| Your child wants a train set, but you don't know | | | | or "gauge". Technically, "scale" refers to the size of |
| what to buy, or even where to begin? Join the club. | | | | the trains, while "gauge" refers to the distance |
| There are so many kinds of model toy trains | | | | between the tracks. In practice, however, these |
| available today that it's hard for a parent to decide | | | | terms are mostly interchangeable, and they refer to |
| what is the right train toy to buy. This article | | | | the size of the trains. For instance, N scale trains, also |
| provides a brief guide to the major types of model | | | | known as N gauge trains, are built to a scale of 1:160, |
| trains that are available, and recommendations for | | | | which means that they are 1/160th the size of the |
| choosing the right model trains for your child. | | | | real trains they represent. To give you a better idea, |
| Wooden Or Electric? | | | | this means that an N scale engine is about an inch tall |
| The two primary types of model toy trains in the | | | | and about two to six inches long. |
| marketplace are wooden train toys, like those made | | | | The most popular scales for toy trains, in order from |
| by Brio, and electric trains, like the ones made by | | | | smallest to largest, are Z scale (1:220), N scale (1:160), |
| Lionel, Bachmann, Hornby, and Atlas. Wooden train | | | | HO scale (1:87), S scale (1:64), O scale (1:48), and G |
| toys are best for smaller children, from toddlers to | | | | scale (1:22.5). |
| about age seven or eight. Electric trains can provide | | | | G scale, the largest trains, are quite large -- a typical |
| hours of fun for older -- even much older -- children, | | | | engine might be about 8 inches tall and 16 to 48 |
| ages five to eighty. | | | | inches long. These trains are often called "Garden |
| If you have a child younger than about five or six | | | | scale" because they are used for outdoor garden |
| who is interested in trains, your best bet is probably | | | | train layouts. All of the other scales are most suitable |
| a wooden train set like Brio. For children between five | | | | for indoor use. |
| and eight, the choice between wooden and electric | | | | What's the Best Scale for Your Child? |
| trains will depend on the child; some kids this age will | | | | In general, larger trains are more suitable for younger |
| be happy with wooden trains, but others are ready | | | | children. When choosing a train set for an eight to |
| for the challenge of electric trains. If your child is | | | | twelve year old, S scale and O scale trains are |
| older than about eight, an electric train set is probably | | | | probably best; as your child gets older, he or she |
| best. The rest of this article talks about the different | | | | may want smaller trains, like HO scale or N scale |
| kinds of electric train sets. | | | | trains. |
| Electric Train Sets for Older Children | | | | Also, if your child is more interested in having very |
| If you've read this far, you have an older child, say | | | | detailed trains than in having elaborate layouts with |
| six or older, who is interested in trains. You want to | | | | detailed scenery, a larger scale like S scale or O scale |
| buy your child a train set, but don't know what you | | | | will be better. If your child enjoys creating large, |
| should be looking for. It's a confusing landscape -- HO | | | | elaborate layouts, decorated with lots of scenery and |
| trains, N gauge trains, G scale trains -- what's the | | | | landscaping, a smaller scale, like Z scale, N scale, or |
| difference? What should you buy? This article will help | | | | HO scale will be better. |
| you make the right choice. | | | | Once you've decided on size, or scale, you can |
| Scale or Gauge -- What's It All Mean? | | | | narrow down your search and choose a |
| Most electric model toy trains are classified by "scale" | | | | manufacturer or a particular train set. |