Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading

Switcher Tracks

Switcher track allow trains to move onto different lines of track. There are left and right switcher tracks. For example, you might have one track line going around the entire outside edge of your train table, and another track line that takes your train toward the inside of your train table. This is accomplished by using switcher tracks. Switcher tracks are also called turnouts.

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Crossing Tracks

Fun Railroading

Track layouts that just create single-line operation of a model rairoad are not very exciting. The fun of railroading is having the capability to drive your trains from one track layout to another, like moving your trains from a mainline and onto a train yard for parking locomotives in a train house and rolling stock onto storage rails when not in use. These kinds of layouts are made possible by switcher tracks.