| Some toy trains can be considered a model and | | | | made in the 19th century and were often made |
| some model trains can be considered a toy. Now | | | | of cast iron. These trains were sometimes |
| let's look at the real difference between toy and | | | | powered by real steam or could be powered by |
| model trains. The main difference is that toy | | | | clockwork engines. A German company named |
| trains are usually non powered trains made of | | | | Marklin, revolutionize the toy railroad industry. Most |
| wood or plastic. The earliest wooden train | | | | of these trains are considered toys, but some of |
| manufacturer in the United States was started by | | | | them can be classified as models. Therefore; they |
| Marshal H. Larrabee II. This company was called | | | | are toy model trains. |
| Skaneateles Handicrafters and founded in 1936. In | | | | Today model trains are very detailed and |
| 1956 the Jack-Built Toy Manufacturing Company | | | | sophisticated. Most model trains from Z scale up |
| manufactured at toy wooden train under the | | | | through O scale are usually built on an exact scale |
| name of Jack Built Snap Trains. Starting in a | | | | to the real trains they represent. Where the |
| California-based Ben Orel company produced | | | | Large Scale models are not built on the exact |
| wooden trains that had track that could be flipped | | | | scale of the prototype, they are still very popular. |
| for railroad on one side and a road on the other | | | | These large scale trains are considered toys more |
| side. This company produced the first wooden | | | | than models. However; the large scale trains are |
| trains with magnetic couplers. The learning Curve | | | | the most popular for Garden Railroads. You can |
| Toys founded by John W. Lee in 1993, called | | | | model a very impressive outdoor layout using all |
| Thomas & Friends based on the Thomas the | | | | the accessories and rolling stock available of the |
| Tank Engine characters. Some of the new | | | | large scale trains. |
| wooden trains such as Thomas and those made | | | | The Z scale model trains are very small, but have |
| by Brio have battery powered locomotives, but | | | | great detail. The N scale is the second most |
| they are still considered toys. | | | | popular mode scale and is about half the size of |
| The cheaper made train sets sold in department | | | | HO. The HO scale is the most popular scale of |
| stores around Christmas are considered toys. | | | | model trains. Another popular gauge is O scale |
| These sets can also be used for model railroading. | | | | which was made popular by the Lionel |
| The sets are made on the same scale as higher | | | | manufacturing company. Most of the O scale |
| priced model, with the track having the same | | | | trains run on a three rail track. All of these scale |
| gauge as the more expensive models. Some of | | | | trains from N through O are considered models, |
| these cheaper trains may not have as much detail | | | | but also can be called toys. So the difference |
| as the higher price models. Also these cheaper | | | | between toy and model trains would be |
| trains probably do not have the power and | | | | whichever one you want to call them. The main |
| smoothness of the operation of the more | | | | thing is to always have fun whether you are |
| expensive models. The earliest toy trains were | | | | playing with toys are modeling a train layout. |