A Brief History

 
 
Since the invention of the first electric model train around 1897, model railroading has long been the favorite hobby of train buffs.  In 1900, Joshua Lionel Cowen founded the Lionel Manufacturing Company.  He encouraged Dads and Youngsters to become interested in model railroading, and quickly grew in popularity.  Soon, other companies began producing model trains to compete with Lionel.  In 1907, American Flyer was formed by William Coleman and William Hafner.  American Flyer produced clockwork 0 gauge steam trains.  In 1914, shortly after William Hafner left the company, American Flyer introduced it's first electric model train in 0 gauge.  American Flyer went on to become one of Lionel's biggest competitors, and the race was on to be America's favorite model train.

During the 1950s, an emphasis on realism in model railroading and model trains began.  Model trains grew in sophistication, gaining lighting, the ability to change direction, whistle, to smoke, to remotely couple and uncouple cars and even load and unload cargo.  Some modern model trains contain sophisticated electronics that can produce digitized sound effects.  Model trains are available in many sizes known as scales or gauges.  The modern standards for model trains include S scale, 0 gauge (3 rail), 0 scale, H0 scale, N scale, and Z scale, in descending order of size. H0 and N scale are the most popular model railway standards of today.


It wasn't only model trains that grew in sophistication, but model railroad layouts did, as well.  Today, model train layouts can vary in size from a very small simple circle to large enough to ride on.   Layouts can also range from simple to sophisticated and able to run one or more trains at the same time.  There are many commercial accessories available for modern model railroad builders that allow the builder to give realism to his layout.  Such accessories include buildings, crossing gates, bridges, tunnels, vegetation (trees and plants), people, vehicles of various types, and many more.

While most model railroaders collect and operate their model trains, there are those who only collect model trains, rolling stock, buildings, and other accessories.

A new trend in model railroading that has become very popular in recent years are train simulators .

Model railroading is a great hobby, and can be a great family bonding experience, as well!

   

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