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Begin by choosing a particular historical period for your metropolis that fits the trains you will be using:

You don’t have to have your social detail accurate but it doesn’t hurt to try. If you can keep your topographical details in accord with your kind of train it will impress other fans who appreciate that kind of stuff. There are infinite possibilities for you to decide between when it comes to time period and scenery.  So if you are trying to realize an accurate European feel to your tiny model train city then construct villas and figures that match this motif.

Structures and paths take priority in planning:  

Ideally your roads will crisscross your town and some will go back to and segment the railroad tracks. Once you have these thought out you might plan your other less important buildings and accessories around these central decisions.

Consider placing natural scenery into you city area:

Trees and other types of flora should also be included in your city. A little park at the middle of your city can really increase interest to your topography.  Some of the ideal plans I’ve seen include a central lake area in a city with a tributary that flows out and under the oval train tracks. This allows you the most variety of accessories and track plans.

Be sure to detail and weather your town:

Tiny details are at the center of good model railroad town.  This all has to do with the style of town you are designing but there are always chances for creating more intense grades of realism to your plan. Your efforts will be well rewarded in the end.

This is a rewarding aspect of the model training world that you can include the whole household in.  Virtually all kids take pleasure in painting and coloring.  There is a great pleasure in pasting parts together and adding tiny weathering details to high rises and paths.  If you have a particularly gifted member of the family, this can be the ideal chance to call on them and kindle their interest in model training. You can really use this as a bonding experience for the whole family. This is a wonderful way of creating lasting family recollections and customs.

Here is more information on Model Train Track. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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It’s every thing to do with the O gauge:  Part of the explanation why Lionel fell from power in the post World War II era can be explained by the scale of its trains. Lionel trains were usually in O gauge, but with the expansion of model training in the 50’s more and more middle class model train hobbyists began to purchase trains for smaller spaces.  Real world trains are only 48 times the size of O scale model trains.  This was simply too great of a space requirement, so fans turned to HO scale which only required a 4’ x 8’ space.  Lionel’s failure to stay in tune with changing times is what cost it and what makes its odd scale a real draw for enthusiasts these days.

Lionel calls up long lost recollections:  Because Lionel has survived for so long and was so popular in yesteryear it is one of the favorites of collectors. We cannot under estimate the nostalgia that Lionel inspires. These are, after all, the hobby trains they were raised on or would like to have grown up on. Lionel’s trains seem never to break and so they’ve survived its lean years time capsulled in craft and second hand stores.

You’ll find no lack of manuals and news items on Lionel:  Lionel’s got its own little subset of devoted enthusiasts including the rocker Neil Young. There are two types of books on Lionel.  First, there are books that are specifically focused on to getting you started with model training using Lionel O gauge trains.  Second, there are several books that focus on the many repackagings of Lionel trains from the early days to the present.

Finally, Lionel is popular because they just made good trains:  Ahh, the engineering of Lionel trains!  Larger than most other trains, they are ideal for detailing and decaling and weathering. The size of Lionel trains make it a favorite among people who love to paint and detail model trains. Hobbyists also love that the trains are so big and so bold.  You simply can’t miss a Lionel train.

For the reasons that I have mentioned above, it is unlikely that Lionel O gauge trains will fall out of favor any time soon. It’s hard to contemplate the model train world without Lionel. Lionel never disappoints.

Here is more information on Toy Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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It’s almost as much designing a toy railroad metropolis as it is the circuit design: 

First of all, a miniature toy railroad metropolis is just great to have for its own merits.  Just as we are directed to sky lines in the real world so are we drawn to them in toy train track design]s.  We love to look on the tiny people going about their days in their miniature make believe world.  I personally love the miniature details like the signs and storefront lettering.  They really draw me in. 

A toy railroad town provides great contrast for the trains: 

Having a building next to the road creates yet another way of framing your model trains.  So if you place a large building right next to the circuit, when your train moves by, the contrast between the building and the train will add a sense of space and depth that might otherwise be missing. A model railroad metropolis will add exponentially to the realism of your toy locomotives.

A toy railroad city is a good way of adding historical detail to your model train lay out:  

A good way of sneaking some history into your toy locomotive fun is to create a historically coherent set up.  So if you have a locomotive that is specific to the late 19^th century you can have your metropolis be a Southwestern boomtown, having telegraph lines, cowboys, 49’ers and saloons.  It really let’s you create a great miniature fictional setting for your train.  But this is also a setting that tells the watcher about the period of time that the locomotives were operating in.  You can sneak in history as a Trojan horse past your kid’s defenses.

Got a budding Michelangelo in the family? You’ve discovered the aspect of the model train hobby that will they can really get with: 

If you have some members of the family that aren’t that into toy trains but that enjoy drawing and painting, this is the ideal opportunity to draft them.  All those miniature artistic touches that bring a model locomotive world together and that drive your logical mind crazy, your tiny Rembrandt will find a joy.  Just watch in wonder as their precise tiny brush strokes bring out details you couldn’t even envision but that now seem so obvious locomotive design you will definitely want to leave an area for a toy railroad city.  It will be sure to add yet another compelling aspect to your toy train empire!

Here is more information on Model Railroad Track Plans. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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Use locomotives as a subtle vehicle for the past:

Try to make your track plan time and place specific. Imagine a track design that is set during Reconstruction in the American Southwest.  You can feign ignorance and get your boys and girls to “help” you figure out what would make for correct scenic details to your setup.  Imagine stringing up a long row of telegraph poles next to your track to depict the communications system of the time.  Or they might create a vibrant town near the tracks to represent the boom cities that were the winners in the railroad speculation game.  Maybe even have a few washed out prospectors still panning for gold in the nearby stream.

Historic toy locomotives are also a good alternative to the usual diorama or scale model:  

You might also manage to talk your youngster’s history teacher into allowing him to bring in a historic toy locomotive lay out in place of the usual boring diorama.  A static diorama really can’t compete with the dynamic movement of a historic model locomotive layout.  Just imagine, for example, adding a model train display to your youngster’s essay on Jesse James.  As your period specific locomotive rounds the curve there are Jesse and his whole gang just waiting to attack and continue his wrong headed crusade.  It’s sure to be a success!

Visit Historic locomotive Locales:  

There are also a few toy train museums and other locomotive related historic sites where you can see historic toy locomotives and some real trains as well.  If your local historic locomotive site doesn’t have toy trains consider suggesting they incorporate some to the curator or manager of the site.  Some rolling exhibits may come around as well. Just keep your ears pricked and you are sure to come across one sooner or later.

Whatever you decide to do, you will find that toy trains are a door to the past even if you don’t explicitly use them as such.  Even if you just do model training without even considering the educational possibilities you will inevitably instill a greater sense of historical knowledge simply by handling these little mechanical doorways to the past.  

Here is more information on Model Steam Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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What is a Bachmann Digital Controller?  

It’s just a straight forward remote control that allows you to control more than one train at a time, no big deal.  It just looks like your regular sort of boxy gizmo, kind of like a smallish DVR maybe.

Are they easy to purchase and use?  

Bachmann is perhaps most recognized for their beginner kits for beginning toy locomotive hobbyists.  Most Bachmann beginner kits will include a digital controller right with it.  Usually they will also include a couple of different locomotives and some cars for them to pull.  And enough track to create a little loop as well.  There’s a reason why Bachmann has made a name for itself with these beginner kits.  They don’t stiff you on the bill either.  If you’re just getting started and are into HO size you can’t go wrong with a Bachmann starter kit.

Are Bachmann locomotives good?

Ask almost any hobbyist who got started in the last two decades what train he or she bought to begin and you’ll always get the same answer: a “Bachmann starter Set”.  Bachmann does a cool job of producing simple straight forward beginner sets that let you get going with your model train experience in just a matter of minutes and it does all this at bargain prices.  Bachmann is excellent at responding to customer needs and so you will have a good deal of choice as to the type of train that you want and the kind of kit.  Bachmann’s just a really wonderful deal if you’re just starting to indulge your model train fantasies!

How long has Bachmann been around? 

The Bachmann company has been in existence since the 1830’s and the original 19^th century families that founded Bachmann, the Carlisle’s and the Bachmann’s still have descendents on the company’s board.  Bachmann was created in the cradle of democracy itself, but moved its operation from Philadelphia to Beijing in 1999.  Although they were around long before relative new comers like Lionel and American Flyer, Bachmann didn’t enter the model train making business until after these other 20^th century companies were the well established industry leaders.  Bachmann’s m.o. has greatly been defined by its attempt to find a niche outside of the sphere of influence of what was then the major player in model locomotives, Lionel train (now Lionel LLC).  Just as people were trying to find a simpler, less space consuming and less expensive alternative to Lionel’s O gauge trains, there was Bachmann with its easy to set up starter Kits.  By tapping into the customers that Lionel alienated Bachmann established themselves as the new kings of the hill in the model locomotive making world.  The Bachmann Digital Controller is just the one of the many advances that Bachmann has adopted in order to remain the most popular beginners model trainer makers around.

How does the Bachmann digital controller function?  

Well to get it you first have to get the problem that it solved.  Back in the day before controllers, it used to be that trains moved because the track was electrified.  So if the train was on the track it took off when you ran electricity through it.  If you wanted to operate more than one train and not have them moving at the same time, you needed two sources of power and two separate tracks.  This was okay if you were only going to operate say two locomotives, but if you added more locomotives than this, all the separate wiring and devices started to really make a mess.  The computer age allowed Bachmann to use tiny processor technology to get around this problem. These microchips make it so that the individual trains only responds when commanded.  Since the locomotive is in control and not the track, you can have as many trains on the same track as you want.  The controller tells the tiny processor when to go and the locomotive follows its command.  It was an easy computer age solution to an old hardware puzzle.  That clear things up?

If I collect classic trains am I just out of luck?  Do you just have to stick to the old fashioned way? 

No. Lots of model locomotive hobbyists install the microchip into their older model trains.  There is some explanatory literature out there but it is possible to make old trains operate with a digital device.  Sometimes it involves some soldering but for an old school guy like yourself this shouldn’t be a big deal.  It’s not quite as simple as knowing the difference between a Phillips head and flat head, but it’s not brain surgery either. 

Anyway, that’s what I know about the Bachmann Digital Controller.  Now, which one of these is a Phillips? Now, the one with the straight head or the one with the x head?

Here is more information on Bachmann Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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Specifically, when you hope to shop for a better Model Train for your desires and needs, it would be beneficial to decide whether you would benefit from a certain size of electric train set, what types of train set supplies you need, and whether is a permanently installed or temporarily installed model power train.

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Before anything else when searching, you must have access to a very broad selection of products on sale of the type of products that would satisfy your needs. Broad access can be ensured, when the product catalog you are looking at taps into the fullest array of such products which can be found.

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The smallest trains you can buy:

What is their exact scale? Real locomotives are 160 times the dimensions of an N scale train. Stick out two of your fingers. That’s the size of an N scale train. If you think that’s tiny, Z scale is even tinier–1/220^th the size of real trains!

Micro trains can be put almost anywhere

Thought you couldn’t fit anything into that tiny 2’ x 4’ alcove in the foyer? Try these model locomotives. A 2′ x 4′ area is plenty of room for these guys. These little guys are sometimes called “tabletop” trains because they so easily fit on any flat surface. What would it be like to be in that little landscape whizzing by tooth pick farms, porcelain cowboys and ceramic chickens and cows? Strange Journey indeed!

Here are some draw backs:

I hear they torture poor, acne smeared middle schoolers in some countries by making them detail N and Z scale trains: 

Crafts activities are definitely a no go with these tiny mechanical wonders. The scale of these trains is too small for real craftwork so collectors get prefabricated accessories. These guys are just too small to be detailed or decalling.

N and Z Scale are DANGEROUS for small children: 

Because these model trains are so tiny you’ll want to be careful that you don’t let tiny mits get a hold of them. N-scale is bad enough but Z scale really shouldn’t be put in a home with small children!

If you don’t like to play ”Search and Rocover Mini-Train Edition”, z-scale may not be for you: 

Because it is so tiny, z scale does not offer you a lot of unique choices in terms of trains and accessories.

With these things in mind however, these are really wonderful. There’s something odd yet fascinating about seeing a shrunken little world–we’re drawn to it like we are to miniatures of all kinds! Just ask Gulliver and the Jolly Green Giant.

Here is more information on Model Train Information. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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The point is: the the layout brought pedestrians into the store and they inevitably ended up buying something even if it was just to get their kids to leave that hypnotizing layout.  So here’s the thought I had:

Use display g scale railroad locomotives to entice pedestrians in:

Toy retailers have known this for ages and hardware stores have found this a natural fit since shoppers can buy the parts and tools for model railroading all right there.  But I think other kinds of establishments could really improve the bottom line by having a model railroad, especially eye catching g scale trains and tracks. If you’re part of a line of stores or by a entertainment center this could be perfect for your establishment. You don’t really need to be a business that is in any way hobby related. A family physician’s office might just have a g scale display to keep the kids busy while they waited for their appointments or for prescriptions.  Kids would pull their parents into the store and many parents would have great trouble leaving without getting their kids a little toy at least.  Some parents would even welcome the time that their kids are fascinated by the models to browse for themselves. The increased business would be well worth the drawbacks in terms of space, start up costs and maintenance. Any place by where families spend time could take advantage of these little lures.  Thankful parents would make for return business.

G-Scale Model Railroad Designs could also make for unique businesses in the hospitality industry:

You know how you’ve been thinking of making your quaint little house into a Bed-and-Breakfast now that your children have all gone to college.  Well what better way to help create a special individualized experience than to add a g scale model railroad layout to your B & B?  You could advertise your Bed-and-Breakfast as a toy train Bed-and-Breakfast and you could have entire train theme. Customers would really get into watching the trains winding around them. The strangeness would be sure to bring out people with their kids and you could make a little bit of extra money by selling model train related accessories like key chains.  If you have a nearby tourist trap that is locomotive related you could create a tie-in to this site.  If you are in the Western US this shouldn’t be difficult since most of its history is related to the rise of rail travel.

 It’s a dog eat dog world out there since the financial bubble burst.  But that is exactly why it is the best time to look for a business increasing plan like this.  Whatever you can do to make your business seem individual and to have it stand out from the crowd can help the increase revenues.  I’ve only scratched the surface. Picture a bar where your drinks are carried to the end of the counter by a Budweiser decorated trolley or…

Here is more information on G Scale Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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What are the hot collectible locomotives today?  Here’ the huge three:

Lionel trains:  

We have to begin with the huge tuna, Lionel locomotives.  Lionel train has been the longest lasting toy training obsession.  Lionel locomotives once dominated the model training community.  Baby boomers will remember the Lionel Holiday displays they saw as children. Lionel still has a quality that most toy locomotive manufacturers would kill for.  Famous folks like the rocker Neil Young and the actor Tom Hanks have been long time Lionel enthusiasts.  Lionel has a strong literature that helps support it.  Because Lionel was ruled in the 1950s and because the post War decade was the high point of model hobbying, it is no surprise that Lionel should be as prestigious as the brand is.. Lionel’s value is raised by the fact that it positioned itself out of range for most customers back in the 50’s, creating a scarcity that helps bouy its value even today.

American Flyers:  

The only model locomotive brand that can really give Lionel a run for its money is American Flyer.  Although Gilbert failed to usurp Lionel with his S gauge train in the 50’s, American Flyer trains are perhaps even more sought after today than Lionel’s historic locomotives.  Gilbert’s effort, however, made some of the most beloved locomotives around and collectors go absolutely ape doo doo over these vintage toy trains.  The fact that they are one of the few types of trains that run on S gauge, an in-between scale smaller than O but hugger than HO, only adds to the uniqueness of these locomotives.  They are so popular among collectors and fans that Lionel LLC, the current owner of the American Flyer patent, plans on releasing many of the most popular locomotives from this period.  Watch out for them.

Ives:  

If you actually want to get a locomotive that no one has try finding an old Ives train.  Ives was the third challenger in the Lionel versus American Flyer triumvirate.  An old Ives model train is a real find.  Most are in O scale just like Lionel but they are real collector’s items these days. 

Clock operated trains of the Victorian era:  

These toy trains from the very early period of toy training are really a discovery.  They don’t have the complicated detail that the Lionel and American Flyers would have after World War I.   These clock operated locomotives, however, really paint you a picture of how such trains were viewed before model training became so popular.  You can really make out the hand crafting on these simple wooden trains. They were clock operated because there was no electrical source yet.  And they were pricey back then.  They clearly had the children of the well off in mind.  These trains can really capture the imagination of another age.  In fact, you might say that model training came to us just like kindergarten.  Both were part of Germany’s obsessions with childrearing in the early 20^th century.

There is great joy in restoring one of these old model locomotives.  You could choose a far worse hobby.

Here is more information on Model Steam Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

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