| Building model railroad layouts is a pastime that can | | | | carry a dozen people or so, usually set up in an |
| provide many hours of enjoyment for those who love | | | | outdoors layout. |
| trains and who like paying attention to detail. There is a | | | | Model railroaders will often present the most miniscule |
| wide range of interest in the hobby all over the world | | | | details they can in a layout. These will often include |
| with many websites and magazines and other | | | | cars, trees, parks, rivers and lakes, and even people. |
| publications dedicated to the subject. | | | | Since it takes electricity to run the tracks, many have |
| Model railroading began in the 1800's and took off in | | | | also included miniature streetlamps or lights inside of |
| the 1900's with the new and wide-spread availability of | | | | buildings that turn on and off at the operator's |
| electricity in people's homes. The hobby has developed | | | | command. |
| from the stages of running a replica of a train around a | | | | There are museums that are dedicated to model |
| tree to complex layouts the can fill up entire buildings. | | | | railroading, and these places are where some of the |
| The more detailed layouts will quit often represent | | | | most fantastic layouts are. A person might have to |
| scaled-down versions of actual places. A train yard in | | | | walk behind fabricated mountains and under bridges to |
| Chicago or Berlin or Tokyo, for example. | | | | follow one of the many trains' progress on the tracks. |
| There are a wide variety of building materials for | | | | Many people, though, simply build them in their homes in |
| model railroad layouts ranging from prefabricated | | | | their spare time. Some work for years on their layouts, |
| buildings, mountains and trees to hand-crafted objects | | | | and since it is an individual's creation, a layout is never |
| made from sources around the house and at the | | | | really done. Tracks can be switched, roads can be |
| hobby shop. In addition, the trains themselves have just | | | | rerouted, new buildings constructed. |
| as many facets to think about as do full-scale trains. | | | | Model railroading is a great hobby for those who enjoy |
| There are many manufacturers of model trains and | | | | spending hours giving loving attention to details, and |
| multiple gauges. Some gauges have tracks that are | | | | who have a love for and appreciation of trains. But |
| barely wider than a fork and train cars and engines | | | | there aren't any limits, and anybody can appreciate a |
| that aren't much bigger than the handle of a | | | | wonderful layout! |
| screwdriver. Other model trains are big enough to | | | | |