’s) and is good for gluing porous materials like wood or paper; it is not waterproof when dry. Yellow glue (or carpenter’s glue) is a resin glue that is also good for porous materials; it makes a stronger bond than white glue and is water resistant when dry. Madness occurs when glue is put on incompatible plastic and the plastic is ruined.
An airbrush allows you to apply a thin, smooth layer of paint to a model and is a good tool for outdoor use. Weathering refers to making models appear more realistic by simulating the conditions that age a train, such as sun, wind, rain, and dirt.
Digital Command Control (DCC) is the control system used to control model trains. It is the most common system for model railways.
Bypass is a modeling word referring to a track change, which is the device that allows a single track to be divided into more than one track. It is called a bypass to avoid confusing it with electrical switches, which are used to control electrical current. The word Interchange refers to one or more tracks that can be used to interchange cars between different railways. The standard is a measurement or value that allows materials from different manufacturers to be used together, without concern for incompatibility.
Trains as play toys have been around for years and years and have entertained thousands if not millions of children. A model railway, with its own language, its unlimited potential for growth and new equipment, and its fascination for children of all ages, is just one more of those toys.
