There is a lot more to this hobby than just buying a couple of train toys to push around on a makeshift track. Instead, you need to consider everything from the materials from which the tracks are made to the locomotives, cars, wiring, power-pack components, and whether or not to purchase complete kits or buy each item separately.
One of the first things to consider is the scale. The most popular scales are O scale and HO scale (half-zero). O scale is 1:48 scale while HO is 1:87 scale. However, smaller and larger scale models are also available. The main consideration here is your availability of space. If you plan to fit your layout on a 4×8 piece of plywood, HO scale is a great choice for that. If you have more space and more money to spend, O scale is a great choice. There are lots of accessories available for either HO or O scale.
Another decision to make is whether to buy a complete kit or individual components. Kits are recommended for beginners because they provide the essential items at an affordable cost. The downside of buying individual components is it will cost more money and take more time to put it all together. However, for more serious model train hobbyists, buying individual components is recommended because it allows you to upgrade and customize your selections, making your set uniquely yours and totally awesome! Kits typically include standard quality items, which are okay for beginners but maybe not okay for more serious railroaders.
For the cars, as long as they are the same scale as your track, you really cannot go wrong. Buy the ones you like the best and have fun collecting unique and interesting cars.
One of the most important model train features is the track. Tracks have rail heads, which are made from three basic materials, brass, nickel-silver and steel. However, there are really just two choices here because brass is being phased out by most manufacturers and is already hard to find in hobby shops. The best and cheapest place to find brass track is in garage sales. So your remaining choices are nickel-silver and steel. Nickel-silver is the easiest to find and most commonly used. It is very popular because it is slower to oxidize, which means less maintenance and less cleaning. Steel has the advantage of looking the most realistic but it has the disadvantage of rusting faster and getting dirty faster. So if you want that awesome look that steel offers, you have to be willing to work harder for it.
When looking for track, look for a code on the track packages. This number relates to the height of the rail. The most commonly used track code is 100 on the HO scale. Model train enthusiasts often use lighter rails or those below 100 as an alternative to achieve a more realistic appearance.
Another important component is the locomotive. Here the choices are diesel versus steam engines. Steam locomotives are very fun because of the loud train sounds and smoke but are typically more expensive than diesel. Diesels are typically available as either 4-axle or 6-axle. Your choice here depends partly on the twists and turns of your track layout. For HO track, a 4-axle diesel requires a minimum track radius of 18 inches while a 6-axle diesel requires a minimum track radius of 22 inches.
Lastly, consider your electrical needs. You will not only need a power-pack but also wires to keep your train up and running. Different trains require different types of power. Most experts agree that HO locomotives pull between 0 to 15 volts DC at .5 or more amp, though adding extra amps is always a good investment. Invest in colored wires to make wiring that much easier. This helps you to keep track of positive and negative charges so that you can avoid a short.
What began as train toys can quickly become a far more serious but still very lovable model train hobby. This guide should help you get started so you can safely move past the serious issues and proceed directly into the fun times.
Ask any avid collector of toy trains about American Flyer, and chances are they’ll be able to talk about these classic toy trains for hours. That’s because American Flyer is a tradition in the production of toy trains and has been for years. Since the beginning of the 1900′s, American Flyer has been producing top-quality toy trains and brought smiles to the faces of millions of people who received them as gifts or heirlooms. A truly unique find in toy train systems, American Flyer continues to be a popular name in toy trains and continues to bring happiness to today’s children and collectors.
American Flyer toy trains began as an idea to develop a clockwork motor for toy cars in 1901 by a man named William Fredrick Hafner. In 1905, he developed a train that could be operated by a clockwork motor on O gauge track. After receiving several requests and funds for orders, Hafner enlisted the help of his friend, William Coleman, to begin producing these new models of toy trains. At the time, Coleman had taken over control of Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, who had experienced financial hardship in 1906. The two friends immediately started to produce toy trains by using the surplus manufacturing potential of Edmonds-Metzel. The production was a success, and by 1910 Edmonds-Metzel left the hardware industry and changed its name to American Flyer. Originally American Flyer toy trains were thought to be generic in comparison to its competitor manufacturer, Ives.
During the First World War, American Flyer’s business expanded and eventually knocked out the German manufactures that produced the majority of toy trains sold in the United States. American Flyer introduced the first electric train in 1918. A windup device replaced the clockwork motor developed by Hafner and quickly became a popular toy among American children. Even with the growing popularity of American Flyer, the company still took second place to the Lionel Corporation – a rivalry that continues among toy train collectors today.
American Flyer toy trains are a popular display item at modern toy train conventions and shows, and are usually at the center of heated auction bidding. Although finding pieces from American Flyer toy train systems are not difficult, you can expect to pay top dollar for these classic toys. Even American Flyer catalogs are hot items up for sale and bidding at auctions and on the internet
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