Bachmann Model Trains
Bachmann Industries is a Chinese owned company head quartered in Hong Kong. The roots of the company extend back to the United States and a company started by Henry Carlisle in 1833. Many directional changes in the tenure of the company have culminated in the Bachmann model trains for which it is famous today.
Carlisle’s company specialized in vanity items sold to wealthy constituents in Louisiana and other parts of the south. After the Civil War, Carlisle’s business merged with Henry G. Bachmann’s competing firm. This company became Bachmann Brothers in 1899, and in the year 1902, they began to use celluloid in their products.
Bachmann made their first glass frames in 1912, and introduced the first American made sunglasses in 1927. Shortly thereafter, the company moved to its final American address in Philadelphia. The early entry into the plastics market gave Bachmann an advantage over other companies that followed.
It was not until the end of World War II that Bachmann Brothers entered into the world of model trains with their “Plasticville USA” line of kits for train scenery. This consisted of all kinds of buildings made for O scale model trains. The same product line is used today for American Flyer and Lionel trains, and the product line has been expanded to include HO and N scale trains.
Bachmann searched for an identity in the market by attempting several different types of plastic toy products including planes, helicopters, tanks, robots, slot cars, and other related items. The company made an attempt at radio-controlled models, too. In 1987, after their Chinese acquisition, they dropped all lines to concentrate on their now famous model train lines.
It was in 1968 that Bachmann first entered the model train market. The N scale model railroad had become popular at that time, and that was the scale originally built by the company. In 1970, Bachmann entered the HO scale market. The present logo used by Bachmann was introduced in 1978.
The company went on to hold exclusive licenses to produce United Aircraft’s high-speed train line as well as those of Budd Company Passenger trains. It is ironic that when other model train companies were going through acquisitions, mergers, and bankruptcies, Bachmann was entering the market.
The owners of Bachmann Brothers, the Crowther Brothers, decided to sell the train line in 1981 because of falling interest in model trains. They sold to the Kader Group from China who had been making the trains for them. The name of Bachmann Industries became the legal name after the sale. By the year 1992, all cars for Bachmann Industries were being made in China.
The Chinese consortium has expanded the Bachman Model Trains name worldwide and has a strategy to take over other failing model businesses in Europe and put them under one name.
The History of Hornby Model Trains
Hornby model trains began production in the early 1900’s under the company name Meccano LTD and its operations were based in Liverpool, England. They produced their first clockwork mechanism train in 1920, and in the 1920’s and 1930’s, Meccano was the largest toy manufacturer in Britain. Also of note, the company produced three of the most popular lines of toys of the 20th century: Hornby Model Railways, Meccano, and Dinky Toys.
Frank Hornby had a vision and the good sense to get a patent on it. In 1901, Hornby received his patent for “Meccano,” a model construction system with re-usable metal parts for making models and mechanical devices. If you think this sounds like the “Erector Sets” from the American past, there’s good reason.
The clockwork train made in 1920 was a 0 gauge train, which is a 1:48 scale. This was a popular size for 20 years. A poorly designed electric train emerged from the production line shortly after the clockwork one, and the few units produced were shipped to France. In 1925, Hornby introduced its first successful electric train line. It operated on a 220-240V AC power system. There were safety concerns for the high voltage and eventually the trains ran on a 20V AC system developed in the early 1930’s.
In 1938, Meccano began production of the 00 gauge model train, which is still the favorite scale for model trains in Britain. The Hornby name became so synonymous with model trains that other brands would be tabbed “Hornby.” The products made under that name were also better quality than most of the others manufactured at the time.
Hornby was number one in most of Europe, but was also popular in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Scandinavia. A factory built in France developed French prototype trains.
In 1927, Hornby attempted to break into the American market and set up operations in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The intent was to make American-style trains. They could not claim much of the market and only offered the clockwork trains. The stock market crash put an end to this endeavor, and Hornby sold the remaining assets to the A. C. Gilbert Company in 1929. You might note that A. C. Gilbert marketed the “Erector Set” building system.
Line Brothers, LTD, under the name Tri-Ang, bought Hornby and Meccano in 1964, then they went into receivership. In the 1980’s Hornby Railways became independent. Later on in the 1990’s, manufacturing moved to China. In 2003, Hornby released its first live steam 00 gauge locomotive. Having acquired several model train producers over recent history, Hornby’s only major competition is Bachmann Industries.
Frank Hornby died in 1936 before some of the high points and low points of the companies he started were reached. He is remembered as an inventor, businessman, and a politician. He left a legacy upon the model train industry, and his train line still lives on as Hornby Model Trains.
The Story of Atlas Model Trains
Don’t you love a success story? If you study model train history, you’ll find many manufacturers who came and went. It’s nice to know there are some that have done well in a competitive market, such as Atlas model trains.
An American based company, Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc., is located in Hillside, New Jersey. They produce the three most popular sizes of models, N scale, O scale, and HO scale. Not only do they make locomotives and rolling stock, but scenery items, too. Their flex and other tracks are well known among modelers.
When Stephan Schaffan, Jr. was a boy of seven, his father founded the Atlas Tool Company in Newark, New Jersey. In 1933, at the age of sixteen, Stephan began working for his father at the tool company. Although the work was interesting to him, his real interests were in building models.
Stephan was an enterprising young man, and he frequently pestered a local hobby-store owner for an opportunity to earn extra money working there part-time. The initial idea was probably to get funds to support his model collection hobby and to be close to what he loved. Not exactly jovially, the owner finally got tired of the requests and gave in. You might call it destiny that Stephan was given some train track and told to see if he could improve upon it, because this started the wheels rolling.
Tracks were not very sophisticated in the 1930’s. Each modeler had to fashion his own. Since the model train was very popular, Steve Jr. developed and created a switch kit that minimized some of the rail work. It sold so well that Steve Sr. and the rest of the family began to build them at night in their basement. They did this while the day job at the tool company was ongoing, too.
Steve Jr. went on to perfect the first good rail joiner, as well as turnouts and other rail innovations. Much of the reason for the popularization of modern model railroading is a direct result of the implementation of tracks that people could assemble easily.
The Schaffan family quickly outgrew the basement operation and had to look for another place to work. Jr. and Sr. realized that they could make a comfortable living making track, and the market was open for them to make other parts to go with the hobby as well. They built their first factory in 1947 and located it in Hillside, New Jersey. They incorporated The Atlas Tool Company, in 1947, and it is still located in the same area to this day.
Today, Atlas still offers a great line of tracks. The company also produces trains, buildings, and bridges. Their catalogue is available for download on the internet, as they are a big player in the worldwide market.
Not too bad for a kid working from his basement, don’t you agree? Perseverance, talent, and insight into the market are what made Atlas Model Trains a success. Jr. had to be doing something right in order to launch a company still in business to this day.
Evolution of the Model Train Store
There was a time when all shops were specialized for the specific items they sold, and each shop did one basic thing. Through the centuries, merchants have hung out their “shingle,” or wooden sign, to let people know what type of wares they offered. At one time, the sign was just a crude drawing of their craft. In recent history, shops have become more numerous because of the great diversity in shopping. Hobby stores eventually bred other specialty stores under the umbrella, such as the model train store.
You could say that recent history in merchandizing can be divided into “BW” and “AW.” No, that’s not a foreign sports car or a root beer! “Before Walmart” and “after Walmart,” we have two different scenarios of commerce. Of course, WalMart is not the only reason for the demise of some of the specialty shops. The department store started the process many years before Walmart became the conglomerate it is today.
At the turn of the 20th century, Joshua Lionel Cowen came up with the idea for his model train while standing outside of a toy store and studying the display. He invented an original motor design to power his simple electric train, which was later marketed in the same store. Of course, Lionel Trains went on to become a big name in the market, and many of their sales transpired in many toy stores and later hobby stores, as well.
In the old days a father went to buy a model train for his child at the hobby store. All the major model suppliers sold to toy and hobby stores: American Flyer, Lionel, Marx, and several others. This system helped control the pricing in the marketplace, and the number of competitors was small.
The five and dime stores eventually evolved into department stores. The larger size of these stores meant they could afford to purchase more inventory and offer a greater variety of things people wanted. Macy’s and similar department stores followed, as well as other players who weren’t as big, and the competition base kept increasing.
Along with the local competition came producers from other countries, and the price wars began. As you may know, the Japanese, followed by the Chinese, had prices that undercut the American producer, putting many model train names in jeopardy of disappearing.
At the same time, competition between the department store and the specialty store remained, and “mom and pop” shops began to lose ground. More people wanted the convenience of going into one cozy store to buy whatever they needed, feeling it was too cumbersome to visit several smaller shops that frequently weren’t located in close proximity to each other.
There is one big “BUT” in this story. Some people don’t mind going to a little extra trouble to find what they want. They aren’t into the McDonald’s “drive in, fill up, leave” mindset. Hobby and model train shops survive because patrons don’t want to go to a big store and buy whatever the house model is. They want to talk to someone who actually knows about models, not someone who was working in the shoe department the day before. These shoppers are true, die-hard model train enthusiasts, and they seek specialized products and information.
Another reason you still find model train stores today has to do with market demand. Model trains, as wonderful as they are, are not in the hot markets, so they are widely overlooked in department stores. Sure, they have them, but they don’t put a lot of emphasis on them or keep many in their inventory. That isn’t always such a bad thing.
HO Model Train Layout Considerations
Your HO model train layout can be a simple oval shape or a complex intricate design. You can get plenty of ideas for layouts at train shows and at various model railroading websites on the internet. Your layout design will depend on the area you have available for the setup of your train. Be sure to give this plenty of forethought before jumping right into the track setup.
There are many features to consider in creating your design. The first is obviously the configuration of your benchwork. You may want to have the entire setup in the middle of a large room with complete access on all sides. An alternative to that is a setup with a wall on one side. Many modelers prefer the second method so they can paint “scenery” on the wall, such as distant hills and clouds.
The design is totally your choice, but remember to allow yourself access to all parts of the layout. You cannot perform maintenance on areas that you cannot reach.
Along with the benchwork layout comes the track design. It is somewhat limited by the size and configuration of the benchwork. You can design a figure eight, a circle, an oval, or a multi-track setup. As always, take into consideration the minimum radius you have to work with on the curves.
Most modern modelers have sidetracks with switchers so they can have more than one locomotive. The size of the HO scale allows you to design entirely different routes for your train to take when it switches tracks.
Another important consideration in your layout is the use of trestles and tunnels. A change of elevation on your set can produce some problems if the design doesn’t allow for a gradual change. Derailments and the train’s inability to make the grade are two situations you want to avoid. Most designers will not place a grade change in a sharp curve because of the problems it creates.
You should draw out your design on paper initially. Then you can easily create a list of materials you will need for the setup. If you make an accurate scale drawing, you will be able to estimate the correct quantities of track material. If you try to forego this step, you will either buy more materials than needed, or spend time reordering or running back to pick up additional items.
The HO scale is an excellent choice of train scale because there are many sources for buildings, people, bridges, automobiles, and many other scenery accessories. The size allows for some fantastic scenery and plenty of it.
No design is beyond reason if you follow the basic rules of radius design and grade change. As long as you join the track together to make a complete route with smooth transitions, your HO model train layout should work fine. Whatever design you have, be sure to lay the track first and make certain it functions properly before proceeding with any other work.
Famous Model Railroad Train Layouts
When you begin your model railroad train layout, consider looking at some of the setups done by other train hobbyists. If you want to do some research, you can attend a train show where you can view the setups of some very serious train enthusiasts. These die-hard modelers are proud of their setups, and they are usually happy to share ideas, tips, and information.
The Miniature Railroad and Village is a historical model train layout that is one of the largest in the United States. It has a permanent home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where it has been for over fifty years. The layout depicts scenes of Western Pennsylvania from 1880 to 1930. The platform, or benchwork, that the display sits on is 83 feet long and 30 feet wide. Lionel trains are featured in five different loops, with all trains operating at the same time. In addition to the trains, a Browser trolley travels through the “town.”
The models in the display are constructed by the staff, some of whom are paid employees and some who are volunteers. The largest steel mill ever reproduced in O scale is a part of the set. It was constructed from the actual blueprints of the Sharon Steel Mill. A Harvard professor designed a lighting system to resemble the movement of the sun, and Opto 22, a company that furnishes control modules for Disney World and NASA, designed the computer system that controls the movements.
The Great Train Story is a 3,500 square foot display in Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. This HO scale railroad depicts modern day rail transportation on a trip from Seattle through the plain states to Chicago. Many famous buildings and landmarks are included in the display.
The Rocky Mountains are depicted along with waterfalls, forests, tunnels, lumber mills, farms, and many other scenes you would see if you were traveling the rails through the actual countryside.
Miniatur-Wunderland (Miniature Wonderland) is a model display in Hamburg, Germany. As of January 2008, the train had over 36,000 feet of track. This HO scale train layout is divided into different “countries.” There are five sections divided into representations of Germany (2), Switzerland, Scandinavia, and America.
This exhibit is housed in 43,000 square feet of floor space. The trains occupy over 16,000 square feet of that area. By 2014, the exhibit expects to double the number of sections to include ten countries. So far, it is definite that the additions will include France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Frederick and Gerrit Braun are the brothers who created this attraction. It is the largest display of its kind in the world.
You may not have a chance to see these incredible train displays, but surely you will gain some enthusiasm for your own setup by reading about them. Of course, if you can get to see these, by all means, do. A model railroad train can be a great addition to your home, even if it isn’t the largest in the world.
Benchwork and Planning your Model Train Track
The most crucial element in the smooth operation of your train is the model train track. If you fail to get this right, it won’t matter much about the rest of the work. You may remember when you were a child and your train kept crashing because the track didn’t fit together properly. For this reason, you need to plan your track on paper before you do anything else.
It may wear on your patience to draw and plan before constructing your track, but that is the only way to do it properly. One of the first things to learn in model railroading is to be patient. The hobby is slow and methodical by its nature, and you must learn to proceed that way.
Benchwork is the heart of modeling. Ideas come to fruition there. That is why it’s so important to decide how large a layout you want to have early in your design. When you invest many hours into the scenery and how it fits together, changing up to expand the set later results in a lot of reworking.
Decide on how much space you will need for your setup. This depends on the scale of the train, the train’s turning radius, the size of the area you have to work in, and how large a setup you want. Other factors might be how many cars you plan to add to your train, how many trains you may run at one time, and if you are going to have switching tracks and train turnouts.
Accessibility is a big concern because of the extended time you will spend working on scenery. If you have a setup that is against a wall where you only access it from one side, you wouldn’t want more than 2 to 3 feet of width so you will be able to reach things on the back without a lot of trouble. If you have access from both sides, your width could be as much as 5 feet.
The height of the benchwork should take into consideration access, too. If you plan to stand up and work on track and scenery, 36 to 42 inches should be about the right height. Most people prefer to work from a stool. You can work well from a bar stool with the top of the benchwork at 42 inches.
After determining the size your benchwork will be and the projected configuration of your layout, you are ready to draw up your design. If the overall length of your benchwork is 10 feet or less, you can draw your layout on a poster board at a scale of about 1:4. Always use a pencil when you are drawing out the track configuration so you can erase and redraw until you have it the way you want it.
If you plan to change elevations of the rails on the benchwork, note that on your drawing, and make elevation changes very slowly. A sudden change in elevation will cause a derailment. On your curves, be sure you do not go below the manufacturer’s minimum
radius because this is another way to get derailed.
Only start to lay track when you are satisfied that the plan you have will work. Keep your drawing to work out the locations of scenery items, after you have laid your model train track.
While this may seem like a lot of work in the beginning, it will save you time and headaches in the end. When your train runs smoothly without derailing, you will know your forethought and planning was well worth the time and effort you put into it. All aboard!
Model Train Shows
Many years back, a few model railroaders decided to meet at a central place large enough to assemble all of their setups, invite a few friends over, and talk shop. This didn’t happen just once, but many times in different places around the world. These meetings evolved into swap meets where trades were made and items were sold. They were the forefront of model train shows of today.
The commercialization of flea markets led to the shows as they are now constructed. Not only do the hobbyist organizations arrange the exhibits, but also they work hand in hand with sponsors who are willing to invest some money into them. Bachmann, Lionel, and others provide funding and booths for the events. In addition, other companies contribute merchandise and services for the shows to advertise their wares. These arrangements make the train shows much better than the impromptu ones from days past.
If you live in a small town, you may need to travel a distance to attend a show. Most of the events are held in medium sized cities, and many of these are travelling shows in which the promoters move from city to city. Usually the local model train organizations solicit the modelers to bring setups for display.
Model train enthusiasm reached its peak in the United States in the middle 1950’s, but attendance thrives at the current modern day shows. Even though the pace of the world and the interests of people have changed in the last fifty years, every age group seems to be represented at train shows. The percentages of people who actively pursue the hobby may be lower, but the number of people who are interested seems to rise.
Due to our continual and ever growing association with the internet and all that we can find of interest right from our home, it might seem that travelling to see a show isn’t worthwhile. Sure, it costs a little time, money, and effort, but it is the only place to find so much train hardware and paraphernalia in one place. The information and insight you will gain from other modelers is worth the low price of admission.
The model producers who help sponsor the shows have their best and newest products displayed, which truly whets the appetite of die-hard train hobbyists seeking new products for their layouts. Most of the time, the innovations occurring in the industry are seen for the first time at these conventions. Train software manufacturers can show you first hand what their programs can do, and let you see how easy they are to use. Product literature, how-to pamphlets, and countless other items are yours to be had just for attending.
Now, if you had your choice, would you rather stay at home and cruise the internet to look for deals on items you want or would you rather see things first hand? Do you want to find answers in internet forums, or do you want to talk shop with the guy who has the
huge setup that looks like something out of the movies? Which way is the most fun?
One thing the internet is certainly good for is finding where and when the model train shows are going to be held so you can attend. If you need additional information, you can obtain it from the National Model Railroad Association at www.nmra.org. Happy railroading!
Tips on Designing Your Model Train Scenery
Model train enthusiasts truly enjoy their hobby. Creating a realistic layout involves much more than just the track, a locomotive, and some railroad cars. Model train scenery is what makes the entire setup come to life. There are many possibilities when it comes to creating the scenery for your train layout.
Many train hobbyists enjoy making their own scenery. Using a little imagination and creativity, you can create impressive scenery from many items readily available around your home and yard. Most people involved in this hobby combine homemade scenery along with some purchased scenery pieces.
The type of scenery you will want to use depends largely on your particular setup. Train layouts normally reflect a specific era, geographical area, and theme. For example, your layout might portray a western theme and backdrop around the times of the newly emerging American frontier.
When choosing pieces to add to your scenery collection, you want to keep them specific to the era. A 2005 model vehicle would not be appropriate for a setup designed to portray the 1960’s era.
One important tip when building your setup is to remember that not everything should appear to be brand new. There are several techniques for distressing and aging pieces to achieve authenticity. The more realism you apply to your setup, the more realistic your layout will be.
Another important factor to consider when creating or buying scenery is to achieve the correct scale. You will find that most all suppliers of ready-made scenery accessories group them according to the scale of the train, such as HO, N, O, or G. You do not want to use G scale accessories for your N scale train, for example.
When choosing “people” figurines for use in your train display, they need to be properly dressed to reflect the era of your setup. You do want to be sure to include plenty of people in your setup. Many hobbyists buy several people from different suppliers to add more variety and authenticity to their scenery design.
The type of materials, structures, and buildings you choose for your setup depends on the geographical area you wish to portray. You may wish to include rocks, trees, rivers, ponds, tunnels, bridges, barns, stores, scrap yards, and fences.
Another scenic accent you should not forget is the use of animals. Again, depending on your particular scenery theme, you might include dogs, cats, cows, horses, mules, chickens, or pigs.
Some true die-hard train enthusiasts actually change the “seasons” in their layouts according to the time of year. This might include snow, colorful autumn leaves on the trees, a lighted Christmas tree on the town square, or jack-o-lanterns on front porches.
When choosing accents to create your scenic train display, try to include everything you possibly can to achieve as much realism as possible. One great way to do this is to first visit some scenery suppliers online and browse through their products. Another way to get a more in depth feel for the scenery is to browse through books that pertain to your particular theme and era.
The train itself is an important part of the model train setup. However, without sufficient realistic scenery to bring it to life, the overall effect would be quite boring. Don’t be afraid to be creative and explore the many possibilities for making many of your own pieces as well. You will find the hobby to be much more satisfying if you make some of your own scenery. All aboard!
All About Model Steam Trains
At the turn of the century in England, Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke founded the company, Bassett-Lowke, in 1898. Around the 1880’s, the steam engine was invented, and years later, the first model steam train was built. Even though he wasn’t the first, Wenman is well remembered as being a front-runner in the making of model steam trains.
Wenman came by his occupation honestly, as he was born the son of a boilermaker. His model-making career began in his father’s shop as a mail order business. His company, located in Northampton, was not about just trains. They also produced model ships. It was shortly after the advent of the business that Wenman met with some German model makers at the Paris Exhibition in 1900. He purchased some prototypes from them to begin his own designs.
In 1905, Wenman finished the first 15-inch steam locomotive and test ran it on the Eaton Hall Railway, a private track about 4 miles length. The engine, named “The Little Giant,” was a 1/4 scale of no particular existing train. The engine was built for a public miniature railway at Blackpool, England. It is still in existence today in private ownership.
Bassett-Lowke went on to produce live steam models in gauge 2, gauge 1, and 0 gauge, and the company was a viable competitor in the market for years.
The smaller sized steam trains were not mass-produced, due to the obvious expense of trains that large. They have primarily been built through the years as additions to theme parks and other commercial endeavors. Abbots Model Engineering, in England, produces 5″ and 7 ¼” gauge models today. These are approximately 1/5 scale and come with sound systems and smoke generators. Like most live steam trains this large, these are built to ride on.
Alco West Locomotives builds custom steam and diesel models. They are located in Las Vegas, Nevada and claim they will custom build any size train you want. Other producers do similar work in both Europe and America. Of course, these models are much more expensive than the average person can afford. This design train is for exterior use where a person has a lot of space.
In the more affordable variety of trains, Astor Hobby Company, Inc., of Japan, is one of the top producers of live steam engines. They host a variety of replicas that you can get in ready-to-run or kit form. Their I gauge train is a 1/32 scale. As with many Japanese companies, Astor only produces limited quantities of each release based on sales history.
The kit forms of Astor models can range from the craftsman version, which can be assembled in a day or less, to the advanced kit requiring more than 100 hours to complete. Most of their models are powered by alcohol and can operate for about an hour per fueling. All of their models are designed to run indoors or out.
Steam model trains are more expensive to buy and more involved to care for and set up. They are more realistic than other models and provide great fun for the entire family. All aboard!
