Railway modelling enthusiasts can sometimes be called model engineers, depending on the range and depth of the beloved hobby. Whatever the degree of involvement, there is no harm in expanding one’s horizon to encompass intriguing and interesting aspects related to one’s passion.

Finescale Railway Modeller’s Workshop is a community of model railway hobbyists  who share and help each other get the most out of the hobby.

Another resource  for model engineers in general, and railway modellers in particular, is Model-Engineer.

Joining a club could get you plenty of benefits like shopping discounts, magazine subscriptions etc. Look up one such collectors’ club

Get help from a professional artist and model maker who shares useful information about model making, including model railways, in Dovedalemodels

Here is some information on planned model railway workshops for train set enthusiasts.

5th and 6th May 2012  - Weathering Special with Tony Sissons & Tim Shackleton

• About the workshop – Two of the ‘best model railway weathering experts in the world’. Tim Shackleton will show you how to use an airbrush to get an overall finish for your layout. Tony will concentrate on specific items. “An intensive practical weekend with plenty learn and have a go at”.

July – Model Railway 6 day Workshop- with Phil Atkinson.

• About this workshop – Nearly a week of loco’s, chassis, coaches, wagons, track, painting, buildings, and more.

Check outr details of registration and other planned workshops at Hobby Holidays Model Railway Workshops.

Are you a model train enthusiast? You will find it a delight to simply browse through the variety of model train sets and railways that are on sale from different manufacturers and retailers.

Model Trains & Railway Sets – Look up these listings of model railroads, trains  and plenty of related accessories from Amazon UK. You can readily see the discounted rates of sets that are on offer, with free delivery options.

Train sets from ModelZone, UK’s largest specialist model chain.

Railways ‘N’ Trains from a small family run business.

Model trains, train sets and accessories from Trainsontime.

For model train hobbyists, nothing can compare to the joy, satisfaction, and commaraderie of sharing experiences, tips, problems and solutions with fellow railroad fans. Even a non-enthusiast could get fascinated by the intricate and painstaking detail that is involved in this hobby. That’s why these resources have been put together, for hobbyists to share their knowledge on online forums and hubs and benefit from handy tips willingly shared by happy model train fanatics who have been there, done that.

Forums at Trains.com – classic toy trains, classic trains, garden railways, model railroader, and much more.

Railroad Line Forums

Model Railroad Article Library

Model railroad forums

N Scale community

HO Scale Community

“Hi, it’s Dan here… I’m constantly amazed at the fun this hobby has provided me. It has, and will be, a hobby for life!  Not only has it been fun but I’ve learned so many technical skills… carpentry, electrical wiring, problem solving and design. I’ve learned to be creative and developed a hands-on knowledge of geography from making landscapes. I learned how bridges are put together so they don’t collapse…”, says Dan Morgan, a Passionate Model Railroader.

Dan has plenty of stuff to share with complete beginners, as well as advanced railroaders. He also has plenty of tips and tricks, and information with recommendations on model train resources. This hobbyist has been collecting, building, buying and selling HO scale model trains for nearly three decades. He says that a simple Christmas gift - an oval Lima HO scale model train set - got him going.

Look up this enthusiast’s listings of model train resources. He has also reviewed a few books, which beginners and advanced railroaders are certain to find extremely useful.

Yet another model rail enthusiast willingly shares a whole lot of information on this hobby.

This hobbyist calls model railroading as the “most versatile” hobby in the world. It is so multi-disciplinary that a model railroad enthusiast becomes a “jack of all trades” – because one acquires knowledge in subjects as diverse as history and engineering, carpentry and digital command control, electrical wiring and circuitry and artistry, and becomes a near-expert setting up audio-visual effects, painting, terrain and scenery.

The hobbyist conceived and wrote out the pages of the site from experience gathered during the period of over a decade working with model trains and their layouts.  Contributions also resulted from many others passionate about this hobby, so that you get “all the information, tools and techniques you need to build your own realistic, artistic and fully operational model railroad empire”.

Look up and don’t forget to bookmark  Building a Model Railroad: A Comprehensive Guide that consists of over 150 pages of information, tips and techniques.

What better way to learn something – anything – than from someone else’s mistakes? When you start something new, whether it be a business or a hobby, you have probably done a lot of spadework. The preliminary work must involve plenty of targeted research into the subject and all its aspects in their entirety.

If you are a hobby train enthusiast, you will be delighted to have a look at other’s collections and layouts. Of course you can choose to learn from those instances – or feel that you have something to teach them.

You will find plenty of veteran model railroad hobbyists ready and willing to share their experiences with novices and budding modelers. One such is this professional who happens to enjoy model railroads for the sheer fun of it. You will find ten helpful suggestions among the several pages that talk about the components of the personal collection. Go ahead and use the very useful material as reference  for your hobby.

Watch this space for more such reference material.

Steam engine enthusiasts will be interested in this – A1 Peppercorn steam engine ‘Tornado’ 60163 that initially came under steam in 2008, is now available on T-shirt fronts. You can buy a shirt, or a mug, with a picture of the Tornado on it from CafePress. Read all about the BBC programme that tell the story so well, here.

The designs are all from a dedicated model rail enthusiast. Access plenty of useful information for your hobby from Model Trains Today. You will be tempted to go through the site’s store offerings as well!

Books resource:

Look up Amazon.co.uk’s listings of excellent titles in model railway guide books. The listings include well over 150 collector’s guides, step-by-step guides, catalogues, hobby books and model railway design manuals.

Online resource:

About.com has a dedicated section on model railways. See Model Trains to access information on model railroads and model trains, track selection, scale choice and scenery suggestions.

Safety resource:

Are you aware that as an individual model railway enthusiast, you can insure your precious model(s)? Yes – you can get comprehensive cover for the assets of your hobby on an ‘All Risks’ basis including accidental damage, fire, theft, lightning, explosion, storm or flood, falling trees, impact, malicious persons, escape of fuel from any fixed oil heating installation anywhere in the UK. Cover is available for model railway exhibitions and clubrooms as well. Look for more details and get a quote from Model Railway Insurance.

Where in the UK do you source model train sets and accessories for your hobby? It is likely that you have followed up on the user manuals that came along with a gifted train set, or you are happy enough with what your favourite neighbourhood toy or hobby shop has on the shelf. Or perhaps you have a very knowledgeable train set enthusiast friend!

Here’s how you can become familiar with where to source items for your hobby. There are several scores of model railway shops and outlets in the UK, and what’s more – you can browse their shelves from the comfort of your home. The listings are quite helpful, providing you quick gists of the site, the outlet and all the types of offers.

Access a useful directory of UK manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of model train sets, made available by RailModeling.com.