Modeling of railroad cars dates back to the mid-18th century. The first complete model train system with track gauges, model locomotives, rolling stock cars, and accessories was marketed in Germany in 1891. The earliest model train systems were operated by clockwork mechanisms or steam power.
By the turn of the century, four gauges of trains were available, and within 15 years, model trains were powered by electricity. When Germany's exports were halted during WWI, model train industries like American Flyer and Lionel train sets expanded worldwide.
Bringing Them Home
Model railroading reached its peak in the '50s, until slot cars hit the toy market in the '60s. Ten years later N (1:148-1:160) and Z scales (1:220) hit the market, and model train popularity reached new heights.
Since then, model train scales have become more precise, paying extra attention to detail and offering avid collectors and wannabe train conductors the opportunity to elaborate on design and theme. Popular scales run from 1:29 to 1:220, allowing for any indoor or outdoor design.
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All Aboard!
Today's space-age plastics allow for advanced workmanship in plastic model train components, with zinc alloys that will not deteriorate. Enthusiasts are running multiple metal train sets on a single-track system from a handheld remote control.
Up to 25,000 collectors/enthusiasts have attended a single model train trade show in search of state-of-the-art developments. As the computer age advances, so do the trends in model train collecting. Plug and Play technology has made owning and operating a model train as easy as taking it home and plugging it in.
Timeless Charm
In the '50s Lionel Trains promoted a multi-generation campaign, aimed at fathers and sons and the bonding experience of collecting and building model train systems. Fifty years later polar express train sets are still a top seller for the holidays. The train obsession spans three generations as baby boomers of the '50s pass on their treasures to their grandchildren and eventually their great-grandchildren.
