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