| I received my first model train set when I | | | | light up as they see that train going round |
| was just 11 years old. It came at Christmas | | | | the tree will be priceless and to watch them |
| and was set up around the tree like a silver | | | | pretend to be engineers is going to lighten |
| train track wreath. There were two engines | | | | my heart. |
| (although if I remember correctly one was | | | | |
| just for show), five boxcars, two flatbeds | | | | Of course, this is the moment that made me a |
| and a caboose. The engines were old black CN | | | | true model train enthusiast. So as I buy my |
| locomotives with that bold red 'CN' logo on | | | | children their first model train set, I will |
| the sides, while the boxcars were nondescript | | | | be looking for my second. The basement corner |
| brown and black. The Caboose, now that was a | | | | is looking to me more and more like that |
| deep rich red, as they should, be and was my | | | | train yard near my old home out west. I |
| favourite car of them all. To me, that | | | | really can't wait to get to work on my new HO |
| Christmas will always be remembered for that | | | | model train layout and conscript the boys |
| red caboose. | | | | into helping. Maybe they will become model |
| | | | train enthusiasts like me. I certainly hope |
| Of course you'd think that at that moment I | | | | so. |
| began to love trains and became a model train | | | | |
| enthusiast. Well not exactly. I played with | | | | If you are reading this article and thinking |
| that oval track and those model trains for a | | | | that you and your children might want a model |
| good while, but as all thing in childhood, I | | | | train set for Christmas, then I recommend you |
| moved on to, to me, bigger and better thing: | | | | follow my lead. The HO model trains are the |
| my new bike, the pogo stick, girls, and of | | | | most popular scale with model railroad |
| course cars. | | | | enthusiasts. This 1:87 scale allows you to |
| | | | fit a good sized track into an average size |
| It wasn't until I had my own kids that the | | | | space. There is also lots of accessories and |
| memories of that HO train set came flooding | | | | scenery available for this model. If you have |
| back to me. How I would sit there and watch | | | | limited space you may want to consider an N |
| it go round that oval click track! How my | | | | scale layout. This 1:160 scale is small |
| father seemed to always be there, sitting and | | | | enough that you put a fairly complex layout |
| watching my fun! How I felt as I pretended to | | | | in a small space. Of course your focus will |
| be the engineer lugging a load to the next | | | | be more on the layout and not the locomotive |
| town on the route! I even imagined how my | | | | and cars themselves. However if you have lots |
| father must have felt as he picked out what | | | | of space, you may want to use the larger O |
| he hoped was the perfect model train set to | | | | scale. At a 1:48 scale your focus will |
| go around the tree that year. | | | | definitely be on the engine and rolling stock |
| | | | and not the layout. However you really need a |
| It was these memories that prompted me to get | | | | large space for these train sets. Whatever |
| my own kids their first HO model train kit | | | | you decide, I hope you and your family soon |
| for Christmas this year. To see their faces | | | | discover the joys of model railroading! |