HO

[Anonymous]

Read the poll question

[simon1966]

I am building a model railroad in HO. Fortunately for the future of the hobby HO sets are sold as toys. These relatively inexpensive sets are the entrance to the hobby for the kids of today. So many of the 40 year old plus age group started with a Lionel set as a child. The HO and N sets of today are the modern equivalent. So while I consider my layout a scale model, the correct vote is both.

[lupo]

[#ditto]

[Anonymous]

Like the other scales, you will have the toy side and the model side.
1)Oscale/Lionel
2)Sscale/American Flyer
Ch

[Big_Boy_4005]

This poll question is rather meaningless.

It depends on what you do with it. If you set up a circle on the floor, then yes it's a toy. If you put it on a table and add things to it, then no, it's not a toy, it's the beginning of a model railroad. The more you do the less the toy.

SCALE DOES NOT MATTER ON THIS ISSUE!!!!

[Anonymous]

I think it's both. There are scale models and toy trains ( Tyco, Marx and the likes)

[Big_Boy_4005]

Please don't use manufacturer stereotypes in this discussion. The toy vs model issue is up to the individual whose trains they are, and how he/she uses them.

[Fergmiester]

Nice to see you're back in your old form BB and yes I do agree with you all accounts and if I could add to your point.

Toys are something you use, abuse then throw away.

[IRONROOSTER]

If it is proportional in all dimensions to the prototype then it's scale. If you have fun with it, then it is a toy. I don't have any problem with having toy scale trains.
Remember -
He who dies with the most toys wins.
Enjoy
Paul

[AggroJones]

Within HO there are toys and scale models. I graduated from toys a long time ago. I don't understand your question, but HO does have the most true-to-prototype stuff availible of any scale.

No toys here.

[prostreetamx]

I have, over a period of many years, graduated from toy trains to the more detailed and more expensive versions. I make more money now, but have less spare time, so I trey to buy the most complete form of each item. My skills have also improved, so what I do have now looks even better. I plan to give my older, more toylike items to the kid. Richard

[CP5415]

I gotta go with Elliot on this one. Scale has nothing to do the being a toy train or model railroad.
It's all about how you make it look.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I kind of figure that the minute I put it on a table with my first scratch-built building, it went from being a toy to becoming a scale model obsession. Although my wife still refers to it as my toy train setup. Sigh

Lee

[Anonymous]

Both

[Anonymous]

I agree with the facts pointed out up above.

If you simply set up a circle and run it round and round all it is is a toy.

If you set it up on a table, add scenery and put effort into it in regards to how it is displayed then it is a model.

[Anonymous]

Ditto on both.

[Anonymous]

So if you leave it in the original box on the shelf, would it be a collectable?
If so , the brass loco I have that spends a lot of time on the shelf, but gets run on my layout and on the floor around the Christmas tree would be a collectable toy scale model. Cool!

[JoeUmp]

The Pollster should have put a button for "Both" into the poll to more accurately reflect the prevailing opinion. Ditto to "Both" for me

Joe

[Supermicha]

Most of todays engines are too expensive for use as toy in childrens hands i think...

So definitely its not a toy

[on30francisco]

There should have been a selection on this poll labeled "both".

[rogerhensley]

Yes, there should have been a both, but since there wasn't, HO is a scale model railroad. See below, is that a toy or a model railroad? Your call...

[Anonymous]

Another waste of time!

[tstage]

I recently visited a train store in Bryson City, NC, next to the Great Smokey Mountain RR. The store was a licensed dealer for a particular O-scale company. (I'll let you figure out which one it was.) Inside the store, they had a museum dedicated to this particular manufacturer's product.

Around the walls were cases and cases of O-scale locos and rolling stock. They also had a multi-tiered layout that was probably 20 X 40' and could run 6 - 7 locomotives at one time. I don't particularly care for the look of the "3rd rail" (that should be a dead giveaway) because it isn't prototypical. But...I was still able to appreciate the time and effort that went into making the layout and watching the trains make their way around the circuit. I also had a GREAT time talking to the fella (Dave) who ran the layout. (Sorry, I'm probably digressing and getting off the subject.)

To answer the question, to me the issue of toy train vs. model railroad depends primarily on two things: the quality of the HO product and the attitude of the modeler. (Slightly more the latter than the former.)

Some trains look like toys; some look very much like the prototype. Some are close proximities; some are almost works of art and craftsmanship. On a deeper level, someone can be running a highly detailed $300 - $600 HO locomotive around an oval at top speed and another can be switching a less expensive one on a branchline or in a yard. To me, the former treats his merely as a toy; the latter derives enjoyment from experiencing the layout from the engineers or dispatchers point of view.

Don't get me wrong. I think you can have fun and modelrailroad (new verb?) at the same time. The poll is a mute point. What's the attitude of the operator?

QUOTE: Originally posted by IRONROOSTER
He who dies with the most toys wins.
Enjoy
Paul

Paul, in response to your above earlier posted statement:

He who dies with the most toys...STILL DIES!
Tom

P.S. By the way, despite my adversion to the "3rd rail" look, I highly recommend the train store and museum in Bryson City, NC. It was VERY enjoyable! From Bryson City, you can also take a very enjoyable and beautiful 1/2-day round-trip excursion through the Nantahala Gorge on the GSMRR's GP9.