Model Trains for Generations

My first train set was a Lionel. I received it from my parents on Christmas when I was four. I rememeber setting it up with my dad, running it fast around a 4 foot loop, trying to keep it on the tracks, and loving every minute of it!

I ran the train non-stop until I eventually got tired of it going round and round, falling off the tracks, putting it back on the tracks etc.

The train set ended up in a box and stored away. Thankfully it was never given away, sold or thrown out over the years--40 years to be exact.  I still have the set and have since handed it down to my youngest son. It's funny--we set it up and I watched history repeat itself. Only difference is now the tracks are rusty, the connector pins are bent, but other than that, the train still goes round and round.

But model trains are more than setting up a boxed set and watching it go around. Even though that may be great entertainment for little kids, there's so much more when you really get into it.

Over the past 15 years before my father's untimely death, my dad dedicated his free time to model trains. His trains, which you can view here, occupied his entire basement. He started with G scale, then to switch to S and finally O scale. His layout always got better. And everyone, including town politicians, family and friends, enjoyed his grand display ... especially the grand kids.

My dad's passion for model trains was infectious. Eventually it rubbed off on me, and before you know it, I was building a model train setup in the kitchen of my small apartment. I chose N-Scale because I could do more in a confined area. HO was always intriguing, but I would need more room. So N-scale it is. You will see throughout my blog pictures and videos from concept until now.

I hope to keep this train hobby fascination alive and share with others as well as my children.

Enjoy!

Stephen