Toy Model Trains
Thomas the Tank Engine evoked the collective fantasy of many little boys who sit in sheer wonder of these incredible machines. Toy model trains capture our fantasy at a young age. Little boys are fascinated by these talking toy trains, though they probably have no idea why they feel such a strong affinity for them. As boys turn into men it becomes obvious that their underlying love of toy model trains is fueled by a very strong, unrelenting desire to have control of a powerful machine.
Why do grown men find it so satisfying to play with “toy model trains”? Even though model trains are 1/87 of the size of true trains, the sheer thought of controlling something like a train may be what captures the imagination of a man. Or the maze of electrically charged tracks could serve as a sort of puzzle that men delight in trying to figure out. It may be that toy model trains seem very methodical since they can only run on their tracks. The reasons could even lie in long-forgotten memories of Christmastime, when a little boy would watch with glee as a train chugged around the Christmas tree, whistling and sometimes even puffing out little bursts of actual steam. However, these days model trains are quite different from toy trains. Toy model trains are intended for children; model trains are meant for boys grown into men.
It is easy to spot toy model trains; they are plentiful at Christmastime, as many people still like to set them up around the tree for children to play. Inexpensive and built of plastic or another low-quality yet durable material, many children are introduced to the hobby of toy model trains through playing with toy trains. Boys inevitably grow up to be men. When toy trains “grow up,” they are referred to as locomotives. Locomotives are built to stand the test of time. Lacking the need to push slightly to get the train going on its track, these are higher quality than toy trains. The wheels are specifically designed to make better contact with the track, which provides their “fuel” through the magic of electrical currents. These are the ones that bring smiles to the faces of model railroad fans. You will also find that locomotives possess more powerful engines. Obviously, the more powerful the engine, the greater the ability to haul a big load. In contrast to toy trains which are fashioned from plastic, locomotives are made of metal. The ability of toy model trains to move smoothly over the tracks is largely determined by their total weight. Heavier toy trains will make better contact with their tracks, producing smoother, faster running toy model trains.
Steam engines are becoming more popular in the model train industry for those who decide that electric trains may not be quite “real” enough for them. Many different model trains offer some sort of steam effect, but the trick is finding one that offers a truly realistic version of steam that, like a real locomotive, billows from the engine.
The number of little boys who actually end up driving trains as an adult is very low. And it is likely that a lot of train drivers take their work for granted after a while; they forget that it is the fulfillment of a lifelong fantasy for many little boys. Fortunately, for those of us who love trains, we don’t have to become train drivers in order to indulge ourselves. Instead, we can fulfill that dream by pursuing a hobby with the next best thing: model trains.
