|
Tue. Apr 24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scale,
Gauge,
Age? Tips for picking a first train set.
|
|
Age Matters
IS THE CHILD PLAYING WITH THE TRAIN SET
5 YEARS, 15 YEARS,
OR 65 YEARS OLD?
A child's
first train set is a gift that will be cherished in memory forever.
Start off right with a train in a size large enough for the child to handle
without frustration. |
 |
Buy a set that is rugged enough for little engineers to play
with and part of a train system or established train scale so that more cars and
accessories can be added to allow set to grow with the child's interest. For adults, the choices
often depend on available space and what type of trains were played with during
childhood. Consider the planned use for the train ( ie: seasonal display,
elaborate scale layout, family project ) and the proposed location for it to be
set up in. Toy trains range
in size from very small ( N Scale ) to pretty large
( G Gauge ). Each of
these popular sizes is best for model railroaders of different ages and require
varying amounts of space for operations.
|
I
Younger Child
I Ages 7-12 I
Ages 12 & Up
I
|
FIND
A TRAIN FOR
YOUR CHRISTMAS
TREE HERE
|
|
|
FOR YOUNGER
CHILDREN
THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
WOODEN TRAIN PLAY
SETS
with Action Accessories
|
As
children develop along the "train play" curve, at about ages
three and up they are ready to play with wooden train play sets that
have been so popular for generations of young children.
Today's
kids will enjoy reenacting the magical adventures of the ever-popular
Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway System. Featuring characters from
the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends video series and the Thomas
and the Magic Railroad feature film now out on video, this complete
wooden train and village system allows children to re-enact their
favorite Thomas tales or create new adventures of their own.
CHECK OUT
WOODEN THOMAS TRAINS HERE
|
|

|
FOR AGES
7 to 77
LIONEL TRADITIONAL SIZED
0 & 027 GAUGE ELECTRIC TRAINS |
In the
50's and 60's a Lionel
train running under the Christmas tree was what a child dreamed of on Christmas Eve. They
were big, fast, made lots of noise, and built to last.
Once again 027 trains are the choice for children and adults alike who want to enjoy the
feel and excitement of substantial, solid toy
trains running in a space as small as 3 feet by 5 feet!
It's hard to believe
but even
though these trains are large (Cars 10" L & track 8
3/4" L x 1 1/4"W), they are designed so you can
have fun running them on a layout set up in
less space than is required for the much smaller ( half the size train cars ) HO scale! In
addition, the unique 3 rail track design eliminates
almost all the electrical difficulties of building
a train layout.
CLICK
HERE for 0 Gauge Train Supplies.
|
Lionel
Train O27 Gauge Pennsy RR Set with
Fasttrack |
SET FEATURES:
-
Die-Cast
Metal Engine Smokes & Whistles!
- Powerful 80
Watt Transformer
- NEW FASTTRACK
|
|
Learn More Here
|
These
Train Books Make Great Gifts AND
Our Close-Out Prices Save 61%
|
|
HO
or N Scale |
FOR AGES 12
& UP
LARGE LAYOUTS IN SMALL SPACES |
HO Scale- High detail at a low price
For about 80% of new adult model railroaders HO SCALE
(1/87) is the scale of choice because of cost and space factors.
A railroading empire can be set up in a small space and HO
scale accessories are plentiful and inexpensive. Of course,
because these trains are so small and full of details they are too fragile
and temperamental to be handled by younger children.
|
Beginners HO Train Sets A classic American
HO Scale freight set is an inexpensive way to get started in HO scale model
railroading. Typical features include a streamlined diesel or powerful
steam loco with operating headlight. The complement of autheically
detailed freight cars may include tankcars, boxcars, reefers, and of
course, a caboose. These ready to run sets come complete with a circle or
oval of track and deluxe powerpack.
I
Learn
More and See Sets On Sale Now I |
N Scale- For Adults with "No more room"
N scale trains (1/160) are about half the size of HO but appear even smaller because each individual replica
occupies only 1/8 the space of a similar HO item. There are not as many accessories in N scale as in HO but in situations where space
is very tight, or modeling broad sweeping vistas is the goal, N scale is the best
option. See the N Train
Sets: CLICK
HERE |
Scale &
Gauge?
Choose the
size trains best suited to your needs.
The terms scale and gauge are often used interchangeably to refer to the size
of a model train, but they are not the same. Gauge is the distance between the
inside edges of the track rails. Scale is the size ratio of the model.
The scales and
gauges of the 5 most popular sizes of electric model trains are listed below from
largest "G" to smallest "N". The train section of our
website and catalog are also set up this way
with all the same sized trains and accessories grouped together.
The last line of the table below compares the approximate
length of a common box car in each model train size. |
Name: |
G
|
0/027
|
S
|
HO
|
N
|
Scale:
|
1/22-1/29
|
1/48
|
1/64
|
1/87
|
1/160
|
Gauge: |
1 3/4"
|
1 1/4"
|
7/8"
|
5/8"
|
5/16"
|
Box Car: |
16"L
|
9"L
|
7 1/2"L
|
5 1/2"L
|
3"L
|
|
|
Looking For More Model
Railroading Supplies?
Our print catalog features pages
and pages of great values on trains and model railroading accessories. So many
that we can't list them all on the internet but we feature some of the best values here on
this site. Check back as we add more
products and look for our internet only specials. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Page 1
I Sign
Up Now I
Click To Close This Message Window
I
We'll Give You
More Ways To Save

Sign
up to receive our
e-mail newsletter and...
Each week or two we'll send you an
email packed with money saving links and information
about:
-
Up To Date Information About Deeply Discounted Closeout items
-
Subscriber Only Discounts And Special Offers
-
Notification Of New Product Releases

Sign
Up Now
(Opens A Subscription Form
In A New Window)
Click To Close This Message Window
| |