All Aboard!! Some interesting trivia about your beloved model toy trains

Priyadarshini Kaul Mishra
05 November, 2020
2 mins ago

Toy train models are a rage not only in kids but is also one of the world’s beloved collector item. Let’s see some fascinating trivia about the Choo-Choo train.

From the time, railways changed the way we travelled, our fascination for the trains grew with leaps and bounds. It is this fascination that led to the invention of model toy trains. With time these toy trains also became more realistic and lifelike. The use of plastic for various detailing made these trains awe-inspiring. Here are a few trivia about the model toy trains set.

Earliest toy trains

The earliest model of toy train came out in 1860; it was made up of some metal and wood pieces. Soon after Märklin, a German company came out with the first model train kit. It was Carlisle and Finch that developed the first electric power train that ran on the metal tracks.

A toy for rich and elite

The earliest toy train set was quite expensive, so it was considered a toy for the rich. As the detailing on these train set got more and more realistic, there were dedicated social clubs in Victorian England which were all about toy trains!

Lionel, the pioneer in toy trains

Lionel, a trailblazer in a toy train production, represented technology and elegance. When Lionel invented its first electric train in 1901, it served as a display item on their shop’s window. Surprisingly, no one was interested in any of the other products of store, other than the train.

The golden age of toy train model sets

The 1950s are considered as the golden age of the train set models. You would hardly find a young boy in America without his own train set. You can equate the obsession with the current love young kids have for their video games.

The incredible toy train world records

Here are some of the insane world records about the toy trains.

In an auction in 2006, Lionel trains set have been sold for $250,000.
The Guinness book of world record holder for building the largest collection of model trains is James P. Richards. He has handmade 610 models.
The most expensive model railway set is Miniature Wunderland in Germany. It is estimated to value a whopping 15 million Euros.

Many Celebrities are model railway enthusiasts. The most notable are Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, David Hasselhoff and even Tom Hanks. With over half a million-model train collectors in the U.S.A and Canada, the love for the old-world toy train model refuses to simmer down.