| Surprisingly, one of the most popular hobbies in | | | | the smallest. Probably the most popular size is the |
| today's modern world is model railway trains. I'm | | | | HO model train. It's a nice balance and is a good |
| not sure why, but perhaps it's because model | | | | size for indoor layouts. Being such a popular size, it |
| trains are such a great hobby for enthusiasts of | | | | also comes with a larger range of engines and |
| all different ages, appealing to both young and old. | | | | accessories. |
| In any event, the popularity of model railway | | | | It's interesting where all the scale letters came |
| trains is still on the increase, even though they are | | | | from. H actually stands for half, and the O stands |
| considered one of the more old fashioned toys. | | | | for ordinary or standard, so the HO model trains |
| So why do people still manage to have so much | | | | are half the size of standard model railway trains. |
| fun with model trains, even in the face of | | | | Saying that, standard size does differ depending |
| opposition from games consoles, computers, | | | | where in the world you are, so I'm not sure if |
| virtual worlds and whatnot? It could be because | | | | standard is a good name to begin with. |
| model railways are a great way for kids to | | | | In the old days, model trains were all hand |
| physically apply their imagination to something real. | | | | powered. Enthusiasts still laid out tracks and added |
| They can choose what trains to run, what track | | | | all the scenery, but the trains weren't powered at |
| layouts to have, whether to have scenery, | | | | all, maybe a bit of clockwork. Of course it's all |
| tunnels, bridges or level crossings. And when | | | | different these days, and much more fun I have |
| they've decided, they can create it and watch it | | | | to say. Everything is electrical now, with some |
| run. That's got to be very rewarding from a | | | | systems even being controlled by computers - |
| child's perspective. | | | | just like the real thing! |
| Although that still applies when model railway train | | | | I love the fact that collecting model railway trains |
| enthusiasts get older, there's also much more | | | | is a hobby that everyone can enjoy. You can |
| room for getting into the detail of things. Modern | | | | start off as small as you like and build up as much |
| model trains are so much more detailed than the | | | | as you like. Your imagination (and your wallet) is |
| older versions, and as such, far more realistic. It's | | | | the only limit to what you can do. And the reward |
| easy to spend hours, if not days, getting an | | | | that you get out of this hobby really does |
| engine to look just right. And the scales of the | | | | increase with the enthusiasm that you put into it. |
| trains are much more accurate too. | | | | A complex and detailed railroad layout that takes |
| Speaking of scales, these days model railway | | | | ages to build will bring with it a huge sense of |
| trains come in specific sizes. They range from G | | | | satisfaction and achievement when it's complete. |
| scale to Z scale. G scale is the largest and Z scale | | | | |