<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Article Directory at children-and-kids.com &#187; Toytrains</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.children-and-kids.com/category/toytrains/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com</link>
	<description>Lots of inspirational articles!</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:58:13 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6</generator>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
			<item>
		<title>The Collectors who Collect Classic Toy Trains</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/the-collectors-who-collect-classic-toy-trains.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/the-collectors-who-collect-classic-toy-trains.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:47:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/the-collectors-who-collect-classic-toy-trains.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been said that collecting classic toy trains in the world&#8217;s greatest hobby. Many of today&#8217;s collectors received their first toy train set when they were young, often as a Christmas or birthday present. Collectors claim that the toy train set gave them an opportunity to imagine a whole new world, one that revolved [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It has been said that collecting classic toy trains in the world&#8217;s greatest hobby. Many of today&#8217;s collectors received their first toy train set when they were young, often as a Christmas or birthday present. Collectors claim that the toy train set gave them an opportunity to imagine a whole new world, one that revolved around a steaming locomotive. When they become adults, the collectors of classic toy trains claim that working on their model&#8217;s layout is a way to relive stress and escape from the pressures of day to day life.</p>
<p>Toy train collectors are an interesting a varied group of individuals. Some of them spend the better part of life, looking for the perfect train set creating model after model, thrilling in seeing the miniature world take shape.  This type of collector pours over catalogs, agonizes at toy train auctions, and continually shops at EBay stores that sell toy trains. Others never touch a model train set, they prefer to read books on the construction and collecting of toy trains, they might even attend the toy train shows and auctions This type of collector is happy to sit back and dream about someday building a toy train model. Some collectors spend hours fiddling with the scenery, touching up the paint and designing structures, this collector thinks of their classic toy train model as an art form. Another type of classic toy train collector is fascinated by the mechanical aspect of the toy train, they spend all their time working on the mechanics of their model that they never even bother to add scenery. The thing all these collectors shares is a genuine love of classic toy trains.</p>
<p>Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you&#8217;re fully informed about Toytrains, keep reading.</p>
<p>Very few collectors start out designing a large layout. The average size of the collectors classic toy train layout is 4X8 feet. This starter layout is typically an HO gauge. They add some scenery and a few buildings as they go, gradually expanding on the layout. Most classic toy train collectors will say that no layout, large or small, is ever complete.</p>
<p>The layout of toy trains and their railroad tracks consists of scenery and landscaping. The structures are commonly made out of plastic or bits of wood. The mountains are made out of painted pieces of plaster or foam, while the rivers are created by  plastic resin.</p>
<p>Classic toy rain collectors who are also fans of gardening can combine their hobbies with a garden railroad. A garden railroad is a toy train that runs on a rail road that is routed through your garden. A railway garden is a garden that is planted with miniature plants and landscaped to accommodate a garden railroad. People who design a garden railroad enjoy facing the same types of challenges in landscape and topography that the railroad companies face when they build new rail lines. Most railway gardens are designed with roadbed. A roadbed is a material, most often a ballast created out of rock dust and crushed rocks, that supports the track and allows for drainage. Some people who lack the time, patience, or ability to garden have been able to enjoy a garden railroad by incorporating it directly into their landscaping. Fans of garden railroads say it is a great way for the entire family to bond. Some ambitious railway garden designers have created water features in their gardens that include ornamental fish and live plants.</p>
<p>Those who only know one or two facts about Toytrains can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you&#8217;re learning here.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: <a href="http://www.gvo.co"><b>GVO</b></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/the-collectors-who-collect-classic-toy-trains.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Brio Toy Trains</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/brio-toy-trains.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/brio-toy-trains.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:19:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/brio-toy-trains.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This article explains a few things about Toytrains, and if you&#8217;re interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don&#8217;t know.
Toy trains are one thing that still remains constant in a changing world. They have the ability to make both children and adults smile, as they are a part of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This article explains a few things about Toytrains, and if you&#8217;re interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don&#8217;t know.</p>
<p>Toy trains are one thing that still remains constant in a changing world. They have the ability to make both children and adults smile, as they are a part of nearly everyone&#8217;s childhood. Today, toy trains are mostly made of metal and plastic, whereas generations ago, wood was the standard for building toy trains. Whatever happened to the old-fashioned wooden toy train? While they are not as easy to come by as they were years ago, there&#8217;s a company who is dedicated to producing the best quality wooden toy trains available. Brio makes wooden toy trains in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes. You can find modern toy trains, complete with all the bells and whistles of other toy trains, but still made of wood. You can also find wooden toy trains that are simple and take you back to your days as a child.</p>
<p>An example of the modern wooden toy train made by Brio is the Shinkansen Passenger Train. It is known as the world&#8217;s first express toy train system and is 390 mm in length. The system is carefully constructed using hardwood materials and is hand-painted to include minor details. For a more classic look, Brio makes the Light and Sound Timber Train. This train closely resembles the classic toy trains several adults enjoyed as a child. The train is a push-along engine complete with sounds only heard from the actual trains from back in the day. The windows glow as if to represent activity inside the passenger cars. This Brio toy train is sure to take you back to your childhood, or set the curiosity for a child wondering what toy trains were like generations ago.  </p>
<p>Now that we&#8217;ve covered those aspects of Toytrains, let&#8217;s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.</p>
<p>You can also purchase engines and all the accessories to add power to your wooden toy trains. The 4-wheel rechargeable engine red is a popular choice from Brio to &#8220;soup up&#8221; your train system. With this engine, it is easy to refuel as you will no longer need to purchase batteries! It looks strikingly realistic, as it boasts front headlights and buttons you can push to manually stop and start your toy train. If you choose, you can purchase an additional backup battery pack to ensure playtime is never interrupted. (And admit it, who wouldn&#8217;t want to play with a Brio wooden toy train complete with an engine?)</p>
<p>No Brio toy train is complete without a railroad track. You have a variety of tracks to choose from to best accommodate your train and engine. The Expansion Pack Intermediate is a track set available for around $25. This set includes 16 track pieces and 5 different layout suggestions. It&#8217;s easy to change the direction of your train system to include twists and turns, or whatever your imagination creates. You can even choose to purchase bridges, buildings, and tunnels to add a more realistic touch to your Brio system. Kids will have a blast by adding fire and police stations, engine sheds, and adventure tunnels to their set. </p>
<p>You can find Brio toy trains along with hundreds of accessories by visiting the Brio website directly, or shopping around on online auctions to grab deals on their items. </p>
<p>I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing&#8211;the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit this new site for my swedish customers: <a href="http://www.vadsbodata.se"><b>Billigt Webbhotell</b></a> &#8211; from SEK 10:- per month!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/brio-toy-trains.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>HO Toy Trains &#8211; An Antique of Today</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/ho-toy-trains-an-antique-of-today.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/ho-toy-trains-an-antique-of-today.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 21:15:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/ho-toy-trains-an-antique-of-today.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you&#8217;re learning about something new, it&#8217;s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.
Collecting toy trains is referred to as the world&#8217;s greatest hobby; and for some, it isn&#8217;t just a hobby. It&#8217;s a passion and a way of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you&#8217;re learning about something new, it&#8217;s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.</p>
<p>Collecting toy trains is referred to as the world&#8217;s greatest hobby; and for some, it isn&#8217;t just a hobby. It&#8217;s a passion and a way of life, perhaps beginning in childhood. Several toy train collectors started their hobby as children, when they were given a toy train as a gift. Toy trains, at one time, were a very popular and much desired toy among children. Over time, that concept faded and was replaced by razor scooters, iPods, and webkinz. Most children of today aren&#8217;t familiar with the classic toy trains from back in the day, so the legacy is left to be carried on by adults who choose to start a collection of their own. One such popular toy train that is desired by many collectors is the HO toy train, developed by Marklin in 1935. So what makes these miniature locomotives so much different than the others?</p>
<p>The construction of the HO toy trains is one aspect that makes them stand apart from other toy trains. HO toy trains are jagged and are scaled at 1:87, making them the perfect starter electric train. Appearance is also a major factor in collecting HO toy trains. The flawless detailing gives them a realistic appeal, making them an attractive addition to any toy train system. The Marklin HO toy trains resemble the Z gauge in that they are built from diecast metal. Most of the frames and wheels are constructed from 100% metal. The engineering of HO toy trains is also quite brilliant. The wheels of the freight and passenger cars have a low center of gravity to avoid derailment, making them a reliable addition to electric systems. </p>
<p>You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Toytrains. But don&#8217;t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.</p>
<p>The third-rail track systems of HO toy trains make them a hassle-free operation. The electrical current is carried by miniature stud contacts found in the middle of the ties. If you don&#8217;t look closely, chances are you&#8217;ll miss these clever additions. This helps prevent wiring problems and electrical pickup issues. Given the careful engineering and construction of HO toy trains, most collectors consider HO toy trains part of a scale hobby. At the debut of HO toy trains, they were sold as a toy train rather than a scale model as they are often sold today. </p>
<p>Scale model railroading didn&#8217;t become a popular hobby among collectors until after the 1950&#8217;s. Until that time, HO toy trains were thought of as just another size of train. Therefore, the Lionel Corporation began to make HO toy trains as smaller versions of the classic freight and passenger cars. It wasn&#8217;t long before the Louis Marx Company began constructing their own version of HO toy trains, and they even started to sell them with complete scenery and in slot car sets.</p>
<p>Although finding HO toy trains on the shelf at your local toy store may be a challenge, they aren&#8217;t all that difficult to come by. A simple search of the internet will provide you with a detailed listing of available HO toy trains for sale as well as places to locate these classic toy trains. </p>
<p>Now that wasn&#8217;t hard at all, was it?  And you&#8217;ve earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert&#8217;s word on Toytrains.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..<br />- Are you looking to get traffic to your website? Introducing&#8230; <a href="http://www.freegoogletrafficsystem.com/"><b>Free Google Traffic System</b></a>!!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/ho-toy-trains-an-antique-of-today.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Thomas the Tank Toy Trains &#8211; Bringing Joy to Children Everywhere!</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/thomas-the-tank-toy-trains-bringing-joy-to-children-everywhere.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/thomas-the-tank-toy-trains-bringing-joy-to-children-everywhere.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 May 2010 02:06:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/thomas-the-tank-toy-trains-bringing-joy-to-children-everywhere.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When most people think of Toytrains, what comes to mind is usually basic information that&#8217;s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there&#8217;s a lot more to Toytrains than just the basics.
Whatever happened to children playing with little toy trains? In today&#8217;s society, it seems that toy trains have become a thing of the past. Children [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When most people think of Toytrains, what comes to mind is usually basic information that&#8217;s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there&#8217;s a lot more to Toytrains than just the basics.</p>
<p>Whatever happened to children playing with little toy trains? In today&#8217;s society, it seems that toy trains have become a thing of the past. Children these days now ask for iPods, video games, and even cell phones before they&#8217;re 10 years old. But Thomas the Tank Engine continuously brings smiles and happiness to children all over the world, even in a time where toy trains seem to have been long forgotten.</p>
<p>Thomas the Tank Engine started as a children&#8217;s show and has since grown into a variety of toys and merchandise for children. The show focuses on teaching children as young as toddlers to count, spell, and even history lessons they normally wouldn&#8217;t learn until elementary school. And because Thomas is a train, children are able to use their imagination and gain an appreciation for the more simple activities that many adults once knew as children. </p>
<p>It&#8217;s no surprise that there are many wonderful toy trains made by Thomas the Tank Engine. The little toy trains are specifically designed for small children and have a unique way of grabbing their attention. You can find wooden toy trains from Thomas the Tank Engine, and these trains are most likely to resemble the basic wooden toy trains played with by many adults when they were children. The cars are painted bright shades of red, blue, green, and yellow, and often come with little wooden blocks to carry as &#8220;freight&#8221;.</p>
<p>Truthfully, the only difference between you and Toytrains experts is time. If you&#8217;ll invest a little more time in reading, you&#8217;ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Toytrains.</p>
<p>Thomas the Tank Engine also makes a wide variety of accessories to go along with their toy trains. Little ones will have a blast by adding their own village or town to their Thomas the Tank system! The Deluxe Knapford Station is a very popular addition to Thomas trains. This station closely resembles an actual passenger station with two pieces of authentic switch track. Realistic sounds of whistles and movement help the child&#8217;s imagination to run free, while the station is brought to life with the built-in microphone. This gives children the opportunity to become a real engineer of their own toy train station! The Lighthouse Bridge allows children to have an imaginary river running through their train and boats can pass through.</p>
<p>Thomas the Tank Engine also comes with several friends children love to play with. Max and Monty the dump trucks help teach children the importance of sharing. Max and Monty are twin brothers who think they are experts in construction, but in reality they cause trouble everywhere they go. They have tendency to boss around the smaller machines, but in the end they always learn to share their space. </p>
<p>Along with several toys and children&#8217;s shows, Thomas the Tank Engine makes a variety of merchandise just for children. You can purchase several learning tools such as play mats, art sets, and puzzles to go along with your Thomas toy trains. Children also love Thomas the Tank Engine apparel, bedroom décor, clocks and watches, posters, and furniture. You can purchase Thomas the Tank Engine toys and accessories at nearly any department store or by visiting their website. </p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve picked some pointers about Toytrains that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won&#8217;t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don&#8217;t use it.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..<br />- Do you want to make Your PDF files viral? Use This Secret Viral PDF Rebrander: <a href="http://www.viralpdfpro.com/"><b>Viral PDF</b></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/thomas-the-tank-toy-trains-bringing-joy-to-children-everywhere.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Marx Toy Trains</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marx-toy-trains.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marx-toy-trains.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 17:25:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marx-toy-trains.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[At the end of World War I, in 1919, Luis Marx started a toy company. The company was called Marx and Company and was co-founded by Louis brother, David Marx. The company&#8217;s motto was to, &#8220;give the customer more toy for less money.&#8221; The company enjoyed a long run of success, surviving the both the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At the end of World War I, in 1919, Luis Marx started a toy company. The company was called Marx and Company and was co-founded by Louis brother, David Marx. The company&#8217;s motto was to, &#8220;give the customer more toy for less money.&#8221; The company enjoyed a long run of success, surviving the both the Great Depression and the second World War, before it closed its doors in 1978, six years after Louis Marx sold the company to Quaker Oats. During the Great Depression the Marx Company had over $500,000 in debt, a debt that was more then covered by its $3.2 million in assets.</p>
<p>In addition to several international plants, Marx had three plants in the United States, two in Pennsylvania, and one in West Virginia. One of the places that they sold their toys was in the Sears Roebucks magazine.</p>
<p>Some people feel that during its heyday, Marx and Company actually sold more toy trains then any of the other toy companies. The first train they sold was the Joy Line, which they sold on commission for the Girard Company. Shortly after his company started selling the Joy Line, Louis Marx arranged for the Girard Company to design a toy train specifically for Marx and Company. Eventually the Girard Company was purchased by Marx.</p>
<p>In the marketplace, Marx trains were noticeable because they were normally smaller and cheaper then the ones made by the Lionel Company and American Flyer. The Marx Company designed electric toy trains that featured an open frame motor, this motor features a gear that is fixed to one end of the axle of the armature. The company seldom varied from this design. Post World War II, Marx and Company started to make trains out of plastic. More expensive versions of Marx toy trains included a smoker that heated smoke fluid to produce smoke.</p>
<p>Most of this information comes straight from the Toytrains pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you&#8217;ll know what they know.</p>
<p>Marx trains typically have a copper shoe pickup. On a Marx motor, the center rail pickup, is typically made out of copper strip.</p>
<p>Until the late 1950&#8217;s Marx made their toy trains with a fat wheel. This fat wheel makes it virtually impossible for Marx toy trains to negotiate the switches and crossovers of Lionel tracks.</p>
<p>Older models of Marx trains feature open switches. Marx and Company designed their switches so that the wiring was similar to the wiring in two rail switches. Three wires, red, green, and black, go directly to the the switch.</p>
<p>Most of Marx scale freighters featured a a low truck with small wheels. Marx used a dovetail design for their tilt couplers. Marx tilt couplers are incompatible with Lionel couplers. The tilt couplers were one single molded piece. In later years, Marx made one piece knuckle couplers that have to be coupled by hand.</p>
<p>Most of the original Marx and Company motors have a metal frame and metal gears. A few of their later designs have frames and gears that are made out of plastic. Some of the cheaper toy trains that Marx designed can&#8217;t reverse, they can only go forward.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..<br />- Do you want to make Your PDF files viral? Use This Secret Viral PDF Rebrander: <a href="http://www.viralpdfpro.com/"><b>Viral PDF</b></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marx-toy-trains.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Where to find Photographs of Antique Toy Trains</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/where-to-find-photographs-of-antique-toy-trains.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/where-to-find-photographs-of-antique-toy-trains.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:24:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/where-to-find-photographs-of-antique-toy-trains.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you think about Toytrains, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Toytrains are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.
Collecting antique toy trains is a hobby and interest pursued by many. Perhaps the interest began as a small child, when they were given [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you think about Toytrains, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Toytrains are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.</p>
<p>Collecting antique toy trains is a hobby and interest pursued by many. Perhaps the interest began as a small child, when they were given their first toy train set. In a world with much stress and pressure, toy train collectors use their hobby as an escape from the &#8220;real world&#8221;. It gives them an opportunity to go back to their childhood and simply imagine a world full of these tiny replicas. But along with toy train collecting comes photographs of antique toy trains. Some people collect the photographs to add to their walls of the rooms where the toy trains are on display. Others use the photographs as a way of scouting out their next toy train to add to the collection. There are several resources available to find great photographs of antique toy trains. </p>
<p>One place to find these pictures is the internet. If you already have an idea of what you are looking for, this is a great method to locate that perfect photograph. (Not to mention it&#8217;s free of charge!) Start by looking in Google for your photograph. Type in the name, model, or company that makes the toy train you&#8217;re looking for a picture of. You will be provided with a list of articles, documents, and photographs on the internet of antique toy trains that match your search criteria. Search through the pictures and if you have a printer, simply add photo paper and print the picture. There you have it &#8211; an easy and free way of getting a great picture of your antique toy train.</p>
<p>Is everything making sense so far? If not, I&#8217;m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.</p>
<p>Sometimes things aren&#8217;t always that simple, especially when trying to locate a photograph of a genuine antique toy train. If you didn&#8217;t have any luck with the internet, your next step is to locate books with pictures of antique toy trains. An excellent example of a book containing lots of photographs and useful information about antique toy trains is &#8220;The American Toy Train&#8221; by Gerry Souter. This book contains everything any collector would want to know about antique toy trains, including information on American Flyer, Lionel, and Marx brand toy trains. You&#8217;ll find incredible photographs of toy trains made by these manufacturers that can easily be made into framed pictures suitable for display. </p>
<p>Another great resource for finding photographs if antique toy trains is O&#8217;Brien&#8217;s Collecting Toy Trains: Identification and Value Guide. This book was developed by Richard O&#8217;Brien, an expert in antique toy collecting. This book contains the history of antique toy trains, and covers popular manufactures such as those mentioned above along with several others. The book is full of beautiful photographs of numerous antique toy trains along with helpful captions underneath each picture.</p>
<p>Finally, you can find photographs of antique toy trains in several magazines that focus on toy train collecting. Classic Toy Trains magazine is a monthly publication that contains the latest news in this old-fashion hobby. You&#8217;ll find useful information regarding history as well as current auctions, conventions, and shows, as well as an amazing array of bright colored photographs of antique toy trains. </p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: <a href="http://www.team-gvo.com"><b>GVO</b></a> to claim your $1 trial membership!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/where-to-find-photographs-of-antique-toy-trains.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Outdoor Toy Trains &#8211; Bringing the Fun Outside!</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/outdoor-toy-trains-bringing-the-fun-outside-2.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/outdoor-toy-trains-bringing-the-fun-outside-2.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:57:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/outdoor-toy-trains-bringing-the-fun-outside-2.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When most people think of Toytrains, what comes to mind is usually basic information that&#8217;s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there&#8217;s a lot more to Toytrains than just the basics.
Toy trains are typically seen indoors in a variety of settings. The most popular display is around a Christmas tree, circling the perimeter around all [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When most people think of Toytrains, what comes to mind is usually basic information that&#8217;s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there&#8217;s a lot more to Toytrains than just the basics.</p>
<p>Toy trains are typically seen indoors in a variety of settings. The most popular display is around a Christmas tree, circling the perimeter around all the gifts. Some people choose to set up their own unique display for year-round viewing inside their home. But rarely will you find a toy train display outdoors; mainly due to the fear of damaging the toy train system. However, there are several toy trains and toy train systems that are meant just for outdoors, and you&#8217;re about to get a glimpse of some of the most popular outdoor toy trains!</p>
<p>First of all, you need to know how to set up a good outdoor train system. Outdoor model trains should always be placed in a secure location, and should be as level as possible. You might want to consider adding your outdoor train system to your garden, or designing a garden around your toy train. You will only need a single track railway, one locomotive and three or four pieces of rolling rock to get started. Dig a trench about two or three inches deep that your train track route will follow. Fill it with sand and set your track in place, then place more sand in the track to make it even with the ground. This will help provide you with a level ground to operate your train system. Now that you&#8217;ve got the construction aspect complete, it&#8217;s time to choose your outdoor toy train!</p>
<p>It&#8217;s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Toytrains. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.</p>
<p>The Lionel Silver Bell Express by the Lionel Corporation is a beautiful addition to your outdoor Christmas display. This gorgeous locomotive is sure to be the center of attention at your next holiday party or gathering. The toy trains shimmers in a frosty blue and silver color, and is complete with a musical caboose that plays a pleasant version of &#8220;Jingle Bells,&#8221; &#8220;Silent Night&#8221;, and &#8220;Santa Clause is Coming to Town&#8221;. The Silver Bell Express is controlled by a transformer that allows you to move the locomotive forward or reverse. Hand-painted detail and realistic decals make this outdoor toy train look like it just came from Santa&#8217;s Workshop! The gauge is large scale and 51&#8243; in diameter, making it large enough to complete any outdoor decoration. The Silver Bell Express can be purchased new for around $200 or you could try your luck at an auction to try to snag this beauty for a cheaper price. </p>
<p>The LGB Trains G Scale Hooker Modern Tank Car is an excellent choice for your outdoor toy train system. This outdoor train is a modern version of the classic toy train familiar to many adults. The powerful locomotive can easily pull several freight or passenger cars and you can actually fill the tank with water to create an old-fashioned steam engine effect. The Hooker Modern Tank Car sells for around $85.</p>
<p>These are only a few of the many choices available for the outdoor toy train display. With proper construction and smart shopping, you can create a toy train wonderland right in your own backyard!</p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve picked some pointers about Toytrains that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won&#8217;t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don&#8217;t use it.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: <a href="http://www.team-gvo.com"><b>GVO</b></a> to claim your $1 trial membership!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/outdoor-toy-trains-bringing-the-fun-outside-2.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Classic Toy Trains Magazine</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/classic-toy-trains-magazine.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/classic-toy-trains-magazine.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/classic-toy-trains-magazine.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Ultimate Guide in Toy Train Collections
For some people, collecting toy trains isn&#8217;t just another hobby or interest; it&#8217;s a way of life. The concept of collecting toy trains has been around for centuries. Nearly everyone has some type of connection to toy trains, whether it is an annual display around the Christmas tree or [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Ultimate Guide in Toy Train Collections</p>
<p>For some people, collecting toy trains isn&#8217;t just another hobby or interest; it&#8217;s a way of life. The concept of collecting toy trains has been around for centuries. Nearly everyone has some type of connection to toy trains, whether it is an annual display around the Christmas tree or a daily passion to find and collect unique individual pieces to add to their toy train system. People who collect toy trains are indeed special types of people who have a true connection to these miniature locomotives. Luckily, there&#8217;s a magazine to suit their needs &#8211; Classic Toy Trains. </p>
<p>Classic Toy Trains magazine is a monthly publication that focuses on the latest news and events in toy train collecting. In it, you will find helpful guides to toy train auctions, events, shows and conventions, as well as articles regarding various antique toy trains. For the true toy train enthusiast, you&#8217;ll also find several &#8220;how-to&#8221; articles, including how to build your on toy trains, how to put together tracks, how to rebuild toy train engines, or how to tune-up your old antique toy trains. </p>
<p>You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Toytrains. But don&#8217;t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.</p>
<p>One interesting article from January 2007 discussed the death of two prominent collectors of the toy train industry. Bruce Walthers and Bobbye Hall, both popular in the model railroad industry, passed away and left the toy train community stunned over their loss. Walthers once served as president of William K. Walthers, Inc, a model railroad manufacturing firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm became the largest producer of model railroad products in entire world. Hall was known primarily as the first woman to work with Japanese model railroad manufacturers and was the founding person behind Hallmark Models. The recipient of several awards and recognitions within the railroad model industry, her death was a surprise to many avid collectors around the world. </p>
<p>Classic Toy Trains magazine also produced a series of articles entitled &#8220;Basics of Toy Trains.&#8221; This series covered everything a beginner to the industry would want to know, from the history of popular manufacturers such as Lionel and Marx to the current toy trains sold in today&#8217;s market. The series even covered &#8220;tricky train terms&#8221; that green collectors are not likely to know and understand. You can also explore the questions and answer section, where questions covering a wide variety of topics in toy train collecting are answered. For example, it covers proper toy train storage and display techniques, how to apply decals to your toy train, and how to spot fake &#8220;antique&#8221; toy trains for sale. </p>
<p>A subscription to Classic Toy Trains magazine varies depending on the length of time you wish to keep your subscription. 9 issues are available for $39.95, 18 issues for $74.95, and 27 issues for $106.95. If you are an enthusiastic toy train collector, or would like to give a gift to someone interested in the hobby, this is the perfect all-inclusive magazine!</p>
<p>Now you can understand why there&#8217;s a growing interest in Toytrains. When people start looking for more information about Toytrains, you&#8217;ll be in a position to meet their needs.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, author of this <a href="http://www.free-adsense-ebook.com"><b>Free Adsense eBook</b></a> &#8212; make sure to claim your free adsense ebook download!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/classic-toy-trains-magazine.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tools you will Need to Build a Wooden Train</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/tools-you-will-need-to-build-a-wooden-train.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/tools-you-will-need-to-build-a-wooden-train.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:36:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/tools-you-will-need-to-build-a-wooden-train.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So what is Toytrains really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Toytrains&#8211;info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.
Toy trains have almost become as much a symbol of Christmas time as reindeer, snowflakes, and hot chocolate. Almost every Christmas movie ever made features the heartwarming [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So what is Toytrains really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Toytrains&#8211;info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.</p>
<p>Toy trains have almost become as much a symbol of Christmas time as reindeer, snowflakes, and hot chocolate. Almost every Christmas movie ever made features the heartwarming shot of a beutifully decorated Christmas tree with an enourmous pile of presents piled under it, and a toy train circling the perimeter.</p>
<p>Another gift that people love to give and recieve are the homemade variety. In some households these handmade presents become wooden heirlooms that are handed down from one generation to the next.</p>
<p>Designing and making a wooden toy train is a wonderful way to combine two traditions.</p>
<p>Your going to have to decide what kind of assembly process your going to use for your wooden train project.</p>
<p>A dowel assembly system is the process of using wooden nails and non-toxic glue to hold the peices of wood together. The upside to a using a dowel assembly is that it maintains the purity of the wood. The downside to the system is that regular wear and tear along with changes in weather cause wood to shrink and you will have to periodically have to reglue the wooden train.</p>
<p>Many inexperinced woodworkers opt to use nails to hold the peices of wood together. Although experinced woodworkers frown on this method there is nothing wrong with using nails provided you make sure that there aren&#8217;t any sharp edges.</p>
<p>The best time to learn about Toytrains is before you&#8217;re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Toytrains experience while it&#8217;s still free.</p>
<p>Screws are a secure way to fasten the peices of wood together. If this is the method you prefer make sure that the wooden train is periodically examined to make sure that none of the screws have worked thier way loose.</p>
<p>The use of a good strong glue is especally secure. It is also a safe way to create a toy that you are planning to give to a young child. Check the toy from time to time to make sure that the glue is staying stuck. When handleing strong woodworking glue be sure to take precautions, you don&#8217;t want to have your hand permenatly stuck to a wooden train.</p>
<p>What type of wood you are going to use? Hardwood or softwood? The first thing you should know is that just because they are called hardwood and softwood does not mean that the wood you will be using is hard or soft, all the terns do is clarify wether or not they are from coniferous or desidous trees Softwood is descious, it comes from Pine trees. Hardwood is coniferous it comes from trees that shed thier leaves everyfall. You should avoid using Ceder, unless it is really well maintained it can splinter. If you are giving the toy to a young child (one who sticks everything in their mouth) avoid the use of Oak, which is toxic when ingested. If you are considering an exotic hardwood check and make sure it isn&#8217;t a toxic wood. The wood you are using should be planed into peices of wood that wont break easily, the thicker the wood the less likly it will be to break in the middle of your project. Bear in mind, not all types of wood absorb stains. When you are staining the wood make sure you are using a non-toxic stain that is childsafe.</p>
<p>Find a set of instructions that are easy to follow. Keep them in a safe place where they wont get lost and adhere to them. </p>
<p>Leave yourself plenty of time. Building a wooden train could be a much larger, and more difficult project then you anticipate.</p>
<p>Once you become adept at making wooden trains, you may want to try your hand at creating miniture wooden structues for classic toy train layouts, and garden railroads.</p>
<p>Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what&#8217;s important about Toytrains.</p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest acquisition: <a href="http://www.freegoogletrafficsystem.com"><b>Free Google Traffic System</b></a> and make sure to visit my bonus site!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/tools-you-will-need-to-build-a-wooden-train.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Marklin Toy Trains &#8211; A Classic in Toy Train Collection</title>
		<link>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marklin-toy-trains-a-classic-in-toy-train-collection.htm</link>
		<comments>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marklin-toy-trains-a-classic-in-toy-train-collection.htm#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:33:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>anderseriksson</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Toytrains]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marklin-toy-trains-a-classic-in-toy-train-collection.htm</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Current info about Toytrains is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Toytrains info available.
People who collect toy trains have a genuine passion for them. Some people prefer to only display them one time of year around the family Christmas tree, while others dedicate entire rooms or sections of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Current info about Toytrains is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Toytrains info available.</p>
<p>People who collect toy trains have a genuine passion for them. Some people prefer to only display them one time of year around the family Christmas tree, while others dedicate entire rooms or sections of their houses to showing off their collection. However, a toy train is not just a toy train. They are not all the same and some are more valuable than others. Anyone who collects toy trains as a hobby is familiar with Marklin toy trains. These trains have been around since 1891 and are a truly unique addition to any toy train collection. </p>
<p>Marklin introduced a revolution in the toy train industry by introducing the very first inclusive set of trains in 1891. Marklin provided a fresh appeal to the typical toy train by introducing a series of standard track gauges and a variety of models with matching accessories. What came from this revolution was the ability to build on your initial train set by expanding your miniature railroad. It is thought that Marklin is at the forefront of developing the expanding toy train set.  </p>
<p>Getting a hold of one of the timeless pieces from Marklin is no easy task and can cost thousands of dollars. In fact, some of the pieces are so rare that they easily run in the six digits. For example, an international auction of toy trains and accessories recently held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sold a complete Marklin station for $110,000. The station included an exceptionally rare Marklin #2609 locomotive that was built precisely to scale and marvelously painted by hand.</p>
<p>Truthfully, the only difference between you and Toytrains experts is time. If you&#8217;ll invest a little more time in reading, you&#8217;ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Toytrains.</p>
<p>The unique toy train set was just as astonishing inside as it was outside. (As most Marklin train sets are, no surprise there!) The station included five interior rooms that were cleverly adorned with tables, chairs, and other furniture you would expect to find aboard passenger cars from back in the day. It was originally thought that this rare Marklin station would sell for around $30,000; that is, until it became the ultimate &#8220;bidding brawl&#8221; between American and Europe.  Two toy train collectors from opposite ends of the world both went to great lengths to snag the priceless item, but in the end America prevailed in taking home the 29-inch long, 19-inch high beauty. </p>
<p>That wasn&#8217;t the only Marklin item that brought in much more money than originally estimated. A Marklin #2609 locomotive was sold for $82,500. The gauge III set boasted a live steam engine and precise hand-painted detail. The original sale estimate was set at $25,000 &#8211; obviously, this goal was blown away when avid collectors from around the world united in hopes of bringing home a classic Marklin station. Several other Marklin items were sold at the auction, but surprisingly not a single Marklin piece sold for less than $25,000. </p>
<p>Now that you can see just how valuable these timeless classics are, chances are you won&#8217;t find them for cheap. Ebay does occasionally place Marklin pieces up for bidding, but the results won&#8217;t differ much from a live auction. You can purchase certain Marklin sets and accessories through marklin.com, but again, you will pay a pretty penny. </p>
<p>About the Author<br />
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: <a href="http://www.gvomembers.com"><b>GVO</b></a> and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.children-and-kids.com/toytrains/marklin-toy-trains-a-classic-in-toy-train-collection.htm/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
