Description
This article is from the Model Trains
FAQ, by Christopher D Coleman with numerous contributions by
others.
02 Collectable/Tinplate Trains
What constitutes a collectable model train?
A collectable model train is any model train with intrinsic
historicalsor sentimental value rather than just scale
accuracy. This can includesany vintage or antique trains as well
as many current production itemssmanufactured in a similar
way. For example modern issue trains usingsthree rail operation
often appeal to those who collect older threesrail
equipment. Scale model trains, on the other hand, are made
andsused with scale accuracy as the paramount factor. Scale
andscollectable often overlap in that models initially made for
realismsbecome uncommon and are sought by collectors, such as
1930's OO Scale.sThey may occur in any scale or gauge but are
common to Standard, Wide,sO, S and other large gauges.
Tinplate is the word most often used to describe these trains but
Isfind it is often misunderstood as referring to only the stamped
steels"tinny" trains made early in this century. It also includes
plasticsmodels made from the 1940's and later. The word collector
is alsosmisunderstood. A collector is not just someone who
amasses old trainsson shelves or in closets. Most collectors
operate and most operatorsscollect. It is very difficult to draw
a line between the two, but mostschoose their own location in
this spectrum. The pure collector issconcerned only with
appearance and the pure operator mostly withsoperation. Here I
will use "Collectable" and "Tinplate"sinterchangeably. Whatever
these people are called, they like trainssfor their "neatness"
and entertainment value rather than theirs"exactness".
Each collector (or operator) must establish his or her own
uniquescollecting strategy. Most basic to this is the selection
of what typessof trains you wish to collect. A collection of all
known types andsscales of model trains is not a realistic
goal. The area of specialtyscan vary from a period of a
particular make (e.g. Flyer 1907-1942) tosall of a particular
scale (e.g. O scale) to a particular style ofstrains (e.g. cast
iron). This choice is completely up to thescollector's
preference.
There are, however, many in the hobby whose sole interest is to
buysand hoard trains until they appreciate and sell them at
profit. Thesespersons have little interest in the hobby, but
rather in monetary gainsfrom them. They are generally considered
a liability to the hobby andsare disliked for their practices.
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recreation, model trains, tinplate, trains, collectible, car, transformer, locomotive, switches, tracks, railroad, railway, manufacturer, collecting, maintenance
