About Trains

Fun

Hobbies are something to be enjoyed and be relaxing. There is nothing like the pride felt when working on a hand's-on creation. Even if it doesn't turn out exactly the way it was envisioned, it can always be reworked and refined. If you talk with some of the long time, serious hobbyists, there is a difference in playing with trains and modeling trains. Modeling trains is a prototypical replication of the real thing from scenery to the actual locomotives and rolling stock used during that era and in that location being represented. But whether it is playing or modeling, it should always be fun and enjoyable.

Family Activity

The hobby of model trains can be a fun and interesting hobby for the entire family. All members can be involved in the planning, building and operating whether it is just a simple oval on the floor or a more permanent structure that evolves and changes over time.
To get younger children interested, it needs to be fun. Let them decorate cardboard boxes with crayons, markers and stickers. Use stuffed animals or dolls for the passengers and townspeople. Make trees out of paper towel tubes, cotton balls and glue. The more imagination children can utilize the more fun and interesting it will be for them. If it is something they can touch and enjoy, the more it will hold their attention.

Pride in building something yourself

While there are many items in the hobby which are prebuilt, there is nothing like taking pride in one's own ability to put together a building kit, place track or landscape a layout. It does take patience, but you will be rewarded for your time and effort. Some things do take more practice than others but that is where the fun and challenge comes in for any rewarding hobby. You can always call or email us if you have questions on assembly, repairs or just how to get started. We can also offer tips on easier ways to accomplish the finished product.

Design ideas and make them work

The entire family can all have input into what the end result should be for your layout. Often times, the design is revised throughout the building process. Children, as well as adults, learn that some ideas need to be adjusted to work from imagination to reality.

Imagination

Imagination is important for children as well as adults. Imagination is an integral part of play for children and hopefully for adults too. It is fun to just pretend to be in another place and time for a while and experience something different. The ability to develop an idea in your mind and bring it into reality can really go a long way in enjoyment. It is also useful to be able to express your ideas to others and keep your mind active.

Learning history, math and science about trains

A trip to the library or book store will yield a wealth of information on just about any railroad that has ever or does exist. The railroad is intertwined in the history of the United States and its development. Reading books and magazine articles about the railroad and its operation can answer many questions which may come up in model railroading. There is a lot of math, science and engineering which go into the building of the railroad as well as the locomotive and cars from mapping the land, excavating, tunneling, building and design.
If you attend a model railroad show, there will not be a shortage of people willing to tell stories about trains, whether they be models or real life. There are many fine organizations for model trains which sponsor swap meets, train shows and modular layouts.

Reading magazines and books

There are many wonderful and informative books and magazines published about trains. Some magazines are specific to a certain scale of train. There are always pictures and drawings of other layouts for ideas as well as "how to" articles for track, painting, weathering, decals, landscaping, layout design and many more topics.

If you have questions, please contact us either by phone or email and we can suggest different publications which may help.