Model Trains - Model Train Layout - Model Train Sets - British Model Trains

Model Trains

Welcome to the world of model trains. Model railroading is an exciting hobby practised by many people all over the world. People have always been fascinated by trains and railroads and they will always be. If you're not a model train adept and you continue reading, you'll soon become one too.

Let's take you back in model train history a little. Ever since there have been real railways there have been toys and models of trains. In fact the first model trains were made to promote the early railways. Some of these trains had live steam engines, but these were very expensive. Pull along trains existed in all sizes and were much cheaper. These first model trains simply ran on the floor or on a user-made track.

First Complete Model Train System

In 1891 the German company Märklin launched the first complete model train system. They introduced standard track gauges and track sections. They also produced a range of locomotives and accessories. It was now possible to expand your railroad empire by adding new tracks and trains.

The main material of the first Märklin models was painted and soldered tinplate. The driving engine was a built-in clockwork. After a few years there existed four gauges: 1, 2, 3 and O. The latter was the smallest gauge. Märklin also continued to create new accessories. They started to export their model trains worldwide. There was a lot of interest from Britain, France and the US.

The German Bing company saw the success of Märklin and they introcuced competitive products while adopting the Märklin standards.

The dawn of the 20th century saw new propulsion methods: live steam and electricity.

In the UK a man named W.J. Bassett-Lowke introduced trains with more accurate bodies while using the German tracks and mechanisms. He sold his model trains to adult enthusiasts rather than to children. His designer Henry Greenly started a system of scales while using the Märklin gauges as the starting point.

WW1

Until 1914 Märklin and Bing were the main manufacturers of model trains. Electricity became more common for propulsion, though in Britain clockwork was still number one. Due to WW1 Germany was unable to export its model trains. By 1918 Hornby Trains was the main manufacturer of toy trains the UK. In France JEP produced model trains. In the US three companies, Ives, American Flyer and Lionel battled for the market. Louis Marx introduced cheaper model trains for the proletariat. After the war Germany continued to deliver trains to the rest of Europe.

Interwar Period

The Interwar period brought still smaller scales: OO (1/76 scale) and HO (1/87 scale). These scales, wich used the same track gauge, triggered a lot of interest by adult modelers.

WW2

After WW2 the emphasis was mainly on HO scale model trains. In the US production started much sooner than in Europe. In the UK the emphasis stayed on OO while the rest of Europe used the HO size of train. New companies were born: Fleischmann (Germany), Rivarossi (Italy) and Rovex/Tri-ang (UK). The new ranges all adopted the 12v DC two-rail standards.

Fifties till Eighties

When the real railways started to loose their pivotal role in the Fifties the toy trains industry was flourishing. Trains started to loose more and more interest and as a result the model train market declined. To survive some established companies consolidated while others disappeared.

Today

The survivors realized that in fact most model trains were sold to adults and not to children. To please their buyers they started to produce more accurate and detailed models. And so model trains became more of a collectors item than a toy. Their next move was making cheaper trains by introducing new production methods and new sources of production like China and Hong Kong.

Today model trains exist in a wider range than ever before. There are trains targeted to the collector, the adult enthusiast modeler and children.