Collecting Toy Trains

Collecting Toy Trains is Cooler than You Think

When you think about collecting toy trains, you probably think of some guy sitting in his basement wearing his bib overalls and an engineer’s cap watching his train go around and around an oval or figure-eight track or of a child who is fascinated by a certain blue train engine from Sodor named Thomas and his friends, but those pictures are not necessarily accurate any longer.

There is something about trains and the way they move that draws us to them whether it is the thought of traveling across a continent and seeing the landscape from a different view, or the idea of eating soup in a dining car that is rocking back and forth or sleeping in a luxurious Pullman car.  Picturing yourself on the train is only part of the fun of toy trains.  The fact is that collecting trains is much cooler than you probably imagined.

Inter-generational Educational Fun

Collecting toy trains can be a family or inter-generational hobby.  Parents, grandparents or other relatives love to share their passion for trains with the younger generations.  Sharing stories with children about their own trips on different train lines in different times is a way to share not only personal history, but also of making history live.  Learning about their family history, picturing someone they know in a historical context can create an interest in the past that can nurture a child’s curiosity, sparking them to want to learn more about events that have taken place in times before.

Many toy train enthusiasts recreate actual train lines of the past with their collections, including aspects of the terrain and cityscape and historically accurate buildings, vehicles and topography.  Some collectors even include tiny details such as billboards, newspapers and people in authentic clothing.  This kind of interest spans beyond simply collecting toy trains.  It requires a lot of research which of course involves reading, and can also include mathematics and even geography.  Acquiring an interest in these areas can lead to a lifetime of learning and sharing together as the family continues to work on and grow their train sets.

Collecting Toy Trains Can Start Small

Starting a toy train collection can start with very little initial investment.  An entire round-house fleet can start from a single engine and track and be built upon from there.  It can be fun to plan the next addition to your collection and how you will acquire it.  There are many different avenues that can be accessed to build a collection; you can purchase from online stores or auctions, you can swap with others, or even head to a classic brick-and-mortar store.  There are many ways to become involved in the toy train community including online groups and forums and enthusiast meetings in your area.  There are even conventions and swap meets that bring the train community together.  Whichever way you choose to be involved, collecting toy trains is definitely cooler now than ever.