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Before you even think of building a model train set, you need to know just how much space you’ll have for it. When you purchase a model train, it has a “scale” associated with it. The scale informs you of the size of the train. The majority of model train enthusiasts love the HO scale because it takes limited space for a regular setup and the detail is nice. If space is at a premium for you, look into N scale trains. These can be run in the smallest of spaces. One of my favorites is the O Scale, sometimes called O Gauge, trains. These are big boys and come with great detail. If you have at least a 6 foot by 6 foot space, you can setup a decent O scale layout. O scale model trains and accessories are typically more expensive, but they are worth it in my opinion.

Requirements

It is possible to setup your own model railroad piece by piece or to buy a complete kit. Generally, a complete kit will lack the frills associated with model railroad setups like scenery, but you can be up and running in minutes. If you end up buying a ready-to-run complete set, you can add-on to it easily by simply buying the parts you desire. Also you can run other trains on the track. Just make sure to buy the same scale as your setup. For example, if you bought a HO scale set, you want to buy HO model trains in the future.

Some Things to Look For

When buying your new model train, look to see if it is DCC enabled. This is a big one. You want to have your train DCC enabled, if possible, so you can run other trains at the same time with ease. Should you decide one train is enough for you, this is less of an issue, in my opinion. However, you never know. Your model train store will only have a very small fraction of the model trains and accessories that are out there. Don’t feel like you have to buy what they have. The Internet is full of model train stores.

Finally, I recommend that you look for a model train store in your area and go talk to them. You can learn a lot very quickly by talking with someone in person who cares about the hobby. While hobby stores are ok, a store dedicated to model railroading is far superior in every aspect. The probability of finding someone who really knows about model railroading in detail at a general hobby store is minimal at best.

Article
Dream Train by Kenneth Hoffman 

It's six thirty in the morning in a little town in Austria. A lightening eastern sky promises another beautiful day, as a cool ground mist starts to burn off. A chugging sound in the distance speeds up your heart in anticipation of the steam train as it approaches the grade. Here it comes! The sounds of steam rushing through massive cylinders reach your ears before the massive snout suddenly appears as it rounds the rough cut in the mountain. Faithfully, the two block-long row of cars tag along. You imagine yourself riding the last car, enjoying the cool breeze as the landscape flows past. On the hills above you sheep graze peacefully, seemingly oblivious to the plunging antics of a German shepherd as he tries to keep his charges from straying. Up ahead the clanging at an intersection warns of danger as one hundred tons of diesel freight wait patiently for your train to pass. You wave pleasantly to the conductor who casually acknowledges with a raised hand.

Coming into the station, you notice that the lights are still on in the ticket office, dozens of commuters standing in groups ready to board. On the long down-grade out of town, the train picks up speed, the engine roaring to the task of traveling at one hundred miles per hour. The above imagined scenario and many others like it took place every time I turned the switch on the transformer of my 220 : 1 ratio scale (Z scale) model train replica.

The mentioned sheep stand less than a millimeter tall. A normal six foot wide track ends up less than on quarter of an inch in width! These Marklin trains are made in Germany and have almost all of the features found on their larger cousins. Long locomotives are fully articulated (they bend in the middle), can be coupled or uncoupled remotely, and automatically stop at an intersection when another train is coming. The passenger cars are lighted and show red lights when last in line. Both German and American trains are available. The biggest challenge in creating the toporama came in inventing flora to look realistic in this tiny scale. The solution I came up with was to use parts of naturally occurring plants that branched just like big trees. All I had to do was dry them and dip the feathery ends in green powdered foam rubber to simulate leaves. There are many companies who supply the proper scale accessories, like Volkswagons, people, dozens of buildings and train paraphernalia. No effort was spared in creating realistic detail in these miniatures. Hand detailing and 'weathering' add to the realism. Four miles of railroad track was contained on a board only three by five feet. The silver track is fully ballasted in the proper scale sized granite. An electronically coupled tape recorder supplied the sounds and an actual photographic mountain panoramic surrounded the scene. All buildings were lighted and all crossing were automatically controlled.

The wiring is cleverly color coded for easy installation. The track can be ordered in long flexible lengths and the joints can be kept with the original click together connections or custom soldered for lower resistance. An added AC parallel transformer makes possible five mile per hour speeds. Four locomotives of various types could be run at the same time without colliding. Recently some locomotives were fitted with digital receivers for advanced control. My record for a run without a collision was twenty -two minutes.

I don't recommend these expensive model trains for children with the one exception - they're great for the child in you!

http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Dream-Train&id=84267
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  • Dream Train by Kenneth Hoffman 
    It's six thirty in the morning in a little town in Austria. A lightening eastern sky promises another beautiful day, as a cool ground mist starts to burn off. A chugging sound in the distance speeds up your heart in anticipation of the steam train as it approaches the grade. Here it comes! The sounds of steam rushing through massive cylinders reach your ears before the massive snout suddenly ap
    http://www.ezinearticles.com/
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