The best thing about tunnels is when the train disappears into the blackness and then reappear on the other side of the mountain. That is all good fun, but the important thing when building tunnels is to be able to access the train if it derails. It can be very frustrating if you know where the train is, but can not get it out without damaging it. So, always have a method of accessing or removing your trains from tunnels. Some model railroaders build a secret removable panel into the side of the mountain for easy access.

Another important thing when building tunnels is to carefully calculate clearances. Recently I got an email from a fellow model train enthusiast asking me to tell others about potential clearance problems when building tunnels.

Anyway, rather than me explaining here is what the reader said: "I made a big mistake recently when building a tunnel through a mountain and it caused me all kinds of problems. Please tell everyone as I would hate anyone to make the same mistake. I forgot to check that there was enough space for my biggest loco to run through the tunnel before I applied the paper mache to the chicken wire frame of the tunnel. You can probably guess what happened next. The loco was too high to get through the tunnel. I was very annoyed with myself as it was something I could have easily fixed and avoided hours of extra work and frustration. Please tell others!"

Tunnels can look unrealistic if the clearances are too low or too narrow. A tunnel also needs to accommodate the longest freight or passenger train you might ever want to run. Remember too, steam engines were taller than the model diesel engines. So, if you ever want to run steam locomotives, make sure there is enough clearance top and sides throughout the entire tunnel length (allowing for bends in the track).

Building your own model railroad tunnels can be a lot of fun and you can buy ready-made tunnel portals (ends) to add a touch of realism. You can also purchase plastic kit-set tunnels in different scales. Finishing off the tunnel with matte paint and adding some ground cover can be very effective. Some model train shops and online retailers even sell tunnels that have bends, or can be extended, or joined together. The possibilities are endless.

Happy Railroading!