There probably isn’t a little boy who was less than fascinated with Thomas the Train and his train friends. Young boys are somehow enchanted by a small train that simply goes round and round on a plastic railroad, that they wouldn’t mind getting the same thing two Christmases in a row. Their little heads fill with dreams about trains – the sound, the steam and the speed and smoothness of their motion. Love for these toy model trains is one thing most little boys do not grow out of. Eventually, as they grow up to become adult men, they begin to understand why. Trains symbolize power.
Let us look into the details of why big men become little boys at the sight of their once well-loved toy model trains. Perhaps there is something magical about seeing a tiny replica of something so huge and powerful, still carry the same strength and vigor the real thing has. Could it be the curiosity about how engines of trains work, and why they never seem to fall off their tracks? There’s even a nostalgic side to a man’s love for toy model trains. It could remind him of Christmas, when his toy model trains would go round and round the brightly-lit Christmas tree. However, for men, the word “toy” seems a little puny, and does not mean the same as “model” trains. As Thomas the Train is for little boys, model trains with “real” engines are toys for the big boys.
So, how do these two differ? They are easy to spot, as they are usually the ones that sell best in toy shops during the Christmas season. They are attractive to look at, but look closer, and you will find that they are made from plastic, and may not look sturdy. They are also cheap, and every little boy can easily point at them without mommy throwing a fit about how it is out of the budget. There are “man” versions of these “little boy” trains. They grow up to be known as locomotives. Locomotives are created with great precision to ensure their life span. Their wheels are created to connect with electricity better, making its run smooth and continuous, so nudging it to move is not necessary, as one would normally do with toy model trains. These big boy trains are heavier, since their canvas is created from metal instead of plastic, and because they are better, more realistic engines too. More weight actually adds to the quality of its run. This is because when a train is heavier, gravity pulls it closer towards the track, making the run almost effortless.
What could be more exciting than seeing real steam come off trains for big boys? Electricity did get boring at one point, and makers of toy model trains decided to add this feature to the best of their creations. Who can resist a gorgeous backdrop, with steam from a gliding train?
Very few boys get to grow up to be able to actually drive a train. I’m sure that a lot of train drivers look at the work they do as a job rather than a little boy’s life long dream. But, we don’t have to all grow up to be train drivers to fulfil our dreams. We can indulge ourselves in the hobby that so many of us love; model trains.
Although little boys are seemingly obsessed with toy model trains at one point of their childhood lives, not many of them get to drive a real one when they grow up. Alternately, we can’t really say that train drivers did think that they wanted to be so when they were little. But that little boy in us will always love trains and the feelings they give us. Model trains are for the little boys in adult men, who still love the excitement and nostalgia a speeding toy train offers.
Dave Smith is a model trains expert who enjoys helping people build beautiful model railroads. For more great tips on toy model trains, visit http://toymodeltrains-secrets.org.
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