How Model Railroading Got Started and Became Widespread

Do you know how model railroading got started? Modern rail transportation can be traced back to about 1820 when the 1st steam locomotives appeared in Britain. These trains were the first practical way to move products and people across the country efficiently and quickly. They remained so for over a century. So there’s no surprise that model trains became preferred very early on and remain so today.

Early model trains were regularly used as promotional or promoting tools to show people who had never had the chance to see a train to do so. In the early 1890’s, German toy manufacturer Marklin made clockwork model trains that used wound springs as the locomotion mechanism. These trains were originally sold as dear toys, but it wasn’t long before someone had the idea to market them to adults and added accessories so that hobbyists could personalize their trains and layouts. These early sets were costly and outside the reach of most of the people.

Many of the early model train sets were made in Germany and at the outbreak of World War one, cargos to the US stopped. This provided the possibility for US companies like Ives and Lionel to be started and make inroads into the market with little competition. These firms also made a decision to make more inexpensive sets and sell them as toys that many families could afford. During the Victorian period in the 1920’s many models were available in various price ranges from tin and lead’penny toys’ up to more expensive totally operable scale models with working steam locomotives. From the first model trains that were operated by winding a spring, just like a watch, trains progressed to electrical operation where the current is supplied thru the track. As track layouts got bigger, there was a desire to control individual parts of the track and complex wiring patterns became part of the challenge. Today, the track is often controlled digitally through a handheld controller or through computer software.

From the 1930’s thru today, various scales appeared and competing companies around the planet started to make their model train sets more detailed and offered more variety in their accessories. As the past-time grew, scale standards were needed so that hobbyists could buy different pieces from different manufacturers and have them all work together. Although the scales are frequently known under different names in different states ( like H0 which is announced’ach zero’ in Australia and the United Kingdom, but’ach oh’ in America ), for the main part, these standards have been accomplished. There are slight variations in these standards which can sometimes make model railroading a challenge, but the N scale or H scale from one manufacturer can generally be made to work with the N scale or H scale from another manufacturer.

This quick space can only start to relate the history of this rewarding hobby. Learning the history of railroading is a part of the spare time pursuit and will also aid in making your layouts, locomotives, scenery and rolling stock look more practical. So keep researching, and keep learning!

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