Have you ever played with toy trains?

[FJ and G]

A recent MR survey (in the magazine) indicates that 10% of subscribers do toy trains.

Also, many people in HO and N, esp. old fogies, started out with AF or Lionel in the 50s.

Do any of you still do toy trains? The operating accesories can be pretty nifty.

I have toy trains as well as HO, and may branch out into N. I like the smooth operation of toy trains. Also, if you've been out of touch with toy trains for the last 40 years, their appearance and operating characteristics have improved greatly.

Also, many folks who once did HO and N are now into 3-rail trains and have brought their techniques with them, such as scale-like scenery and trains.

[Eriediamond]

Wait a minute there young fella, I ain't no old fogie, maybe an old fxxt. I started with a Marx wind up train that shot sparks out the stack to simulate smoke. That was back in the early forties, then finally got a Lionel set from Santa and that got me into trouble with the law, kinda. Anyhow started dabbling in HO in the middle 50's. My main modeling media is still HO but back to playing with Lionel at our clubs tin plate layout. We model our main layout in HO but since we are a historical society located in the old depot we've restored we have a layout to represent the Lionel era and also plan on an S guage layout in the future for American Flyer. We encourage the public to bring there old trains with them on their visits to see them run again and offer help in repairs where we are able. We also do the same for our HO scale layout. The public is welcome to bring their HO trains and have them run as well.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Eriediamond

then finally got a Lionel set from Santa and that got me into trouble with the law, kinda.

In trouble with the law? Could you perhaps elaborate on that a bit more?

I love toy trains! I have a large collection of vintage prewar and postwar O and S gauge toy trains from all different manufacturers. I run most of it on a layout I have for them that is built in the classic tinplate style with operating accessories. Pictures of some of my toy trains (the ones that are labelled as being from Mitchell Biley collection) are on the internet at www.geocities.com/tintracks . I also have my HO trains, so I guess I have the best of both worlds! I also collect Tri-ang, which in many ways can be considered toy HO/OO as they made a lot of the same operating cars that Lionel did.

[AggroJones]

I never in my life have owned any Lionel or American Flyer. When I was 4 or 5, I had generic unknow wind-up toy trains. Then in the 6th grade I got a G scale toy set with a batterie powered 2-6-2 and plastic rails.
After that I moved up to Bachmann and LL "closer to scale than other toys" sets. I dabbled in that for a while, before selling that stuff off at a flea market to help fund my lauch into scale modelling.

When I was about 13 or 14, I began to get serious. Now, many years later, I am "the real deal" modeller.

[lupo]

I have some recollections of owning a tin clockwork trainset, but nothing left of that, later on I got a french JOUEFF Electric HO train set, ( very cheap ) I was not allowed to run it when mom and dad watched television - for obvious reasons -
and I still can remember the smell of it.

[Anonymous]

I never "Play" with trains! I'm a serious, somber, solemn, grave, staid, earnest and thoughtful modeler. When I was a child I "played" with trains. Now that I have grown up, I must give up those childish ways! There is no time for laughter in this hobby, laughter is for children! Model railroading is not fun, it is a serious business! So, buckle under and just get it done!

I'm just sorry MR doesn't have a "staid" smiley face! What were they thinking?

[BNSFNUT]

I model in HO but got intrested in trains from a Lionel train set given to me in 1949.
A few years back I was at a train show and was looking at the nice O gauge stuff on display and got the bug for Toy Trains. I had a small O layout for a while but took it down to move it into another room as I need the space for my HO layout to expand into. I have not set up the O Gauge yet as I have not had time to get the new room cleared out.
Where did all that junk in that room come from??[(-D]
I plan to get it up and running soon. For my HO layout I am a trure rivit counter but for the toy train layout anything gos.

[Anonymous]

I have always been in HO. I would like to aquire some Lionels some day though !

[Anonymous]

I started with an American Flyer S-gauge set in 1946; became fascinated with HO in 1950 so sold the AF; put away the HO when I went away to college; got married and started in on HO gauge again, brass imports, etc.; got into Lionel O-gauge when my wife found some boxes of pre and postwar trains; sold most of the HO; now I have started building a "Timesaver" switching layout (16 inches by 8 feet), so in addition to perusing the prewar Lionel items on EBay I check out the HO gauge! You might say I'm a bit of a "gauge-changer!"
-Richard

[Anonymous]

I started with BRIO and Wooden Thomas Trains. Then I got a Bachmann G scale set with a radio controlled battery powered 2-6-0( with sound!!!), frieght cars, and plastic rails. Then I found my dad's old B&O set, and then got a Dale Ernhardt HO set when I was 6. Hooked ever since.[:P][;)]

[pbjwilson]

Love my Lionels and I PLAY with them. Nothin like setting up the trains on the floor and getting 4 or 5 trains running at the same time. The noise is deafening and the sight of all those trains going round and round at breakneck speed is pretty hypnotic. Add a crazy out of scale accessory or two and your experiencing train operating at it's finest!

Paul the Painter
"the fumes are gettin to me"

[Anonymous]

Definately BRIO. I love those things.

[CP5415]

Sure do. My daughter has a wooden train set that my in-laws gave her.
It' works well with "Gordon" & "Toby" from the Thomas the tank Engine series that we have.

Gordon [:)]

[eng22]

At a glance:
Freelance Brio Layout
Motive power - Thomas the Tank
Track - Wood
Features a passing siding and an industrial spur.
Manual Command and Control
Great fun for Dad and four year old!

[Anonymous]

Deschane,

"There is no time for laughter in this hobby, laughter is for children! Model railroading is not fun, it is a serious business!"

Wow!, what a sourpuss!! [:D]

I must be a 54 yr old child - I love laughter and find MRR to be a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

Snake, I'm a month away from being 54. Maybe when I get as old as you I can start laughing and having fun again. Until then, I must maintain my Sourpussness!

[Anonymous]

Here's a early BD present for ya - [:)] Enlarge to fit from ear to ear and apply with CA.

[CBQ_Guy]

Sure! There used to be a rule that to start in the hobby you first had to have a "toy" Lionel or American Flyer train "set". That's why you read or hear so many people who say that's what they started out with. [;)]

I got my Lionel train set for Christmas of 1956 at the age of 3. Dad was just following the rule, after all!

[Anonymous]

I had a lot of Brio trains when I was younger - they were passed on to my brother, and now, to my cousin, who seems to be showing a definite interest in trains of all types!

I do like the look of the Lionel trains - and their British counterparts made by Hornby (back when they were part of Mecanno). 3-rail O-scale just looks nicely solid, and I suspect they run well with all that weight! I have one (replica) Hornby tank car in O - given away free with a magazine I bought while on holiday in France last year. Sadly the magazine isn't available over here, even though it would sell in enormous numbers. Most irritating, especially as the replica cars are very nicely made, considering the price (about £8 or so for magazine and car).

[on30francisco]

I had a huge Lionel "Super O" train set when I was a kid in the 60s. I ran very well and all the assesories worked great. If I had the room I would set up a Lionel layout.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train-Master

Definately BRIO. I love those things.

Aha, a "minimalist" layout! [;)]

When I was a little kid, we went to visit my twin nephews who are a couple years younger than I. I was excited because someone mentioned they had new trains. I had Lionel O-gauge and to me that's what a toy train was. I couldn't wait to check theirs out.

Turned out they had little blocks of wood they had to push around on wooden raceways which in later years I learned were called Brio. Reminded me of a roller coaster. I still recall Mom shushing me to not be rude when I blurted out, "Those aren't trains!" [:0]