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Business & Tech

Trains, a Tradition for Generations of All Ages

An electric train under the Christmas tree is always fun to watch.

For generations electric toy trains have captivated people of all ages, yours truly included. My fascination began as a young child and it has not diminished even a little.

A recent visit to Trains LTD in University City left me wanting to buy a shiny new electric train, rush home, put my Christmas tree up, put my new train together and place it under the tree. There was one problem, there were so many from which to choose that it was hard to know where to start.

Steve Lukefahr, owner of Trains LTD located at the corner of Old Bonhomme and Delmar, has been collecting and selling trains since he opened his store in 1989.

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He gave me the scoop on how to begin model railroading.

Lukefahr said that starter sets are a great way to begin model railroading because they are easy to put together and are less expensive than if each piece is purchased separately. Sets come with everything you need and are ready right out of the box.

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“A family starts with a Thomas the Tank (magnetic wooden train) and then they transition into an electric train set,” said Lukefahr.“Usually families buy a starter set and put it under their Christmas tree. Every year they add to it,” he said.

Although scale, which refers to the size of the train, varies as do the brands available, Trains LTD only carries “O” scale trains and the Lionel brand.

“Lionel has been around since 1901.Lionel is a tradition,” said Lukefahr. “Lionel is reliable, that is why we only carry it. I still have my first train set,” said Lukefahr’s. It is set up in his basement.

Trains LTD has a large selection of old trains dating as early as the 1920’s. Visit the store to purchase one as they prefer face-to-face patrons rather than selling over the internet.

They also offer a healthy selection of new trains sold individually and all-inclusive sets.

If you want to get creative, add to your train a variety of accessories and extras. Choose from a variety of items such as scenery, automobiles, animals, and buildings. Some accessories are animated, such as the policeman that chases a hobo and the elf that chases a reindeer. Your only limitation to building an incredible train set is your own imagination.

Whether you are looking to buy a train to run under the family Christmas tree generation after generation or want to play conductor year round, be sure to choose products that are designed to work together and are the same gauge. Gauge refers to the width of the track.

When I asked Lukefahr why he thinks so many are captivated by electric toy trains, he said, “Everyone loves things in miniature. Parents and children can get down in the floor and play. It is just fun.”

Serious collectors, enthusiasts and anyone wanting to join a model train club click on this link Lionel Collector’s Club of America.

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