:Toy Trains

Not only do electric toy trains provide allot of fun for the entire family, they have a history that is almost as rich as the one shared by the real railroads. The very first toy trains first appeared on the market in the 1860’s. These trains were simple designs that were made out of wood and metal. It is doubtful that the designers had any inkling of what there simple floor toys would evolve into. The Marklin company saw a need for a set of standard gauges for toy trains in 1891. When they first implemented these standard gauges it was for the wind-up (also called clockwork) trains the Marklin Company produced. The same standards are still used for today’s electric trains. The very first electric toy train was introduced to the world in 1901. The train was a product of the Lionel toy company. At first this train was only intended to be used as a window display. It wasn’t long before consumers were more interested in the window display then in the the merchandise. It was during the 1920’s that electric toy trains became really popular. At the time all the kids wanted them, but only the rich kids could afford them. Smaller scaled eclectic toy trains were introduced to the world. These trains were typically O gauge and HO gauge. Most of these trains could only be purchased as kits that were then put together by adults with a great deal of experience. World War II stopped the production of toy eclectic trains from 1941 through 1945. When production of toy electric trains resumed after the war, the popularity of the trains took off. By the 1950’s they were the most popular toy among boys in the United States. They had also become more affordable. At this time the biggest toy train manufacturer is Lionel. By the middle of the 1950’s there was a clear division between toy electric trains that were designed by adults and toy eclectic trains that were designed with children in mind. The N scale train was introduced in 1965. The N scale train was only one half the size of the O trains. Three years later the G scale train was introduced. The G scale train is still a popular choice among garden railroaders. The G scale train was introduced by Germany’s LGB company. The G scale trains allow collectors to add real scenery to their layouts as well as topography. Some people incorporate garden trains directly into their homes landscaping. Marklin created a train that was even smaller then the N scale train in the 1970’s. This train was called the Z scale. At this time improvements in technology and electronics could be seen in the toy electric trains. Realistic sounds and digital control systems were added to the electric toy trains in the 1980’s. It is estimated that there are over a half million train collectors in the United States and Canada.

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In the real world a railway that has a narrower then 1,435 mm is called a narrow gauge railway. Narrow gauge railways accommodate smaller radius curves, and are cheaper to build. They are often found in mountainous communities and in communities that don’t have enough traffic to justify the expense of building a standard gauge railway. Narrow gauge railway’s are often duplicated by toy trains. The smallest gauge toy train available to toy train collectors is the Z gauge. The Z gauge operates on a track that is only 6.5 mm. The Z gauge was introduced by the Marklin Company in 1972, at the Nuremberg’s Toy Fair. The z gauge is so small that a layout can fit inside a standard briefcase. Some Z gauge engines weigh a little as 20 grams. It is very important that a Z gauge track be kept extremely clean, a little spot of dirt can stop the tiny locomotive in its tracks and gum up all the miniature working parts. The most popular size toy train among toy train collectors is the HO scale trains. The train was first introduced to the market in the middle of the 1930’s but it did not enjoy immediate popularity. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that it started to attract the attention of toy train aficionados. Fans of toy trains started to realize that the the HO’s small size allowed them to add even more detail to their layouts. HO gauge trains are typically less expensive then some of the other size train sets. It is a large enough scale that parents with small children don’t have to worry about the pieces getting swallowed. The typical HO toy train runs on a two rail track that is powered by a direct current. Some collectors have designed HO layouts that have a radius of approximately eighteen inches. The eighteen inch radius models a full scale radius of one hundred and thirty feet. The small radius is so tight that in real life it is only duplicated by streetcars and light rail systems. The casual toy train collector generally uses a track that is made out of prefabricated snap together tracks, the same type of track is often used by exhibitors who move their layout from one show to another. Collectors who have permanent layouts generally prefer to use a track that is constructed of hand laid sections. Some little train enthusiast prefer a flex track that is compatible with a snap together track. The popularity of the HO gauge toy train makes it easy for collectors to locate models and parts for their little train set. The HO gauge is approximately half the size of the O gauge. In the United Kingdom the most popular gauge toy train is the OO gauge. The OO gauge was first introduced in 192 by the Bing company. It was called the Table Runway. A 16.5 mm gauge is used for the OO toy train.

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Toy trains are typically seen indoors in a variety of settings. The most popular display is around a Christmas tree, circling the perimeter around all the gifts. Some people choose to set up their own unique display for year-round viewing inside their home. But rarely will you find a toy train display outdoors; mainly due to the fear of damaging the toy train system. However, there are several toy trains and toy train systems that are meant just for outdoors, and you’re about to get a glimpse of some of the most popular outdoor toy trains! First of all, you need to know how to set up a good outdoor train system. Outdoor model trains should always be placed in a secure location, and should be as level as possible. You might want to consider adding your outdoor train system to your garden, or designing a garden around your toy train. You will only need a single track railway, one locomotive and three or four pieces of rolling rock to get started. Dig a trench about two or three inches deep that your train track route will follow. Fill it with sand and set your track in place, then place more sand in the track to make it even with the ground. This will help provide you with a level ground to operate your train system. Now that you’ve got the construction aspect complete, it’s time to choose your outdoor toy train! The Lionel Silver Bell Express by the Lionel Corporation is a beautiful addition to your outdoor Christmas display. This gorgeous locomotive is sure to be the center of attention at your next holiday party or gathering. The toy trains shimmers in a frosty blue and silver color, and is complete with a musical caboose that plays a pleasant version of “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night”, and “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”. The Silver Bell Express is controlled by a transformer that allows you to move the locomotive forward or reverse. Hand-painted detail and realistic decals make this outdoor toy train look like it just came from Santa’s Workshop! The gauge is large scale and 51″ in diameter, making it large enough to complete any outdoor decoration. The Silver Bell Express can be purchased new for around $200 or you could try your luck at an auction to try to snag this beauty for a cheaper price. The LGB Trains G Scale Hooker Modern Tank Car is an excellent choice for your outdoor toy train system. This outdoor train is a modern version of the classic toy train familiar to many adults. The powerful locomotive can easily pull several freight or passenger cars and you can actually fill the tank with water to create an old-fashioned steam engine effect. The Hooker Modern Tank Car sells for around $85. These are only a few of the many choices available for the outdoor toy train display. With proper construction and smart shopping, you can create a toy train wonderland right in your own backyard!

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Before there was an Internet, there were only a few ways people could get rid of things like toy trains that they no longer wanted. They could sell them at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. They could take them to . They could place a for sale ad in the classified section of the newspaper. They could auction them at one of two types of live auctions; a high end auction which are held by internationally known firms, or a local auction where both the clientele and merchandise are mostly local. In some cases if an auctioneer has enough trains they will hold a train only auction that is more likely to attract the attention of serious collectors. High end auctions are typically where collectors can find exceptionally rare toy trains, toy trucks, and other collectible automobiles. Shopping at an eBay store carries a degree of protection. Many of the EBay stores are run by reputable dealers who specialize in toy trucks, trains, and automobiles. These dealers are often willing to guarantee the items they are selling on EBay. If you are looking for a collector toy train look for EBay stores that have a TCA (Train Collectors Association) membership. These EBay stores take a special pride in their toy trains. If you are considering purchasing a toy train set from an EBay store make sure that they say the transformer is actually working. With the exception of the “ZW” transformers made from Lionel, transformers are typically unrepairable. Before agreeing to the sale ask the EBay store if the transformers knobs turn smoothly and if the transformer is working corrA huge advantage to purchasing a train through an EBay store is the ability to check the feedback the store has received from past customers. Reading through this feedback should give you a good indication about how honest they are about the product they are selling. If you are simply looking for any type, style and make of toy truck, toy train, or any other miniaturized automobile on EBay all you have to do is go to EBay’s handy drop down menu and click on the item you want. You will presented with tons of toy automobile that you can bid on. If you are looking for a ver specific item, go to the search section and type in exactly what you are looking for. The more specific you are the more likely you will be to find the item you are looking for without wasting allot of your time. Once you have selected an item you like contact the merchant, ask lots of questions about the toy train they are selling, does it work, is there any damage, etc.. Ask if they would be willing to send several photos of the item, displaying it at several different angles. Ask the merchant if they would be willing to guarantee the condition of the item. Purchasing trucks, trains, and toy autos at an eBay store allows you to shop whenever it’s convenient, night or day.

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Ask any avid collector of toy trains about American Flyer, and chances are they’ll be able to talk about these classic toy trains for hours. That’s because American Flyer is a tradition in the production of toy trains and has been for years. Since the beginning of the 1900’s, American Flyer has been producing top-quality toy trains and brought smiles to the faces of millions of people who received them as gifts or heirlooms. A truly unique find in toy train systems, American Flyer continues to be a popular name in toy trains and continues to bring happiness to today’s children and collectors. American Flyer toy trains began as an idea to develop a clockwork motor for toy cars in 1901 by a man named William Fredrick Hafner. In 1905, he developed a train that could be operated by a clockwork motor on O gauge track. After receiving several requests and funds for orders, Hafner enlisted the help of his friend, William Coleman, to begin producing these new models of toy trains. At the time, Coleman had taken over control of Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, who had experienced financial hardship in 1906. The two friends immediately started to produce toy trains by using the surplus manufacturing potential of Edmonds-Metzel. The production was a success, and by 1910 Edmonds-Metzel left the hardware industry and changed its name to American Flyer. Originally American Flyer toy trains were thought to be generic in comparison to its competitor manufacturer, Ives. During the First World War, American Flyer’s business expanded and eventually knocked out the German manufactures that produced the majority of toy trains sold in the United States. American Flyer introduced the first electric train in 1918. A windup device replaced the clockwork motor developed by Hafner and quickly became a popular toy among American children. Even with the growing popularity of American Flyer, the company still took second place to the Lionel Corporation – a rivalry that continues among toy train collectors today. American Flyer toy trains are a popular display item at modern toy train conventions and shows, and are usually at the center of heated auction bidding. Although finding pieces from American Flyer toy train systems are not difficult, you can expect to pay top dollar for these classic toys. Even American Flyer catalogs are hot items up for sale and bidding at auctions and on the internet. A simple search of the internet will provide you with a complete listing of where to find American Flyer toy trains and accessories. You’ll find several options for attending shows and conventions that carry American Flyer trains, and you’ll find several items up for bid on eBay. The prices range from $20 for accessories to $500+ for toy trains, box cars, cabooses, and tank cars. Once you find a collectible from American Flyer, it can be a quite addicting hobby to add more pieces and accessories to your collection!

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It has been said that collecting classic toy trains in the world’s greatest hobby. Many of today’s collectors received their first toy train set when they were young, often as a Christmas or birthday present. Collectors claim that the toy train set gave them an opportunity to imagine a whole new world, one that revolved around a steaming locomotive. When they become adults, the collectors of classic toy trains claim that working on their model’s layout is a way to relive stress and escape from the pressures of day to day life. Toy train collectors are an interesting a varied group of individuals. Some of them spend the better part of life, looking for the perfect train set creating model after model, thrilling in seeing the miniature world take shape. This type of collector pours over catalogs, agonizes at toy train auctions, and continually shops at EBay stores that sell toy trains. Others never touch a model train set, they prefer to read books on the construction and collecting of toy trains, they might even attend the toy train shows and auctions This type of collector is happy to sit back and dream about someday building a toy train model. Some collectors spend hours fiddling with the scenery, touching up the paint and designing structures, this collector thinks of their classic toy train model as an art form. Another type of classic toy train collector is fascinated by the mechanical aspect of the toy train, they spend all their time working on the mechanics of their model that they never even bother to add scenery. The thing all these collectors shares is a genuine love of classic toy trains. Very few collectors start out designing a large layout. The average size of the collectors classic toy train layout is 4X8 feet. This starter layout is typically an HO gauge. They add some scenery and a few buildings as they go, gradually expanding on the layout. Most classic toy train collectors will say that no layout, large or small, is ever complete. The layout of toy trains and their railroad tracks consists of scenery and landscaping. The structures are commonly made out of plastic or bits of wood. The mountains are made out of painted pieces of plaster or foam, while the rivers are created by plastic resin. Classic toy rain collectors who are also fans of gardening can combine their hobbies with a garden railroad. A garden railroad is a toy train that runs on a rail road that is routed through your garden. A railway garden is a garden that is planted with miniature plants and landscaped to accommodate a garden railroad. People who design a garden railroad enjoy facing the same types of challenges in landscape and topography that the railroad companies face when they build new rail lines. Most railway gardens are designed with roadbed. A roadbed is a material, most often a ballast created out of rock dust and crushed rocks, that supports the track and allows for drainage. Some people who lack the time, patience, or ability to garden have been able to enjoy a garden railroad by incorporating it directly into their landscaping. Fans of garden railroads say it is a great way for the entire family to bond. Some ambitious railway garden designers have created water features in their gardens that include ornamental fish and live plants.

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There’s nothing like watching little toy trains in motion, especially when they’re accompanied by all the right accessories (tunnels, landscape, buildings, etc). For just a short time, you can get lost in your childhood and allow your imagination to run free. Nearly everyone enjoys the chance to view a toy train system, from young children to the elderly. Finding such a breathtaking display is no easy task, and usually they’re stumbled upon merely by chance. In a world of constant change, it’s comforting to know that there is always an elaborate display of toy trains around the holidays at Citigroup. The Station Tour at Citigroup provides an annual tour through a railroad wonderland. You’ll experience a genuine feeling of happiness like you’ve never felt before, no matter what your age! This is an event that is sure to be enjoyed by the entire family, and you might just find yourself making the tour a holiday tradition. The Station Tour is located in New York City and the display is centered around the 1940’s time frame in New York. The display is approximately 750 square feet in size and is constructed on theatrical style platforms. The scenery is hand-built from Styrofoam and the buildings and water are made from resin. The entire display costs nearly $1 million to construct and operate, but every penny spent is well worth it! The tour begins at the Westshore Terminal of the New York Central Railroad in 1940. You’ll see amazing but accurate displays of the New York 1940’s skyline complete with a replica of the Empire State Building. Little toy trains whistle and make their way through the stone tunnels behind the buildings on to the next destination of the tour – an imaginary city in New York called Generak. Generak is a river city and at first glance has tendency to remind you of New Orleans. A band plays by the street while trolleys carry passengers up the hill. The streets are busy with traffic and you can hear horns beeping and the sounds of cars as they make their way through the streets. Next, you will leave the busy city and head to the countryside, where you’ll pass an old family farmhouse and beautiful mountain cascades. The mountains have life-like trains swirling at the bottom while the mill turns with the dam. Next, you’ll see a changing of the seasons as fall is suddenly upon you. You’ll find yourself amidst a carnival complete with dancing clowns, a working Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a few operating rides that are still familiar to carnivals today. Rapidly, the beautiful colors of autumn fade away and you enter a winter wonderland. You’ll see ice skaters skating blissfully among the frozen ponds, while the North Pole express train passes through. Snow-capped Christmas trees are all aglow with lights and carolers sing along the streets. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world through a child’s eyes is available from November to January for a reasonable price. If you have the opportunity to attend the Station Tour at Citigroup, it is highly recommended you take advantage; and take a trip back down memory lane!

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Your family has been straining their brains, trying to come up with a hobby that all of you can enjoy. Something that will bring you closer. After some debate and allot of bad ideas you and the rest of your family decide that setting up a toy train would be also of fun. The first thing you need to do is go to your local bookstore or library and pick up a couple of books about toy trains. Maybe locate an informational DVD that your whole family can watch together. The more knowledge you and your family the better idea you all will have about what you want. If you are interested in recreating a real railroad pick up a couple of books both the railroad and the area of the world where it is located. Take a Saturday afternoon, pile your family in the mini-van, and go visit your local hobby shop. Chances are good that they will carry some toy train material. Several hobby shops even offer classes for beginners. Plan to attend a toy train show or exhibit. You’ll be able to see how experienced toy train collectors have designed their layouts. You’ll start to have some ideas of your own. The exhibitors will be able to help answer any questions you have. Start looking over your house. Decide where you want to start setting up your toy train. As inviting as it might seem, avoid setting it on the floor. Toy trains that are set up on the floor are easy to step on or kick. In addition dangerous feet, toy trains that are dept on the floor are prone to carpet fuzz which gums up their mechanisms. The best plan is to get a large table that you can set arrange your toy train. If you like you can start to create an ambiance to enhance your planned layout. Add some special lighting, really scrub the walls, and install some shelves to display your toy train supplies that you aren’t using in your layout. Purchase a tool kit. Don’t worry about getting anything elaborate. All you will need in the beginning is a pair of needle nose pliers, a hobby knife, a screwdriver, needle files, a scale rule, and a pair of pliers. Keep the tool kit in a drawer near the place you plan on displaying your toy train. Don’t become enthralled with the idea of having a huge layout. Large layouts are very complicated and can quickly intimidate a beginner. The best plan is to buy a small layout. The wonderful thing about toy train sets is that they are designed to be expanded. When you start setting up your layout follow that publishers plans. Once you are comfortable with the project you can start to customize. Now that you are set up, its time to add a train. On form of power you can use for your toy train is a power pack. A power pack is an electrical device that supplies the power to a toy train. The power pack controls the direction of the train as well as the speed at which the train travels. Another power source is the use of a remote control. A train that operates with a remote control requires you to operate the remote, you control the speed and direction of the train. An electric train that operates with a power pack lets you relax while the train quietly runs along its track. While you and your family are enjoying your new electric toy train, shut of the TV and make sure that the entire family is involved in the planning, creating, and enjoying of the latest hobby.

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