How to make a garden railroad. Children's railway - an overview: prices, manufacturers

Reading time: 9 minutes

The Children's Railway, or children's railway, is designed to serve as an analogue of a full-fledged transport system. A toy set is suitable for small children, and special educational models have been created for older boys. They may be located at children's camps sponsored by educational institutions that are associated with railway construction. These roads have nothing to do with the rides in the parks, but are a reduced copy of the original.

What is a children's railway

The Children's Railway was used to train young enthusiasts in professions related to railways. The construction of children's narrow-gauge railways was carried out in accordance with GOSTs of the USSR. Later, various toys began to appear on the market in the form of trains that could ride on rails. They could be powered by the children themselves, internal combustion engines, or an electric motor.

Children's railway toy

Toy railways include educational, entertaining toys in the form of a train with wagons on rails. Can be made from different materials:

Plastic;
Tree;
Metal.

There is a spread in age categories: from plastic, wooden simple models for children from 3 years old to complexes with infrastructure, steam locomotives on diesel engines with remote control - for older children. Known manufacturers include:

Aster Hobby;
Eurotrain;
top train;
Hasbro;
LEGO.

Children's Railways of the USSR

The first Soviet children's railway was opened in Moscow, but did not work for long - from 1932 to 1938. It was built by Komsomol members, it was more of an entertainment purpose than an educational one. The forerunner of children's roads is the complex of the city of Tiflis (Tbilisi), founded on June 24, 1935. Until the late 1980s, in the Soviet Union, children's railways opened every year. Since the 1930s, about 70 children's railways have appeared on the territory of the USSR. Old roads operate in cities:

Krasnoyarsk;
Nizhny Novgorod;
Irkutsk;
Rostov-on-Don;
Chelyabinsk;
Khabarovsk;
Ekaterinburg.

Moscow Children's Railway

In 2005, the old Moscow railway underwent a reconstruction procedure, tracks and hangars were replaced, modern diesel locomotives TU10, designed specifically for children's railways, were put into operation. educational institutions. As of 2010, the complex in Kratovo is used in the education of 700 students from 25 schools and technical schools of adjacent cities. Trains run between Pionerskaya and Yunost stations from 11 am to 3 pm daily. The whole complex works almost around the clock. There are circles "Young railway worker", career guidance courses.

Toy railroads

Buy railway for a child can be in almost any toy store. In the production of toys, the theme of railway is popular. This guarantees wide choose models of completely different price ranges. The set of characteristics of the children's train contains a very extensive:

age category;
path length;
composition and rail material;
control method;
availability and type of engine;
Scenery.

For children from 3 years old

The toy railway will be a great entertainment for a small child. Familiar cartoon characters will brighten up his time:

model name: Thomas on the Road TrackMaster set;
price: 1500 r;
characteristics: looped track, rolling stock of 1 steam locomotive;
pluses: the character of the cartoon "Thomas and his friends";
cons: overpriced.

The ABtoys online store provides a wide selection of trains with a trailer for fun for the baby. For a special promotion, kits can be ordered by mail:

model name: ABtoys "Express";
price: 700 r;
characteristics: ring track, lighting fixtures, rolling stock from a locomotive, 1 trolley with coal, 2 cars;
pluses: a large set for a low price;
cons: build quality.

Battery powered

With this toy, the child will be able to send a train from a passenger car, a locomotive on the control panel:

model name: OmZET "Railway-5";
price: 1700 r;
characteristics: prefabricated track, remote-controlled train, 1 locomotive, 2 wagons;
pluses: extended set, light and noise effects;
cons: the path does not converge into a ring.

Railway-themed toys are for people different ages. Eichhorn with their kits is no exception:

model name: Eichhorn "Railway with arch bridge and steam locomotive";
price: 5000 r;
features: ring line, bridge, 2 battery trains, lighting, scenery;
pluses: wide scope for children's creativity;
cons: pale tones of the toy.

For girls

The Chuggington Girl's Railroad will hook your child with fun tones, a variety of kit details:

model name: Chuggington "Bridge and Tunnel";
price: 1800 r;
characteristics: ring track with slides, tunnel, 1 locomotive;
pluses: bright lively colors, suitable for young children;
cons: small size.

You can buy a railway cheaply in an online store from Chuggington. starter kit includes the station building, and a funny cartoon train runs along the road:

model name: Chuggington "Double Depot";
price: 3000 r;
characteristics: two-storey building, looped track, lifting turntable, 1 locomotive;
pluses: colorful set, additional game mechanics;
cons: high cost, manual control.

Electrical

The electric railway for children from Racing PRO will be a great entertainment for more than one evening:

model name: Racing PRO "Bullet Train";
price: 3500 r;
characteristics: triple circle line, 2 stations, bridge, locomotive, guide rails on analog control;
pluses: an interesting addictive toy;
cons: gray tones.

Models of houses, railway stations, platforms - all this is a unique children's set from Mehano:

model name: Mehano "Ice-3";
price: 13000 r;
features: urban landscape, double closed line, analogue control of the composition of the, 500 cm of path;
pluses: colorful set, rich landscape;
cons: strength.

metal

A set with PEQUETREN railway equipment can be found in Detsky Mir stores in St. Petersburg and Moscow on sale and at a discount:

model name: PEQUETREN "Passangers train colors";
price: 3000 r;
characteristics: closed canvas 340 cm, battery-powered locomotive, 2 cars;
pluses: durable metal case;
cons: when playing, you can get hurt.

The colorful play set "Train to the West" will make the purchase of a children's toy interesting even for adults. The railway line is surrounded by a landscape familiar from frames from westerns, wagons with real prototypes were used in the set:

model name: PEQUETREN "Train to the West";
price: 5000 r;
characteristics: oval path 580 cm, stylized as a postal American composition of the 19th century;
pluses: historical stylization of the game;
cons: fragility.

plastic

On sale you can find a lot of interesting children's sets. "Carnival Delivery" will please the child with familiar characters:

model name: TrackMaster Carnival Delivery;
price: 2000 r;
characteristics: closed track 280 cm, 1 station, 1 locomotive, 1 wagon;
pluses: characters of the cartoon "Thomas and his friends";
cons: unfinished rails.

The set from S+S Toys will help to get schoolchildren interested in railway craft:

model name: S + S Toys "Station";
price: 1200 r;
characteristics: locomotive, 2 tanks, station building, 2 directions of movement, speed control with remote control;
pluses: good value for money;
cons: not found.

wooden train

The material of wooden passenger cars is soft, does not require any safety precautions:

model name: Brio 33010;
price: 2800 r;
characteristics: wooden structure, crane, looped rails;
pluses: smoothly polished wood;
cons: small size.

Brio attaches great importance to children's aspirations. A complex with a long railway track will give a basic understanding of the railway infrastructure:

model name: Brio Road and Crossing 33210;
price: 4200 r;
characteristics: ring road, overpass, road with a barrier, 2 cars, 1 train;
pluses: well-fitted wooden parts;
cons: plastic elements do not hold tightly.

New Year's

New Year's toys are in great demand. Get your kids in the holiday spirit!

model name: Hasbro "Christmas Express"
price: 4600 r;
characteristics: straight track 460 cm, 2 diesel locomotives, 3 mail trolleys, artificial snow tank;
pluses: colorful landscape;
cons: the balloon should be immediately taken away from the child, otherwise the whole apartment will be covered with snow.

LEGO products have high quality standards and are aimed at developing children's imagination:

model name: LEGO "Christmas Train";
price: 7800 r;
characteristics: closed line 500 cm, 1 locomotive, 4 trolleys, 734 parts;
pluses: a small number of parts;
cons: overpriced, small parts.

Big

The long ring road of the "Mountain Road" will open wide scope for children's imagination. Among the Top Train sets, this one is considered the most popular:

model name: Top Train "Mountain Road";
price: 10000 r;
characteristics: closed line 1270 cm, 2 trains for 1 locomotive, 3 cars;
pros: huge set, different variants decoration arrangements;
Cons: Parts don't fit well.

The train directly from the fabulous land of Oz will not leave children indifferent:

model name: Eurotrain "Train from Oz";
price: 13000 r;
characteristics: triple ring line 980 cm, composition on analog control, 5 stations, 6 forks;
pros: big choice placement of parts;
cons: not found.

Small

Hasbro products are aimed at satisfying the children's desire to know everything. Check it out with the new HDD set:

model name: Hasbro "Jolly Company";
price: 1200 r;
characteristics: straight track 150 cm, 2 turning circles, 3 locomotives in a coupler, 1 stop;
pluses: build quality, characters familiar to children;
cons: overpriced.

Eurotrain is famous for its prefabricated models of domestic railway equipment. A great example of this is Armored Train:

model name: Eurotrain "Armored train";
price: 3000 r;
features: battery-powered, buildable children's model of the Soviet armored train, 180 cm straight track, realistic scenery;
pluses: historical toy;
cons: a lot of small parts.

How to choose a children's railway

To buy a children's railway and not make a mistake in choosing, you should base your choice on several criteria:

Material. Very rarely, toy manufacturers may use materials that acquire toxic properties when heated. Avoid toys containing PETE (PET), PS (PS) plastics.
Engine power type. If the choice fell on the mobile version of the toy, keep track of the fuel used: it does not have to be batteries. Not everyone wants to smell diesel fuel in the apartment.
type of toy. The modular locomotive model can be in the same packaging as a regular toy.

In their games, children often try on adult images - doctors, teachers, boys tend to mess around with mini-models of cars, planes, helicopters and, of course, trains. At the same time, the children's railway attracts not only children, but also adults - often dads are also not averse to playing with their son or even without him. Toy Railroad is an exciting game on which more than one generation has grown up, because it appeared back in the 30s of the 19th century. Today, the railway for kids seems to be experiencing its rebirth, becoming more and more popular, so it is not surprising that your child will once ask to buy a children's railway during the next visit to the toy store. It may not be possible to purchase it right away - but this is for the best, since there will be time to choose the right toy so that it fits the baby's age.

Today, manufacturers offer a lot of options. The railway for children is made from various materials, can be single or multi-level, have many additional accessories, with varying assembly complexity. But one thing is invariable: the railway is a toy that, in addition to entertaining, also performs a developing function.

The railway for children develops:
- perseverance
- logical and spatial thinking;
- coordination;
- fine motor skills;
- fantasy;
- ability to concentrate;
- creativity and ingenuity.

But everything is good on time, so we will consider not only the materials, but also what kind of children's game "Railway" should be bought for what age.

Materials from which the children's railway is made

1. Wood, wooden railroad

And the locomotive, and the cars, and even the rails are made of wood, although it is called iron. The children's wooden railway includes a locomotive consisting of one or two parts, rails and a small number of accessories. Suitable for the little ones. The rails are assembled according to the thorn-groove principle, and the fastening of the elements in some models is carried out by means of magnetic contact. Wooden railway for children - comparatively simple toy, which the baby will very quickly learn to assemble on their own. Such success will increase the self-esteem of the child. The railway is a wooden toy, which is mainly characterized by a bright design. It's good if the train even looks like a living being - to have traced eyes and a smiling mouth. At the same time, a wooden railway for children may not even have rails - it will be enough for a child to move a small train in any direction he chooses. At this age, he is more attracted to the opportunity to move the train with his own hands. A railway from 2 years old may also not have radio control - it is more interesting for a kid to move the train on his own. You can buy a wooden railway both for a child under two years old and older. The main thing to remember is that less baby, the bigger the toy train should be, but the smaller the railroad track.

2. Plastic, plastic rail

A universal option, suitable not only for the smallest, but also for the older ones, is a children's plastic railway. Here it is also important to adhere to the rule that the smaller the child, the larger the toy itself. The advantage of such a railway is its diversity - it can be large, with many details. At the same time, a child can even assemble a steam locomotive on their own. Docking of rails is reliable and does not require extra efforts. A plastic railroad for children allows you to show your imagination as much as possible and create a unique structure - if only there is enough space in the children's room. If the child is still small, you should not allow the presence of small parts, stepping on which he can get hurt.

3. Metal, metal railroad

This option is for children ages 4 and up. The children's metal railway has many parts and is quite difficult to assemble. The number of functions is expanding, the number of details is increasing. Such a road is controlled not only by means of a radio signal, but also due to the presence of metal contacts on the rails themselves.

Railway accessories

This toy is also good because it can be replenished with accessories. So, the rails for the children's railway allow you to increase the length of the track and the path of the train over time, which will undoubtedly make the game even more fun. You can also buy crossings, stations, bridges, new cars and much more. You can buy rails for a children's railway both in a regular children's store and pick them up in an online store.

In general, the railway equipment includes:

rails (straight and curved);
locomotive / locomotive;
wagons/wagon;
buildings and structures;
animals and humans.

For older children, you can buy a toy, which includes mountains and tunnels. It will be interesting for the child to watch how the train climbs the hill or goes through the tunnel.

Options for children's railways

In addition to the material and the number of accessories, the children's toy railway can be:

Single or multi-level

A single-level children's railway is a toy that has one or more circles placed in the same plane. A multi-level one can have two or three tiers, and the rails can be not only a figure eight, but also take other forms.

Modern or retro style

A modern railway is suitable for both the smallest and older children, and retro should be bought if the kid is already familiar with the existing era to which the purchased train belongs, so that he does not have questions about why the purchased steam locomotive is so unlike modern locomotives.

Electric or remote control

German toy electric railways are very popular - they are well-made and as safe as possible to use. Electric toy railways made in the USA or Japan are not inferior to them. Although the electric railway toy was invented in 1897 by the American company Carlisle & Finch, it appeared in mass production in the 20s of the last century, replacing the clockwork trains. Then miniature electric motors and AC rectifiers made a real revolution. And today, despite the appearance of control panels, the electric railway for children continues to be popular.

Having appeared relatively recently, the toy railroad on the remote control continues to gain popularity. Such a model is sure to cause delight in the child and the desire to show off to friends. The decision to buy a children's railway with a remote control will not only give the baby joy, but also help to make family evenings more eventful, because adults will not mind playing such a toy, because radio-controlled children's toys are interesting for people of any age. Children's railroad with a remote control allows you to spend more time with your child and, while playing together, learn about his interests and experiences.

Manufacturers of children's railways

Since this toy is experiencing a rebirth, and its popularity is growing every year, today there are many different manufacturers of toy railways. The highest quality are German children's railways. American and Japanese railroad-themed toys are also popular. In general, at least 10 countries, including Russia, are engaged in the production of these toys.

Let's bring short review the most popular manufacturers.

The first Pequetren railway saw the world in 1982. With a focus on safety and functionality, the company offers a wide variety of accessories and rail options. Pequetren is a railway that can take you back to the times of the Wild West, to the beginning of the 20th century and to a more modern era.

Lego Children's Railway (Denmark)

Lego constructors cover almost all areas of human activity, so it is not surprising that there is also a Lego: Railroad. It is divided into two types - City and Duplo.

"Lego: Duplo" is a railway that children from 2 years old can play. It has large rails with a simple and strong joint, a wide track. "Lego: Railroad" of the Duplo series for 2-5 years also provides the opportunity to simply roll the composition with your hand. Since this is a constructor, trains can be disassembled and assembled. In Lego Duplo sets, the railroad can also have a forklift, which is especially popular with the boys, because it allows you to load and unload the wagons. The building blocks are compatible with all other Lego Duplo bricks, which allows you to create additional buildings along the route of the train. Lego Duplo is a railway that can be bought for children from 2 to 6 years old.

For children over 6 years old, Lego City is suitable - a railway that is not compatible with Duplo. It has its own buildings and trains, as well as many small details, so it is not suitable for the smallest. You can, of course, be entrusted to play it from the age of 4, but the kid is unlikely to be able to connect the rails on his own. Lego City is a railway, the details of which can be combined with some analogue constructors. Its main advantage is that "Lego" is a railway on the control panel, while the train has as many as seven speeds, which will certainly please both children and adults playing with them.

For more than 30 years, the Vtech railway has been pleasing children from many countries. During this period, the company has taken a leading position in the production of educational toys for babies. Automated modern kits may have a remote control. The Vtech educational railroad is a colorful toy that your child will love right away. It has many interesting details, including an LED display and a dial. Railway for children Vtech - has a lot of opportunities and in the form of a game will teach the child many important things. Playing it, the kid learns to distinguish between letters and numbers, colors, notes and geometric figures, learn more about animals, learn to understand the time. The Vtech railway, which can be bought both in regular and online stores, is made of materials that are absolutely safe for the life of a baby.

Produced by the Japanese company Takara TOMY based on the animated series of the same name, the Thomas and Friends Railway is suitable for children 3-4 years old. The Thomas railway repeats the plot of the cartoon, and all trains have the names and names of its heroes. The Thomas railway (starter and other sets) is made of high-quality plastic, and the trains are powered by electricity or you can roll them yourself, which is suitable for small children. Thomas the Tank Engine - toys from the category of the railway, which will certainly appeal to children who watched the cartoon about Thomas. The smoke emitted by the machine due to a safe chemical reaction will delight children. Of course, parts for this toy are not easy to get, but if you decide to buy the Thomas railway on the Internet, then you can also replenish the existing equipment with additional accessories.
Buy Thomas and Friends railroad

Tomy is a manufacturer of railways for children of various ages, as well as accessories for them. So, "My First Tomy Railway" is suitable for children from 1.5 years old. All details are bright and colorful. It works on an induction motor, to start which it is enough to pull the train in the direction opposite to its movement and let it go. The Tomy railway is easy to assemble and disassemble. There is also the Tomy Children's Railway, whose trains run on electricity. Suitable for kids from 3 years old.

The Chuggington Railway is also based on the cartoon about the engines from Chugginton. Characteristic features - trains look like cartoon characters, bright, colored, and the railway itself is more like a car. Chuggington Railroad - good quality with secure rail grip. However, there are few buildings, and there is also no way to load wagons. The Chuggington Railway, which should be bought if the child loves this cartoon, he will definitely like it. However, it should be borne in mind that the cartoon can get bored and you have to buy something new.

You can buy the Chuggington railway in our catalog of goods for children.

High-quality wooden railroad Roys, made in full compliance with European standards. The Roys railway is characterized by good detailing, a large number of additional accessories and elements. So, the Roys wooden set "Railway Town" has as many as 100 parts that can be supplemented with new ones or the railway track can be extended. The Royce Railroad is represented by several sets. In addition to the above, the Roys Progress Railroad wooden set is also popular, suitable for children from 2 years old. The basic composition is 50 elements, including several figurines of men and animals. Roys is a wooden railway that can be bought relatively inexpensively for so many parts.

The developing center of the Kiddieland railway is already suitable for kids from 1 year old. Made of plastic, very bright and cheerful. At the same time, the large Kiddieland railway was created specifically to transport animals - a horse and a cow, located in two trailers. Has a control panel. In addition, there is a small Kiddieland railway, designed to transport circus animals and a clown. Publishes 8 different melodies.

Jakks Pacific Powertrains - manufactures complex multi-level railways for children from 4 years old. The Powertrains railway has a track length of 3.5 meters. Power Train is a railroad that allows children to fully express their imagination and build a real railway city from 18 elements - trains, drawbridges, tunnels, loading cranes, cars and other objects. The Power Trains railway, which you can buy in the online store, will become the best gift for the baby.

You can buy the Jakks Pacific Powertrains railway in our catalog of goods for children.

The company began its activity with the production of tin children's toys, but with the growing popularity of the railways, it switched to their production. Marklin is a railway that is fully automated, controlled by a remote control. The trains are light and obedient, and the rails are strong. The legendary Marklin railroad, the missing rare parts that many collectors dream of buying, is available in our catalog of goods for children.

The Bauer railway under the license of the German company of the same name is issued Russian manufacturers. The rails are joined securely, but difficult, however, a child of 4 years old is able to master such a toy. The locomotives are firmly installed and ride well on rails. The Krokha railway allows you to transport cargo and passengers in trailers, as well as build additional buildings.

The railroad "Bani" Ouaps is made of plastic and is suitable for boys and girls from 2 years old. The Quaps Baths: Railroad Playset consists of a train, rails, additional accessories and four animals - a rabbit, a dog, a cow and a pig, which can be changed at the passenger and driver's seat. This changes the melody. The train has several speed modes, which the kid can easily adjust on his own. "Bani" is a railway that helps to develop tactile sensations and fine motor skills.

It produces a lot of railways for children on various topics. The Brio wooden railway is made from high quality wood with a small amount of metal and plastic. There are series on the theme of Disney cartoons, mountains, safari and others. Brio is one of the highest quality railways in the world. Its cost is also rather big. The Brio railway develops fine motor skills, imagination and perseverance of the child. It also involves growth with the baby - if for a child of two years a simple configuration and a canvas of small length are enough, then over time it can be supplemented with new details. The Brio railway, which can be bought in Moscow and other Russian cities, has a train with batteries. You can buy two at once - so that one works, and the second is recharged.

For children from 5 children, the Orient Express is suitable - a railway whose train runs on batteries. The road itself is mechanical. Material - plastic, metal. You can buy the Orient Express children's railway for both children and adults by visiting our online store.

Suitable for children over the age of four. The Blue Arrow Railway has narrow rails and narrow small wheels on the trains. Railroad constructor "Blue Arrow" has a set of rails, suggesting the construction of the railway track in the form of a circle or figure eight.

The Red Arrow Railway (China) is suitable for children from 3 years old. It consists of 66 parts. The railroad "Play Together: Red Arrow" has a track length of 545 cm, has sound effects. You can also create smoke coming from the train. The Red Arrow railway with a remote control makes the child feel like a real machinist. "Red Arrow" is a railway, which is not difficult to buy, because its cost, especially in our online store, is quite affordable.

The Piko company (Germany) has developed the Sapsan railway - a toy that a child will definitely like. In the basic configuration, the Sapsan children's railway has four cars, a locomotive, rails and several additional accessories. The railway for children "Sapsan" is powered by a power supply, and is controlled by a remote control. Of course, not everyone can afford to buy a Sapsan railway, but the joy of a child, and adults, which this toy will give is invaluable.

When deciding to buy a toy railroad for a child, it should be noted that it is necessary to play with it with some precautions:
1. do not buy for children under 1.5 years old;
2. assembly and disassembly of the railway by kids is carried out only under the supervision of their parents;
3. remove all the details at the end of the game, because they can be injured.
Compliance with all safety measures will make the railway the most favorite toy in the house.

We hope that we have helped you a little to orient yourself in the whole variety of proposals regarding children's toy railways. We are sure that the joy of this toy will far exceed the cost of its acquisition. And you can buy a children's railway in our catalog of goods for children.

Probably, this toy is one of the most common childhood dreams. Previously, it appeared on the shelves extremely rarely, while it cost a lot of money, and its quantity was so limited that not everyone got it. Now there is no such problem.

And, besides, you can pick up almost any option you like: from the minimum configuration to large sets with additional details. Therefore, modern toy railway- it is not just a toy for a child, but also a constructor for the whole family. The game with the railway will take your child's attention for a long time, and the possibility of upgrading will increase the length of the game for a long time, and will constantly attract the interest of children of different ages.

Children's railway for the little ones

The simplest railways, which are offered in a minimum configuration, are suitable for children younger age. But for older children, the options are more diverse, that is, it may include more elements, and a variety of figures may be included in the kit. You will see, even adults can get carried away with this fun game!

Both psychologists and educators agree that toys that reflect the essence of the surrounding life are useful for a three-year-old child, because it is at this age that the child develops a basic understanding of environment, it self-identifies. And in the mind of the child there is a classification of everything visible and felt. At this time, role-playing games are very important. It is they who help the child behave correctly in a given situation, help develop skills that will be useful to the baby in later life. will become very good choice for a gift, this toy will be one of baby's favorite for a very long time.

When you choose a railway for a child under four years old, it is best to choose more simple options, in a more colorful version. Buy models made from environmentally friendly materials.

For young children: IKEA, Brio, Thomas, Chuggintones, Lego duplo.

Children's railway for older children

For older children, from five years old, you can purchase more complex models with objects such as trees, towers, water stations, etc. Such kits provide an opportunity to actively develop imagination. And some manufacturers even offer themed games, that is, you can separately assemble a training ground or a factory with railway tracks.

For school-age children, railroads that are replicas of the real ones are a good choice. In fact, these are real masterpieces. Such toys repeat every detail of the reproduced object.

It is also worth noting that at present the buyer has a choice, that is, you can give preference to a railway that is fully consistent with the modern one, but you can also choose a model that will be stylized as objects corresponding to the Wild West, for example, or Europe. A caring parents will be able to come up with many exciting, instructive games for the child with her participation. Good luck choosing!

For older children: Arrow, Tomica, Lego city.

Children's railway - photo

Hobbies are different: someone quietly and calmly collects stamps or candy wrappers, fitting their entire collection into a thick album in the top drawer, someone plays golf on Saturdays, and someone chooses an entire art direction as a hobby and devotes it all of my life.

This is exactly what can be said about lovers and fans of a railway or railway miniature, because to create a craft of this kind, one desire is not enough - it will take a lot of time, effort, careful collection of information, sometimes resources, and financial investments, and, of course, the ability to as a result, you have a real miniature railway of your own.

A miniature railway is a subject of interest not only for children, but also for adults, and adults even more and more often. Almost every child had a children's toy in the form of a railway station with rails, steam locomotives and wagons, and if it cost more, then the kit included various railway signs, a semaphore, figures of drivers and other interesting details.

It’s interesting to play this, but I always wanted more, for example, that the railway network would be more developed and contain many branches and turns of the rails, so that train models were inertial or moved by themselves, and you could control them using the remote control, so that there were many additional elements: tunnels, bridges, roads with vehicles, trees, people, etc.

To make such a toy, or rather, not a toy, but a real mock-up of a railway with your own hands, you need to work hard, and not all children have such an opportunity, so you will probably need the help of your parents. It’s good if they share your passion for railway miniatures and help in creating crafts. An adult lover of railway modeling, of course, is easier in this regard.

As for the directions in which there is a miniature railway hobby, they are separated by several:

some simply collect only toy rails, trains and all their accessories;
others also collect, but already scale models;
still others are engaged in the manufacture of railways in miniature, recreating entire historical stations and railway stations, laying a real railway network from different directions of the tracks, engaged in the actual reconstruction of certain objects;
someone tries to make miniature copies of real or existing locomotives and trains in the smallest detail;
and one more interesting view railway modeling - a park or garden railway, for the creation of which a very large scale is used, therefore such a model of the railway can even be used as an attraction and transport people in it.

A bit of history

A miniature railway is not a tribute to fashion and not a new phenomenon, because the history of railway miniatures and modeling goes back more than one hundred and fifty years. For the first time, the model of the railway appeared, like a toy, in the nineteenth century (in its second half). Germany, represented by the manufacturer Märklin, took over the provision of the necessary industrial volumes. Their miniature railways were of such high quality and good that even the royal family ordered such a model for the Winter Palace.

Based on the scale of the railroad shown in the German-made miniature, scale standards for railroad modeling were later adopted. By the end of the nineteenth century, America also joined the cause, for the first time in the world, launching an electric model of the railway on the market (manufacturer - Carlisle & Finch).

Almost until the middle of the last century, both an ordinary toy in the form of railway rails with a train, and an ideally exact copy or a miniature railway were perceived in the same way, however, after the toy ceased to cause such a stir, and modeling began to take shape as a serious hobby, gradually finding more and more more fans.

Therefore, the manufacturers tried to please their new admirers - adults who were eager to assemble a full-fledged miniature model of the railway. To do this, they began to produce more advanced models, where the rails could be folded into a full-fledged railway track in miniature, where locomotives and wagons had many parts and elements, which also included various buildings, road paraphernalia and signs, a semaphore, etc.

Nowadays, there are practically no world-class giant firms left that would be engaged in such production, however, there are many small successfully functioning companies specializing in the production of certain models of trains or additional accessories, without which a miniature railway is impossible.

Scales, accessories and other nuances

To make a model of a railway, you must understand many nuances, for example, on what scale a miniature railway is usually made, what types of sets and configurations of crafts can be obtained, whether a diagram is needed and where to get it, what to do with accessories, necessary details and various accessories, etc.

Scale and size standards for railway modeling are very different. The most common are the sizes bearing symbol TT and NO.

The TT standard size - from the English Table-top trains - means that the model of the railway is carried out on a scale of one to one hundred and twenty (1:120) with a gauge of twelve millimeters. Such a miniature railway is also called a twelve-millimeter railway. All mobile models of trains are also made in it - this is done by supplying electricity along the rails, although it is possible to connect an electric locomotive through a contact network.

A large number of models and various accessories for assembling railway miniatures of this size are produced by:

German companies Berliner TT Bahnen, Tillig;
European manufacturers Roco and Piko have a small selection;
Jago pleases fans with rare models of vintage locomotives;
Russian firms "Peresvet" and "TT-model";
American PossumValleyModels, GoldCoast (some models of wagons and locomotives).

Another common size is NO. The name comes from the English abbreviation HalfZero or half zero. The model of the railway in this case is produced in a scale ratio of one to eighty-seven (1:87). There is also a size 0, in which the scale is taken twice as much, that is, 1 to 45. And here it turns out half of zero, but the Latin letter O is used instead of it in the designation.

A miniature railway in this scale is considered the most popular and widespread in the world due to the fact that it can be made without the use of complex devices, moreover, these models of railways are large enough for detailing, but at the same time quite convenient and compact to place the layout in the house or apartment.

A miniature railway of this standard size is also mobile: energy is supplied from a contact network or along rails (in the case of electric motors in locomotive models). Plus - you have the opportunity to use additional interesting elements when creating crafts:

a smoke generator device that will run on oil and create a smoke effect over diesel locomotives or steam locomotives;
installation of a sound decoder in the rolling stock - you can play any sound files that imitate noises and sounds of train traffic, etc.;
signaling devices, which stands for signaling, centralization and blocking.

Various other sizes also exist. For example, the large-scale G standard, which has been developed and produced since 1968 and is still being developed by the German company LGB. This is the clearest example of a garden railway designed to be located under open sky. In general, the larger the scale at which a miniature railway is built is chosen, the more detailed the prototype should be repeated, the smallest details and elements should be taken into account.

Do it yourself or buy?

Today you can find many thematic forums, special publications dedicated to railway modeling. You can purchase various elements separately and put them together later, mounting your own railroad layout.

However, first of all, you will need to decide on the available free space. Can you allocate half or even an entire room for the layout? If not, then you will first have to deal with the construction of a mock-up or equipment of a special place. To do this, you can use at least a separate table or make a retractable / folding tabletop, which will be used only for your project and nothing else, which means that you do not have to fold and remove the layout every time.

There are also options for modular layouts, which consist of individual blocks, cantilever structures (you can attach mock-ups to the walls like shelves) and lift-ups (easily stows away under the ceiling).

It is also better to take the appropriate scale for an apartment, for example, with a size of 1:87 you will not do much, because you will need a space of one by three meters at a minimum. It is better to stop at 1:120 or 1:160 scales, since designing a layout in an even smaller Z size (1:240) will require a lot of skill, effort and financial investment.

To create your own miniature railway, you will need to come up with and think over its future appearance to the smallest detail. Perhaps you should start with the simplest scheme, for example, make only one rail ring and a locomotive with several cars. Over time, you will add additional tracks, trains, semaphore and signs, station and buildings, figures of people, etc. to the project.

Experienced craftsmen already know how to create whole detailed landscapes - mountains and plains, bridges and tunnels, forests and fields, miniature streets, numerous forks in the paths, depots and other interesting things.

Even for the simplest project, it is better to make a diagram. Just try to draw what exactly you want to create. If your plans are to create a railway of a certain historical era, then you will need to thoroughly study all available information on this topic, find archival photographs, copy them, etc.

Also detailed diagram will be needed for the manufacture of models of steam locomotives and wagons. You can use the drawing diagram of a particular machine by looking for its photo. Just divide the real dimensions of a particular train by the scale you need and you will have a ready-made construction plan.

Step by step work plan

Provide space for the project and make a sub-layout (a simple configuration can even be placed on a plywood sheet).
Transfer the scheme of the future railway miniature to the mock-up (draw how the rails will pass, mark the forks and turns, roads where you will place buildings or structures). For a complex rail arrangement, the scheme can be designed on a computer in a special program.
Laying rails. Rail material can be bought at a specialized store or you can make them yourself. Since current flows along the rails in moving roads, craftsmen make them from thick copper wire, rolling it to a rectangular section on a manual machine. Sleepers are made from thin bars, which are also cut on the machine. The tracks are attached in two ways: they are either glued or nailed to the base with small studs, you can then solder the rails to the same studs or also glue the rails to the sleepers.
For a mobile model, it is necessary to additionally develop an electrical circuit, and then mount it on a breadboard model. Homemade blocks are usually taken as a power source, you can also take a factory one. Do not forget about safety rules - the output voltage cannot be high, use a power supply unit up to sixteen volts, and if the model is small, then six to nine volts will be enough. The electric motor for the train can be purchased at the radio store or removed from any toy. Conduct electricity to the engine from two rails. To distribute electricity throughout the base, stock up on connectors and copper wires. Think over all the details before wiring - where the semaphores and traffic lights, barriers will be located, whether the lights will be on, etc.
Backfill and lay the ballast, selecting it in size among aquarium soils or any household bulk materials.
Think over and make a relief and a landscape. To make your layout look like a real one, be sure to design a beautiful landscape. You can use professional materials such as trowel-mass, forest litter, meadow powder, different layers of the earth, crushed stone, sand, gravel and other interesting accessories from well-known manufacturers. If you choose more budget options, then to imitate the mountains, it is quite possible to get by with construction foam, which can then be easily painted in any desired color. Hills, fields, vegetation and other decor can also be recreated from plywood, gypsum plaster, fiberglass, papier-mâché, wood and other finishing materials. To paint the details, use acrylic paints.
If there is no time and desire to bother so much, then many elements can be taken to the layout and ready-made, for example, from toy sets, in which there are figures of trees, and dummies of grass or bushes, animals, cars, signs, people.
The situation is the same with buildings - either use ready-made options, or build your own from cardboard, wood, plywood, papier-mâché. Use photographs of real stations and other buildings as references.
Add the necessary components: draw roads, paint the grass, arrange the figures of people and put the trains on the rails.

Passion for railway modeling can start with a gift set with a railway and trains. Such a hobby, although it requires considerable effort and expense, undoubtedly helps to develop, think, create and not stand still.