Model Trains and Model Railroading FAQ
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
by Jimmy Hardwick
Model Train Mastery
If you played with model trains at a young age, you probably didn't care what size or what brand they were. You just had fun. It's when we get older that we start to ask more sophisticated and technical questions. Here are five of the most often queried things about model trains.
Q: What is the gauge of the train?
A: Our predecessors liked to play with us on this. Some models were said to be of a certain gauge at one time and of a different scale at another. Some models have the gauge mismatched to the scale to make it even more confusing, but in its simplest form, the gauge is the distance from the center of one rail to the center of the other. This is normally stated in millimeters and probably doesn't show on your measuring tape if you live in America.
A: Don't get a small child a real model train. It's a waste of money on a good train. Small children will lose pieces, swallow them, and it will make their mommies very angry. Get one of those plastic toys with few moving parts specially made for a child in this age group.
Q: I am an adult. What size train should I buy for myself?
A: Realistically, how much space do you have for a train setup? You don't want to have to dismantle and reassemble it each time you want to use it. If you are planning to place your train outdoors, you might consider a G scale train. The HO scale will fit on a 4' x 8' benchwork pretty well. That gives you sufficient room for scenery. Keep in mind the size area you have in which to work when selecting your train.
Q: If I decide to buy an HO size scale train, where do I purchase it?
A: The internet is a great place to buy a train if you know exactly what you want. The pricing is very competitive and if you deal with reputable companies, you should be fine. If you don't know exactly what you want, go to a local model store and ask for help. Many train shows have companies that setup and display their products, so you might consider attending a show to look for trains.
Q: What is the best model train to buy?
A: Do you like Ford, GMC, Toyota, or Cadillac? Each modeler has a brand that he swears by, or swears about it. While there are some inferior units, most of the trains have good and bad points. The best thing to do is attend a model railroading show or shop several hobby stores and look at different brands. Make the choice based on what appeals to you. At train shows, many modelers are happy to share information with you about their trains, also.
If you are just starting out in the model train hobby, you have a lot to learn, but you'll have fun doing it. Remember that you need a place where you can work comfortably, and you need to do a bit of research before investing your money in train products.
Jimmy Hardwick has been a model train enthusiast for over 30 years, and loves helping others get started in this noble hobby. For more great tips and helpful info on model railroading, visit his website at http://www.modeltrainmastery.com.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Good article Jimmy - I agree with you about not giving a 2yo a model train! I like your formatting choice, very easy to read and follow. My hubby is interested in model trains, so I think he'll like this article.Thanks for the appreciation Kristen! Hope your husband can drop a comment on my article too. :)
A most article...Thanks a lot Jimmy - Regards, Roger B.
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