History of Model Trains

A model train was a popular toy back in the 19th century among young boys. The toy soon became a collectible item as the decades past with the oldest models being worth the most money. Model trains come in all different types and are made out of cast iron or wood.

Types of Model Trains

The first toy model trains were made out of hard cast iron. Welding shops produced them and sent them out to toyshops for consumers. They had the look of the same up and running trains of the time, and many collector’s items copy this same look for today’s toys. The most popular type was the steam train with a small caboose trapped on the end of it. These trains could pump small amounts of steam and make a whistle just like a real train. Model railroads were soon produced for these trains to run on, following different variations of the trains as the decades past. Modern diesel style train models are now available purchase as toys or collector’s items alongside the old steam engines.

History of Model Trains

The very first model train was made in 1891 by a company called Marklin. This company is still producing toys in Germany, sticking to their original molds. They have first made dollhouse toys for young girls, and deciding to expand their line by making toy trains for boys. Electric powered trains came in 1897. These trains could blow a whistle sound and even unload cargo. Plastic toys soon followed in the 1900s because of its cheap production value. In the 1940s and 50s, pull toy trains were marketed for young children while the original styled model trains were for adults. Once Thomas the tank engine gained popularity in the early 1980s however, the original models were yet again created for children.