| Model trains have been in existence for over a | | | | trains. |
| century. Ever since real, full size trains became | | | | Giving a more sophisticated scale model railroad set to |
| prevalent, train companies have made scale models of | | | | pre-teens will probably require some help from an |
| their locomotives and rolling stock. These were first | | | | adult, while toy model trains can be assembled and |
| sold as a marketing tool to generate interest in their | | | | operated by those as young as 8 or 9 without much |
| trains, but soon garnered interest as children's toys due | | | | supervision. Most parents and grandparents however |
| to their small size. Toy model trains are not exactly the | | | | will want to "play" with the trains with their children and |
| same as real scale model railroads and depending on | | | | grandchildren though, since this is a hobby that appeals |
| your interests, both make great gifts for the young and | | | | to young and old. |
| young at heart. | | | | Price is another consideration when giving model trains |
| Toy model trains are lighter, less detailed, and usually | | | | as gifts. Small model toy train sets can be purchased |
| more inexpensive than real scale model railroads. They | | | | for a couple of hundred dollars ready to roll out of the |
| are produced as toys and can be made of plastic or | | | | box from manufacturers like Lionel and Bachman. |
| metal, and are generally a little less rugged than the | | | | Those manufacturers and others also make much |
| real thing. Those attributes make them a good choice | | | | more expensive sets where the sky is the limit on |
| for smaller children who may not have the interest, | | | | costs, depending on the scale, whether you purchase |
| patience or skills to assemble and operate the more | | | | a ready to roll or a kit, how much scenery you like etc. |
| expensive scale models. | | | | Last but not least, scale is important when deciding on |
| Another thing to keep in mind in giving the gift of model | | | | which model trains to give as gifts. Consider how |
| trains is that they run on electricity. Shorter tracks and | | | | much space these train sets will take up when they |
| the "toys" we have been talking about are generally | | | | are assembled and operating. N-scale is popular with |
| fairly simple to hook up. There will be a power unit that | | | | those who don't have much space, while HO-scale is |
| plugs into the wall, a transformer to reduce the voltage, | | | | the most popular scale in the world and offers more |
| and wires that run and connect to the track at some | | | | choices and accessories. Toy model trains make great |
| point. For these trains that is pretty much the extent of | | | | gifts and could lead to a lifelong hobby. If you are |
| the electrical connections. For more sophisticated | | | | considering giving such a gift, get some good advice |
| models and longer tracks, the electrical connections | | | | from model train hobbyists who will be eager to share |
| can be more complex and in some cases include DCC | | | | their knowledge and love for this hobby. |
| (Digital Command and Control) systems and multiple | | | | |