| Creative, fun, historic, nostalgic...these are a just a | | | | manufacture of trains, but in terms of different |
| few of the words to describe the fascinating | | | | accessories as well. |
| hobby of collecting your own toy or model trains | | | | With the advanced technology that the 20th |
| and designing the villages that compliment them. | | | | century afforded the evolution of hobby trains |
| Let's take a step back in time and explore the | | | | took off. Marklin introduced ranges and scales |
| beginnings of the model train. Did you know their | | | | which would change the world of toy trains |
| manufacture began in the Victorian period? Did | | | | forever. This innovation spread to Great Britain |
| you also know that, originally these trains were | | | | and Germany like wildfire. |
| made in Germany? Their immediate popularity | | | | Though the impetus of toy trains was actually a |
| was a natural consequence of actual trains | | | | promotional tool for salesmen, the popularity of |
| becoming a fashionable form of transportation. In | | | | this hobby grew even as trains as a |
| fact, the first toy trains were, in reality, | | | | transportation diminished. |
| promotional tools. | | | | The technology of the 20th century generated |
| "Carpet railways" (the first model trains) were | | | | the development of remote controls for signs and |
| made in 1840. There have been many innovations | | | | lighting, signal switches and even train operators. |
| since that time, though those early trains are | | | | In addition, both N and Z gauges (for smaller |
| certainly collectibles and very valuable. These | | | | trains) were introduced as well as the G gauge |
| trains actually had "boilers" that produced steam | | | | for larger scales. |
| and powered the train. | | | | Today, you can even get software to help you |
| Since that time there have been many, many | | | | design your layout. Now there is computerized |
| exciting developments in hobby trains. For | | | | technology that sets your train on a certain |
| instance, the early trains did not even run on a | | | | course and let's off steam or make train sounds |
| track nor were they made to scale. Now, not | | | | which all add to your enjoyment. There have |
| only do they run on tracks but they have | | | | been a plethora of changes over the years, this is |
| standard gauges and they have been made | | | | just a glimpse. |
| entirely to scale. | | | | You may wonder why hobby trains are as |
| The company that led the way in standardizing | | | | popular, or more, than ever. Well there are many |
| the tracks was Marklin Company. This innovation | | | | reasons: a person may have an interest in the |
| allowed a large variety of trains to run on a track. | | | | history of trains themselves, they may enjoy |
| These first gauges were designated "one, two, | | | | creating the environment around the trains |
| three". This great achievement was followed by | | | | themselves, or they may just like going down |
| the creation of the "O" gauge. This opened up the | | | | memory lane to their childhood. But one reason is |
| door for great expansion, not only for the | | | | universal...it's just plain fun! |