Streets and Roads

Building a model train layout requires many hats to be worn, sometimes more than one hat at a time.  These hats can include:  dreamer, artist, civil engineer, traffic engineer, landscaper, architect, electrician,  financier, and many more that I'm sure I'm missing.  

I think this post falls under the civil engineering hat, the designing and building of streets and roads.  Some train layouts don't leave much room for roads, but I think they are an important part of completing the scene.  

On my previous layout I used 1/16th thick 4"x36" balsa wood for my roads, and with great success. It's easy to cut, easy to paint, and gives a nice texture to the scene.  I received many compliments on my roads, so I'm continuing to use balsa.  Why mess with success.

Once my roads are laid out, I just cut the balsa accordingly and glue to the foam using general purpose wood glue.

Many model railroaders do not add any road materials to their crossings, and I have never understood this.  I think they are afraid it will hinder or obstruct the running of trains through the crossing. If done correctly, trains run just fine and the crossing looks more realistic.  I generally build my own grade crossings, but more and more pre made products are available all the time.

Here is a three way intersection with crossings and a sloped road to the right.  Notice the battery being used to weight down the road until the glue dries.  

I use Ceramcoat paints for my roads.  For this layout I will use dark grey on the main roads.  This will eventually get weathered and road markings.

Tunnels and Train Stations

I've been spending more and more time on the layout lately.  It's coming along, but its also a bit behind schedule. I had planned on building two module frames a month, which means I should now have 6 built, but I only have 4.  I guess I'll try to get two more built this month.  

This is the main passenger station for the Twin Lakes & Western Scenic RR.  I'm working on the last few details including:  windows, doors, real clocks for the clock tower, and interior / exterior lighting. I also need to do a bit of weathering to the roof.  

This is looking down module 2 and module 1.  I extended the main road onto module 2, which creates a RR crossing seen at the bottom of the pic. To the left, on the near side of the tracks, will be a drive in movie theater.  Farther down on the left will be a KFC, McDonalds, Taco Bell and a Shell Station.  Some sort of small light industry will fill the area on the right side of the road.

I painted the roof piece of the tunnel.

The walls of the tunnel are painted black. I've used dark grey in the past, but this time I want it to be dark in the tunnel. Now I need to paint the roadbed and rails, then ballast before closing up the tunnel.

Looking uphill through the tunnel site.