It’s true that building an excellent model train layout can be very costly considering you have to buy locomotives, different types of rail cars, track, landscaping, buildings etc. and these items can be pricey. Even though this hobby may be one of the most expensive, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide don’t mind spending their money on this interesting pastime.

With that being said such an investment in a model train collection requires a certain amount of maintenance to make sure it’s taken care of properly. No one wants to have their hard-earned money wasted and with a little work, you can make sure your train set stays in good condition for many years to come.

Here are a few ways to help keep your expensive model train setup in pristine condition and cut down the cost of maintenance in the years to come. These are guidelines of the basic principles needed to keep your set running smoothly.

-Firstly all your expensive items in your model train collection like your locomotives and rolling stock such as your wagons, carriage cars, cabooses etc. need to stored when you’re not using them. The last thing you want is dust or moisture finding their way into the mechanisms of the pieces so you are best to put them into some type of container and store somewhere dry and warm like a cupboard. Many people store their sets in the garage or basement but if you intend to do so make sure there’s not a lot of dampness, otherwise in time it could cause damage to your collection. – Always clean any dirt and dust off all the individual components using a soft cloth or sponge. This will prevent any chance of dirt building up in many of the surface areas. Over a period if not cleaned regularly an accumulation of dirt can cause damage to your paintwork and impair the working condition of your collection.

-Many people still use batteries to power their train sets and if you do you definitely want remove them if you don’t plan on using your collection for an extended period of time. Damage can be caused by batteries leaking, as they will do if they are not used regularly. The chemicals can be abrasive and harsh to the sensitive parts of the components. -Keep all tracks that carry the current clean if you are using electric control to operate your trains. This will ensure your set functions in the proper manner.

-Always avoid touching a locomotive when it’s running to avoid damage to its motor and its advisable to run it on its own power.

Operating a model train collection can offer a rewarding experience especially if it’s in good condition and runs to its full potential. Keeping it clean and well maintained, although time consuming, will ensure long life to your collection and save you money in the long run. Aside from all of these tips one very important one is to remember to enjoy your hobby.

In the early days, model trains were toys and were powered by a mechanism like a clock – speed was controlled by grabbing levers attached on the train itself as it moved. When the trains were powered by electricity, the power was delivered through a third rail and picked up by a skid like mechanism that dragged on the track. When the model train began to be popular, and enthusiasts became more reality oriented, the power was carried in two rails, one being positive and the other being negative.

Although battery powered trains were popular in the late 19th and 20th centuries, battery power is making a return, except for real enthusiasts who regard battery power as something for toys only. However, such toys are what very young children get their first love of model trains from, often graduating to systems that are more sophisticated later on. It?s that small dream that grows into the big one later that makes the model train industry grow more and more each year.

When that small dream reaches maturity and that love of model trains becomes a full -blown passion, (Wives sometimes call it obsession), and then a different breed is born ? the garden railway enthusiast. These are the ones who put down good money for cars that have every detail, including even, the correct number of rivets in the cars along with the proper scale of everything down to the wheel flanges.

These are the ones who have gone back to the battery, because it?s hard to keep an outside power source reliable when interference from the elements creates problems in power systems. Garden railway enthusiasts find now that it is easier to use lead acid batteries, much like those used in cars, because with putting the power source outside there is a danger with both wiring and insulation, as well as the high draw on household current. I have seen bumper stickers on cars and vans that read, ?Pray for me, my husband collects trains?, and I think that about sums up the attitude of some toward such a detailed ?hobby?.

When the car was first invented, it was thought of in the same way. It?s the passion that is instilled from an early age that grows with time to become a life-long love. I have seen garden railroaders sitting on a bench, just watching their trains run the course, with switch tracks, sidings, tunnels and waterfalls, but on their faces is a kind of serenity like the kind some get when they ?get away from it all?. For these hobbyists it is most intriguing.

I may talk about all of the physical aspects of model train power, how it went from wind up clock work mechanisms to AC, DC, and battery power, but it?s what?s behind it all that really powers the model train industry, and that is the love of it, because of how it makes them feel, and to that I say ? more power to them!

May be it’s that wonder when you got your first model train that stuck with you all your life, or may it’s a friend who showed you a whole new world of wonder in model trains. Then perhaps you’re an ace do it yourselfer who saw what someone did with model trains in their back yard or garden. However chances are, if you’re reading this article, you’ve been bitten by the model train bug!

Model trains have come a long way since the days when they were wind up toys with mechanisms like a clock. Thanks to plastic that allows a more realistic look than metal, model trains have grown by leaps and bounds, and have spawned garden railway, and model train clubs all over the world.

However, what if you liked what you saw in a picture, or were looking for a new kind of hobby to get into and you went on the internet to find out more? It can be a daunting task, first, because there is so much variety available out there now, and secondly, whom do you buy from?

A very good place to start is by finding a model train club that is near to you. Networking is the best way to get started – all you have to do is show an interest by going to a club and asking questions and they are usually more than delighted to show you the whole new world of model trains.

Actually, a club is about the best thing to do, because when you want to buy they will steer you in the direction of a reputable dealer who keeps his client base because he has integrity. Someone who knows will be only too happy to help you through the maze that’s out there on the internet. A good guideline is to go where the pro’s go.

If you don’t think you are ready to join a club just yet because you feel uncomfortable for some reason, you will find that you can go on the internet and join chat groups of fellow enthusiasts who will be only too happy to help. They will steer you in the right direction as far as what to get to start with, what brand to buy and who best to buy it from. This way you can get a good introduction into model trains.

The best way to spot a good dealer is to use your instinct – go with your gut. Don’t go with the “Johnny hustle” artist who is out to sell you the most expensive thing he can for commissions. The professional asks questions about what kind of project you have in mind, whether it be large or small, for your self or your child, and what kind of budget you have.

This is just a guideline to buying a model train on the internet, so give it a try – you’ll be chugging along in no time! You have many hours of enjoyment ahead of you.