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When I think of model trains, I see my brother squealing with delight on Christmas morning as his new train puffed steam and traveled a circle around the glittering tree. Now that I have a little boy of my own, I want to introduce him to model trains, but I am a total rookie! When I first started researching train sets, I would just shake my head in confusion at the various scale sizes and price ranges. Where is a new train-collector supposed to start? Here are a few tips for purchasing a beginner train set.

1. Choose an era.
Boxcars spark childhood fantasies from the 1950's era, so many adults are drawn to these beautiful train sets. I browsed everything from the old-school steam trains to the modern-era diesels, but there are only a few that a beginner won't be overwhelmed with. We found that the diesel-train sets were the easiest to get started with, and you can find these in a wide variety of price ranges. This is also afforded a great opportunity to learn more about real trains. We studied the diesel trains by visiting a real working railroad station and this gave us a great knowledge base before we started building our model.

2. Choose the scale.
Model train sets come in a many sizes, but each size is referred to as the scale. Each size is labeled with a letter and a number to guide you in your train selection. The most common scale sizes are the HO scale (1:87), N scale (1:160), and the G scale (1:22.5). Beginners should investigate the HO scale sets. These mid-size train sets afford the most options because they are by far, the most popular scale size available. When you shop for your first set, you will notice how frequently this size clutters the shelves. We started with the HO scale, and were pleasantly surprised at how easy that first set was. It helped to use a common scale that could easily be researched!

3. Set a price limit.
It's very tempted to get carried away on that first project. You may want to invest a big chunk of money for the biggest, best train set available. But before you open your wallet, let me caution you to shop with care. Your first model build will inevitably bring some unexpected expenses. Pieces will break and accessories will call your name! You will definitely spend more money after you buy the initial set, so start in the lower-price range. Once you get the hang of assembly, you can invest in one of those luxurious, bank-draining sets.

No matter which train set you choose, enjoy your time with this addictive hobby. Browse toy fairs and online hobby shops to find the best beginner train set for you.

Learn more about this author, Amber Benge.
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