Model train supplies will only add to your collection. It never hurts to have back up pieces of track that may go bad or at least the tools to repair any problem you may have. Scour through garage sales and “going out of business” hobby shops and buy up as much as you can. They will surely come in very handy at some point. A train car may be beyond repair, but have other working pieces, be sure and save those. Treat your supply closet like an organized junkyard. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you will be proud of the work you’ve done and grow your taste for the hobby.

Electrical Supplies for your Model Train Set

Depending on the complexity of your model railroad, various types of electrical supplies will be needed.  Some supplies will depend on the size of your model railroad and how many moving parts may exist.  Having the proper power supply can be the key to any train set working properly.  Here is a list of some common electrical supplies that you want to add to your collection.

• Needle Nose pliers
• Rail cleaners
• Wire cutters
• Power packs
• Power Detection meter

Starter sets are also available to save you some of the headaches of gathering your supplies.  Most of these starter sets have proven to be quite effective.  They can be a great way to save money finding the model train supplies you need for your layout.

Scenery Supplies for Model Train

Finding the right scenery model train supplies will depend on how detailed you would like to get in your layout.  There are some amazing websites that sell scenic supplies at discounted prices.   Scenery for your model railroad can get quite expensive if you do not know what you are doing.  Elements can be placed over time to fit any train conductors budget.  Here is a list of the most popular Scenic model train supplies for starters.

• Plaster of Paris
• Styrofoam boards
• Model glue
• Newspaper
• Modeling Gloves
• Poster Board for layout

Huge Lot of HO Scale Train Military Buildings Detail Scenery WWII Diorama    US $31.00

Lionel Trains Compatible 30 pc x 8 inch BLACK HILLS SPRUCE O Scale Scenery TREE    US $63.99

Life Like Rail Runner HO Scale Electric Train Scenery Set Walthers 433 8635    US $99.99

O SCALE GAUGE TRAIN SCENERY MECHANICAL SEMAPHORE KIT NEW IN SEALED BOX    US $15.50

Logging Train Diorama lot of action with timber historic scenery HO scale    US $145.00

GREENLEAF VILLAGE FIREHOUSE N BANDSTAND 2 BLDG FOR TRAINS SCENERY OR XMAS    US $17.50

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No matter what size of model train collection you have, it’s always fun to look for locomotives for sale. All kinds of options cover the internet, but they can basically be broken down into two basic categories: Steam and Diesel. If you decide to create an entire railroad, then this is an important step in determining the types of options are available for you. Steam engines were used before 1950, Diesel engines primarily used after and there was a transition period where both were on the tracks. As you can see, if you choose a steam engine, you wouldn’t want that in a modern layout or a diesel engine in the civil war era. Finding rare train locomotives for sale online maybe a buyers best option.

Finding Diesel Locomotives for Sale

Diesel locomotives are collector’s dreams.  They are some of the most realistic locomotives ever produced.  Because they are so popular they have become harder and harder to find, especially some of the more popular models. Make sure that before you purchase any diesel locomotive that it is in proper working condition.

Finding Steam Locomotives for Sale

Some of the prewar steam locomotives are very popular with collectors as well as investors.  Prewar trains have become collector’s items which make them very expensive.  Some of the best prewar locomotives are almost impossible to find in great working condition.  In many cases spare parts must be purchased to get the train working and back on the track.

Finding the perfect locomotive for sale can be a daunting task especially when you are looking for one’s that are extremely rare.  The older the locomotive the harder it is to find in working condition.  Hobby sites are a great place to start looking for some of these great locomotives.  Before making a purchase make sure that you research a few sites to find the best locomotive for sale for your budget.

Vintage Lionel Train Locomotive Cars Lot of 9 A202    US $26.00

HO SCALE MODEL RAILROAD TRAINS LAYOUT ENGINE UNION PACIFIC F 2 LOCOMOTIVE M96803    US $15.99

Kato HO Scale SD40 2 EMD Santa Fe Locomotive Parts DC Topeka Model Train Engine    US $63.12

Vintage American Flyer Locomotive Train Cars Lot 0f 3 A212    US $70.99

1950s TN Nomura Japan Battery Tin Litho Toy Train Central Locomotive Near Mint    US $29.99

Vintage Marx Trains Locomotive Tender A213    US $16.27

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Model railroad scenery brings your railroad to life. In designing your scenery, be sure to make it as realistic as possible. The best railroads I’ve seen are the ones with the best railroad scenery. Model railroad scenery will include trees, bushes, roads, buildings and even litter and trash. In order to produce the best scenery, take a walk in your mind’s eye through the setting you desire. What do you see? Chances are, no matter what you see, you can create or purchase it at your local hobby store. Model railroad scenery is a necessity for any model train enthusiast.

Model Railroad Scenery Materials

Here are some inexpensive products that can be used when creating your model railroad scenery.

• Multi-purpose foam insulation from Home Depot or Lowe’s. These packages come in 6 pieces and are much more affordable than other types of foam.
• Elmers Glue
• Plaster of Paris.
• Sculptamold. This can be purchased from a hobby shop or online from site like Amazon and Ebay.
• Large size man for mixture of products.
• Premium Paper towels.  Cheap brands fall apart during the process which can waster a lot of time and can be quite frustrating.

Once you have purchased all the products we you can start adding these elements to your scene.  Proper planning is essential for your model railroad scenery.  Knowing how you intend to layout your scene will help you purchase the necessary materials for completion.  In further articles we will discuss the step by step process for creating great model railroad scenery.

Huge Lot of HO Scale Train Military Buildings Detail Scenery WWII Diorama    US $31.00

Lionel Trains Compatible 30 pc x 8 inch BLACK HILLS SPRUCE O Scale Scenery TREE    US $63.99

Life Like Rail Runner HO Scale Electric Train Scenery Set Walthers 433 8635    US $99.99

O SCALE GAUGE TRAIN SCENERY MECHANICAL SEMAPHORE KIT NEW IN SEALED BOX    US $15.50

Logging Train Diorama lot of action with timber historic scenery HO scale    US $145.00

GREENLEAF VILLAGE FIREHOUSE N BANDSTAND 2 BLDG FOR TRAINS SCENERY OR XMAS    US $17.50

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Lionel toy trains have been setting the standard for model trains for years. Today model train collecting and building railroads in homes, has been coined the “world’s greatest hobby”. If you are a novice or have been collecting for years, adding a Lionel toy train to your collection will only increase the value and the overall appeal of your railroad. Lionel toy trains come in all sizes and are available for all budgets. Lionel is famous for duplicating actual trains and making them model scale. That is why they’re a favorite in the industry because their attention to detail is extraordinary.

Buying Lionel Electric Toy Trains

Finding the right Lionel toy train is based on preference.  There are so many different kinds of Lionel toy trains that the various options can get overwhelming.  Options include licensed toy trains like the Thomas the Tank Engine sets and the Harry Potter Hogwarts train set.  More realistic trains include ones from the past and present.  The Union Pacific and Santa Fe toy train sets are very realistic and also very popular with model railroaders.

Lionel Toy Train Parts

Once you have a purchased a toy train, you will want to find out where you can purchase spare parts.  Over time gears and parts can wear and replacement parts can be used to keep your Lionel toy train looking new and working properly.  Almost all Lionel toy train parts can be purchased directly from the company.

Electric Lionel train parts can also be purchased at local hobby shops.  Most model train hobby shops have people that work on staff that can help you repair your electric Lionel toy train if something breaks. Having a good local hobby store can prove to be quite helpful when repairing a toy train.

Lionel Train Seasons Greetings Christmas music Boxcar    US $24.50

Vintage Lionel Train Locomotive Cars Lot of 9 A202    US $26.00

Lionel Train Depot Recoed Player    US $32.99

Lot of Lionel Train Track Cars Power Packs Other Misc    US $49.99

LIONEL Train Service and Repair Parts Manual 3 CD Set Newr 2011 2012 Season    US $17.99

LIONEL 6 11826 ZENITH Nationwide Express Train Set    US $400.00

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Lionel train price guides are literally floating all over the internet. If you are looking to sell your Lionel collection, or maybe came across some old trains in a garage sale, there are a couple things to consider first before even looking at a price guide. First of all, you’ll want to find a buyer. Buyers come in all shapes and sizes, but to get the fairest price, you’ll want to deal with a real Lionel collector. The next thing you will want to do is see what your train is worth by adhering to the strict guidelines provided by the Train Collectors Association. Once those two steps are complete, refer to your Lionel pricing guide and happy selling.

Lionel Train Values

The best way to find out what your Lionel train is worth is buying doing some research.  T rain set is really worth what someone is willing to pay for it.  Scarcity and condition are also very important when trying to determine the value of any train or locomotive.

First we will discuss condition.  Here are some questions that you should ask yourself to help you determine what condition the train is in.

• Is the Lionel train working?
• Does the Lionel train have all the parts and accessories that it came with?
• Do you have the original box?
• Are all the parts of the train in good working condition?

All of these questions will help you decide what condition you Lionel train set are in.

Online Site Comparison

Online websites like Ebay.com have information which can help you determine the value of your Lionel model train set.  On Ebay, users can click on completed auctions to see what previous items have sold for.  This information can be very valuable. In many cases this can serve better than a Lionel train price guide as it more up to date than catalogs or books that have been printed prior to 30 days ago.

Lionel Train Seasons Greetings Christmas music Boxcar    US $24.50

Vintage Lionel Train Locomotive Cars Lot of 9 A202    US $26.00

Lionel Train Depot Recoed Player    US $32.99

Lot of Lionel Train Track Cars Power Packs Other Misc    US $49.99

LIONEL Train Service and Repair Parts Manual 3 CD Set Newr 2011 2012 Season    US $17.99

LIONEL 6 11826 ZENITH Nationwide Express Train Set    US $400.00

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Micro Trains are a fascinating attempt at taking a life size train with all its bells and whistles scaled down to a train that will fit into your hand. A Micro Train is created with TLC to produce and manufacture the intricacies of a real life train. It doesn’t matter the size of your space, you can be sure to fit a Micro train into it. The only downside to owning a micro train is they are so small that you won’t be able to decal or detail the train. These trains are also not made with small children in mind due to the smaller pieces that can become a safety hazard.

Buying Micro Trains

Most Micro train sets are N Scale and Z scale.  These trains are not as easy to find as HO scale train sets.  Some of the best places to find these micro trains are online.  There are various websites that sell N Scale and Z scale model railroad trains and accessories.

If you are looking to buy discount micro trains you will want to try looking for them on sites like Ebay.com and Amazon.com.  Ebay has various dealers that offer Z scale and N scale micro trains from all manufacturers.  Many of these train sets can be purchased at discounted prices.  Used train sets can also be purchased on Amazon.  Buyers should just make sure that the micro train is in good working condition before they make a purchase.

Companies that Sell Micro Trains

Here is a list of some of the best N scale and Z scale model train manufacturers.  These companies have all been around for awhile and are some of the best in the hobby.

• Lionel
• Bachmann
• Atlas
• Walthers

N SCALE MODEL RAILROAD TRAINS LAYOUT BACHMANN SILVER EZ TRACK 16 PIECE OVAL LOT    US $19.45

LOT N SCALE RAILROAD TRAIN BACHMANN ENGINE MICRO TRAINS ATLAS CABOOSE 121    US $22.50

N SCALE MODEL RAILROAD TRAINS LAYOUT BACHMANN EZ TRACK LEFT RIGHT SWITCHES    US $18.00

Bachmann N Scale Train Without Track Analog McKinley Explorer    US $27.51

Bachmann N Scale Train E Z Track Nickel Silver Gray 6 Single Cross Right 44876    US $24.28

Bachmann HO Scale Train Alco FA2 Diesel Loco DCC Ready L N 64604    US $27.51

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Lionel O gauge trains were masters of the modern train marketplace up until the 1950’s. The O gauge train is 1/48^th of the size of an actual train and due to its larger size makes it a favorite for model enthusiasts who like to decal and add detail to their trains. Lionel’s history makes them a favorite among hobbyists as well because they have always made good trains.

It is also important to remember before constructing your railroad that you have at least an 8’x16’ space because these are larger model trains. Lionel O gauge trains never disappoint and have fans devoted to them, including rocker Neil Young who has his own Lionel model train collection.

Popular Lionel O Gauge Train Sets

Almost all Lionel O scale train sets can be delightful addition for any model railroad.  With that being said some train sets are more popular than others.  Here is a list that we have compiled of the best O Gauge train sets produced by Lionel.

• Polar Express O Gauge Train Set
• Lionel North Pole Central Freight O Gauge Train Set
• Harry Potter Hogwarts Express O Gauge Train Set
• Lionel Thomas & Friends O Gauge Train Set
• Lionel Area 51 O Scale Train Set
• Pennsylvania Flyer Freight Train Set

These are just a few of the most popular O Gauge trains.  You can find more model train sets online.  Lionel has created some of the best O scale train sets of all-time and hobbyists have showed their appreciation by buying them over  the competition.

METALCRAFT ERECTOR SET TYPE TOY TRAIN CATTLE OR BOX CAR MODEL ORIGINAL O GAUGE    US $59.00

Lionel Train collectible watch NIB still sealed O gauge    US $25.00

2 1920s IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE MODEL TRAIN CARS NEW YORK NEW HAVEN HARTFORD    US $29.88

Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer O 27 gauge train set with extra track    US $61.00

Old Vintage Lionel Train 256 Freight Station in Original BoxO GaugeVery NICE    US $15.50

O Gauge Lionel Train Compatible 16pc x 10 Douglas Fir Delux TREE Great Price    US $54.95

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Life-Like trains are fun for the whole family. Life-Like trains are manufactured with less expensive materials and because of that they are a lot more affordable. Designed with beginners in mind, Life-Like Trains are also enjoyed by many train enthusiasts. In 2005, the company sold their model railroad operations to Wm. K Walthers. The attention to detail on these trains is fantastic and it doesn’t matter which size train you buy. For the price class that these fall in, they are all extraordinary. They also come in ready-to-run kits because many customers were complaining that the smaller parts were getting lost.

Buying Life-Like Model Trains

Some of the best places to look for the most realistic model train sets are online.  There are hundreds of different website that sell life like train sets.  Ebay.com and Amazon can be wonderful places to start your search. These sites offer discounted prices as well as unique accessories so you can plan your life-like model railroad.

Local hobby stores are another great place to look for life-like train sets.  In many cases they have sets that are on display which can help you make your choice.  Catalogs can also be found at local hobby shops which can be very useful when looking for the perfect train set.

HO TRAIN 2 PACK WALTHERS SINGLE BAY AIRSLIDE HOPPER KITS BURLINGTON NORTHERN    US $24.95

WALTHERS 832 6314 UNION PACIFIC 46 SEAT COACH CAR PERFECT FOR CITY TRAINS    US $29.88

WALTHERS METRO NORTH RAILROAD 20th ANIVERSERY LIMITED RUN OFFICIAL TRAIN SET    US $152.50

WALTHERS ATSF 12 piece Work Maintenance Train With Kadee Couplers    US $75.00

Life Like Rail Runner HO Scale Electric Train Scenery Set Walthers 433 8635    US $99.99

DBT Trains N Scale NYC 8909 RS 2 Diesel Walthers Proto N 920 75110 JA3134    US $39.95

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K-line is a brand of train that will leave enthusiasts wanting more. However, K-line trains can be hard to find in today’s marketplace especially at prices they are worth paying. Since K-line trains can be worth a lot of money, collectors are willing to pay large amounts of money to purchase them. Sellers know this and will charge an arm and a leg.  Be very careful when you are dealing with sellers that they are reputable and won’t overcharge you for your k-line train. Simply going to a website that sells them can be risky. Be sure to shop around until you find something that is reasonable.

K-Line Electric Trains

K-Line trains are a brand name of O scale, Scale, and G Scale model train locomotives.  Some of the most popular K-Line trains are still very popular with investors as well as hobbyists.   Here is a list of some of the most popular K-Line trains of all-time.

• K-Line Pacific 4-6-2 Locomotive
• K-Line O Gauge B & O Pacific Steam Engine (Produced in 1999)
• K-Line O Gauge MKT Texas Special Alco ( produced in 1995)
• K-Line G Gauge Army GP Diesel (Produced in 2004)

Lionel K-Line Trains

After K-Line had financial issues they were purchased by Lionel Trains LLC.  Lionel has increased the product line offering new trains to the public.  Some of the newest Lionel K-Line trains are great collectibles as well as wonder train sets.  Lionel has limited the production of these unique trains which has caused even more demand.

Vintage ATSF K Line train car 7203 searchlight O Scale Lionel couplers Santa Fe    US $15.76

3 New K Line Train Cars State of Maine Baltimore Ohio Caboose O Scale    US $39.00

Red Crown tank car bank FULLY OPERATIONAL TRAIN CAR by K line only 1500 made    US $75.00

HERSHEYS TRAINS REESES NUTRAGEOUS HOPPER 624505 K LINE O SCALE    US $29.95

K Line Trains PRR Pennsylvania Railroad Merchandise Service Box Car K64347    US $27.99

COCA COLA XMAS 1994 K LINE TOY TRAIN CAR NIB    US $40.00

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HO scale vehicles will substantially enhance your layout for your model train. Similar to the HO train, these vehicles are 1/87^th the size of an actual vehicle. HO scale vehicles come in all types and models. No matter what your theme and setting is for your model train, you can find an HO scale vehicle to fit your needs. The detail in which these are crafted is most remarkable.

Depending on the size of your layout, you can purchase your HO scale vehicles on a variety of different budgets.  Basic vehicle models will be less expensive, and the vehicles with more detail, will be more expensive.

Types of HO Scale Vehicles for your Train Set

There are hundreds, if not thousands of choices that almost every model railroader has when it comes to vehicles.  Items can be purchased online and through catalogs.  Before making a purchase the railroad engineer should first decide which time frame or era they would like to re-create.  You want to make sure you purchase vehicles that coincide with the era of your choice.  This adds realism to your scene.  Make sure that all the vehicles are HO Scale before buying anything. Here are just a few examples of HO scale vehicles.

• Cars
• Trucks
• Haulers
• Taxis
• Police Cars
• Fire Trucks
• Boat Haulers

Best Places to Buy HO Scale Vehicles

Model train catalogs are a great place to look for HO scale vehicles.  They offer detailed pictures that can make the choices much easier.  Online sites like Ebay and model train sites can also be very helpful.  In some cases buyers can find discount HO scale vehicles.  Used vehicles in premium condition can save you hundreds of dollars and add the same dramatic effect to a scene that you are looking for.

Animated HO Scale Utility Truck    US $45.00

FIRE TRUCKS LOT OF 3 HO SCALE PUMPER BRUSH FIRE PUMPER TANKER    US $25.20

CUSTOM New HO Scale GHIRADELLI Chocolate 187 BOLEY Delivery Truck Van    US $23.95

New CUSTOM HO Scale MELLO YELLO Refrigerated Beverage Truck 187 COKE    US $27.01

HO Scale Custom Walthers Circus Sound Truck Ringling Bros BUILT UP    US $39.99

VINTAGE WIKING GERMANY HO SCALE TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK W PIPES MIB NO51S    US $24.50

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