About Karen

Karen has been a member since December 5th 2009, and has created 22 posts from scratch.

Karen's Bio

Karen's Websites

This Author's Website is

Karen's Recent Articles

What is the Average Cost to Get Started with Electric Train Sets?

A toy train hobbyist or enthusiast certainly has electric train sets in their collection. With the different types of electric trains and models that are available, both adults and children have come to appreciate the toy that has been played with for many generations. These powered beauties provide infinite hours of fun and entertainment. Besides empowering those who play with model trains with knowledge and dexterity, skills are improved and there is personal satisfaction as one learns more about operating the trains. There are many avenues to pursue with this exciting hobby whether it is collect, read about the history, restore and repairs, make the scenery or a combination of all these.

Having electric train sets is very rewarding and many model trains are available for you to choose from. You can select from various train scales, typically measured in sizes, track layouts, and landscapes. Nowadays, electric train manufacturers are competing with each other out for various niches in the toy market. They are coming up with several unique features in order to differentiate themselves and to appeal to toy train collectors to kids of all ages. These technological advancements are meant to enhance one’s model railroad experience. Of course the more features, the higher the cost.

Although you can get affordable electric train sets at toy stores for your kids, there are those that have higher costs. But what is the average cost of a simple electric train set, you may ask? It depends entirely on the technological features and options. However, quality may be compromised when it comes to cheaper toy trains. You will want to consider things like how will the trains be used and how important certain features are to you before making your purchase.

You may want to ask around or scour online for various electric train sets pricing. Usually, a single electric toy train set for children costs more than fifty dollars. That is, if they have nice features and designs. Pricing is also based on train scales. The bigger the size, the pricier it may cost. However, N scale and G scale trains are the most popular ones out in the market and you might want to check out the different designs and scenery that accompanies the whole set in online shops or toy stores near your area. You could even join an association or a club made up of electric train enthusiasts and share the same collecting passion that you have.

For a cheaper option, it is a good idea to peruse electric train sets at stores near you to avoid shipment. Although when it comes to availability and fastness, browsing the web may be ideal. Scores of model trains can be seen online. You just have to determine what suits your preferences and our budget best.

Electric train sets are enough to make anybody turn railroad fun into a full-blown hobby and passion. Indeed, there are heaps of popular brands of model trains that will make you ga-ga over. Not to mention that the features and accessories are tweaked, allowing you to have a pleasing train track experience. Aside from the locomotive types, you can opt for freight and passenger electric trains. Most of them come with landscapes, train stations, and other relevant items that are a must for any electric train enthusiast.


What Features Should I Look For When Buying an Electric Train Set?

Electric train sets are not just toys as they have become a staple in household playgrounds and a lifelong passion for many toy train collectors, children, and enthusiasts. Once entered into the world of toy trains, there is that enjoyable and exciting experience that both a child and grown-up can feel. There is something entertaining in regards to the thought of having an electric train set which anyone can play with and control. With the various types of train sets available, the track layouts, trains, and scenery among others also differ.

Thos who are fascinated and curious about toy electric train sets, whether for their children or for themselves, may choose from a gamut of options available. Decisions somehow steer towards pricing and features which appear confusing at least for many.

Landscape and scenery

Electric train sets do furnish that level of detail and practicality that enkindles passion in plenty of model train collectors and buffs the world over. Modern train sets are tweaked to look even more realistic with detailed layouts, styles, and designs with faster train tracks and controls. Indeed, the tracks of today are easier and simpler to assemble and the scenery and landscape items such as foliage, trees, snow, or water create that sense of reality alongside the train tracks. Such features should be doubly considered since they produce that actuality that only electric trains offer.

Side switches

As soon as you have decided that an electric train set is an excellent toy collectible and plaything for yourself or for your child, make sure that you look into other features aside from the scenery and landscape. Side switches are important features of electric train sets. Flipping on the switch on one side of the locomotive would stop the train, flipping it on the other side would alter its course which causes sometimes a disastrous derailment. One neat piece of the design, which almost appears like the real thing on big trains, is that the switch can be set and activated to swerve in one direction toy our preference.

Scale and gauge

Most frequent query you will be raised to ask is what type of model scale size and gauge would you prefer in purchasing an electric train set. There are many options available but knowing the different scale types can make your purchase problem so much easier. There is the G scale train referred to the garden train range. The largest scale range and perfect for outdoor settings. It’s also great for toddlers to play with as well since it has large features. A larger size train that you may settle on is the O scale one made popular by the Lionel brand. The N scale trains are one of the most popular types which are a smaller size scale with a wide selection of settings and accessories. It is mostly used and preferred by hobbyists. When it comes to gauge or train track width, you can opt for the narrow gauge rails which is often convenient for playing.

Whatever electric train sets you go for, there are loads of trains, accessories, and brands to choose from. Selecting between freight or passenger trains, scale sizes, locomotive types, and an assortment of environments like train stations, town precincts, or woodlands also gives a level of detail, realism, and fun at the same time.

Toy Train Sets to Get your Toddler Started with Model Trains

The best toy train sets for toddlers are wooden train sets that the child can piece together. There are lots of wooden train sets on the market which are reviewed and emphasized in order to give reliable guidelines for parents and kids looking for the best toys in the market.

Trains for toddlers make great toys and there are a variety of different train themed toys on the market. There are train themed books, DVDs and Lego sets as well as wooden train sets, motorized trains and remote control trains.

Brio produce a huge range of high quality themed train sets and the countryside horse set is just one example. It has 36 pieces and includes rechargeable engine. There are 3 horses, a barn style arch to encourage imaginative play. It can be put out in an 8 shape or in an oval.

Rain set tables are great for endless hours of play. They keep all the playtime mess of the floor and at children’s level. They normally come with their own train set. Most of them have good storage facilities so as well as being a toy they are great for storing all trains, accessories and other toys when they aren’t being used.

Kidkraft Ride Around Train set with a Table. This is a great set for imaginative play. There’s a train track that runs around an airport which includes a runway and helipad and a hospital with an ambulance. It’s compatible with Thomas and friend’s and Brio train sets. Additionally there are two storage bins which make tidying away quick and easy.

Fisher-Price Geotrax Rail and Road System has a remote control train. The remote control is big and easy to use for little hands and the train can go backward and forwards. The main terminal building, tracks and passengers will be great for lots of imaginative play. Load the train with cargo using the crane.

Lego Duplo are the Lego sets with bigger blocks and they are great for little toddler hands. Lego has all kinds of themed sets including train sets. They are great because you can work with your toddler to put the sets together and then they will have great fun pushing trains around the track. As your little one gets older they will learn to build the tracks and accessories themselves. Some of the trains are motorized too. Below are few options for you:

On great toy trains for toddlers, there are a range of toy trains that you can just push around the house or outside and don’t need a track. I think they are particularly great for younger toddlers.

Melissa and Doug train has cargo blocks which you can stack on the train. There are pegs for linking the cars together. Your kids will surely enjoy linking them together, taking them apart and putting them back again.

The Fisher Price Little People range is brilliant for toddlers and this little train is no exception. I think this is perfect for younger toddlers in particular. The size of the train is just right for little hands to grasp and play with.

There are lots of trains for toddlers’ sets on the market which are highly recommended buy. As well as the trains and their endless features that are great for imaginative play.

The Top Seven Things to Consider When Designing Your Model Railroad

Designing your model railroad layouts can be daunting. It is a drove of arts merged together involving carpentry, painting, photography, sculpting, terrain building, electrical engineering, and history combined. Constructing the finer details of a model railroad is certainly an art form with many portions working together to create a functional piece. Such a leisure pursuit may afford countless hours of enjoyment for you and your loved ones.

Whether you had previous experience with construction and design or do not have much of an artistic streak, you can surely build your own model railroad layouts with a bit of research and motivation. Moreover, lots of people take on crafting model railroads from a simple activity to a blazing passion shared with friends and family. These layouts can be passed down for future generations as well.

If you have never constructed or designed any models before, building your first-ever model railroad layouts designs can be successfully pushed through once you figure out some details and have planned on it firsthand. There are several considerations however, when constructing your model railroad. Here are top seven things to take note of:

Plan ahead

Careful planning is the trick to successfully create that model railroad design that you are craving for. Railroad layouts vary and it is up to you how you will execute your designs in the process. Make sure to do a bit of research about the different kinds of track layouts and how you will be able to accomplish the construction.

Budget

Designing your do-it-yourself railroad track is an investment. Do you have the necessary savings to go over the expenses required for such construction? Do you have the appropriate tools and items needed for building it? Even if you hire some basic carpentry job, you will have to dish out some cash in the process.

Begin with the basics

Prior to designing your model railroad layouts, you have to gauge how much space you will be keen on committing your project to. Plus, you need to figure out the scale of your model train or the ratio between the dimensions of the model in comparison with the prototype. This means that you have to know the type of trains and their sizes to compatibly set them in place. Indeed, some model trains are more affordable than others so better hunt around for various railroad layouts and gauge how much money you are prepared to dole out.

Railroad theme

Having a railroad theme is a good idea. Settle on a theme that you will use consistently. You can get inspired by historical themes or fun, entertaining ones from cartoons. Select scenery according to that theme and supply your model railroad layouts an accurate feel.

Sense of purpose

You do not operate a train just because. It is essential to establish where your trains will actually run to. Do they have to carry milk to dairy farms, transport traveling passengers to their designated destinations, or ship coal to power companies? It all boils down to your creativity and a bit of imagination.

Time of year

The landscape that you have selected for your model railroad intermingles years of classic tradition with industrialization, nature with machinery. Whatever accessories and features you use such as mountains, terrain, trees, foliage, or bridges will have an impact on your layout and make the scenery more realistic.

Tools

You can purchase materials necessary for your model railroad layouts at any supply stores and toy chains. As soon as you get accustomed to building and designing your model railroad, make sure that the minutest details should enhance the overall look of your layout and not overwhelm your senses.

The Popularity of O Scale Trains

Look around train and other hobby shops and you can see that model trains come in a range of sizes. There are large-sized trains and smaller ones. The small ones are the N scale, HO scale, and the Z scale. They enable many train collectors to allot in depth railroads into smaller spaces. Large ones such as the G scale are popular as well since they tend to look like the real version. However, some folks might prefer the traditional size of many train sets and the O gauge tops their list. For more than five decades, the O gauge trains have these ideal sizes perfect for your child to play with.

The O gauge trains have become popular due to the demand of parents who want to give them as gifts to their children. These sought-after trains are also the perfect size scale for grown-ups as well. Besides, these O gauge scales are noted remarkably for their growing practicality. The O gauge is large and can use a lot of space. But if you want to know more about such trains, you first have to be aware of a few details about gauges and scales. Mainly, gauge refers to the distance flanked by railroad track gaps in a rail.

O gauge trains are commonly used for model railroading as well as played as toy trains. It was introduced first by German manufacturer Marklin during the 1900s. In the 1930s, the three-rail O gauge train was the most popular model railroad scale and remained so throughout the 1960s era. During World War II, the popularity of the O gauge has declined in Europe due to the introduction of scales that are designed in a much smaller way.

The O gauge scales can stand twice as much as the HO scales and they are more fun to play with than other sizes. In fact, they stay quite nicely on the track and hold higher speeds compared with other models. The O gauge has actually the pace most children prefer, gotten from their race-driven instincts. The O gauge has made it possible since it is designed to have larger flanges on its wheels.

Another reason why they are so popular is because they are very easy to deal with. The O gauge model train has a larger size that makes it easy for kids to manage than smaller scale trains. Besides, they are easier to put on the tracks. Huge-sized operating knuckle couplers provide easier coupling and uncoupling which makes the O gauge more fun and entertaining to play with.

O gauge trains are majorly impressive. They make such memorable toys because of their size and weight. Quality steam engines accompanied with frames, boilers, die-cast trucks, couplers, and metal wheels are crafted into these trains. If you are searching for a model toy train that will have a lasting impression on your kids as well as your own, the O scale is hard to beat.

These O gauge trains provide a wide selection of animated cars and accessories that are unparalleled by any other type of scale model. You can check out different O scale model trains, accessories, figures, sets, buildings, and other stuff for your O gauge layout.