| For people who aren't involved in the model | | | | Carlisle and Finch in 1897 in the United States. The |
| railroading hobby, there's really no difference | | | | Lionel corporation revolutionized these model and |
| between "toy" trains and "model" trains. After all, | | | | they rapidly gained popularity and sophistication.Things |
| both hobbies involve small trains that are controlled | | | | such as lighting, ability to change direction and "real" |
| by some sort of power pack. There is a significant | | | | smoke were some of the earliest realism features |
| difference, however, to anyone who is an enthusiast. | | | | that were added. There was still little distinction |
| Calling a model railroad a "toy train" is like calling a | | | | between "toy" and "model" trains until the 1950's, |
| classic piece of literature a "novel".Toy trains are | | | | however, when the modern emphasis on realism |
| generally marketing to children, and are the way | | | | really started to take hold.Today there are various |
| many of us were introduced to the hobby. They | | | | gauges of model railroads, with a vast array of |
| tend to be quite plain looking and not based on any | | | | accessories available. They can be controlled by |
| real-life trains. Model trains, on the other hand, are | | | | computer and entire railyards can be operated |
| often a true art form with scale reproductions of real | | | | exactly the way they would be in real life. Many |
| or potential trains and layouts (a technique known as | | | | model railroading enthusiasts spend thousands of |
| prototyping).Some of the earliest toy trains were | | | | dollar and hundreds of hours creating prototypes of |
| available in the early 19th century. They often had | | | | actual railroad lines, both past and present.There are |
| wind-up motors or even steam-powered locomotives | | | | clubs and associations that offer resources for |
| and were generally made from cast iron.In the 1850's | | | | beginners and experienced railroaders alike. The |
| a German company named Marklin, who made | | | | internet has also helped to make it easier to find |
| dollhouse accessories, introduced a box set of a train | | | | information on model railroading, as well as a much |
| and track to try to broaden its market to include | | | | larger selection of trains and accessories than the |
| boys as well as girls. They also made extra tracks, | | | | average hobby store could hope to stock.Bill Murphy |
| rolling stock and building that were available as | | | | writes about DCC control, analog control and other |
| accessories.Electric trains followed soon after, | | | | model railroading topics for the Model Railroader |
| commonly believed to have been introduced by | | | | website. |