Archive for the ‘Toytrains’ Category

Wooden Toy Trains by Community Playthings

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

There’s just something special about little wooden toy trains. They’ve long been a favorite among children and have become an icon for the Christmas season in many countries. They are still a popular gift choice for children and often a collectible among adults. It’s nearly impossible to own just one wooden toy train; many people choose to build upon their cherished toy to create their own toy train system. While the wooden toy train is a popular display at Christmas, some people have whole rooms or sections of their house dedicated to displaying their wooden toy trains.

Often, it can be tricky to find wooden toy trains in today’s society. Most toy trains of today are constructed out of metal and plastic, with decals displayed in order to make the toy look as realistic as possible. Some people turn to the internet to find wooden toy trains, while others scout out live auctions and antique stores in hopes of finding the wooden locomotive they knew and loved as a child. However, it is possible to find new wooden toy trains thanks to a company called Community Playthings.

Community Playthings began as a small organization of young fathers in rural Georgia. These men had one thing in mind – to create safe, durable toys for their children out of wood. The concept soon spread to local schools and teachers began requesting the wooden toys for their classrooms. When childcare became a popular idea among working parents, daycares ordered wooden furniture from Community Playthings. It wasn’t long before the company expanded into a well-known name in the toy industry, and thus the creation of wooden toy cars, trucks, and trains.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Toytrains, keep reading.

The toy trains you’ll find made by Community Playthings are simple and certainly nothing fancy. You won’t find exclusive hand-painted detail, battery-operated engines, lights, sounds, or any other bells and whistles. Those are best left for companies who focus on creating state-of-the-art, realistic replicas. The toy trains from Community Playthings are designed for the inquiring child, plain and simple. Without all of the added extras, children are able to use their own imagine and develop motor skills as they push along and play with their wooden toy trains.

Along with toy trains, Community Playthings also makes wooden furniture, children’s lockers and cubby holes, art and sand tables, classic wooden blocks, and a wide variety of furniture for babies and toddlers. It is very easy to purchase anything wooden from Community Playthings. Their website provides a complete listing of all of their available products, prices, and pictures of every item. Several children’s marketing websites also carry items from Community Playthings for reasonable prices.

For a trip down memory lane back to your childhood, or to purchase wooden toy trains for your little one, consider getting your next toy train from Community Playthings. In a society where everything has gotten so modern, it’s nice to know there’s one company out there who can take you back to the “good old days”.

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

A Trip Down Memory Lane with the Station Tour at Citigroup

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

There’s nothing like watching little toy trains in motion, especially when they’re accompanied by all the right accessories (tunnels, landscape, buildings, etc). For just a short time, you can get lost in your childhood and allow your imagination to run free. Nearly everyone enjoys the chance to view a toy train system, from young children to the elderly. Finding such a breathtaking display is no easy task, and usually they’re stumbled upon merely by chance. In a world of constant change, it’s comforting to know that there is always an elaborate display of toy trains around the holidays at Citigroup.

The Station Tour at Citigroup provides an annual tour through a railroad wonderland. You’ll experience a genuine feeling of happiness like you’ve never felt before, no matter what your age! This is an event that is sure to be enjoyed by the entire family, and you might just find yourself making the tour a holiday tradition. The Station Tour is located in New York City and the display is centered around the 1940′s time frame in New York. The display is approximately 750 square feet in size and is constructed on theatrical style platforms. The scenery is hand-built from Styrofoam and the buildings and water are made from resin. The entire display costs nearly $1 million to construct and operate, but every penny spent is well worth it!

The tour begins at the Westshore Terminal of the New York Central Railroad in 1940. You’ll see amazing but accurate displays of the New York 1940′s skyline complete with a replica of the Empire State Building. Little toy trains whistle and make their way through the stone tunnels behind the buildings on to the next destination of the tour – an imaginary city in New York called Generak.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Toytrains, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Generak is a river city and at first glance has tendency to remind you of New Orleans. A band plays by the street while trolleys carry passengers up the hill. The streets are busy with traffic and you can hear horns beeping and the sounds of cars as they make their way through the streets. Next, you will leave the busy city and head to the countryside, where you’ll pass an old family farmhouse and beautiful mountain cascades. The mountains have life-like trains swirling at the bottom while the mill turns with the dam.

Next, you’ll see a changing of the seasons as fall is suddenly upon you. You’ll find yourself amidst a carnival complete with dancing clowns, a working Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a few operating rides that are still familiar to carnivals today. Rapidly, the beautiful colors of autumn fade away and you enter a winter wonderland. You’ll see ice skaters skating blissfully among the frozen ponds, while the North Pole express train passes through. Snow-capped Christmas trees are all aglow with lights and carolers sing along the streets.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world through a child’s eyes is available from November to January for a reasonable price. If you have the opportunity to attend the Station Tour at Citigroup, it is highly recommended you take advantage; and take a trip back down memory lane!

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

HO Toy Trains – An Antique of Today

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Collecting toy trains is referred to as the world’s greatest hobby; and for some, it isn’t just a hobby. It’s a passion and a way of life, perhaps beginning in childhood. Several toy train collectors started their hobby as children, when they were given a toy train as a gift. Toy trains, at one time, were a very popular and much desired toy among children. Over time, that concept faded and was replaced by razor scooters, iPods, and webkinz. Most children of today aren’t familiar with the classic toy trains from back in the day, so the legacy is left to be carried on by adults who choose to start a collection of their own. One such popular toy train that is desired by many collectors is the HO toy train, developed by Marklin in 1935. So what makes these miniature locomotives so much different than the others?

The construction of the HO toy trains is one aspect that makes them stand apart from other toy trains. HO toy trains are jagged and are scaled at 1:87, making them the perfect starter electric train. Appearance is also a major factor in collecting HO toy trains. The flawless detailing gives them a realistic appeal, making them an attractive addition to any toy train system. The Marklin HO toy trains resemble the Z gauge in that they are built from diecast metal. Most of the frames and wheels are constructed from 100% metal. The engineering of HO toy trains is also quite brilliant. The wheels of the freight and passenger cars have a low center of gravity to avoid derailment, making them a reliable addition to electric systems.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Toytrains. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

The third-rail track systems of HO toy trains make them a hassle-free operation. The electrical current is carried by miniature stud contacts found in the middle of the ties. If you don’t look closely, chances are you’ll miss these clever additions. This helps prevent wiring problems and electrical pickup issues. Given the careful engineering and construction of HO toy trains, most collectors consider HO toy trains part of a scale hobby. At the debut of HO toy trains, they were sold as a toy train rather than a scale model as they are often sold today.

Scale model railroading didn’t become a popular hobby among collectors until after the 1950′s. Until that time, HO toy trains were thought of as just another size of train. Therefore, the Lionel Corporation began to make HO toy trains as smaller versions of the classic freight and passenger cars. It wasn’t long before the Louis Marx Company began constructing their own version of HO toy trains, and they even started to sell them with complete scenery and in slot car sets.

Although finding HO toy trains on the shelf at your local toy store may be a challenge, they aren’t all that difficult to come by. A simple search of the internet will provide you with a detailed listing of available HO toy trains for sale as well as places to locate these classic toy trains.

There’s no doubt that the topic of Toytrains can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about Toytrains, you may find what you’re looking for in the next article.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

All about Standard Gauge Toy Trains

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Collecting toy trains is a very popular hobby among many people. Some collect them because they are reminded of their childhood, or because they had one or two of these realistic toys passed down to them through the generations. Standard gauge toy trains are one of the most popular collectible toy trains. There are many replicas and styles to choose from, and some of these toy trains are quite hard to come by. If you’re new to collecting toy trains or are just looking for unique pieces to add to your collection, you’re about to find out what makes these mini-locomotives a one-of-a-kind tradition in toy trains.

So what exactly makes a standard gauge toy train more desirable than others? Ask any collector of standard gauge toy trains and they’re likely to explain it in great detail. Standard gauge trains typically tend to model the originals more precisely than other available gauges. Compared to other toy trains, such as replicas of old Lionel, standard gauge trains truly have a unique way of grabbing the attention of a collector. This is probably because the standard gauge toy trains are strikingly identical to the actual trains used in the days of old.

The concept of toy trains has existed for centuries and at one time, was the toy of choice for many youngsters in America. The standard gauge toy train was an idea originally put into motion by the Lionel Corporation, in an effort to boost the sales of toy trains in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. The term “standard gauge’ refers to the size and diameter of railroad tracks for the toy trains. The Lionel Corporation developed a three-rail track of about 54 mm between each outside rail, which in turn did not work very well with gauge 1 productions from Europe. Soon the idea spread to other manufacturers in America, under the name “wide gauge”. Standard gauge was discontinued in 1940 due to the expensive cost of production. It is now a desired collection trait because standard gauge is precisely accurate to its actual larger model version in mean scale.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

Standard gauge toy trains remain a popular collection item as it nears its centennial anniversary. It has become the choice of many collectors and is most popular on display around the holidays, seen in several stores and shopping malls. So where can one find these unique pieces? There are several places to locate standard gauge toy trains and for good deals if you know where to look. A simple search of the internet will provide you with several websites that sell standard gauge items, as well as eBay and other online auctions. You can also find some informational websites and places to participate in blogging on standard gauge toy trains.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

Electric Toy Trains-A Family Experience

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

The only way to keep up with the latest about Toytrains is to constantly stay on the lookout for new information. If you read everything you find about Toytrains, it won’t take long for you to become an influential authority.

Your family has been straining their brains, trying to come up with a hobby that all of you can enjoy. Something that will bring you closer. After some debate and allot of bad ideas you and the rest of your family decide that setting up a toy train would be also of fun.

The first thing you need to do is go to your local bookstore or library and pick up a couple of books about toy trains. Maybe locate an informational DVD that your whole family can watch together. The more knowledge you and your family the better idea you all will have about what you want. If you are interested in recreating a real railroad pick up a couple of books both the railroad and the area of the world where it is located.

Take a Saturday afternoon, pile your family in the mini-van, and go visit your local hobby shop. Chances are good that they will carry some toy train material. Several hobby shops even offer classes for beginners.

Plan to attend a toy train show or exhibit. You’ll be able to see how experienced toy train collectors have designed their layouts. You’ll start to have some ideas of your own. The exhibitors will be able to help answer any questions you have.

Start looking over your house. Decide where you want to start setting up your toy train. As inviting as it might seem, avoid setting it on the floor. Toy trains that are set up on the floor are easy to step on or kick. In addition dangerous feet, toy trains that are dept on the floor are prone to carpet fuzz which gums up their mechanisms. The best plan is to get a large table that you can set arrange your toy train. If you like you can start to create an ambiance to enhance your planned layout. Add some special lighting, really scrub the walls, and install some shelves to display your toy train supplies that you aren’t using in your layout.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Purchase a tool kit. Don’t worry about getting anything elaborate. All you will need in the beginning is a pair of needle nose pliers, a hobby knife, a screwdriver, needle files, a scale rule, and a pair of pliers. Keep the tool kit in a drawer near the place you plan on displaying your toy train.

Don’t become enthralled with the idea of having a huge layout. Large layouts are very complicated and can quickly intimidate a beginner. The best plan is to buy a small layout. The wonderful thing about toy train sets is that they are designed to be expanded. When you start setting up your layout follow that publishers plans. Once you are comfortable with the project you can start to customize.

Now that you are set up, its time to add a train.

On form of power you can use for your toy train is a power pack. A power pack is an electrical device that supplies the power to a toy train. The power pack controls the direction of the train as well as the speed at which the train travels. Another power source is the use of a remote control. A train that operates with a remote control requires you to operate the remote, you control the speed and direction of the train. An electric train that operates with a power pack lets you relax while the train quietly runs along its track.

While you and your family are enjoying your new electric toy train, shut of the TV and make sure that the entire family is involved in the planning, creating, and enjoying of the latest hobby.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit this new site for my swedish customers: Billigt Webbhotell – from SEK 10:- per month!

Measuring Toy Trains

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

The best course of action to take sometimes isn’t clear until you’ve listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

In 1891, Märklin, a toy company in Leipzig, Germany, became eternally connected to toy trains when they developed the standards for toy trains. Over a hundred and ten years have passed and toy train manufactures are still using Märklin’s standards to measure toy trains.

When it developed the standards for toy trains, Märklin was a company that mainly designed and built accessories for doll houses. In 1891 they expanded the business and started making toy trains. Märklin had always designed its doll house accessories to a gauge (a certain gauge dollhouse corresponded with a certain gauge of furniture). They realized that if they used a similar gauge when building toy trains and railroad tracks consumer’s could continue purchasing bits of tracks for years to come. As soon as they realized this Märklin sold rolling and stock tracks that could be used to expand the boxed sets they sold.

Trains that run on a G gauge track have little in common but the track they operate on. It is a gauge that has been popular with European toy train makers for years. The G gauge has a width of 1 3/4 inches and a size of 1:32 through 1:30.

Measuring at 1 3/8 inches wide, with a size of 1:48 or 1:43 or 1:45 or 1:64, the zero gauge is the most popular toy train gauge.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

The S gauge became popular in post World War II, when it was used heavily by the American Flyer company. Designing train tracks and trains that ran on the S gauge tracks is one of the things that most consumers think about when they think of the American Flyer toy company. Its measurements were in between an O gauge track and an HO gauge track. It is important not to confuse the S gauge with the wide gauge standard that was introduced by the Lionel Company. The wide gauge was less of a scale model standard that some believe to have been a result of the company misreading the Märklin specifications. Another theory is that the Lionel Company was trying to create a new gauge of track that would lock out competitors. At least four toy train manufactures in the United States used the wide gauge.

Sixty years ago, England devised a toy railroad track called the HO gauge. It was suppose to be half the size of an O gauge track. The actual measurements are 1:87. There are .65 inches between the rails. For some reason the trains that were designed to run on the HO tracks did not enjoy a great deal of popularity. Some people believe that they were unable to with hold the wear and tear their young owners put them through.

Germany came out with trains that ran on a Z gauge track. The tracks that support these trains measure 1:22. Perhaps because of their small size these trains have not been particularly successful.

The OO gauge measured 1:76. It appeared on the market in the 1930′s. In the 1950′s a train that runs on a track that measures 1:120 came out. It vanished shortly after its inception.

Now that wasn’t hard at all, was it? And you’ve earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert’s word on Toytrains.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..
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I Love Toy Trains – A Store for the Young and Old

Monday, May 10th, 2010

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you’ll find that the subject of Toytrains is certainly no exception.

When you hear the phrase, “I love toy trains,” most of the time you wouldn’t think of a store dedicated solely to toy trains. But that’s exactly what that phrase means in New Buffalo, Michigan. New Buffalo serves as home to the infamous I Love Toy Trains, a toy train wonderland that is every child and toy train collector’s dream. The store carries Thomas and Friends wooden toy trains and accessories and several unique items from Lionel Corporation.

If the name of the store sounds familiar to you, it’s because it was derived from the popular children’s video series. The series, “I Love Toy Trains” is an animated show that allows children to use their imagination in the world of toy trains. And that’s exactly the concept the store used in finding a name for their establishment – a place where children and adults can go and just let their imagination run free among the hundreds of toy trains and items for sale.

I Love Toy Trains is settled in a 1930′s style home on the bottom floor. You’ll find an assortment of classic, antique, and new toy trains all together under one roof. Several models of common names in the toy train industry are available at the store. For example, you’ll see some beautiful Standard gauge models from the twenties on display, and several manufactures featured include Lionel, Marx, and Williams. You can find classic and simple wooden toy trains ideal for toddlers and small children, and you’ll also find toy trains complete with operating engines and hand-painted detail for those looking to “kick it up a notch.”

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Not only will you find everything you need to create a toy train wonderland, but you’ll also find rare and unique toys imported from Germany and Czechoslovakia. Where else can you find a duck on a bike, tumbling bunnies, or singing cowboys? I Love Toy Trains also carries several styles of railroad tracks along with accessories to make your toy train system as realistic as possible. The store carries a wide variety of trinkets ranging in price, so even if you are on a budget you are very likely to find a keepsake at a reasonable price.

I Love Toy Trains is only open three days a week, Friday through Sunday, from 11:00am to 5:00pm EST. If you’re ever visiting this area in Michigan, make it part of your trip to visit I Love Toy Trains.

In addition to the trains, there is a delightful selection of clockwork, tin-litho toys imported from Czechoslovakia and Germany – Duck on a Bike, Space Man Robot, Elephant Balancing Ball, Panda Drummer, Rocking Cowboy, Basketball Girl, and Tumbling Bunnies.

In addition to the trains, there is a delightful selection of clockwork, tin-litho toys imported from Czechoslovakia and Germany – Duck on a Bike, Space Man Robot, Elephant Balancing Ball, Panda Drummer, Rocking Cowboy, Basketball Girl, and Tumbling Bunnies.

There’s no doubt that the topic of Toytrains can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about Toytrains, you may find what you’re looking for in the next article.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..
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Where to Find Antique Toy Trains for Sale

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Collecting antique toy trains is a hobby and passion for many people. Perhaps they started the hobby on their own, or it all began back in their childhood. Toy trains have long been a popular gift and source of entertainment for many children, going back generations. Toy trains are still a well-liked item among children and adults, whether they’re for playtime or collecting. But when you’re looking for a specific antique toy train, you can’t easily run to Wal-Mart or Toys R Us to find what you need. You have to scout out your options and know where to look to find antique toy trains.

The first and most useful place to look for antique toy trains for sale is the internet. While you can’t be completely sure what your item will look like until it arrives, there are steps you can take to ensure you are getting the best quality for your money. Start by searching eBay for antique toy trains. eBay is notorious for having unique items for sale and you can typically find just about anything by utilizing this online auction. Simply type in “antique toy trains” and you’ll be provided with a complete listing of toy trains up for bidding along with pictures and a description of the item. However, before you place a bid on your desired piece, take a look at the description and pictures in detail. Does the seller guarantee the item? (Meaning will you get your money back if the item arrives damaged or doesn’t arrive at all?) Next, examine the pictures to determine if there is visible damage to the toy train.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Most reputable sellers on eBay will specifically add damage to the item in their description and provide a photograph of the damage. If there are only one or two pictures, ask the seller to email you personally more pictures. Let them know you are not interested in purchasing a damaged or scratched item if that’s the case. Also, be sure to look at their seller history and ratings. This will tell you what other buyers had to say about their business transactions with them.

Another great place to find antique toy trains for sale is none other than antique stores. The problem with looking here is that you may have difficulty sorting through all of the antiques to find the toy train you are looking for. Consider asking the owner of the store of they have your desired item, and if you have a picture, show it to them. Most owners or workers of antique stores will have a database of the items for sale and can easily tell you if they have it or not. If not, keep in mind antique stores get unique items in on a daily basis. Ask them to let you know if your toy train comes in.

Finally, you can do a search on the internet to find antique auctions across the country. More specifically, you’ll be able to find auctions held just for antique toy trains. You may have to travel, but if you are able to attend one of these auctions the chances of finding your toy train are very good.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Toytrains. Share your new understanding about Toytrains with others. They’ll thank you for it.

About the Author
Have you visited Anders’ latest site for adsense publishers? Download new fresh sites in this all new site, called Adsense Ready Websites

Thomas the Tank Toy Trains – Bringing Joy to Children Everywhere!

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Toytrains? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Toytrains.

Whatever happened to children playing with little toy trains? In today’s society, it seems that toy trains have become a thing of the past. Children these days now ask for iPods, video games, and even cell phones before they’re 10 years old. But Thomas the Tank Engine continuously brings smiles and happiness to children all over the world, even in a time where toy trains seem to have been long forgotten.

Thomas the Tank Engine started as a children’s show and has since grown into a variety of toys and merchandise for children. The show focuses on teaching children as young as toddlers to count, spell, and even history lessons they normally wouldn’t learn until elementary school. And because Thomas is a train, children are able to use their imagination and gain an appreciation for the more simple activities that many adults once knew as children.

It’s no surprise that there are many wonderful toy trains made by Thomas the Tank Engine. The little toy trains are specifically designed for small children and have a unique way of grabbing their attention. You can find wooden toy trains from Thomas the Tank Engine, and these trains are most likely to resemble the basic wooden toy trains played with by many adults when they were children. The cars are painted bright shades of red, blue, green, and yellow, and often come with little wooden blocks to carry as “freight”.

See how much you can learn about Toytrains when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information.

Thomas the Tank Engine also makes a wide variety of accessories to go along with their toy trains. Little ones will have a blast by adding their own village or town to their Thomas the Tank system! The Deluxe Knapford Station is a very popular addition to Thomas trains. This station closely resembles an actual passenger station with two pieces of authentic switch track. Realistic sounds of whistles and movement help the child’s imagination to run free, while the station is brought to life with the built-in microphone. This gives children the opportunity to become a real engineer of their own toy train station! The Lighthouse Bridge allows children to have an imaginary river running through their train and boats can pass through.

Thomas the Tank Engine also comes with several friends children love to play with. Max and Monty the dump trucks help teach children the importance of sharing. Max and Monty are twin brothers who think they are experts in construction, but in reality they cause trouble everywhere they go. They have tendency to boss around the smaller machines, but in the end they always learn to share their space.

Along with several toys and children’s shows, Thomas the Tank Engine makes a variety of merchandise just for children. You can purchase several learning tools such as play mats, art sets, and puzzles to go along with your Thomas toy trains. Children also love Thomas the Tank Engine apparel, bedroom décor, clocks and watches, posters, and furniture. You can purchase Thomas the Tank Engine toys and accessories at nearly any department store or by visiting their website.

That’s the latest from the Toytrains authorities. Once you’re familiar with these ideas, you’ll be ready to move to the next level.

About the Author
Have you visited Anders’ latest site for adsense publishers? Download new fresh sites in this all new site, called Adsense Ready Websites

Marklin Toy Trains – A Classic in Toy Train Collection

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

So what is Toytrains really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Toytrains–info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

People who collect toy trains have a genuine passion for them. Some people prefer to only display them one time of year around the family Christmas tree, while others dedicate entire rooms or sections of their houses to showing off their collection. However, a toy train is not just a toy train. They are not all the same and some are more valuable than others. Anyone who collects toy trains as a hobby is familiar with Marklin toy trains. These trains have been around since 1891 and are a truly unique addition to any toy train collection.

Marklin introduced a revolution in the toy train industry by introducing the very first inclusive set of trains in 1891. Marklin provided a fresh appeal to the typical toy train by introducing a series of standard track gauges and a variety of models with matching accessories. What came from this revolution was the ability to build on your initial train set by expanding your miniature railroad. It is thought that Marklin is at the forefront of developing the expanding toy train set.

Getting a hold of one of the timeless pieces from Marklin is no easy task and can cost thousands of dollars. In fact, some of the pieces are so rare that they easily run in the six digits. For example, an international auction of toy trains and accessories recently held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sold a complete Marklin station for $110,000. The station included an exceptionally rare Marklin #2609 locomotive that was built precisely to scale and marvelously painted by hand.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

The unique toy train set was just as astonishing inside as it was outside. (As most Marklin train sets are, no surprise there!) The station included five interior rooms that were cleverly adorned with tables, chairs, and other furniture you would expect to find aboard passenger cars from back in the day. It was originally thought that this rare Marklin station would sell for around $30,000; that is, until it became the ultimate “bidding brawl” between American and Europe. Two toy train collectors from opposite ends of the world both went to great lengths to snag the priceless item, but in the end America prevailed in taking home the 29-inch long, 19-inch high beauty.

That wasn’t the only Marklin item that brought in much more money than originally estimated. A Marklin #2609 locomotive was sold for $82,500. The gauge III set boasted a live steam engine and precise hand-painted detail. The original sale estimate was set at $25,000 – obviously, this goal was blown away when avid collectors from around the world united in hopes of bringing home a classic Marklin station. Several other Marklin items were sold at the auction, but surprisingly not a single Marklin piece sold for less than $25,000.

Now that you can see just how valuable these timeless classics are, chances are you won’t find them for cheap. Ebay does occasionally place Marklin pieces up for bidding, but the results won’t differ much from a live auction. You can purchase certain Marklin sets and accessories through marklin.com, but again, you will pay a pretty penny.

There’s a lot to understand about Toytrains. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, author of this Free Adsense eBook — make sure to claim your free adsense ebook download!