First Train Set - Part 3

Illustration by Jay Smith

Buying an electric model train set should be considered an investment in the future. A catalyst into the hobby of model railroading that can teach valuable crafts such as carpentry and artistry with a mix of electrical wiring and problem solving. The life lessons learned by building a model railroad rival any other hobby. It’s why our company is part of the World’s Greatest Hobby campaign that promotes the valuable aspects of the hobby of model trains. [ Learn more ]

Now that parts one and two of this buyer’s guide have covered the background information and components in a train set, this final part will introduce some of the manufacturers who make train sets and provide some advice for shopping for the perfect electric train set.


Some Train Set Manufacturers
Here’s a list of the common model railroad train set manufacturers, including the scale of train sets they offer.

What About Lionel?
If the thought of train sets revives fond memories of American Flyer or Lionel trains, you needn’t look far to recapture those magical days gone by. You’ll find the excellent successors to those train sets at local hobby shops. The big difference between these train sets and their counterparts that comprise the topic of this story is that they operate on low-voltage AC power rather than DC.

Our sister publication, Classic Toy Trains Magazine (www.classictoytrains.com), covers hi-rail and tinplate equipment and layouts, and you’ll find a wealth of information in CTT about this aspect of the hobby.

Here are some manufacturers of S gauge and O gauge train sets to get you started.

Where to shop
You can typically find a selection of train sets at discount toy stores, department stores, and even some hardware stores during the holiday shopping season.

However, I strongly recommend purchasing your train set from a reputable hobby shop for three important reasons.

First, a good hobby shop will service what it sells. Second, most clerks working in discount and department stores have little knowledge about train sets or what to do if something isn’t working correctly. Hobby shop employees, especially those who work for one that specializes in model railroading, are typically much more knowledgeable. Third, a hobby shop carries other items, such as accessories, books, and videos, that can increase your enjoyment and help you get started in model railroading.

Sure, you might save a few dollars initially at the discount store, but it’s tough to put a price on peace of mind and expertise.

This buyer’s guide, written by Paul Schmidt, originally appeared in the December 2002 issue of Model Railroader Magazine.