The first train set under the tree, a visit to a historic railway, watching a loco thunder by as a kid… Something that pulled us into this amazing world of miniature railroading.
What was yours?
Was it a specific model you saw in a shop window?
A layout you built with a parent or grandparent?
A film or book that lit the spark?
For me, it was the magic of a Lionel train circling the base of our Christmas tree. The smell of the pine needles mixed with the hum of the motor and the warm glow of the lights… I was hooked. I’d sit there for hours just watching it go ’round, imagining the stories of where it was headed.
Later came visits to heritage railways, where seeing the real thing up close only deepened the fascination. The sound, the size, the history — it felt like time travel.
How about you? What was your gateway moment into model trains? Would love to hear the story behind your love for the rails.
