Posts Tagged ‘Toy Trains’
….continued from yesterday…..
American Flyer New York Central
World War II ended the production of toy electric trains from 1940 through 1945. When production resumed after the war, their popularity skyrocketed.
By the 1950′s, electric trains were the most popular toys among boys in the United States. Lionel was the largest toy train manufaturer, and they had become much more affordable.
Over the years various gauges of toy trains were introduced to the public. Realistic sounds and digital control systems were eventually added to the electric toy trains in the 1980′s. It has been estimated that there are over a half million train collectors in the United States and Canada.
Once you feel ready to set up your model train set, start by looking around your house to determine the best place for your layout. As tempting as it may be, it is best not to place it on the floor. Toy trains that are set up on the floor are easy to step on or kick. Also, train sets placed on the floor are subject to dirt and carpet fuzz, which gum up the mechanisms, and the uneven surface of a carpet often interferes with the train running properly. A better idea is to find a large table or piece of plywood that you can arrange your railroad display on.
Another idea that I feel may work is a sheet of styrofoam. I haven’t tried it, but I don’t know why it wouldn’t be ideal. I bought a 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheet which was at least 2 inches thick to use for my Christmas house display. It is very sturdy but lightweight. You might want to check that out.
You will probably want to begin with a simple layout. Large layouts can be complicated and intimidating. You can add to it later a little at a time. That is the great thing about model train sets; they are designed to be expanded. The main thing is to have fun and enjoy your project.