How to Fold a Railroad Bench

Railroad benches, or benchworks, are the foundation of a model trail layout. They can be simple sheets of plywood supported with wooden studs or complex benchworks mounted on the walls of a spare room. Even a spare ping-pong table turns into a mobile model railroad. Some benches fold in the middle, while others may have a single hinged side, or lift-gate, that tilts up to allow access to the interior cutout. Each joint, however, is a possible future derailment unless you take the proper steps when folding your railroad bench.

Flashlight

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the control panel or disconnect the electrical power source. Remove any trains, buildings or other loose scenery.
- 2
  Disconnect track or wiring that meets at the fold's edge. Many railroad benches, particularly those built with foam sheets, have channels cut into the foam to hide wiring; look carefully for connections. Never force wiring connections apart or you risk breaking the connectors.
- 3
  Crawl under the railroad bench. Run the flashlight beam along the joint to locate latches or wiring connectors. Disconnect any wires that cross the fold's edge.
- 4
  Look for latches, barrel bolts, screws or other connectors that stabilize the two halves of the benchwork. Disconnect the the halves. Also look for hinges or wiring connectors near the edges of the railroad bench; many builders add smaller sections to the bench's borders to accommodate large-radius track curves
- 5
  Lift and fold the bench, avoiding striking any remaining scenery or track. Don't allow the halves to shift from side to side, as this twists and loosens the hinges.

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