Tom's Train Station — You Just Got to See It

Tom's Train Station logo

The Shops at South Hills
1239 Buck Jones Road
Raleigh, NC 27606

Phone: 919-388-7246
Fax: 919-388-8611

Store Hours
Monday–Saturday: 10am–6pm
Closed Sunday

Email:
sales@tomstrainstation.com

Clinics on Model RR Topics

Click on title for desired topic.
Schedule
Clinic Details
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Tom's Train Station presents a series of Clinics on various Model Railroading topics, designed to help beginners to model railroading learn how to do various things. These clinics are usually presented on selected Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons and/or at local Train Shows. This page provides a description of the current Clinics as well as a schedule of when they will be presented.

Registration for the clinics is free, but attendance is limited to 15 people or less, depending on the individual clinic. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Register for the Clinics at Tom's Train Station, either in person, by phone at 919-388-7246 or by email at sales@tomstrainstation.com.

Clinic Schedule

There are no clinics currently scheduled. Check back from time-to-time for future clinics.

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Clinic Details

Our Clinics are listed alphabetically. Please refer to the previous section above for the schedule of when the Clinics will be presented.

Basic Care and Feeding of Starter Train Sets

Presented by: Len Nieman
The Roundhouse & Backshop

For many folks their first entry into model railroading is the purchase of a complete train set during the Christmas season. This clinic will provide helpful information for unpacking the set, setting it up, testing and running the train. Then topics such as cleaning the track and train wheels, and cleaning and lubricating the locomotive will be covered. For Lionel train sets with smoke, the correct use of the smoke unit, fluid and switch will be emphasized.

Basic Scenery Clinic
featuring Woodland Scenics products

Presented by: Tom Staley
Tom's Train Station

Topic	Duration
Laying and Ballasting Track	60 minutes
Making Trees	60 minutes
Mountains, Scenery and Tunnels	120 minutes

The pictures below show examples of the scenery created from the last session of this clinic.

scenery1 scenery2

Introduction to
Digital Command Control (DCC)
(NMRA Standard DCC for DC Trains)

Presented by: John Wallis
Digital Master
North Raleigh Model Railroad Club

Topic	Duration
Introduction to DCC Systems Available Choosing a System	45 minutes
Selecting & Installing Mobile Decoders	45 minutes
Wiring Your Layout	30 minutes

Please note this Clinic deals with Digital Command Control as defined by the Standards and Recommended Practices of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) for direct current controlled trains. Command Control for AC controlled trains (such as Lionel TMCC and MTH DCS) are not covered in this Clinic.

Making Trees & Building Mountains
featuring Woodland Scenics and other products

Presented by: Tom Staley
Tom's Train Station

Learn how to make your own trees from commercially available material and material you can find in nature. Then learn how to build mountains using newspaper, cardboard strips, masking tape and plaster cloth. Finally learn how to scenic your mountain and add the trees you made.

Track & Ballasting & Detailing

Presented by: Tom Staley
Tom's Train Station

Topic	Duration
Laying and Ballasting Track	75 minutes
Detailing Track	45 minutes

Learn how to lay track on your layout in any scale, then apply ballast for a realistic prototypical appearance. Finally add details to the track that gives it that special unique look on your layout.

Tunnel Construction

Presented by: Tom Staley
Tom's Train Station

Learn how to make a realistic tunnel for your train, with interior walls, portals, retaining walls, and cover with a hill, mountain, etc.

Following are pictures of a tunnel created at a recent session:

MtnClinic1 MtnClinic2

MtnClinic3
Above photos: Building the tunnel

MtnClinic4
The tunnel on the layout.