The Joys of Model Railroading

Model railroading is a hobby simulating the operation of railroad trains in miniature. These trains are modeled at a reduced scale to their full sized cousins, but feature many of the same details. As a hobby, model railroading has been around since the 1840s, when small boilers on wheels were introduced as toys and novelties. Many of the early model trains operated on clockwork, requiring winding and permitting little to no control over their speed or operation. Early electric trains operated on batteries, but greater distribution of electricity in the home allowed the modern electric sets. Little has changed about the method of powering model trains since. Involvement in this hobby can range from mere ownership of a train set that you bring out once in a while, to spending many hours and large quantities of money on a complicated scene. Elaborate, carefully executed models of specific railroads and scenery are not uncommon, sometime filling entire rooms are buildings. Scenery can run the gamut from extremely realistic, accurate reproductions of real places and times to elaborate fantasy worlds. Some older scale models can bring extremely high prices among collectors.

Track layouts can be extremely simple – just a circle or oval of track running continuously, or extremely complicated. Some track layouts model real places down to scale, reproducing particular time periods down to the people. Realistic modeling gained popularity in the mid 20th century, and has increased in popularity since. From the 1960s onward, a growing proportion of model trains were created with a greater eye to accuracy and detail, moving away from the previous thought that model trains were only children’s toys. This was accompanied by a move away from the old O gauge track that had been the standard, but had many inaccuracies. These inaccuracies allowed for more rapid and easier production and greater cost reduction. The most accurate scales of model train have never been mass produced, but are available to the serious hobbyist. Many older model trains are considered collectible because of their previous popularity. Lionel is the most common brand for collectors, and models can be found at auction and online, as well as many traditional retailers. Model railroading has a long and exciting history, continuing to the present day, and has much to offer the potential hobbyist.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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