| Model railway train collecting and model railroading | | | | complex detailed replica railway train layouts that |
| is a fun recreational hobby where rail transport | | | | include scenic landscapes for model trains to |
| systems are modeled at a smaller scale or ratio | | | | rumble through. |
| than real life-sized trains. The smaller scale | | | | Model railway train layouts vary from simple circle |
| railroads include locomotives, streetcars, rolling | | | | or oval train tracks to the ultra realistic - actual |
| stock, tracks, signals, as well as, vehicles, roads, | | | | real-life places with everything modeled to scale. |
| buildings, model figurines, lights, and other features | | | | Model railroad train clubs exist where model train |
| like mountains, hills, lakes, streams, and canyons. | | | | hobbyists gather together. Typically, these special |
| The earliest toy model trains were the "carpet | | | | clubs display toy model trains and layouts to the |
| railways" from the mid 1800s. Electric model | | | | public. There are specialty branches that focus on |
| locomotives emerged around the turn of the 20th | | | | very large scale and train gauges. Model trains in |
| century. However, in those days, they weren't | | | | very large scale sizes are usually hand-built and |
| very realistic. Trains these days are much more | | | | powered by live steam or diesel-hydraulic and the |
| realistic. Today's serious model railroaders create | | | | engines are usually powerful enough to haul |
| railway trains and railroad layouts usually based on | | | | human passengers. Often railways of this size are |
| real locations and different periods in history. | | | | called miniature railways. |
| A model railroader's involvement level ranges | | | | These are just some basic fundamentals of |
| from owning pre-made basic train sets to planning, | | | | model railway trains to help stir your interest in |
| creating, and spending hours upon hours on huge | | | | this great hobby! |