November 7th, 2010 
dwalton 
Don't Let Model Train Sets Be a Limit On Your Dreams
Author: Tim McCarthy
When I was a child and my father would take me to the toy store, I remember scanning the shelves, always looking for the model train sets as they completely fascinated me. There was just something about the look of the locomotives that I found entrancing. Then one day, I was lucky enough to get a model railway set all of my own. As you can imagine, as a young boy, this was the most amazing day ever! I still have it packed away in the attic somewhere I think.
However, even at that age, I found that it wasn't long before I grew tired of that railroad set. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I got bored of model railway trains completely. In fact, quite the opposite had happened. The problem was that I had just outgrown driving my model locomotive round and round in circles. I was able to get a few additional for my set, which gave it a bit of extra life, but it wasn't long before I was craving something more.
Now what's the point of me telling you this I hear you ask? Well, the reason is that if you are looking to get into model railroading, buying a model train set first is probably not the best way to start. Although I got bored with mine, I would still probably suggest buying one for a child, to see if their interest will last and also because they are easier to get set up than other model railways. However, as an adult who is serious about wanting to get into model railways, I would suggest against it.
The problem is that like I mentioned earlier, you could soon find that your model train set becomes extremely limiting in it's potential. Of course, there are far more accessories available for most model railway sets now than there when I was a child, but still I would opt for buying all the parts that you want separately so that you can create you own model railway, to the particular specifications that you want. If building a model railway has been a dream of yours that you are now choosing to pursue, you don't want to compromise on this, do you?
You may think that this will make it more expensive to get set up in the first place and it may be if you don't do your research properly. Model railroad sets do normally have a cheaper overall price for buying it all as a package. However, if you know where to look and the tricks to pick up cheaper model railway parts, you could actually put your own set together, tailored to your wants and needs and all for cheaper than the price of a model railway set would cost you in a shop.
Hopefully having read this, you will now have a better idea of how you want to go about starting you own model railroad and how to do it the right way. For more information with regard to model train sets, including how they differ from model train kits, head over to my website by clicking on the links below.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/dont-let-model-train-sets-be-a-limit-on-your-dreams-3326716.html
About the Author
Tim McCarthy is a model railway enthusiast with many years experience in the field of model trains. For further information on model railroads, including more on model train sets, please feel free to head over to http://www.modelrailwaytrainstips.com/model-train-sets.
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hahaha. funny.
First you probably need to decide about what scale you want. Train model sets come in various sizes, or scales, with G scale being the largest and Z scale the smallest.
If you are going with a 6′ x 6′ layout, you probably want HO scale, N scale or Z scale, as anything larger will only allow you a very limited layout in that amount of space.
Where to buy the best sets? You mainly want to stick with established brands like Lionel and Bachmann. Lionel has S scale and O scale trains, which are probably too large for you, but Bachmann has HO and N trains, which would be a good size for you.
You don’t have to buy online, but it’s mighty convenient. You could do a google search for Bachmann model train dealers near you if you’[d rather buy from a brick & mortar store. If you want to buy online, you could do a google search for Bachmann model trains. Below, I’ve included a link to one online store that I can recommend, that carries Bachmann products.
I had one when I was a kid. It was in our basement, and my dad spent years working on it. We had three different full trains that went around the whole set.
The set was about the size of a large trampoline. We built bridges and tunnels, some of which were in crazy shapes and sizes. One of them was a spiral that went two feet off the table. We had little old-timey men (bought from the train model store) that stood by the trains and on the sidewalks. They were all less than an inch tall. My dad got an old fashioned train station model and put it on there, as well as various other buildings.
It’s hard for me to remember every last detail. I was nine when they took it down. ): Apparently it “took up too much space”. I mainly remember the fact that the table was taller than I was, and that my dad never let me touch it. My brother was allowed to touch it, of course, since he was a boy and knew more about trains then I did… even though he was only a year older than me. Psh.
We might still have the set lying around somewhere in the attic, it would be cool to take it out again.
First, quality is NEVER cheap!! A locomotive is going to cost you $50-$250 dollars… it’s cheaper obviously to buy a kit.
Atlas, Athearn, Bachmann trains are designed in the USA, but are often manufactured in China, and I’ve had NO problems with the 35 locomotives (mostly Atlas) I own.
I wasn’t aware of any “Chinese” specific trains… though I DO have several Kato locomotives and cars from Japan and they’re just FINE.
Controlling a set through your computer requires DCC (Digital Command Control) systems… AND a computer interface. Look into Model Railroader magazine’s website for links:
You can buy here
George’s Trains, Markham
http://www.georgestrains.com/location-hours.php
Hornet Hobbies, Toronto
http://www.hornethobbies.com/
West End Trains, Toronto
http://www.westendtrains.com/html/contact.html
Or here, online only but they’re located in the Toronto area:
http://www.modeltrains.com/
Model train sets ?
I am starting out on my hobby of model trains and was wondering if anyone knows where I can buy good quality model trains cheaply? Are chinese models sturdy and worth buying? Also tell me some good websites which can tell me about how to control the set using computers?
Thanks
1- From where to buy the best train model sets? Do I have to use the online shopping?
—- I am always, very interested on building a full model of a train set, including its site and surrounding. I for sure can make all the train model site features, the mountains, the backgrounds, and even the right buildings. These days I’m thinking of starting building a model train set. My initial idea is to build something like not less than 6’X6’ size bass model.
NOW; Please I want to know;
1- From where to buy the best train model sets? Do I have to use the online shopping? —–
If so, please what are these good sites?
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
Where can you buy model train sets in Toronto?
What do model train sets and women’s breasts have in common?
Well, both are intended for children, but it’s the fathers that always end up playing with them.
How many of you have model train sets?