Train Set
Spending Quality Family Time With Toy Train Sets
If you want to spend some time as a family, one of the best ways to do it is with toy Model Train sets. There is a difference though with toy trains, and not all of them are 'toys.' there are many different styles of trains, and they come in a variety of sizes, or scales of trains. If you have smaller children, you can purchase toy train sets that are made from wood, or hardened plastic, and are completely manual. You and your kids can set up a number of different layouts, and push the little train cars around the tracks.
There are also model trains sets that are crafted to resemble the real thing. Many of these sets are also ideal for family play, and some common scales are G, O, and HO. G scales are large and can easily be handled by smaller children, but while there are many different kinds of layout designs, these trains are large, and take up a lot of room. You usually see this sized train sets in abundance around Christmas time, and are a great addition under any tree. Some of these are electric, but many battery operated models are quite safe for smaller kids.
Model trains have been popular for well over a hundred years, and were first made from wood, in Europe, and had pull strings for kids to drag them along. It seems that toy trains have developed just as fast and unique as their real life counterparts. They are now made by several different companies, with Lionel, Hornby, and Bachmann being among the tops brands.
The nice part about newer models of toy train sets is the fact that they are relatively easy to put together. They come with simple snap together track systems, color coordinated wiring, and you can have them up and running to play with your family in just about an hour, depending on the layout. These Ready To Run sets come with everything you need to get started, track, train, and power supply, and are fun for the whole family.
Now while you can buy just about any kind of train set for your family to enjoy, there are some things to note when enjoying family time with your toy model train sets. Even the wood sets have some small parts included, and precautions should be taken when letting your smaller kids play with them. Scale Model trains, ones that have electric power, should only be used under adult supervision.
You can buy toy model train sets just about anywhere. You can buy them from toy stores, hobby shops and mass marketing merchandisers. If you want to most variety, the best place to start is online. The costs for some of these are quite reasonable, and some sets are under fifty dollars. Serious train sets start at around $100, but there are some that are well above that.
So if you want a great way to spend quality time with your family, why not consider buying a toy train set. There are classic models to choose from, especially around the holidays. If you aren't sure if this is the kind of hobby you and your family can get into, there are many websites you can use for checking out if this sort of thing is in your future.
About the Author
The author, Claire Rigby owns Anara Toys which had an amazing range of wooden trains and accessories including wooden train sets.
Train Set
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 LGB 72700 Collector Edition Complete Train Set NOS Unused In Wood Cabinet  US $3,300.00
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 Massoth Wireless 12 amp DCC Wireless Starter Set for MTS DCC train control NEW US $1,799.95
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 LGB Super Heroes Train Set MIB Ltd Ed RARE DC Comics Superman Batman Flash COA US $999.00
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 NEW LGB 5 car set Bottle Train 3707 3407 34075 34076 37075 NEW US $950.00
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 Marklin 54102 Maxi Bavarian Electric Passenger E69 Locomotive Train Set US $849.00
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 LGB Wilson BrosCircus Limited Edition Numbers Matching G Scale Train Set 1117 US $830.22
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 LGB G Scale Train Car 72302 Passenger Starter Set MIB US $821.99
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 LGB 20301 Blue Train Passenger Set Made in Germany US $799.99
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 54104 Marklin 1 gauge Bavarian Local Railroad Train Set Metal w cars Scale 132 US $789.00
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 LGB 92313 RARE TRAIN SET WITH DISNEY PUZZLE WITH TRACKS IN ORIGINAL BOX US $625.00
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 LGB G Diesel Train Set Limited Edition Made in Germany US $599.99
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 LGB Passenger G SCALE Train Set 20150 Made in Germany US $599.99
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 LGB Big Train Starter Set G Scale 72400 Brand New US $583.99
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 LGB G SCALE TRAIN SET MODEL 72302 STARTER SET US $529.99
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 RARE LGB 72301 Passenger Train Set G Scale Used OB US $524.99
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 LGB 70634 ICE CREAM FREIGHT TRAIN SET OF 3 PCS LNIB RARE US $499.99
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 LGB Schweiger Loco Passenger RED G Train Set Germany US $499.99
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 LGB 72403 WORK TRAIN STARTER SET W SOUND SMOKE NIB US $479.99
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 GENTLY USED LGB TRAIN SET WITH MANY EXTRAS US $474.99
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 LGB Train Set G Scale 69572 Tender w Sound Stickers US $466.99
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 THE HOLIDAY EXPRESS ANIMATED TRAIN SET 380 380 234 IN ORIGINAL BOXES US $450.00
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 Bachmann G White Pass Yukon Train Set BAC90059 NEW IN BOX US $399.99
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How much money does it take to make a train set?
How much money does it take to make a VERY Professional, nice, hand-painted,VERY large, train set. With wildlife animal included, also houses and buildings. And IT would be VERY large....including the table. Well including everything.
Also what are the best breands to buy from. I don't want it were the animals are bigger than the trees either. It needs to be a brand that has animals though, or at least houses and such.
Model railroading can be a VERY expensive hobby: I think at the moment I have about $30,000 dollars invested in my layout (N-Scale and filling two 10x12 rooms). Our first layout, 4x8 feet and HO scale would cost about $700 to recreate today. I've also seen professional layouts that would cost roughly $500K or more.
The FIRST thing you want to decide is what SCALE... scale is the ratio of the model to the "real thing". So in N-scale, 1 foot is equal to 160 feet (1:160). An 80 foot long passenger car would be a model of 6 inches. THIS is what makes everything look the proper size.
N-Scale - 1:160 and HO-scale - 1:87 are two of the most popular scales.
MY favortite brands are Athearn, Atlas, Walthers, Delux-Innovations, Micro-Trains, and Peco.
http://www.athearn.com/
http://www.atlasrr.com/default.htm
http://www.katousa.com/
http://www.katousa.com/
http://www.peco-uk.com/
http://www.walthers.com/
What I would recommend to ANYONE starting out is to get a years subscription to Model Railroading magazine: http://www.trains.com/mrr/
THEN take a few months with graph paper and a pencil and draft what you want your layout to do and look like OVER and OVER... it's MUCH cheaper to make your mistakes on paper.