Michael Weston questioned:
Collecting model railroad trains is a very well loved leisure activity for men, women and children. Due to the cost associated with collecting model trains it is vital to educate oneself on the technicalities associated with the proper scale and gauge and other fascists of the leisure activity before making a substantial investment in both time and money.
First and foremost what you must learn about is the scale system associated with the various sizes of model trains. Basically the term scale is used to denote the size of the model train, which is the ratio of the model train to the actual full size train used for human purposes.
The smallest of these scale spectrums is 1:220 known as the Z scale. The G scale is the largest and its ratio is 1:8. Model train collectors will be able to find a plethora of scales to choose from with the most well loved being the HO scale. The G, N and Z are also among the most well loved ones, also.
Many people will want to collect the larger scales since the perception is that you can place more detail into the locomotive, cars and bench work layout. I tend to disagree! I believe that all the scales deserve their rightful place and that the detail depends more on the manufacturer than on the size of the scale. I like the HO scale because it lends itself into allowing me to build the layout that I like with the limited amount of space that I have available.
Those with extremely limited space may want to consider the Z scale since it is the smallest. Some people consider the Z to be a poor value for collecting because they feel the details are to small to appreciate. I believe the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and that the scale that best fits your taste as well as space should be a factor in determining which type you will choose.
I will say that the G looks fantastic at all the model train shows. Because of it’s size it seems to look so realistic. Unfortunately it is also like trying to park a bus in your garage. For most of us it just overwhelms the space we have available and it really limits the multi-track, multi-train concept. Some people will set them up in their garden due to the size. This can be very risky.
Many new collectors get caught up in terminology especially the difference between scale and gauge. So, lets keep it simple. Scale deals with the size of the model train to the actual size of a working train. Gauge deals with the size of the track. The size of the scale will help you determine the gauge. Check with your local store to get more information.
Collecting the model train and all of the various cars is fun, but the real fun is getting the perfect layout for your bench work and setting up an ascetically pleasing track and topography. Getting the perfect train station, cities, countryside, mountains and tunnels is what will make your collection of model trains really sing. The model railroad you build is truly a piece of functioning art.
Your layout will help you determine what types of locomotive and cars to collect. The topography of your layout will look even better with a collection that is accentuated with the effects of weather that coincides with your bench work.
Check out a local model train show to determine the best scale and gauge for you and your budget. Do a small research and get started straight away because this leisure activity is a lifetime of enjoyment and something of pride that you can leave for generations to come. Welcome to the club of collecting and building model trains and model railroads.
David Blackburn questioned:
For those just getting started in train modeling, there is some model train information you need to know. Many people will use the terms scale and gauge as if they are interchangeable. It is vital to remember there is a difference between the two terms. The term scale is used in order to describe the size of the train itself. Gauge is used in order to describe the length between the rails used to place the train on. While there is a standard track size used for each train scale, you do not want to call the track size a scale. Knowing this will help you to be able to speak the lingo used by those who are experienced in train modeling.
Vital model train information to keep in mind is the size train you will be purchasing. The size of the train is indicated by the scale of the train. The smallest scale is the Z scale, which is a 1:220 ratio. This scale has become well loved by those who have small apartments or homes as it allows them to have a decent layout without it taking up a lot of room. One of the most well loved sizes is the N scale model train. The size of the train is large enough for you to be able to delight in the details of the cars without it taking up too much space. The largest train scale for private use is the 1:8 ratio train. These trains are for those who want to be able to ride their train.
No list of model train information would be complete without facts about the track you will be using. The track is one of the most vital aspects of getting started with a model train. Without the track, you will not be able to do anything with your trains. The gauge of the track will depend on the size of your train. The tracks can usually be bought by the size of the scale train you are using. The track gauges are standardized in order to make sure your train will ride smoothly along the track.
Standardization is a bit of model train information, which is vital to know. The standards in train track gauges allow you to buy a track your train can travel along. It is vital to remember there are slight variations in the ratio for every train scale. While this means your train will not fit exactly on the standard track, it will be able to run smoothly along the track. It is acceptable to have a slight difference between train wheels and the track. Make sure the track is not too small, or you run the risk of the wheels hitting the ties of the track.
Fascinating model train information is where the names of the scales come from. The G scale train is one, which has been named because of the size of the train, but has been nicknamed because of where the train usually runs. G scale was originally named because Gros is the German word for huge. In more recent times, G scale trains have become known as Garden trains. This is because the size of the train allows it to be waterproof and thus operate outside in most any weather.
Larry Truett questioned:
For the past year I’ve been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website. These shops all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most well loved? Here is a list for the fantastic state of New York.
The most well loved model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in the state of New York are:
10. Dutchess Train and Leisure activity in Poughkeepsie
9. Trainland in Brooklyn
8. J and K Trains and Parts in Marlboro
7. Hudson Shores Model Train Depot in Blauvelt
6. Locomotive Works in Wilson
5. Got a Leisure activity in Bedford Hills
4. JR Junction Train and Leisure activity in Syracuse
3. Model Trains And Parts .Com in Schenectady
2. Aurora Rails and Leisure activities in East Aurora
…and the most well loved shop for model trains in New York is…
1. Empire Northern Models in Webster
Leisure activity shops not quite making my top 10 were Adirondack Train and Leisure activity in Saratoga Springs, Bay Shore Leisure activities in Bay Shore, Bruckner Leisure activities in The Bronx, Bud’s H. O. Cars in Cortlandt Manor, Delhi Station Train and Lighting Shop in Delhi, Flying Scotsman and Walden Leisure activities in Monroe, Groton Leisure activity Shop in Groton, Lantz’s Train Shop in Horseheads, Nassau Leisure activity Center in Freeport, NHS Leisure activities in Ridgewood, Norwood Leisure activity Shop in Norwood, Scag’s Electric Train Shop in Staten Island, Trainville Leisure activity Depot in Levittown, TreatStation in Peekskill, Village Train and Leisure activity in Windsor, Walt’s Leisure activity in Syracuse, Willis Leisure activities in Mineola, World of Trains in Forest Hills, and Xtreme Leisure activity Shop in Deer Park.
Also in New York be sure to visit some of the fantastic railroading museums including Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenica, New York Museum Of Transportation in West Henrietta, Railroad Museum of Long Island in Greenport, Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in West Henrietta, and Salamanca Rail Museum in Salamanca. So lots of fantastic model railroading shops from all over New York in the top 10.
Empire Northern Models probably made it to the number one spot by having a well loved website as well as a fantastic retail store. I was a bit surprised that Trainland, where “Bobby Bacala” from the TV series the Sopranos bought the Blue Comet wasn’t higher on the list because of that publicity, but I guess that was a few years ago.
I compiled this list by searching for the leisure activity shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online. I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.
See a complete list of Model Train Shops in New York at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.
David Blackburn questioned:
One of the largest identifying factors in buying a model train is the model train scale. The scale of train will tell you the size of the train and allow you to buy anything, which will go along with the train you are buying. Buying accessories such as buildings and landscape features will all depend on the scale of the train that you are buying. It is vital to get to know the different scales in order o make sure you have the train which best suits your needs. Keep in mind, while some people may use the terms scale and gauge as if they are the same thing, they are not. Scale refers to the size of the train itself whereas gauge refers to the width of the track as measured in millimeters between the rails.
The most well loved model train scale, which is commercially produced, is the HO scale. This scale is characterized by being nearly exactly half of the 0 scale which was made well loved between World War One and World War Two. As more homes did not have the space to be able to accommodate such large trains, the HO scale was a much better option. The scale represents a 1:87 ratio which is still not well loved in most of Fantastic Britain even thought there is a 1:87 Scale Society which was established in 1994 to celebrate the scale. The bulk of the HO scale models are sold to model railroaders in Europe and North America.
For homes with very small space like homes in Japan and apartments in New York, the N scale model has become very well loved. This model train scale has become very detailed by the manufacturers in order to meet the exacting demands of the model railroader. With the popularity of this scale growing, it is becoming simpler to find the accessories you need in order to make a highly detailed layout. American companies are leading the charge in making the best N scale model trains available on the market today.
Many model railroaders live in a home with an outside garden they want to be able to place a model train in. For these people, the G scale has become the most well loved model train scale because of its ability to operate in most any kind of weather. The scale was made well loved by the German manufacturers who really came up with the name of the scale. The G scale was named because the German word Gros means huge. Most call these train’s garden trains and believe this is why they are called G scale trains.
The smallest model train scale is the Z scale model. Being the smallest scale in commercial production has allowed it to be favored by those looking to make large layouts in a small amount of space. It is not a practical train for many private modeler railroaders because it is on the expensive side. The other drawback of the scale is it does allow for many details larger models have on them. The details Z scale trains are able to boast are painstakingly won, which accounts for the high price for such a small train.
julius villanueva questioned:
N Scale Model Trains
At firstly upon entering the exciting world of model trains, investigation the words scales and gauges running through model train enthusiast’s conversations like it is part of everyday language is kind of menacing. You might be thinking that building model trains and scenery is way banned of your league. But, as your like of trains grows so bidding your understanding of the stipulations used inside the model train world and all of its elements.
As soon as people are out to ready up their vision of the perfect landscape with the seamless train running through it, they have to consider size. Model trains and train tracks are made by many various people and used for many diverse things. Luckily, with so many choices, you can find the one that is correctly for you. In order to ensure any brand of train proper on any brand of tracks, train makers make trains and tracks according to scale and gauge. When the model train hobbyists are chatting in relation to the scale of the train, they are talking with reference to the size. Scale is exactly that, a scaled down replica of the life-size or the prototype train. It is the ratio and the various letters assigned to the scales replicate the natural differences in ratio.
An N scale train is on the less significant side in comparison to other scale models. In truth, it is the smallest of the four most prevalent scales. The ratio is 1:160. In other terms a scale N train is lone sixtieth the size of a real train. N scale is a not a lot over partially the size of HO. HO scale is 1/87. This scale is preferred by persons who don’t have a lot of area for their layouts or those who like spacious scenery. While the n scale trains are intended to take up a smaller amount room in model layouts they also have more detail then some smaller sizes. Rail cars and provisions that are smaller will be part of the cause to a design size that is simpler to preserve and simpler to add onto soon after on. Another gain of using N scale trains is that the lesser the rail car and tracks, the superior and additional gorgeous the scenery will appear around them.
Unlike O scale, HO scale, and standard scale, nearly of which hold been around for a full century, the N scale trains merely came into prominence in the 1960s. The given name N scale stands for nine millimeter for the reason that it has a gauge of 9 mm connecting the rails. Gauge refers to the size of the track on which the model trains direct. It is a measure of the distance between the rails of the train tracks. On the other hand code refers to the height of the trail.
N scale model trains are really lone of the many various aspects of building model trains and scenery. It is entirely up to the train building to service whatever train size is best for them. No matter what the size of the train is, same is the thrillify.
John Vanse questioned:
Although The American Flyer model trains were at their peak of popularity between the 1940s and the 1960s, they really had a long history before that, and their popularity seems to be on the increase again today. William Hafner, working as a toymaker in Chicago, developed a clockwork motor for use in toy cars in the very early part of the 19th Century and by 1905 was making toy trains using that clockwork motor.
With a friend, William Coleman, and using a small hardware manufacturing business known as the Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, Hafner started producing toy clockwork trains during 1906-7. These Edmond-Metzel trains were sold so successfully through some major retailers that the brand name The American Flyer was adopted for marketing purposes and by 1910, the name of the hardware company had been changed to American Flyer Manufacturing Company.
The American Flyer trains proved very well loved, in part because they were lower priced than other makes well loved at that time, and also because their detailing made them more realistic than other low budget model trains.
Hafner left the partnership in 1913 to start up his own company and Coleman’s American Flyer trains did extremely well during the First World War as they had no competition in the US from the German companies. By 1918, the first of the American Flyer electric trains were in production and business boomed during the 1920s but declined sharply during the Fantastic Depression.
In 1938, William Coleman Jr, son of the company’s founder, who had taken over the business following his father’s death in 1918, sold the American Flyer to the A C Gilbert Company. Gilbert had been manufacturing and selling an extensive range of toys but not toy trains. He went the company from Chicago to New Haven, Connecticut and immediately started to re-design the trains. He re-developed the American Flyer as S-scale in 1939 , a scale which was a modification of the very well loved O gauge model trains then on the market. The S scale, which scales trains to the 1:64 ratio and made them smaller than the O scale trains, had a number of major advantages in terms of the track and track layouts.
In 1946 Gilbert made another major change to the American Flyer. Until that stage model electric trains had run on three rails, with the centre rail carrying the current. Gilbert developed a two rail system for running the American Flyer. This two-rail track, which had seven-eighths inches between the rails, made the track layout, and hence train operation, more realistic as the track now looked like ‘real train track’.
With the advent of television – to distract both younger people and older people from their regular leisure activities – together with the rise of the discount chain stores which undercut prices and demanded lower wholesale prices, A C Gilbert Company ran into distress and in 1962 was sold to Wrather Group. The new owners produced lines of toys, including model trains, which were of very poor quality and sales dropped sharply until in 1966 production of the American Flyer stopped. By 1967 the Company was bankrupt.
At this time, Lionel Corporation, which was itself in financial distress although it had been the leading model train manufacturer for many decades, bought the rights to the American Flyer. But, by 1969 Lionel Corporation itself was bankrupt and sold the rights to the manufacture of its model trains, including the American Flyer, to General Mills.
General Mills started selling some of the original Gilbert designed American Flyer trains by 1979 but in 1984 sold its Lionel Company section to a toy manufacturer, Kenner who on-sold the company to Richard Kughn in 1985.
Kughn was very successful for over 10 years with the Lionel and American Flyer trains but sold in 1996 to Wellspring Partners who set up the company Lionel LLC, which operates today selling a range of model trains, including the S-scale American Flyer. Initially Lionel LLC concentrated on promoting the O and O27 scale model trains of its original lines but since 2002 has been releasing more and more American Flyer models.
The American Flyer then, is now more that 100 years ancient, and has gone though a number of ownerships and fluctuations in popularity. Dedicated S-scale enthusiasts now believe that this renowned model train is once again making a resurgence.