Steam Model Trains - A Blast From The Past

By David Faulkner

Trains were the first viable form of transport to hit America, especially after the Civil War. Few people today actually know about their roots and do not much care, apart from railroad model enthusiasts that is. They are fully aware of the significance of steam trains and that is why many of them today have steam model trains. The steam train enabled man to travel across America and allowed goods and services to find their way to the west coast. They were only available in the east up until that point. Steam trains were powered by coal. The burning coal produced steam, which was then converted into kinetic energy to propel the train forward. Steam model trains paid homage to these earlier marvels of technology.

It was only after the Second World War that they were actually replaced by the electric powered trains that we have today. One of the major reasons that steam locomotives were popularly replaced by electricity is that they were much slower and less efficient so ticket fares were much higher than they were after electricity trains took centre stage. Steam locomotives were completely gone by the 1970s and were sorely missed. They soon had a nostalgic following that demanded their return. As a result, the steam model trains were perfect to appease those enthusiasts with because they could still get a taste of the past, but in the comfort of their own homes!

There are many manufacturers that offer replicas of steam model trains now because they are proving to be so popular at the moment. Most model railroad enthusiasts will have at least one in their collection to remember the days gone by fondly. They are classic in every way and look extremely stylish. Steam model trains can really enhance your model railroad experience and it is a small price to pay to get hold of one for your collection. There is a real market for the steam model train. They are much sought after by collectors and individuals will often fight over limited edition ones.

You can get hold of a steam model train as part of a set or starter kit but these are much more expensive that regular starter kits. They will cost you no matter how you buy them though so if you are a beginner it would probably be better to purchase one in this form than on its own.

Steam model train enthusiasts are spread out all over the globe and will wax lyrical about them. They do have a little something that other model trains lack. Every collector should have a steam model train, if only to remember the past and how technology has advanced transport in recent years. Once you set your steam model train in motion though, you will realise just how addictive they are!

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