Model Railroading for Beginners

Potential customers will find it´s a buyer´s market when it comes to model trains.— Loren Potts, of Depot Train & Hobby

Unlike many childhood hobbies, model railroading is something that can carry on into adulthood. Trains have an intrinsic magical allure, and enthusiasts will tell you that once you’re hooked, it’s hard to break away.

Manufacturers looking to entice the younger generation into model railroading have taken steps to make trains that are easy to assemble and operate, are durable and—pardon the cliché—include a lot of bells and whistles.

Potential customers will find it’s a buyer’s market when it comes to model trains, according to Loren Potts, manager of Depot Train & Hobby in Cleveland, Ohio. First-time buyers will find a wide variety of high-quality, durable products.

“Precision engineering and fine-scale detailing at an affordable price are what makes a high quality model train,” notes John Morath, communications manager for Bachmann Trains. “Our commitment to these principles is what makes our sets stand out.”

Nicholas Ladd, director of sales for K-LINE Trains, points out that his company includes many extras with its starter sets. The quality of craftsmanship is high, too, he says.

“Our starter sets are not just a loop of track and a small transformer,” Ladd notes. “We only use our top-of-the-line O gauge SuperSnap track, which is easy for a young engineer to set up and take down. We distribute the largest and most powerful transformer in any starter set in the market. This allows the addition of extra track, accessories, switches and rolling stock without the necessity of purchasing another transformer.”

Popular culture draws younger buyers into the toy train market, as well. One of last year’s bestsellers was Lionel’s O Gauge Polar Express Train Set, inspired by the popular holiday movie. Many hobby shops couldn’t keep them in stock. Sales are expected to continue to be high this year, thanks to the November release of “The Polar Express” on DVD. Also for the 2005 holiday season, Bachmann will be offering its HO scale Grinch’s Whoville Special.

Another popular train that has seen success because of media exposure is the HO scale Thomas the Tank Engine set manufactured by Bachmann. This year, Bachmann is introducing some add-ons to the Thomas set, including the James the Red Engine Freight Set, Gordon the Big Express Engine and Henry the Green Engine.

“We hold exclusive rights to HO scale Thomas & Friends electric trains in the U.S. and Canada,” Morath explains. “Other companies (such as Lionel) hold licenses for other scales and/or other territories.”

Interest in toy trains runs high during the holidays, as people buy them to place under their Christmas trees. But, of course, for many enthusiasts, trains are a year-round hobby that doesn’t end when the holiday decorations go back in storage.

What follows are some of the popular trains for first-timers, according to retailers.