For people who aren’t into the model railway hobby, there really is no difference between “toy” trains and “model” trains. After all, both of these hobbies involve little trains controlled by some sort of power pack. However, there is a significant difference for anyone who is an enthusiast. Calling a model railway a “toy train” is like calling a classic piece of literature a “novel.”

Toy trains are generally marketed towards children, and they are how many of us got to know the hobby. They tend to be fairly straightforward and are not based on any real-life trains. Model trains, on the other hand, are often a true art form with scale reproductions of actual or potential trains and layouts (a technique known as prototyping).

Some of the earliest toy trains were available in the early 19th century. They often had wind-up engines or even steam locomotives and were usually made of cast iron.

In the 1850s, a German company called Marklin, which made dollhouse accessories, introduced a train case and track to try to broaden its market to include both boys and girls. They also made additional track, rolling stock, and construction that were available as accessories.

Electric trains followed soon after, commonly believed to have been introduced by Carlisle and Finch in 1897 in the United States. The Lionel corporation revolutionized these models and they quickly gained popularity and sophistication.

Things like lighting, the ability to change direction, and “real” smoke were some of the first realism features added. There was still little distinction between “toy” and “model” trains until the 1950s, however, when the modern emphasis on realism really began to take hold.

Today there are various widths of model railways, with a wide range of accessories available. They can be computer controlled and entire railway stations can be operated exactly as they would be in real life. Many model railway enthusiasts spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours creating prototypes of actual railway lines, both past and present.

There are clubs and associations that offer resources for beginners and experienced railwaymen alike. The Internet has also helped make it easier to find information on model trains, as well as a much wider selection of trains and accessories than the average hobby store could ever hope to stock.