Due to the transportation system in Europe, model railway buildings have become an extremely popular past-time, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In the early and mid-1990’s British Railway Modeling and Model Rail magazine were published due to the overwhelming numbers of collectors and hobbyists. However, model railroading is not new, as this hobby has been around since the 1840’s.

STANDARDIZATION

Luckily, standardized issue railroads, rail cars, street cars, scenery, such as homes, cottages, bridges, roads, and other surroundings are in effect so that collectors could interchange the pieces and add-on easily benefiting the consumer and the manufacturer. Much negotiations and many compromises occurred until de facto standards were made giving specific measurements as to the pieces in order to maintain the integrity of the interchangeable nature.

INTERNATIONAL INTEREST

Model Railway building connoisseurs are also popular in Australia. And, both the United States and Canada enjoy the hobby as well. However, Model Railroading is the term used in North America versus Model Railway Buildings. Clubs are popular throughout the world the first starting in London in 1910 called The Model Railway Club. MIT also has the Tech Model Railroad Club, which invented the automatically switching railroad. And in Adelaide, the capital of S. Australia is the South Australian N. Gauge Society. Other clubs throughout the world include the Israel Model Railways Club in Israel, the spur-N-schweiz – Swiss N-Scale Association in Switzerland, and Delaware & Rutland Railroad Club Toronto, ON in Canada just to name a few.

MODELS

Miniatur Wunderland is the second largest model railway system with replicas of the Washington monument and other famous attractions in America. Replicas of the Swiss Alps, Austria, Hamburg, Scandinavia and many other famous attraction or locales. Other fascinating scale buildings are the Berlin’s Bahnhof Zoo, the H0e scale model railroad in Japan, and Val Ease Central Railroad, which is the only Z-scale layout model. This model has been a part of numerous Train Shows all over the world from America, Canada, Germany, and more with over 1,000,000 people who have viewed this detailed exquisite model.

PIECES

Landscapes, scenery, railroad, cars, homes, cottages, buildings, bridges, people, trees, and more make up these miniature scenes of life. Model Railways Direct in the UK features farm cottages, terraced homes, inns, banks, engine sheds, fencing, bridges and more to build your very own miniature world. Model Railway Scenery also in the UK features garages, railway arches, building sites, a market, a classic car showroom, industrial building, huts, and much more. Ford Motor Company built a 14-piece track set with a steam locomotive featuring their infamous classic cars including the Model-T.

CONCLUSION

Model Railway Buildings or Model Railroading are collectible, yet, functional toys for adults. The reality of the pieces are so true to life, some with weathering and live steam, that having an entire attraction or city in front of one to build, enjoy, and play with has caused an International sensation with clubs, literature, and manufacturers all over the world.