Electric Train Set with Exclusive Power

 Life Like Electric Train Set with Exclusive Power-Loc 8 Track System - Over 200 Pieces!
A child's first train set is one of the memories he is likely to cherish for a lifetime. The Super Power Charger Electric Train Set is sure to embrace such happy future memories for your own child. Imagine the thrill and excitement when your child opens a large wrapped present, and is greeted by a colorful train set as he eagerly tears the wrapping paper hiding his treasure. By purchasing our Super Power Charger Train Set, you can share this moment with your little one, opening the package, and pulling out the wonderful pieces of train, track, and accessories totaling over 200 pieces which include:

* 89" x 38" Power-Loc Track, Tank Car, Hopper Car, Steel Door Box Car, Stock Car, Thrall Door Box Car, Matching 8-Wheel Caboose
* 1 U.L. Approved Power Pack with Forward and Reverse;AC/DC terminals
* 1 Set Plug-In Terminal Wires

Electric Train Sets

The easiest way to get started in model railroading is to buy a set. It isn't necessarily the only or the best way, but the easiest. When choosing your first electric train set there are many factors to consider: size, quality, and budget to name a few.

Before going out to buy a set, you need to think about how much space you can dedicate to your new hobby. Is your new set going to be pulled out occasionally? Laid out on a plywood sheet? Or do you have a man cave you can turn into Penn Station?

Trains some in a wide variety of sizes called scales. The most common scales are O, HO and N Scale. Obviously, the larger the scale, the more room you will need to dedicate.
O Scale is the largest popular scale it varies from 1:48 in the US to 1:43.5 in the UK. O scale trains (or Trains O Scale) have the most detail and are incredibly popular with serious enthusiasts (with serious space to dedicate).

HO Scale or HO trains (not to be confused with Snoop Doggy Dogg) is by for the most popular scale. HO Scale is Half O Scale (1:87) hence, HO Scale. Due to its popularity, HO model train accessories and sets are easy to find and widespread availability. HO Scale offers lower space requirements while still affording a good amount of detail.

N Scale is the smallest popular scale at 1:148 (but far from the smallest commercially available scale). N Scale trains have the lowest space requirements and are great for older children since they offer more flexibility than a boring oval track tucked under their bed. However, the reduced space is at the expense of detail.

You next need to set a budget for your new railroad. You can spend as much or as little as you want, but haphazardly stumbling into a hobby store and buying bits and pieces can get very expensive, very fast. The best thing to do is to have a focus. Choose a railway to start with. Most people choose lines they remember as a kid; Lines such as Santa Fe, Canadian National, and Union Pacific to name a few. Having a focus helps with planning and budgeting.

The next consideration is track. Make sure you are using the correct gauge! Gauge is the size of the track (the distance between rails) whereas Scale refers to the size of the model train. O Scale will run on a larger gauge of track than N or HO scale.

Choose track that has an integrated roadbed. The roadbed is the raised bed the track lays on. When you go to real railroad tracks, you usually see the tracks on a raised bed of gravel. This is the roadbed. Having a roadbed makes assembly and disassembly much easier and efficient. If you are just getting started, you probably won't be laying out a full-scale railroad just yet.

A rule of thumb is always buy the same brand of integrated track - brands aren't interchangeable, they have proprietary bed heights and connecting mechanisms.

Lionel and Bachmann Trains Are Leading the Toy Trains Hobby

If you are considering buying a model train set, one of the first choices you have to make is what brand to get. Since model train brands have been known to come and go, it is a good idea to select a popular brand that is more likely to be around for a long time.

Based on an analysis of Google searches where a model trains brand name was included in the search phrase, the most popular brands are Lionel trains and Bachmann trains. These two brands account for over 70% of searches, both in the United States and globally.

Lionel trains dominate the model train hobby with 59% of all searches in the United States and 37% of searches globally. Lionel trains are primarily O scale, which is one of the most popular scales available, especially among serious hobbyists. Lionel is also one of the oldest brands with train sets dating back to 1900. However, the original Lionel Corporation went out of business. The brand was revived in 1969 by General Mills, the cereal company. They launched Lionel, LLC and quickly became the leading brand.

In the United States, Bachmann trains are the second largest brand with 13% of searches. Globally, Bachmann is the third largest brand with only 8% of searches. Bachmann trains were first introduced in 1946. Bachmann manufactures a large product line consisting mostly of HO scale trains, including the popular Thomas Tank Engine electric train sets. Bachmann also produces N scale, O scale and large scale trains. Prices range from under $100 to over $2,000 per train set.

Globally, Hornby is the second largest brand with 35% of searches, placing them just slightly behind Lionel. However, Hornby is based in the UK and their sales are almost all outside the United States They received only 1% of searches within the United States. Horny trains have a reputation for quality but their product line within the United States is very limited.

The top three brands, Lionel, Bachmann and Hornby, accounted for 73% of searches within the United States and 80% of searches globally. The remaining searches were spread among a dozen other brands led by LGB and Marklin, each with 5% of global searches. MTH with 3% and Atlas and Micro each with 2% of global searches. The remaining 3% of global searches were spread among all other brands. Of these remaining brands, the largest was Athearn, which received 3% of searches in the United States but only 1% of searches globally.

Are Derailments a Problem For You?

Model trains layouts sometimes give us some bother because our model trains derail from time to time - often in the same spot. Does this frustrate you just like it did me? Sometimes I would fix the problem in one place, only to have my model train derail in another place entirely! We all want our model train layout to be running smoothly all of the time, but if it doesn't work as well as we would like then you may, like me, have thought seriously about stopping for a while.

It turns out that it is not that difficult for your model train set to run with minimal derailments - all you need is a little attention to detail, a little patience, and these seven tips:

1. Check that the joints between tracks are aligned, properly fitted, and smooth

Yes, I know this sounds like common sense, and it is - but one of the worst offenders for causing model trains to derail is poorly-assembled track joints. The best tool to use to detect this sort of problem is the tip of your finger: slide it across the joint and feel for any abnormalities - the joint should feel level, and the gap between the tracks should be as small as possible. Some people solder their track joints because this avoids any problems with expansion and contraction causing the joints to open and close and hence become misaligned. If you do solder the joints, use a small fine file to make the joint completely smooth. Your track layout will be continuous and level, and your model train should run beautifully.

2. Ensure that the track gauge is correct on joints, frog assemblies, and turnouts

One other common cause of train derailment is if the track gauge is not correct. If the track gauge is light then the wheels on the train will climb up and the train will derail. On the other hand, if the track gauge is too wide then your train could still derail because the wheel flanges are not able to span the track correctly. Your track's gauge can be adjusted with a soldering iron: very carefully heat the rail, move it to the correct position, and then let it cool.

3. Check that your switch points are sharp when they switch

Sometimes a new switch point is rather blunt on the movable section where it hits the stock rails, and this can catch the wheels and make your train derail. Use a small file on the movable part of the joints to smooth it so that the transition will be nice and smooth. When you have finished, make sure the gauge of the track in both switch positions is correct (see point 2 above).

4. Check all of the couplers on your model trains work properly

If one of your couplers is snagging then it can cause your train to derail. Sometimes a new train carriage has couplers that are not as polished as they might be, and they can catch, interrupting the smooth operation of your train and causing a derailment. Correction is simple enough: clean off any roughness on the couplers and adjust them to make sure they are correctly centered (instructions for doing that are usually available from the manufacturers).

5. Freight cars are too light

It is important that all of the wheels on all components of your model train engage with the track rails equally, and failure in this area can cause derailments. Sometimes this is because freight cars are too light. Simply add some weight to the freight cars, and you will find that your train will run smoother and derailments will be much reduced, especially on tight bends. Just make sure that any weight you add is as low as possible to ensure a low center of gravity, otherwise your freight cars will still cause derailments.

6. Ensure your wheels are mechanically sound

The wheels on your model train have to work properly - they must be within gauge, they must be aligned, and they must turn freely - otherwise derailments are almost guaranteed. Check all of your wheel sets to make sure they work how wheels should work! You will not be able to completely eliminate imperfections in your track, and your carriages should rock freely to compensate.

7. Lubrication is important

Sometimes, even after all of the above adjustments and filing, there is still some snagging - some place where two components do not move together as smoothly as they should. In that case, try a little oil. And I do mean a little - since oil attracts dust and it can sometimes damage your beautiful paintwork, you don't want to use more than is absolutely necessary. Sometimes even a single drop of oil may be too much, in which case you will have to apply it with the tip of a pin or some such implement.

So that's it! If your model train layout is annoying you because of derailments, you have seven ways to attack the problem. All you need is a little routine maintenance now and then to anticipate the problems we have outlined, and model train derailments will be a thing of the past.

How Marketing Lionel Trains Became a Life-Long Hobby

When Lionel Cowen designed the first model train he meant for it to be a marketing tool to gain attention for real trains. Instead, this train inspired the creativity of thousands of railroad enthusiasts that while, they could not afford to own a real working railroad, imagined themselves as owners, operators and conductors of their own miniature railroads. What started out as purchasing a simple Lionel Model Train, became for many a life long hobby.

Throughout the years enthusiasm for model railroad building has surged and waned but has never completely died out. Other companies seeing the success of these toys would soon jump on the band wagon offering their own competing versions of these miniature railroads. Some of these companies succeeded and others have failed but none has ever surpassed the product that started it all.

Why are Lionel Model Trains so Popular?

There are two main reasons why these trains are so popular. The first is simply people themselves. For some reason trains have always fired our imagination. There is a something slightly nostalgic, exciting and even romantic about trains. They hold a fascination for people that is hard to explain. Lionel combines that fascination with a realistic detailed railroad set and tracks. From the smallest lantern to the station houses themselves and every inch of every car in every set, these models offer the finest and most realistic details to be found.

For example, one of the earliest of these train sets had an actual outhouse with the half moon cut into the door, just like many outhouses of olden days, this outhouse, even looked as though it was made from aged scrap lumber. Somehow, this company was able to take a small somewhat insignificant piece of American history and with its fine detail, bring to life a part of early rural America.

Today that fine detail in these miniature railroad products are even better than ever before if such a thing is indeed possible. It is this detail that makes these models remain the leader generation after generation.

Many serious train hobbyist and builder of scale railroads can tell you how much this eye for detail adds to the enjoyment of this hobby. And how endless are the opportunities to add to their railroads.

Many of these hobbyist began their hobby as young children when they received their first Lionel set for Christmas and have continued it into adulthood and even into retirement. They have passed on their love for this hobby to their own children and even grandchild passing on their miniature railroads to be added to by continuing generations of scale railroad enthusiasts.

Lionel Cowen may have not intended to create a toy or hobby with that first miniature train, but seeing the direction that that creation was headed he and those that followed have made sure that they created a product that could make everyone a railroad tycoon, by creating the finest, most realistic cars, tracks, locomotives and other accessories possible. The Lionel name will live on for generations of railroad enthusiasts to come.

Finding a Model Train Club Will Propel Your Know How and Creativity to a New Level

Among all the hobbies that people love to participate in and enjoy, the hobby of operating electric trains and designing model railways is a challenging but always intriguing and entertaining task. "The Worlds Greatest Hobby" requires a lot of planning, expenditure, and energy. The most important thing is that fabricating trains and railways is an intricate way to display the modelers constructive and innovative nature.

Hobbyists have been engaged in this pastime for many decades now and it has progressed and perfected itself on and ongoing basis over these many years. And a steady impetus behind this phenomenon is the formation of model train clubs.

These member clubs bring related hobbyists together every year providing them the opportunity to advance new concepts and implementation of model railroad sets further technically and creatively. These clubs generally operate under the titles of Railway Modeling and Model Railroading. These two systems are very popular in the UK, Canada, Australia, and USA. and establish the technical standards

On top of the well known organizations, there are many train clubs operating in different parts of the world. These clubs are dedicated to bring qualitative improvement in both design and frame work of electric train sets and model train sets standards. These clubs are located in different countries like UK, Australia, the USA, and Canada. Australian model Engineering and Kapiti Miniature Railway and Associates are the two most important model train clubs of Australia and New Zealand. Alamo Model Railroad Engineers, the San Antonio Garden Railroad Engineers Society, Arizona Model Railroading Society, Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club, Silicon Valley Lines, Tech Model Railroad Club at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are some of the clubs located in different American states like Texas, Arizona, California, and Massachusetts.

The important clubs in Canada are Delta Model Railway Club in British Columbia, Moncton Model Railroad Society in New Brunswick, and The Model Railroad Club of Toronto, Inc. in Canada. Besides, Barnsley Model Railway Club is a big club in the UK.

These model train clubs are also carrying out decisive measures to make the hobby even more popular among enthusiasts and train club members. They arrange public expositions at different places and make people to visit them. They provide all manner of information to folks regarding the latest developments made in the field of model train sets.

These clubs also publish newspapers and journals at regular intervals to keep people informed the latest developments in electric train models and supporting equipment. It is worth mentioning that due to this relentless work of these clubs, remarkable attention has been drawn towards this hobby and today more people are showing their interest in this field.

It should be apparent that "the worlds greatest hobby" will continue to reach out and let people know about model railroading when they join the local model train club.

The Revolution of Model Trains

Soon to follow with his superb model trains, Josh came out with a new gauge, and this was a small three rail O gauge. He had quickly seen the need for a train that would be more adaptable to home sizes and could generate off the electricity. That's exactly what this gauge allowed and is still a very popular model today.

Other train manufacturers were fast becoming known as well. For example the in 1907, the American Flyer joined the industry. Owned by two friends, William Coleman and William Hafner. They had decided they wanted to experiment with keeping costs down in the lithography area. They tried some tin type materials but the quality was inadequate, so they were not popular. Actually, it was this company that first started producing clockwork trains.

Eventually the partnership came to an end and Hafner went on his own manufacturing the American flyer electric train set. Originally, he went with the O gauge, but soon went into the standard gauge that Lionel had set.

Just before the onset of the war, Hafner sold out the American flyer in 1938. This was to A C Gilbert. Once the war started, all model train making had to stop. All the attention had to be put on the war. Prior to this though Gilbert had switched the gauge from HO to O. Then in 1946, the S gauge was introduced. The Lionel Company had the leading edge in the industry and Gilbert was unable to compete. He could not keep up with the mass production and the price of Lionel's. Gilbert stopped production in 1966 and just after this; Lionel took over the ownership of the American Flyer.

The love for model trains lives on today and will no doubt continue to do so for many years to come. The new fads and toys that hit the market every year will never replace the beloved train sets.

Lionel Model Train Sets

Lionel has been a name in model trains for a long time. They have many different sizes and styles for everyone. With the company dating back to the early 1900's, they are still a popular choice for many. They have had their share of problems, but they are still here and here to stay.

You can find many types of Lionel electric trains. They have sets that are already to operate. You just take them out of the box, assemble the track, and off you go. These are great starter sets for kids. The sets use battery-powered transformers and are easy to operate. The Lionel train sets use the FasTrack, which is simple to snap together. Sizes of model trains are often referred to as gauge and Lionel makes some of the most popular O and HO gauge trains.

Lionel bases its trains on the designs of actual railroad lines. There are styles from railroad companies from the past as well as designs based on current railroad trains. The attention to detail from colors to numbering are realistic. You can buy steam, diesel, and electric types of locomotives. You can purchase Lionel train sets with the engine and rail cars. There is the ability to purchase extra cars as well as more track and accessories. Their engines have realistic features such as lights, smoke, whistles, and other railroad sounds.

Some popular train sets from Lionel are the Conrail diesel freight train or the Pennsylvania Super Steam Freight train set. There are work trains based on the Southern Pacific line, often having working cranes. These sets come with track, transformer, engine, and several cars, depending on the set and cost.

Lionel trains also makes many sets based on movies and television, as well as other theme types. One of their popular sets is the Lionel Polar Express train set. This set is based on the movie and will make your Christmas display complete. It is an O gauge set and has a Berkshire steam engine. Two passenger cars light up and show actual scenes from the movie. It has a rounded observation car and the set comes with four of the movie characters. The train has smoke features and a battery operated transformer. The train station and track come with the set. There are accessories based on the movie you can buy like extra characters and rail cars.

Also offered by this company are the highly popular Lionel Christmas trains. You can purchase the Holiday Tradition Express. This set includes the engine and several cars. There is animation including a waving Santa, Christmas lights, and bells. The North Pole Christmas Central train has five cars and the engine. It actually plays Christmas carols while it rolls along the track. It is decorated in red and green. You can add additional rail cars and track for extra fun with your Lionel trains.

Lionel offers trains and sets for all ages. They have models for the collector and those that just love to play with trains. There are many accessories to add on to your train and your display. You can find buildings, landscape materials, lighting, and other related items. You can find many products on the internet or at your local toy or hobby store.

Guide to Common Rail Wiring For Model Toys Electric Train Sets

For those interested in model toys, particularly that of the model train, one thing they will inevitably come across when commencing their hobby is the issue of how to wire their railway.

One of the most popular ways to do this is through the device called common rail wiring, the basic concept of which lies in always insulating the same piece of rail, while leaving the other one still connected. Sketch and/or draw a layout of your system that shows the dual tracks while marking the outer and inner rails as "plus" and "minus" respectively. In the example of an oval track layout, this means that the outer rail will always be positive no matter where it goes, and the inner rail will therefore also always be negative. The benefit of this is, once you have insulated the inside rail on every siding (even those controlled via on-off switches), the outer rail therefore becomes akin to common ground, while the inner rail resembles hot switched lead. This is why this method has become known as "common" rail wiring for the model train. Two different power packs are recommended for this system, both insulated from each other (such as in the cases where an oval is inside an oval), as they can then have the ability to control different areas of the layout in the same instances. Both packs need at least one wire to be attached to the common rail, with a second to go to either the insulated rail of the oval or to the sidings in order to be controlled.

The common rail system is a very popular one, primarily because it enables the system to pass on control from one of the packs to the other, with the model train on the track thus gaining power from the right side of the front truck at the same time as it is getting it from the left side of the rear truck. Minus the common rail, the model train would otherwise regard the insulated joint as a malfunctioning switch and would thus then just stall on the track. Just be prepared for the possibility of the model toys surging unexpectedly fast when crossing over the joint!

One last point - remember to double insulate on the section of the track where you require the train to reverse back on itself - this means that the positive rail will suddenly run smack bang into a negative rail, and thus an insulating gap and plastic joiner are essential here. A DPDT (double-pole, double-throw) switch will be required for this operation.

Aside from this, however, the common rail wiring should be the best solution for your model train toys system.

Save Money and Time on Your Electric Model Train Hobby

For quite some time model trains have captured the attention of hobbyists. They have offered a way to explore artistic talents that lie inside of a person. When it comes to these model trains there is more than just a simple collection of locomotives. The hobby of model trains includes the chance to build vibrant scenery while you learn the process of building and mechanics that are associated with it, such as gauges and scales.

When the term scale is mentioned for model trains, it is a reference to the size of the train in comparison to the real thing. There are four popular scales that these model trains came in. Those are known simply as G, 0, H0 and the N scale. At 1:22 you will have a G scale model, while a 1:48 scale would signify a 0 scale. These two scales form the large train category. As a rule you will place this type of train on a number 1 track. An H0 scale is designed with a 1:87 scale and is listed as half the size as or even smaller than 0. H0 actually stands for half of 0. At 1:160 the N scale is around half the size of even the H0 scale. Each of these scales has their own purpose and some good points associated with them. Some of the less popular scales are the S, TT and Z scales. 1:64 stands for the S scale, 1:120 is the TT scale and the Z scale has a ration of 1:220 which makes it even smaller than an N scale.

When you hear model train fans discuss gauges, they are talking about the size between the two rails of a track. There are many different manufacturers that have tracks and trains they are designing. With that in mind, they needed to agree on a similar set of dimensions to keep their parts interchangeable. With that in mind, you will find a standard gauge will typically about 4 feet and 8 ½ inches. When a term narrow gauge is used, this means that the rails are closer together than they normally would appear. The dimensions for this rail are about 3 feet to 3 ½ feet.

Scenery is one of the biggest parts of the model train hobby. You will find that many of the train hobbyists choose to have their train run along their crafted layouts. These sections are designed with a vision in mind and can contain trees, mountains, rock formations, fields, meadows and so much more. For a really dramatic effect, water can be added. Some examples are streams, rivers, lakes and even ponds. For the ultimate water feature, a person might include a waterfall. Figuring out the area to place your track around the landscape is part of the fun. In fact, you train can be run to do a continuous loop, from a simple oval shape to a complicated figure 8. You can even go really creative and design a dog bone shape. Just remember to keep the curves wide enough so your train will not derail.

Model trains and their building is a large force in the hobby world. Young and old people have been caught up in the thrill and excitement, and one of the best parts is being able to share this experience with your grandchildren or children of your own.

A Good Quality Model Train Set Can Make All the Difference!

Having a model train set that requires pushing to begin moving or one that suddenly speeds up and falls off the tracks is extremely frustrating.

Locomotives run by picking up the electricity from the track through its wheels. The wheels transfer the electricity to the motor, which then turns the gears to drive the locomotives.

Locomotives with poor pickup on the wheels or a bad gear set up will, likely, cause many problems. As with most things, you get what you pay for. Make sure you obtain higher quality model train sets if you are really serious about your layout.

When buying a model train set these points are critical:

• Make sure many of the metal wheels, more than 1 set, pick up the electricity.
• The locomotives should have a good gearing ratio and motor which requires the least amount of electricity to move the trains, with a slow but smooth start.
• It needs flywheels at one or both ends of the motor to ensure a smooth take off and stop.
• Its weight should be heavy enough to maintain a good connection to the track at all times but not too heavy to make the trains sluggish.
• The length of the locomotive - a shorter diesel locomotive is not as likely to derail on the curves as longer steam trains.
I recommend testing model train sets, in the hobby shops, on their in-house test tracks before you buy. Most will allow this.

Test them, thoroughly, forwards and backwards, looking for a nice, smooth take off and stop when the power is ramped up or down.

Again, it is very important to buy high quality model train sets. The investment will be well worth it.

Toy Trains Are Antique

Collecting toy trains is called the world's greatest hobby; and for some, it isn't just an interest. It's a passion and a way of life, perhaps beginning in childhood. Several thing collectors started out their hobby as youngsters, when they were given a toy educate as a present. Toy trains, at one time, had been an increasingly fashionable and significantly desired toy among youngsters. Over the course of time, that concept faded and was substituted by razor scooters, iPods, and webkinz.

Most children of today aren't knowledgeable about the classic toy trains from back in the day, so the legacy is left to be continued by adults who choose to start an accumulation their personal. One particular such well-known toy educate that is desired by many collectors is the HO toy train, created by Marklin in 1935. So what makes these miniature locomotives so much diverse than others?

The construction with the HO is a single aspect that makes them stand other than other toy trains. HO trains are jagged and are scaled at 1:87, making them the ideal starter electric educate. Appearance is in addition a major factor in collecting HO stuff. The flawless detailing presents them a realistic appeal, producing them an attractive inclusion to any toy train system. The Marklin HO stuff resemble the Z gauge in that they are built from diecast metal. The majority of the frames and wheels are constructed from 100% metal. The engineering of Them is also quite brilliant. The wheels with the freight and passenger cars have a low center of gravity to avoid derailment, making them an honest addition to electric systems.

The third-rail track systems of Them make them a hassle for-free operation. The electrical current is carried by miniature stud contacts located in the middle in the ties. If you don't look closely, the chances are you'll miss these clever additions. This helps prevent wiring troubles and electrical pickup issues. Given the careful engineering and construction of Them, most collectors consider HO stuff part of a scale hobby. At the debut of Them, they had been sold being a toy train as opposed to a scale model as they're usually sold these days.

Scale model railroading didn't become a favorite passion among collectors until right after the 1950's. Until that time, HO stuff had been thought of as just one more size of train. Therefore, the Lionel Corporation began to make Them as smaller versions with the classic freight and passenger cars. It wasn't long before the Louis Marx Organization started constructing their own adaptation of Them, and they even started out to trade them with complete scenery and in slot car sets.

Although finding Them on the shelf at your local toy store could be a challenge, they aren't all that tough to come. A simple search of the world wide web will supply you with a concise listing of available HO stuff for sale in addition to places to locate these classic toy trains.

The World's Best Model Toy Trains

Like many of life's wonderful inventions, the model train was discovered in a simple way. The discoverer was a fellow by the name of Josh Lionel Cowen. You guessed it, the name of the famous Lionel Trains. It was nothing elaborate just a very simple half train car that he motorized. That's all it took to start a passion for the avid train lovers by way of becoming collectors.

The model train business is not a small industry by any means. It is very popular throughout America, Australia and Europe as well. It cannot be forgotten that at the time of Josh's invention, not every home even had electricity. The first "electric" trains as they were promoted, were really battery operated. In comparison to what we call model trains today, the originals were much larger by comparison.

At around the same time that Lionel trains were being manufactured there were others getting into the industry and making different styles, scales and gauges. The model train industry was off and running. Josh being the astute business man that he was, soon realized that if all the manufacturers used the same gauge, it would be to all their advantage. The gauge is referring to the distance between the rails of the train tracks.

To get everyone to comply to his way of thinking Josh not only used his personal name, but his business name as well. To do this he simply called the gauge the Lionel Standard.

If we were to compare this gauge to the models of today, it would be the G scale. This really wouldn't have a practical use in the home because they are far to big to set up properly.

By 1915, electricity had become a common commodity in most home. This meant that now the model trains could be powered by this source. There we have it. The beginning of the personal home use trains. Needless to say, the industry boomed from that time on and for many years to come.

Toy Trains vs Model Trains

For people who aren't involved in the model railroading hobby, there's really no difference between "toy" trains and "model" trains. After all, both hobbies involve small trains that are controlled by some sort of power pack. There is a significant difference, however, to anyone who is an enthusiast. Calling a model railroad a "toy train" is like calling a classic piece of literature a "novel".

Toy trains are generally marketing to children, and are the way many of us were introduced to the hobby. They tend to be quite plain looking and not based on any real-life trains. Model trains, on the other hand, are often a true art form with scale reproductions of real or potential trains and layouts (a technique known as prototyping).

Some of the earliest toy trains were available in the early 19th century. They often had wind-up motors or even steam-powered locomotives and were generally made from cast iron.

In the 1850's a German company named Marklin, who made dollhouse accessories, introduced a box set of a train and track to try to broaden its market to include boys as well as girls. They also made extra tracks, rolling stock and building that were available as accessories.

Electric trains followed soon after, commonly believed to have been introduced by Carlisle and Finch in 1897 in the United States. The Lionel corporation revolutionized these model and they rapidly gained popularity and sophistication.

Things such as lighting, ability to change direction and "real" smoke were some of the earliest realism features that were added. There was still little distinction between "toy" and "model" trains until the 1950's, however, when the modern emphasis on realism really started to take hold.

Today there are various gauges of model railroads, with a vast array of accessories available. They can be controlled by computer and entire railyards can be operated exactly the way they would be in real life. Many model railroading enthusiasts spend thousands of dollar and hundreds of hours creating prototypes of actual railroad lines, both past and present.

There are clubs and associations that offer resources for beginners and experienced railroaders alike. The internet has also helped to make it easier to find information on model railroading, as well as a much larger selection of trains and accessories than the average hobby store could hope to stock.

Lego Land Style For Something Very Different

Electric Toy Train - Lego Land Style

When most people think of Electric Toy Trains, they think of Hornby, Lionel or some other equally famous model train replicas and with good reason as they are simply fantastic trains. But are you aware that Lego also produce electric toy trains and that they not only have trains, but also locomotives, track, rolling stock, train stations, signal houses and a whole load of other track side buildings and they all have the logo construction theme running through them.

This is a great way to introduce kids into the railroad passion without damaging your very expensive collection and also there is a big adult collectors area who are also passionate about this brand. Lego electric toy trains even have their own scale; known as L-scale. The first Lego trains were sold in 1966 (Lego set number 080) and were push-along trains and had a nice bright blue rail.

It wasn't until 1969 that they released a battery powered set (number 115) and one of the carriages carried the batteries. In late 1969, the first truly Lego electric toy train came out (set number 720).

One of the really cool things about Lego electric toy trains was that they could all be upgrade from one to the other. So if you had bought a push-along train it could be upgraded to battery operated one, which in turn could be upgraded to an electric one.

There were no major changes until 1980. Lego changed the tracks from blue to grey and the transformers now supported points, signals, crossing and other accessories and the trains now looked much more realistic.

1991 saw the introduction of the 9 volt system and metal rails being used. The 9 volt system was compatible with other products of theirs. However by 2007 the 9 volt system was completely discontinued. This was due largely to the introduction of the new line of remote control products they brought out in 2006. All rail was now made from plastic and the trains ran on remote control using battery power.

The major advantage of this was that more than one train could be run at the same time and there were no longer any problems with track layouts, point systems and polarity of rails, although there were now problems with range for the remote and also the batteries had to be changed.

In the summer of 2009, Lego released the new "Emerald Night" (set number 10194) and was part of their Technic Line, which I personally think is ugly, but it was a line that was launched to try and help them get some of their investment money back as they had spent so much developing the trains in the last few years.

Lego electric toy trains were very popular and there is even an international Lego Train Club Organization and they exhibit at such festivals as Brickfest. L gauge trains are becoming increasingly popular among middle-age hobbyists who grew up with the building toy as a child, and are frustrated with traditional model trains such as are found in the HO scale electric toy train.

Choosing Your First Model Train Set

There is nothing more exciting than to see that toy train in the hands of children and adults. Toy trains have been made since the rail cars first started rolling. They were first made from wood and as the industrial revolution began, they were made from metal. The model toy trains have entertained many people who love running or collecting them. It can be hard, even overwhelming to choose your first model train set, so to help, we have written this overview of the various model trains available on the market today!

The toy trains can be constructed different ways. When toy trains were first constructed from metal, they were called tin plate due to being stamped from metal. The very first ones made in the early 1900's are truly collector antiques and can be seen at museums and rail road shows. Today, we can see toy locomotives made from plastic, metal and die cast materials.

The trains that we see today are the scale models. These are scaled down to replicate an actual locomotive car. They use a gauge and scale system to categorize their sizes. When discussing scale, it means that the model train is a certain ratio of size of the actual train. The gauge refers to the amount of space between the rails. There are number gauges that you can buy and collect such as the HO, O and G models. The trains are operated using an electric transformer or some use battery powered transformers. You can create the sounds of a real train as well as create the smoke of the engine. Model trains have become a large collector item. There are clubs, shows, and groups dedicated to keeping model trains restored, displayed, and collected. Model trains can be purchased as a set or individual cars. Some will even be based on movies and other themes.

Several companies make toy trains and sets. One of the most popular is Lionel trains. They have been making trains since the early 1900's. They have great starter sets for your child, easy to use sets, as well as cars for the collector. You can find many Lionel trian sets and accessories at a variety of hobby shops.

The MTH model train company was started by a train maker that manufactured parts of the Lionel train set. This company still makes Lionel trains as well as many of their own products. They have many 0-gauge trains that are very popular. Their pricing tends to be a bit more affordable. MTH model trains use new sound techniques and other special features. They also have trolley systems and subway cars to purchase.

LGB is one of the leading makers of larger gauge trains. LGB model trains have a European flare, as it is a German company. They often highlight the 1 / 22 gauge designs. They also produce Disney train sets as well as the Peanut cartoon train sets.

Bachmann model trains are available in sets and you can purchase single rail cars. They have many different gauges of trains. They also offer Digital Command Control systems to make running the trains easier. They have the Union Pacific railroad license to manufacture replicas of their trains.

Toy trains are great for all ages. They will provide hours of entertainment and are a great part of many people's Christmas displays. There are several leading companies to purchase from. Whether to play with or to collect, these trains are timeless. You can find many gauge styles on the internet or at a toy store.

Wiring Your Train

I remember the first train set I bought, supposedly for my son - although I not so secretly wanted it for myself as well. Just looking at it on the toy store shelf brought back memories of working on electric model trains with my own father. We brought the train set home, carefully securing the track to a sheet of plywood, the whole family becoming interested in the project as it came together. We installed the power pack, plugged it in, started the train up... only to find the little train very slow to start. Once it got started, though, it began to really pick up speed. Too much speed. It derailed by the first curve in the track - every singly time.

This is one of the more common problems of the beginning electric model trains hobbyist, and too often one that derails them from further exploration of all the hobby has to offer - and it has a great deal to offer. Just the thought of wiring a model is enough to daunt many beginners. But you don't have to be a master electrician to wire your own trains. Understanding a few simple electrical concepts will get you started and help you to expand as you become more familiar with the way all things electrical work in your miniature world.

Most people know electricity has to make a complete circuit in order to flow. Resistance decreases this power and with every joint in your tracks, a slight bit of power is lost. Resistance is a good reason to put any grades somewhere in the middle of your track - power up while you have close to full power, coast down and use the momentum to finish the circuit. To stop an electric current, all you have to do is temporarily insulate it. By insulating the current you can get your train to switch tracks. A rheostat controls how much current flows slowing your electric model trains before they enter a curve can easily prevent de-railings.

Your train gets the electric power it needs to run from the tracks, through contact with its wheels. That contact makes it important to keep those tracks clean! The tracks get power from your power supply. It's important to get a power supply with sufficient voltage to run a train with all the cars you want the engine to pull. Getting one with a circuit breaker can prevent burn-outs. And one that lets you vary the power is better still. Many people like to install a second power pack to run their accessories: lights, moving signs, etc. That way the train doesn't slow as the lights come on.

The Big Big Train

The Big Big Train was an O gauge system introduced by Tri-ang into the UK market in 1966 and available until 1972. It consisted of a variety of battery powered locomotives running on bright red plastic track and the large scale meant that the system was more suitable for younger children than the more fiddly 00 gauge trains available from Hornby.

While production ceased in the UK in 1972, the tools were bought by Novo Toys, who restarted manufacture in the USSR from 1975 until the early 1980s.

Of the range of sets available, none of the locomotives has the detail or finish of the Hornby train sets and in quite primary coloured plastic, the items are all quite crude looking. The locomotives include a 0-6-0 steam engine - probably the best looking of the models available - a 0-4-0 diesel shunter, a 0-4-0 steam engine and a Hymek diesel mainline named the "Blue Flyer".

These models were available in a number of different sets, each including track and depending on the theme, one of the locomotives and a variety of rolling stock. These included the mining depot, No. 1 train set (with open and side tipping wagons), a passenger set with two coaches, lumber camp, goods set, freight set and zoo set.

One of the features of the Big Big Train electric train sets was the side switches on the locomotive. If you flipped the switch on one side it would stop; if you flipped it in the other direction it would change direction, often resulting in a catastrophic derailment.

The switches were activated by a device that you attached to the track; depending on which side you placed it, the device would either stop the train or reverse it. One neat bit of the design was that the switch was set to only activate the switch in one direction - I the train approached in one direction it would continue, but in the other direction it would stop or reverse, depending on which side of the track the device was set.

This meant that rather than the typical model railway circuit layout, a single line of track could be laid and - providing the switch flipping mechanism worked correctly - the train could be set to automatically reverse before running out of track.

Electric Train Sets

The easiest way to get started in model railroading is to buy a set. It isn't necessarily the only or the best way, but the easiest. When choosing your first electric train set there are many factors to consider: size, quality, and budget to name a few.

Before going out to buy a set, you need to think about how much space you can dedicate to your new hobby. Is your new set going to be pulled out occasionally? Laid out on a plywood sheet? Or do you have a man cave you can turn into Penn Station?

Trains some in a wide variety of sizes called scales. The most common scales are O, HO and N Scale. Obviously, the larger the scale, the more room you will need to dedicate.
O Scale is the largest popular scale it varies from 1:48 in the US to 1:43.5 in the UK. O scale trains (or Trains O Scale) have the most detail and are incredibly popular with serious enthusiasts (with serious space to dedicate).

HO Scale or HO trains (not to be confused with Snoop Doggy Dogg) is by for the most popular scale. HO Scale is Half O Scale (1:87) hence, HO Scale. Due to its popularity, HO model train accessories and sets are easy to find and widespread availability. HO Scale offers lower space requirements while still affording a good amount of detail.

N Scale is the smallest popular scale at 1:148 (but far from the smallest commercially available scale). N Scale trains have the lowest space requirements and are great for older children since they offer more flexibility than a boring oval track tucked under their bed. However, the reduced space is at the expense of detail.

You next need to set a budget for your new railroad. You can spend as much or as little as you want, but haphazardly stumbling into a hobby store and buying bits and pieces can get very expensive, very fast. The best thing to do is to have a focus. Choose a railway to start with. Most people choose lines they remember as a kid; Lines such as Santa Fe, Canadian National, and Union Pacific to name a few. Having a focus helps with planning and budgeting.

The next consideration is track. Make sure you are using the correct gauge! Gauge is the size of the track (the distance between rails) whereas Scale refers to the size of the model train. O Scale will run on a larger gauge of track than N or HO scale.

Choose track that has an integrated roadbed. The roadbed is the raised bed the track lays on. When you go to real railroad tracks, you usually see the tracks on a raised bed of gravel. This is the roadbed. Having a roadbed makes assembly and disassembly much easier and efficient. If you are just getting started, you probably won't be laying out a full-scale railroad just yet.

A rule of thumb is always buy the same brand of integrated track - brands aren't interchangeable, they have proprietary bed heights and connecting mechanisms.

Maerklin Model Electric Train Sets

Every schoolboy wants a model electric train set and every father wants him to have one as well. I am not talking about the toy train sets that families like to have chugging around the Christmas tree, I mean proper train sets that can be extended and built upon - train sets that you can grow fanatical about and some people do, don't they?

Some people's childhood interest for model electric trains becomes a life-long adult passion. This is why some of the original model electric train sets are so valuable. After all, few children could afford the prices that some early model electric train sets command.

One model electric train set manufacturer whose products are the top of the tree with the best of them is the German company Maerklin, which began producing clockwork model trains and expandable track in 1891.

Maerklin had produced dolls' houses first of all, but they soon realized that the model train railroad enthusiast might be like a dolls' house owner. That is that they might care to add to their collection after their initial purchase. Therefore, Maerklin offered basic model train sets but with a whole range of accessories that could be added on later.

Maerklin model electric railway sets are available in a variety of scales and gauges, many of which M?rklin itself defined as international standards. For instance, in 1891 Maerklin introduced the 1-5 gauge at the Leipzig Toy Fair and it was quickly adopted as the world's standard gauge for model train and locomotive sets.

It followed this up with the O gauge somewhere between 1895 and 1901; the HO scale in 1935 and the Z scale in 1972. These days, however, current M?rklin model electric train sets are limited to Gauge 1, HO scale and Z scale.

These days it is very difficult and very expensive to get hold of earlier examples of Maerklin model electric railway sets. In 2005, thieves broke into the Maerklin museum in Goeppingen and stole 100 pieces of Maerklin trains and accessories - a value of 1,000,000 Euros was placed on the haul.

They were later recovered in 2005. In Philadelphia, USA, a complete Maerklin train station and accessories was sold at an international auction for $110,000, despite the fact that it was thought that the final selling price would be in the vicinity of $30,000.

Maerklin were really one of the world's top innovators in the model electric train and locomotive set market for about a hundred years, but the firm has fallen on difficult times. It filed for insolvency in Germany in February 2009, although a year and a day later, it returned to profitability.

In the 150 years since its foundation as a company, Maerklin has often been at the vanguard of the ideas and technology in its area. Even today, Maerklin is still the world leader for all important gauges in the model railroad market, since no other present day manufacturer offers collectors the option of adding to existing railtracks and collections.

If you are keen to own some early Maerklin trains or accessories, you can look on Ebay, they do crop up every now and again, but do not presume to find yourself a good deal, the earlier model electric trains were all hand-painted in great detail and they hardly ever sell for less than $25,000.

electric train sets