Archive for the ‘Toytrains’ Category


PostHeaderIcon American Flyer Toy Trains – A Tradition in Collecting Toy Trains

The following article presents the very latest information on Toytrains. If you have a particular interest in Toytrains, then this informative article is required reading.

Ask any avid collector of toy trains about American Flyer, and chances are they’ll be able to talk about these classic toy trains for hours. That’s because American Flyer is a tradition in the production of toy trains and has been for years. Since the beginning of the 1900′s, American Flyer has been producing top-quality toy trains and brought smiles to the faces of millions of people who received them as gifts or heirlooms. A truly unique find in toy train systems, American Flyer continues to be a popular name in toy trains and continues to bring happiness to today’s children and collectors.

American Flyer toy trains began as an idea to develop a clockwork motor for toy cars in 1901 by a man named William Fredrick Hafner. In 1905, he developed a train that could be operated by a clockwork motor on O gauge track. After receiving several requests and funds for orders, Hafner enlisted the help of his friend, William Coleman, to begin producing these new models of toy trains. At the time, Coleman had taken over control of Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, who had experienced financial hardship in 1906. The two friends immediately started to produce toy trains by using the surplus manufacturing potential of Edmonds-Metzel. The production was a success, and by 1910 Edmonds-Metzel left the hardware industry and changed its name to American Flyer. Originally American Flyer toy trains were thought to be generic in comparison to its competitor manufacturer, Ives.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Toytrains is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Toytrains.

During the First World War, American Flyer’s business expanded and eventually knocked out the German manufactures that produced the majority of toy trains sold in the United States. American Flyer introduced the first electric train in 1918. A windup device replaced the clockwork motor developed by Hafner and quickly became a popular toy among American children. Even with the growing popularity of American Flyer, the company still took second place to the Lionel Corporation – a rivalry that continues among toy train collectors today.

American Flyer toy trains are a popular display item at modern toy train conventions and shows, and are usually at the center of heated auction bidding. Although finding pieces from American Flyer toy train systems are not difficult, you can expect to pay top dollar for these classic toys. Even American Flyer catalogs are hot items up for sale and bidding at auctions and on the internet.

A simple search of the internet will provide you with a complete listing of where to find American Flyer toy trains and accessories. You’ll find several options for attending shows and conventions that carry American Flyer trains, and you’ll find several items up for bid on eBay. The prices range from $20 for accessories to $500+ for toy trains, box cars, cabooses, and tank cars. Once you find a collectible from American Flyer, it can be a quite addicting hobby to add more pieces and accessories to your collection!

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PostHeaderIcon Outdoor Toy Trains – Bringing the Fun Outside!

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about Toytrains. When you start sharing the fascinating Toytrains facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

Toy trains are typically seen indoors in a variety of settings. The most popular display is around a Christmas tree, circling the perimeter around all the gifts. Some people choose to set up their own unique display for year-round viewing inside their home. But rarely will you find a toy train display outdoors; mainly due to the fear of damaging the toy train system. However, there are several toy trains and toy train systems that are meant just for outdoors, and you’re about to get a glimpse of some of the most popular outdoor toy trains!

First of all, you need to know how to set up a good outdoor train system. Outdoor model trains should always be placed in a secure location, and should be as level as possible. You might want to consider adding your outdoor train system to your garden, or designing a garden around your toy train. You will only need a single track railway, one locomotive and three or four pieces of rolling rock to get started. Dig a trench about two or three inches deep that your train track route will follow. Fill it with sand and set your track in place, then place more sand in the track to make it even with the ground. This will help provide you with a level ground to operate your train system. Now that you’ve got the construction aspect complete, it’s time to choose your outdoor toy train!

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Toytrains, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

The Lionel Silver Bell Express by the Lionel Corporation is a beautiful addition to your outdoor Christmas display. This gorgeous locomotive is sure to be the center of attention at your next holiday party or gathering. The toy trains shimmers in a frosty blue and silver color, and is complete with a musical caboose that plays a pleasant version of “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night”, and “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”. The Silver Bell Express is controlled by a transformer that allows you to move the locomotive forward or reverse. Hand-painted detail and realistic decals make this outdoor toy train look like it just came from Santa’s Workshop! The gauge is large scale and 51″ in diameter, making it large enough to complete any outdoor decoration. The Silver Bell Express can be purchased new for around $200 or you could try your luck at an auction to try to snag this beauty for a cheaper price.

The LGB Trains G Scale Hooker Modern Tank Car is an excellent choice for your outdoor toy train system. This outdoor train is a modern version of the classic toy train familiar to many adults. The powerful locomotive can easily pull several freight or passenger cars and you can actually fill the tank with water to create an old-fashioned steam engine effect. The Hooker Modern Tank Car sells for around $85.

These are only a few of the many choices available for the outdoor toy train display. With proper construction and smart shopping, you can create a toy train wonderland right in your own backyard!

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PostHeaderIcon Marx Toy Trains

At the end of World War I, in 1919, Luis Marx started a toy company. The company was called Marx and Company and was co-founded by Louis brother, David Marx. The company’s motto was to, “give the customer more toy for less money.” The company enjoyed a long run of success, surviving the both the Great Depression and the second World War, before it closed its doors in 1978, six years after Louis Marx sold the company to Quaker Oats. During the Great Depression the Marx Company had over $500,000 in debt, a debt that was more then covered by its $3.2 million in assets.

In addition to several international plants, Marx had three plants in the United States, two in Pennsylvania, and one in West Virginia. One of the places that they sold their toys was in the Sears Roebucks magazine.

Some people feel that during its heyday, Marx and Company actually sold more toy trains then any of the other toy companies. The first train they sold was the Joy Line, which they sold on commission for the Girard Company. Shortly after his company started selling the Joy Line, Louis Marx arranged for the Girard Company to design a toy train specifically for Marx and Company. Eventually the Girard Company was purchased by Marx.

In the marketplace, Marx trains were noticeable because they were normally smaller and cheaper then the ones made by the Lionel Company and American Flyer. The Marx Company designed electric toy trains that featured an open frame motor, this motor features a gear that is fixed to one end of the axle of the armature. The company seldom varied from this design. Post World War II, Marx and Company started to make trains out of plastic. More expensive versions of Marx toy trains included a smoker that heated smoke fluid to produce smoke.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Marx trains typically have a copper shoe pickup. On a Marx motor, the center rail pickup, is typically made out of copper strip.

Until the late 1950′s Marx made their toy trains with a fat wheel. This fat wheel makes it virtually impossible for Marx toy trains to negotiate the switches and crossovers of Lionel tracks.

Older models of Marx trains feature open switches. Marx and Company designed their switches so that the wiring was similar to the wiring in two rail switches. Three wires, red, green, and black, go directly to the the switch.

Most of Marx scale freighters featured a a low truck with small wheels. Marx used a dovetail design for their tilt couplers. Marx tilt couplers are incompatible with Lionel couplers. The tilt couplers were one single molded piece. In later years, Marx made one piece knuckle couplers that have to be coupled by hand.

Most of the original Marx and Company motors have a metal frame and metal gears. A few of their later designs have frames and gears that are made out of plastic. Some of the cheaper toy trains that Marx designed can’t reverse, they can only go forward.

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in Toytrains. When people start looking for more information about Toytrains, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

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PostHeaderIcon Where to Find Antique Toy Trains for Sale

Collecting antique toy trains is a hobby and passion for many people. Perhaps they started the hobby on their own, or it all began back in their childhood. Toy trains have long been a popular gift and source of entertainment for many children, going back generations. Toy trains are still a well-liked item among children and adults, whether they’re for playtime or collecting. But when you’re looking for a specific antique toy train, you can’t easily run to Wal-Mart or Toys R Us to find what you need. You have to scout out your options and know where to look to find antique toy trains.

The first and most useful place to look for antique toy trains for sale is the internet. While you can’t be completely sure what your item will look like until it arrives, there are steps you can take to ensure you are getting the best quality for your money. Start by searching eBay for antique toy trains. eBay is notorious for having unique items for sale and you can typically find just about anything by utilizing this online auction. Simply type in “antique toy trains” and you’ll be provided with a complete listing of toy trains up for bidding along with pictures and a description of the item. However, before you place a bid on your desired piece, take a look at the description and pictures in detail. Does the seller guarantee the item? (Meaning will you get your money back if the item arrives damaged or doesn’t arrive at all?) Next, examine the pictures to determine if there is visible damage to the toy train.

If your Toytrains facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Toytrains information slip by you.

Most reputable sellers on eBay will specifically add damage to the item in their description and provide a photograph of the damage. If there are only one or two pictures, ask the seller to email you personally more pictures. Let them know you are not interested in purchasing a damaged or scratched item if that’s the case. Also, be sure to look at their seller history and ratings. This will tell you what other buyers had to say about their business transactions with them.

Another great place to find antique toy trains for sale is none other than antique stores. The problem with looking here is that you may have difficulty sorting through all of the antiques to find the toy train you are looking for. Consider asking the owner of the store of they have your desired item, and if you have a picture, show it to them. Most owners or workers of antique stores will have a database of the items for sale and can easily tell you if they have it or not. If not, keep in mind antique stores get unique items in on a daily basis. Ask them to let you know if your toy train comes in.

Finally, you can do a search on the internet to find antique auctions across the country. More specifically, you’ll be able to find auctions held just for antique toy trains. You may have to travel, but if you are able to attend one of these auctions the chances of finding your toy train are very good.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Toytrains.

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PostHeaderIcon A Trip Down Memory Lane with the Station Tour at Citigroup

There’s nothing like watching little toy trains in motion, especially when they’re accompanied by all the right accessories (tunnels, landscape, buildings, etc). For just a short time, you can get lost in your childhood and allow your imagination to run free. Nearly everyone enjoys the chance to view a toy train system, from young children to the elderly. Finding such a breathtaking display is no easy task, and usually they’re stumbled upon merely by chance. In a world of constant change, it’s comforting to know that there is always an elaborate display of toy trains around the holidays at Citigroup.

The Station Tour at Citigroup provides an annual tour through a railroad wonderland. You’ll experience a genuine feeling of happiness like you’ve never felt before, no matter what your age! This is an event that is sure to be enjoyed by the entire family, and you might just find yourself making the tour a holiday tradition. The Station Tour is located in New York City and the display is centered around the 1940′s time frame in New York. The display is approximately 750 square feet in size and is constructed on theatrical style platforms. The scenery is hand-built from Styrofoam and the buildings and water are made from resin. The entire display costs nearly $1 million to construct and operate, but every penny spent is well worth it!

The tour begins at the Westshore Terminal of the New York Central Railroad in 1940. You’ll see amazing but accurate displays of the New York 1940′s skyline complete with a replica of the Empire State Building. Little toy trains whistle and make their way through the stone tunnels behind the buildings on to the next destination of the tour – an imaginary city in New York called Generak.

The information about Toytrains presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Toytrains or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Generak is a river city and at first glance has tendency to remind you of New Orleans. A band plays by the street while trolleys carry passengers up the hill. The streets are busy with traffic and you can hear horns beeping and the sounds of cars as they make their way through the streets. Next, you will leave the busy city and head to the countryside, where you’ll pass an old family farmhouse and beautiful mountain cascades. The mountains have life-like trains swirling at the bottom while the mill turns with the dam.

Next, you’ll see a changing of the seasons as fall is suddenly upon you. You’ll find yourself amidst a carnival complete with dancing clowns, a working Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a few operating rides that are still familiar to carnivals today. Rapidly, the beautiful colors of autumn fade away and you enter a winter wonderland. You’ll see ice skaters skating blissfully among the frozen ponds, while the North Pole express train passes through. Snow-capped Christmas trees are all aglow with lights and carolers sing along the streets.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world through a child’s eyes is available from November to January for a reasonable price. If you have the opportunity to attend the Station Tour at Citigroup, it is highly recommended you take advantage; and take a trip back down memory lane!

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PostHeaderIcon Classic Toy Trains Magazine

The Ultimate Guide in Toy Train Collections

For some people, collecting toy trains isn’t just another hobby or interest; it’s a way of life. The concept of collecting toy trains has been around for centuries. Nearly everyone has some type of connection to toy trains, whether it is an annual display around the Christmas tree or a daily passion to find and collect unique individual pieces to add to their toy train system. People who collect toy trains are indeed special types of people who have a true connection to these miniature locomotives. Luckily, there’s a magazine to suit their needs – Classic Toy Trains.

Classic Toy Trains magazine is a monthly publication that focuses on the latest news and events in toy train collecting. In it, you will find helpful guides to toy train auctions, events, shows and conventions, as well as articles regarding various antique toy trains. For the true toy train enthusiast, you’ll also find several “how-to” articles, including how to build your on toy trains, how to put together tracks, how to rebuild toy train engines, or how to tune-up your old antique toy trains.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Toytrains. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

One interesting article from January 2007 discussed the death of two prominent collectors of the toy train industry. Bruce Walthers and Bobbye Hall, both popular in the model railroad industry, passed away and left the toy train community stunned over their loss. Walthers once served as president of William K. Walthers, Inc, a model railroad manufacturing firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm became the largest producer of model railroad products in entire world. Hall was known primarily as the first woman to work with Japanese model railroad manufacturers and was the founding person behind Hallmark Models. The recipient of several awards and recognitions within the railroad model industry, her death was a surprise to many avid collectors around the world.

Classic Toy Trains magazine also produced a series of articles entitled “Basics of Toy Trains.” This series covered everything a beginner to the industry would want to know, from the history of popular manufacturers such as Lionel and Marx to the current toy trains sold in today’s market. The series even covered “tricky train terms” that green collectors are not likely to know and understand. You can also explore the questions and answer section, where questions covering a wide variety of topics in toy train collecting are answered. For example, it covers proper toy train storage and display techniques, how to apply decals to your toy train, and how to spot fake “antique” toy trains for sale.

A subscription to Classic Toy Trains magazine varies depending on the length of time you wish to keep your subscription. 9 issues are available for $39.95, 18 issues for $74.95, and 27 issues for $106.95. If you are an enthusiastic toy train collector, or would like to give a gift to someone interested in the hobby, this is the perfect all-inclusive magazine!

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in Toytrains. When people start looking for more information about Toytrains, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

PostHeaderIcon Wooden Toy Trains by Community Playthings

Current info about Toytrains is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Toytrains info available.

There’s just something special about little wooden toy trains. They’ve long been a favorite among children and have become an icon for the Christmas season in many countries. They are still a popular gift choice for children and often a collectible among adults. It’s nearly impossible to own just one wooden toy train; many people choose to build upon their cherished toy to create their own toy train system. While the wooden toy train is a popular display at Christmas, some people have whole rooms or sections of their house dedicated to displaying their wooden toy trains.

Often, it can be tricky to find wooden toy trains in today’s society. Most toy trains of today are constructed out of metal and plastic, with decals displayed in order to make the toy look as realistic as possible. Some people turn to the internet to find wooden toy trains, while others scout out live auctions and antique stores in hopes of finding the wooden locomotive they knew and loved as a child. However, it is possible to find new wooden toy trains thanks to a company called Community Playthings.

Community Playthings began as a small organization of young fathers in rural Georgia. These men had one thing in mind – to create safe, durable toys for their children out of wood. The concept soon spread to local schools and teachers began requesting the wooden toys for their classrooms. When childcare became a popular idea among working parents, daycares ordered wooden furniture from Community Playthings. It wasn’t long before the company expanded into a well-known name in the toy industry, and thus the creation of wooden toy cars, trucks, and trains.

If you don’t have accurate details regarding Toytrains, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.

The toy trains you’ll find made by Community Playthings are simple and certainly nothing fancy. You won’t find exclusive hand-painted detail, battery-operated engines, lights, sounds, or any other bells and whistles. Those are best left for companies who focus on creating state-of-the-art, realistic replicas. The toy trains from Community Playthings are designed for the inquiring child, plain and simple. Without all of the added extras, children are able to use their own imagine and develop motor skills as they push along and play with their wooden toy trains.

Along with toy trains, Community Playthings also makes wooden furniture, children’s lockers and cubby holes, art and sand tables, classic wooden blocks, and a wide variety of furniture for babies and toddlers. It is very easy to purchase anything wooden from Community Playthings. Their website provides a complete listing of all of their available products, prices, and pictures of every item. Several children’s marketing websites also carry items from Community Playthings for reasonable prices.

For a trip down memory lane back to your childhood, or to purchase wooden toy trains for your little one, consider getting your next toy train from Community Playthings. In a society where everything has gotten so modern, it’s nice to know there’s one company out there who can take you back to the “good old days”.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing–the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

PostHeaderIcon HO Toy Trains – An Antique of Today

Collecting toy trains is referred to as the world’s greatest hobby; and for some, it isn’t just a hobby. It’s a passion and a way of life, perhaps beginning in childhood. Several toy train collectors started their hobby as children, when they were given a toy train as a gift. Toy trains, at one time, were a very popular and much desired toy among children. Over time, that concept faded and was replaced by razor scooters, iPods, and webkinz. Most children of today aren’t familiar with the classic toy trains from back in the day, so the legacy is left to be carried on by adults who choose to start a collection of their own. One such popular toy train that is desired by many collectors is the HO toy train, developed by Marklin in 1935. So what makes these miniature locomotives so much different than the others?

The construction of the HO toy trains is one aspect that makes them stand apart from other toy trains. HO toy trains are jagged and are scaled at 1:87, making them the perfect starter electric train. Appearance is also a major factor in collecting HO toy trains. The flawless detailing gives them a realistic appeal, making them an attractive addition to any toy train system. The Marklin HO toy trains resemble the Z gauge in that they are built from diecast metal. Most of the frames and wheels are constructed from 100% metal. The engineering of HO toy trains is also quite brilliant. The wheels of the freight and passenger cars have a low center of gravity to avoid derailment, making them a reliable addition to electric systems.

See how much you can learn about Toytrains when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information.

The third-rail track systems of HO toy trains make them a hassle-free operation. The electrical current is carried by miniature stud contacts found in the middle of the ties. If you don’t look closely, chances are you’ll miss these clever additions. This helps prevent wiring problems and electrical pickup issues. Given the careful engineering and construction of HO toy trains, most collectors consider HO toy trains part of a scale hobby. At the debut of HO toy trains, they were sold as a toy train rather than a scale model as they are often sold today.

Scale model railroading didn’t become a popular hobby among collectors until after the 1950′s. Until that time, HO toy trains were thought of as just another size of train. Therefore, the Lionel Corporation began to make HO toy trains as smaller versions of the classic freight and passenger cars. It wasn’t long before the Louis Marx Company began constructing their own version of HO toy trains, and they even started to sell them with complete scenery and in slot car sets.

Although finding HO toy trains on the shelf at your local toy store may be a challenge, they aren’t all that difficult to come by. A simple search of the internet will provide you with a detailed listing of available HO toy trains for sale as well as places to locate these classic toy trains.

This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

PostHeaderIcon Purchasing Trucks, Trains, and Toy Autos on EBay

Before there was an Internet, there were only a few ways people could get rid of things like toy trains that they no longer wanted. They could sell them at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. They could take them to . They could place a for sale ad in the classified section of the newspaper. They could auction them at one of two types of live auctions; a high end auction which are held by internationally known firms, or a local auction where both the clientele and merchandise are mostly local. In some cases if an auctioneer has enough trains they will hold a train only auction that is more likely to attract the attention of serious collectors. High end auctions are typically where collectors can find exceptionally rare toy trains, toy trucks, and other collectible automobiles.

Shopping at an eBay store carries a degree of protection. Many of the EBay stores are run by reputable dealers who specialize in toy trucks, trains, and automobiles. These dealers are often willing to guarantee the items they are selling on EBay. If you are looking for a collector toy train look for EBay stores that have a TCA (Train Collectors Association) membership. These EBay stores take a special pride in their toy trains.

If you are considering purchasing a toy train set from an EBay store make sure that they say the transformer is actually working. With the exception of the “ZW” transformers made from Lionel, transformers are typically unrepairable. Before agreeing to the sale ask the EBay store if the transformers knobs turn smoothly and if the transformer is working corrA huge advantage to purchasing a train through an EBay store is the ability to check the feedback the store has received from past customers. Reading through this feedback should give you a good indication about how honest they are about the product they are selling.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

If you are simply looking for any type, style and make of toy truck, toy train, or any other miniaturized automobile on EBay all you have to do is go to EBay’s handy drop down menu and click on the item you want. You will presented with tons of toy automobile that you can bid on.

If you are looking for a ver specific item, go to the search section and type in exactly what you are looking for. The more specific you are the more likely you will be to find the item you are looking for without wasting allot of your time.

Once you have selected an item you like contact the merchant, ask lots of questions about the toy train they are selling, does it work, is there any damage, etc.. Ask if they would be willing to send several photos of the item, displaying it at several different angles. Ask the merchant if they would be willing to guarantee the condition of the item.

Purchasing trucks, trains, and toy autos at an eBay store allows you to shop whenever it’s convenient, night or day.

You can’t predict when knowing something extra about Toytrains will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Toytrains in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

PostHeaderIcon Where to Find Antique Toy Trains

This article explains a few things about Toytrains, and if you’re interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don’t know.

Toy trains often become family heirlooms, handed down from one generation to the next. This is an especially nice tradition because the nature of toy trains is such that each generation can add something to the toy train, whether it is something for the train, like a new car, or something for the layout like new landscaping. Toy trains are something the family can build on.

Sometimes family members want to keep the entire layout looking like it is all from the same era. If the train has been around for a long time that might mean that the family will have to look for antique toy trains.

There are a number of ways you can go about looking for an antique toy train. Some people comb estate sales. While some great deals are found here it is not the easiest way to look for an antique toy train. It can be difficult to confirm the age and condition of the train before the estate sale begins. It is not always possible to determine if the train is in good working order until after you have finished bidding on it.

It is not uncommon to find a nice antique train set at an antique store. Even if the store doesn’t have the antique toy train that you are looking for it doesn’t hurt to talk to the proprietor. They might be able to find the train you are looking for. Leave your contact information with them, and write down exactly what you are looking for.

Some antique toy train collectors comb the flea markets. While some collectors do stumble upon the rare diamond in the rough, most of the trains that show up at the flea markets are in really rough shape.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on Toytrains now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

Lots of toy train collectors go to auctions. Lots of times auctioneers will wait until they have several toy trains and then hold a special toy train auction. Hoping to generate publicity, auctioneers generally mail postcards or post notices, listing the various types of trains they have available. For extremely rare, expensive trains, large corporations hold high end auctions.

The Internet is an incredibly useful tool for locating and purchasing antique toy trains. There are loads of toy train dealers who have websites that list the types, and kinds, and prices of toy trains that they have available for purchase. Many of these same dealers also have toy train stores listed on EBay. Buying trains through dealers that specialize in toy trains is a good way to ensure that the toy train will arrive in exactly the condition that was promised. Dealers that are members of the Train Collectors Association (TCA) have a reputation of taking pride in the toy trains they sell.

Before you purchase an antique toy train know exactly what you want it for.

If you are looking for a train that is just for display then you will want to make sure that it looks like it is in pristine condition, that the paint is scratched or chipped, that there aren’t any dents in the casing, if its a wooden toy train make sure that wood hasn’t splintered or warped. If you are purchasing the train on-line ask to see several pictures of the toy train from several different angles. If possible try to get the dealer to guarantee the condition of the antique toy train.

If you are planning to add the train to an already working layout, make sure the antique toy train you are about to purchase is in good working order. If the antique toy train includes a transformer make sure the transformer works.

If you are still having trouble finding an antique toy train consider joining a collectors club, or attending swap meets.

You can’t predict when knowing something extra about Toytrains will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Toytrains in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!


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