| When we think of steam trains we often think of | | | | Robert Stephenson, and by now the contribution it |
| those powerful locomotives we've seen with huge | | | | could make was undeniable. |
| billows of black smoke spewing out of the engines | | | | As with any new and innovative invention, the steam |
| smokestack, barreling down the railroad track pulling a | | | | engine presented it's own set of problems. It was |
| chain of rail cars behind it, and this image could very | | | | entirely to expensive for companies to take a serious |
| well be what motivates most hobbyist to include model | | | | interest in producing them, and for the time period they |
| steam trains to their collection. | | | | were considered impractical. Once again, a |
| It may come as a bit of a surprise, but the fact is that | | | | considerable length of time passed before a twin |
| the history of this type of train can actually be traced | | | | cylinder locomotive, designed by Matthew Murray was |
| back to the time of the Romans, who devised a | | | | introduced in 1812. Finally, the steam train was |
| means by which their carts and carriages could be | | | | considered a viable alternative to the other forms of |
| moved on road surfaces. Although simple in its | | | | transportation being used. |
| mechanical design, it was none the less effective, and | | | | If you are a model train enthusiast, your train collection |
| accomplished what the Romans set out to do. | | | | could hardly be considered complete if you haven't |
| By the year 1630, the idea that the Romans developed | | | | added at least one model steam train locomotive and |
| was taken to another level in England, where a | | | | it's railcars to it. Capturing this wonderful era will be |
| system was designed allowing horses to pull wagons | | | | more accurately reflected by having a highly detailed |
| with iron wheels on wooden tracks. They were still a | | | | steam engine rolling around your layout. |
| long way from developing a mechanized means for | | | | Not only can a steam engine highly enhance your |
| transporting people and wares. | | | | model railroading experience, but you may also want |
| In 1776, in Sheffield England, a railroad system made | | | | to consider their monetary value as well. It is a well |
| out of iron bars set into wooden beams was invented | | | | known fact that collectors aggressively pursue the |
| and it was through this idea that the very first steam | | | | acquisition of model steam engines to add to their |
| train traversed it's tracks. In spite of the endless | | | | collections, and will often fight over them. |
| potential for transportation, the steam train was still not | | | | One of the drawbacks in adding a model steam train |
| ready for the world. | | | | to your collection is that they are not without their |
| Another twenty years would pass by before the first | | | | expense. Most are quite pricy, but in the end you won't |
| commercially successful steam train would be | | | | have any regrets about the addition of a model steam |
| introduced on the scene. It's inventors name was | | | | train locomotive and it's rail cars to your collection. |