Main track

Few innovations in means of transport have brought about such major changes as the train. From mostly travelling by horse and cart, trains have made it possible to easily transport people and goods over long distances.

And the development of the train is also reflected in the toy industry. Even life around the railway is recreated in smaller models, often to scale. Tracks have to be laid, tunnels dug and bridges built. Someone has to drive the trains, make sure they work and arrive and depart on time. Travellers have to have somewhere to buy tickets, wait for the trains and put away their bags. This is a dream for toy manufacturers and at the same time a dream for many children who can lose themselves in playing and building these miniature worlds.

German toy manufacturers are also at the forefront of this production. Märklin, Gebrüder Bing and the slightly simpler ones from Fleischman, manufacture lots of detailed, quality trains and accessories in different scales. Their electric 12V model trains in scale H0 are particularly sought after because they are relatively small.

For those who can afford it, it is possible to build advanced environments with several trains that run in sync around different landscapes with bridges, tunnels and cities in a relatively small space. It seems that playing with model trains has no limits and many people, young and old, can spend almost any amount of time on it.