What should you buy? If you want to do a small section to see how you feel about it, then all you will need is some rail, ties and spikes...you can get away with some needle nose pliers for a small section. As for a step by step site?...No I don't know of any. But some basic steps would be a track plan so you can determine what you are going to do and how much track you'll need. Then benchwork, roadbed and then glue your ties, sand your ties, color your ties, ballast (some prefer to do this before the laying rails) lay your rail (and any detail parts such as tie plates/ fish plates), spike the rail not forgetting to add your power feeders as you go...and all the while track gauges...track gauges and track gauges...that rail will love to walk on you.....as I was told here, you can never have too many gauges....
And everyone was right!
Sorry for my long answers...I hope this helps some. Please feel free to email if you have some questions or whatever... I will be glad to help with what I can. I would also recommend the book Detailing Track by Mike Cougill, it has excellent tips and techniques in there for detailing track and switches...well worth the $$.
Handlaying switches(turnouts) it has its challenges....but I love that the most.
