Model Steam Trains and the Hobbyist

One of the things that I really enjoyed doing as a child,hobby, to build our layout around our model steam
and continue to do so today is going to Disneyland.trains.
This amusement park captured my imagination as aWhat makes the model steam train so unique is the
young boy, and although I still find this wonderful land tofact that they come in varying sizes that can
be just as rewarding as an adult, my true pleasure isaccommodate the most serious of collectors. They
derived from observing the same excitement and joycan be large enough to actually transport people, as is
my Grandchildren display each time I take them!the case with the Disney ride and many other rides
When Disneyland was in it's planning stages, one oflocated around the country, or they can be just the
the first attractions Walt Disney decided on was aright size to accommodate the model railroaders
model steam train ride, and in fact, the first thing youlayout that has been set up in his home.
see when entering Disneyland is a train station for thatThe attraction of the model steam train is rooted in the
very ride. The idea for a model steam train ride carriedfact that this wonderful train represents an important
over from his youth, when he built a true to life replicahistorical time in the development of the United States,
scale model railway in the rear outdoor area of hisand continues to still function as a workhorse in our
home that he called the "Carolwood Pacific Railroad".current railroad system. Not only do hobbyist pursue
Walt Disney is really not much different than many ofthe model steam train for it's high attention to detail, but
us who were drawn to model railroading and modelalso for it's value as a collectible. It is a well known fact
steam trains as children. The only difference in us, andthat collectors aggressively pursue this particular model
other people is that we've discovered as adults thatscale, and will go to great lengths to acquire the pieces
this is a truly amazing hobby, and not unlike Disney, wewhich they would like to add to their collections.
decided from the onset of our involvement with this