Posts Tagged ‘About’

During their nadir, Lionel model trains were legendary internationally for their focus on detail and the standard of manufacture. They continue to are : from Hogwart’s Express for Harry Potter fans to the Polar Express or merely the straightforward Pennsylvania steam freight train, Lionel offers a large range of trains that are true to the originals, real or hypothetical.
In reality, a Lionel electrical train was one of the first two electric toys to be inducted into the national Toy Hall-Of-Fame ( the other was the straightforward Bake Oven ). It was his marketing expertise that gave rise to the phenomenon of model train collecting at the start of the 20th century.
His idea commenced when he devised moving promoting gondolas employing a tiny electric motor he had developed, and when he revealed that folk were more inquisitive about the gondolas than in the products they were lugging around he got the idea of using his electric motor in toy trains. By means of fantastic dept displays at xmas time Cowen gave rise to a public interest in toy trains, and shortly they were among the state’s most well liked toys.

Cowen’s arrival of the two 1/8′ gauge 3 rail track became the standard, and signaled his dominance of the toy train market. A curious innovation of the O-scale track was the O27. The standard O makes a circle 31 inches in diameter when the curved rails are put together, while the O27 was only 27′. The O27 could run OK on O gauge track, but not vice versa, as the 27′ curve was too sharp for standard O scale trains. After Lionel’s golden decade covering 1946 – 56, the company dropped as a rising number of folks switched to the smaller HO scale ( that Lionel ultimately sticked to ) and kids’s interests went from toy trains to toy vehicles. This was only to be expected since the age of the car had arrived, and although vehicles had been in existence for many decades, it was only now that the number of models had expanded to the limit that toy manufacturers considered it worth manufacturing them. Toy cars were less costly to folks than trains that required rolling stock and tracks to go with them. The company was at last sold to a business known as General Mills who ran it from 1969, even though it never hit the heights of earlier years. Then in 1986 it passed on to Lionel collector Richard Kughn, and became known as Lionel Trains. Quality quickly rose again but in 1995 the company was sold to a consortium known as Wellspring Associates LLC. The company now trades using the nom-de-plume Lionel LLC, but will always be known to fans as Lionel Toy Trains.

Real vintage Lionel model trains can be identified from the couplings. Prior to the Second World War, Lionel couplings looked like hooks, while after the war there were two types of coupling : the Scout series couplers and the more modern peg couplers. The Scout series were the entry-level series with G shaped couplings that don’t open. The more complicated couplings have pegs that may be pulled on the bottom to open them.

Post-war also saw the arrival of electrical couplers. This was better than the 1st version as there were no contact shoes to get snagged with switch points.
The Lionel model trains are normally stamped with four numbers, identifying each item. These can be found either underneath or on the side of each vehicle and locomotive.

The company now operates from Ohio, and the new 2009 catalog offers many new items including the New York Transit tube set, and the Dewitt Clinton Heritage Steam Passenger set, and there is also a large number of new rolling stock. Lionel model trains are still live and kicking, and the new catalog proves that it has not lost its gusto for innovation.

Click here for more information on Lionel Model Trains
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Canadian Model Trains really are a great way to break the ice at any train model show you may be at. They will capture attention because of their realistic look and the latest technology they hold within. Just taking a look at the different models they have will leave you impressed with what they have to offer and wanting more. Once your friends see what you have bought from the company, they will want to buy a train from the company as well.

One of the services many people would like to take advantage of is the custom weathering which is available on any models HO scale or larger. They can take a brand new model train and make it look as if it has been around the world a couple of times. The best part is you do not even have to buy their train in order for them to weather the train to fit into any layout you may dream up. Simply send them your train and they will weather it for a fee. While it is true, you will be out a little bit of money, the results you see making its way through your layout will make it all worthwhile.

Custom painting will help your train to stand out from all the rest. The best part about painting a brass model train is it looks even more realistic when it has been painted in the right manner. You can choose between the different elements that will make the train look more real like lighting and window glazing. Just like with the weathering mentioned above, you cannot have scales under a HO scale custom painted. Custom painting includes the decals that will make your train look like the real deal.

Canadian Model Trains has the DCC technology you are looking for in a new train. The best part is you can have your old trains reset to include the new DCC technology. Most all trains will have the right amount of space in order to accommodate the extra load. The same cannot be said for fitting the train with sound. While it is true nothing beats the sound of a locomotive sounding its whistle as it powers down the tracks, not every locomotive will be able to house the necessary components. The older models that can house the system usually have to be milled in order to create the space necessary.

If you ever feel you are ready to sell your brass train, Canadian Model Trains will help you to sell your train. In many circumstances, they have been known to buy the train from you. The reason why they are willing to buy your model is because they have the ability to retool it and sell it again for a huge profit. The typical way in which the company will help you sell your train is through the use of consignment. Of course with such a highly unique train it almost does not make sense to sell it.

David Blackburn has had a passion for Model Trains for over 20 years. His enthusiasm and knowledge on the subject of model trains can be found in his writing and his new book. For more great information on Canadian model trains visit his site at: http://www.modeltrainsadvice.com. While you are there make sure you sign up for his FREE “Secrets To Successful Model Railroading” Mini Course.

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American prototype Marklin model trains are often only used by a small and tight knit group of enthusiasts. This is because Marklin is a German based company and usually creates trains for the European market. In general they manufacture models on a three rail track, which is something very uncommon in North America.

 

They have now created some model trains for the American market. They have released American themed items in the scales of HO, Z and 1. They have also released models in the N scales under the Trix brand name. Generally, you will find most HO scaled trains in North America.

 

In 1972, Marklin revolutionized the model railroad world with the introduction of the Z gauge. This has the scale of 1:220. These trains are known to have incredible detail and accuracy when compared to the originals. The craftsmanship is something that Marklin takes very seriously, and this has led to their popularity.

 

They create strong locomotives from die-cast metal and rolling stock with incredible prototype detail. Their fans and collectors seek out these trains for the small scale trains and the detail that comes with them. Besides the trains having incredible detail, the operating systems that they create are also known for their great performance.

 

Their systems use nickel silver rails for optimum electrical pickup. They also use color coder plug and socket wiring, and a system of plugs and sockets built into the end of each track. This ensures that the tracks are properly aligned and very reliable. It also gives the mechanical connection reliability.

 

Marklin has hundreds of American and European prototype trains, accessories and track extensions. This makes the manufacturer one of the most popular in the hobby and gives them the strong fan base that they have managed to hold on to for many years.

 

Just recently, they have released a number of new American prototypes. One of these is the HO digital UP class 4000 “Big Boy” locomotive. This is a model of the union pacific railroad heavy freight locomotive. It comes with a digital decoder and a sound generator. It has a powerful motor with a bell shaped armature and flywheel mounted in the boiler.

 

The model locomotive also has an articulated frame which enables it to negotiate sharp curves on the track. There are steam lines mounted to swing out and back with the cylinders. There are also a number of other finely crafted details which make this a great model to collect and have in your collection.

 

Marklin also have a number of kits that you can buy. They have a 45649 HO American freight 10-car set. If you are looking to add a number of cars to your collection then this is a great set to choose. They also offer individual trucks such as the Pennsylvania railroad type N5c caboose. This is a detailed truck with special wheel sets.

 

As you can see there are plenty of American prototype models that you can find and buy if you want to collect a range of Marklin models.

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Model train track is measured in gauges, that coincide a great deal with the scale of the model train. For instance, ‘N’ scale is one sixtieth of the size of a full size train.

The ‘N’ stands for nine, which means the 9mm, the distance between the inside of the tracks. These tracks are small, and many of these train layouts will fit in a rather small space.

It is also a good size if you are thinking about running long strings of cars, since the train cars will be lighter, they will use less electricity. You could read about all the different train rail gauges, and there are plenty of great, highly detailed specifications, drawings, and layouts.

If you are a beginner, or just a casual hobbyist you don’t have to get so technical. You do want to learn the basics the scale letter also give what standard gauge it is. Your most popular scale, HO, has a track width of 16.5mm, or 5/8th of an inch.

There may be other gauges for HO, but they will be clearly defined, like ‘HON3.’ This means that it is HO scale, but has a narrow gauge, and the track gauge is three scale feet wide, rather than the standard real life gauge of 4′, 8″ long.

Sounds really confusing doesn’t it? Don’t worry about that as long as you are sticking to standard scales.

The only time you may have to deal with this more is when you start getting up into larger model train track gauges, for ¼ of 1/8 scale model trains. This is really where you have to start dealing with heavy, weight bearing tracks.

When you first get your kit or set and want to set up your track design, it is a good idea to open the individual pieces, lay them out on your work surface, and look at the instruction manual. Look at the different designs they have included and lay out the tracks, without attaching anything as of yet.

You will want to make sure that the tracks lay flat, and don’t have any warps in them. Check that the connecting ends are in good condition, and that the switch controllers function smoothly and will fit snugly together.

If you are a beginner, you should be using EZ-Track, or Tru-Track, so these parts should all just snap together. Now before you hook up anything else, you should make sure you are using a clean sturdy flat surface, even if you are just putting it together to make sure it works.

Now no matter what kind of system you use, you will have terminal joiners that will have to have wires connected to them. While some Lionel sets include three rail terminals, most common ones have only two.

It is a good idea to just use the standard screws that come with it, even if you plan to permanently connecting them. For convenience, many new sets just ‘plug in,’ meaning you just strip the ends of the wires and put it in the plug, no muss no fuss.

For obvious safety reasons, make sure that everything is unplugged before you start working with the electrical aspects of laying track. Then you’re ready to go.

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Model Trains has become a leisure pursuit by many for years. It is a good way to engage your time and polish your artistic talent.  There is so much involved in this hobby other than just collecting locomotive. It also entails building sceneries and enriching your skill on scales and gauges. Gauge refers to the distance between the rails. Models of certain scale run on standard-gauge track.

Discover Model Trains

Manufacturers have the goal of creating accurate and realistic model trains. The first model trains were powered by wind-up clockwork, or steam engines, with the first electric model trains appearing in the late 19th century.

The German manufacturer Marklin produced detailed trains as well as signals, stations, houses, and other scenery and destinations. Other German companies made ride-on-top live steam trains.

In 1906, Joshua Cowen invented Lionel trains, which soon became to dominate the American toy train market. More recently, LGB popularized garden trains in the United States.

Toy trains look less realistic than model trains, but often appeal to collectors. The first toy trains were made of cast =iron or were pull toys. In the early 20th century, Lionel started making toy trains for standard gauge and O gauge. Other companies, such as American Flyer, Ives, and Marx made similar trains.

The interactive aspect of trains make toy trains perfect for young children. Some adults’ first memory of a toy was that of a Lionel train. Children between the ages of 4 and 6 may be introduced to wooden train sets that spark the imagination. Children 8 years of age and older may be introduced to S scale electric trains, HO scale electric trains, or G scale electric trains under the guidance of an adult. Make sure that you carefully read all safety instructions that come with any train set before allowing children of any age to use it.

Four Most Common Scales

Z scale (1:220) model railroad trains: Z scale trains make a good choice for anyone with limited space. These trains are not only tiny but highly detailed.     N scale (1:160) model railroad trains: N scale is a popular scale and the second smallest after Z scale. N scale trains are perfect for hobbyists who want to run long trains or keep the focus on the scenery. The price of N equipment is slightly higher than HO scale. Micro-Trains, or MTL, is a well-known brand that makes scale trains.     HO scale (1:87) model railroad trains: HO scale trains, one of the most popular scales with modelers, come in countless types of trains and have = large selection of scenery available as well. HO trains are generally highly detailed and a good value. An HO layout requires a moderate amount of space.     S scale (1:64) model railroad trains: S scale trains—the scale of American Flyer trains—also =ave a strong following among narrow-gauge model railroaders. This larger scale makes the train dominate any set. S scale does not have the massive following of HO or N scale.     O scale (1:48) model railroad trains: O scale trains are very popular toy =rains. Lionel continues to make trains for =his scale. O scale trains are easily handled by children. MTH makes tinplate lines of model trains in O and standard gauges.     G scale (1:22.5) model railroad trains: G scale trains are for indoor use, but =re especially suited for garden trains. L.G.B. made the scale popular in the United States and makes detailed, sturdy trains that stand up to =he elements. Other manufacturers in this scale include Bachmann and Aristo-Craft.

 

 

 

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