Ikea wooden railroad. price. completeness. All about children's railways

30.05.2019

Reading time: 9 minutes

The Children's Railway, or children's railway, is designed to serve as an analogue of a full-fledged transport system. A toy set is suitable for small children, and special educational models have been created for older boys. They may be located at children's camps sponsored by educational institutions that are associated with railway construction. These roads have nothing to do with the rides in the parks, but are a reduced copy of the original.

What is a children's railway

The Children's Railway was used to train young enthusiasts in professions related to railways. The construction of children's narrow-gauge railways was carried out in accordance with GOSTs of the USSR. Later, various toys began to appear on the market in the form of trains that could ride on rails. They could be powered by the children themselves, internal combustion engines, or an electric motor.

Children's railway toy

Toy railways include educational, entertaining toys in the form of a train with wagons on rails. Can be made from different materials:

Plastic;
Wood;
Metal.

There is a spread in age categories: from plastic, wooden simple models for children from 3 years old to complexes with infrastructure, steam locomotives on diesel engines with remote control - for older children. Known manufacturers include:

Aster Hobby;
Eurotrain;
top train;
Hasbro;
LEGO.

Children's Railways of the USSR

The first Soviet children's railway was opened in Moscow, but did not work for long - from 1932 to 1938. It was built by Komsomol members, it was more of an entertainment purpose than an educational one. The forerunner of children's roads is the complex of the city of Tiflis (Tbilisi), founded on June 24, 1935. Until the late 1980s, in the Soviet Union, children's railways opened every year. Since the 1930s, about 70 children's railways have appeared on the territory of the USSR. Old roads operate in cities:

Krasnoyarsk;
Nizhny Novgorod;
Irkutsk;
Rostov-on-Don;
Chelyabinsk;
Khabarovsk;
Yekaterinburg.

Moscow Children's Railway

In 2005, the old Moscow railway underwent a reconstruction procedure, tracks and hangars were replaced, and modern diesel locomotives TU10, designed specifically for children's railway educational institutions, were put into operation. As of 2010, the complex in Kratovo is used in the education of 700 students from 25 schools and technical schools of adjacent cities. Trains run between Pionerskaya and Yunost stations from 11 am to 3 pm daily. The whole complex works almost around the clock. There are circles "Young railway worker", career guidance courses.

Toy railroads

You can buy a railway for a child in almost any toy store. In the production of toys, the theme of railway is popular. This guarantees a wide selection of models of completely different price ranges. The set of characteristics of the children's train contains a very extensive:

age category;
path length;
composition and rail material;
control method;
availability and type of engine;
Scenery.

For children from 3 years old

The toy railway will be a great entertainment for a small child. Familiar cartoon characters will brighten up his time:

model name: Thomas on the Road TrackMaster set;
price: 1500 r;
characteristics: looped track, rolling stock of 1 steam locomotive;
pluses: the character of the cartoon "Thomas and his friends";
cons: overpriced.

The ABtoys online store provides a wide selection of trains with a trailer for fun for the baby. For a special promotion, kits can be ordered by mail:

model name: ABtoys "Express";
price: 700 r;
characteristics: ring track, lighting fixtures, rolling stock from a locomotive, 1 trolley with coal, 2 cars;
pluses: a large set for a low price;
cons: build quality.

Battery powered

With this toy, the child will be able to send a train from a passenger car, a locomotive on the control panel:

model name: OmZET "Railway-5";
price: 1700 r;
characteristics: prefabricated track, remote-controlled train, 1 locomotive, 2 wagons;
pluses: extended set, light and noise effects;
cons: the path does not converge into a ring.

Railway-themed toys are designed for people of all ages. Eichhorn with their kits is no exception:

model name: Eichhorn "Railway with arch bridge and steam locomotive";
price: 5000 r;
features: ring line, bridge, 2 battery trains, lighting, scenery;
pluses: wide scope for children's creativity;
cons: pale tones of the toy.

For girls

The Chuggington Girl's Railroad will be able to hook the child with cheerful colors, a variety of kit details:

model name: Chuggington "Bridge and Tunnel";
price: 1800 r;
characteristics: ring track with slides, tunnel, 1 locomotive;
pluses: bright lively colors, suitable for young children;
cons: small size.

You can buy a railway cheaply in an online store from Chuggington. The starter kit includes the station building, and a funny cartoon train runs along the road:

model name: Chuggington "Double Depot";
price: 3000 r;
characteristics: two-storey building, looped track, lifting turntable, 1 locomotive;
pluses: colorful set, additional game mechanics;
cons: high cost, manual control.

Electrical

The electric railway for children from Racing PRO will be a great entertainment for more than one evening:

model name: Racing PRO "Bullet Train";
price: 3500 r;
features: triple loop line, 2 stations, bridge, locomotive, analogue control guide rails;
pluses: an interesting addictive toy;
cons: gray tones.

Models of houses, railway stations, platforms - all this is a unique children's set from Mehano:

model name: Mehano "Ice-3";
price: 13000 r;
Features: urban landscape, double closed line, analogue control of the composition of the, 500 cm of path;
pluses: colorful set, rich landscape;
cons: strength.

metal

A set with PEQUETREN railway equipment can be found in Detsky Mir stores in St. Petersburg and Moscow on sale and at a discount:

model name: PEQUETREN "Passangers train colors";
price: 3000 r;
characteristics: closed canvas 340 cm, battery-powered locomotive, 2 cars;
pluses: durable metal case;
cons: when playing, you can get hurt.

The colorful play set "Train to the West" will make the purchase of a children's toy interesting even for adults. The railway line is surrounded by a landscape familiar from frames from westerns, wagons with real prototypes were used in the set:

model name: PEQUETREN "Train to the West";
price: 5000 r;
characteristics: oval path 580 cm, stylized as a postal American composition of the 19th century;
pluses: historical stylization of the game;
cons: fragility.

plastic

On sale you can find a lot of interesting children's sets. "Carnival Delivery" will please the child with familiar characters:

model name: TrackMaster Carnival Delivery;
price: 2000 r;
characteristics: closed track 280 cm, 1 station, 1 locomotive, 1 wagon;
pluses: characters of the cartoon "Thomas and his friends";
cons: unfinished rails.

The set from S+S Toys will help to get schoolchildren interested in railway craft:

model name: S + S Toys "Station";
price: 1200 r;
characteristics: locomotive, 2 tanks, station building, 2 directions of movement, speed control with remote control;
pluses: good value for money;
cons: not found.

wooden train

The material of wooden passenger cars is soft, does not require any safety precautions:

model name: Brio 33010;
price: 2800 r;
characteristics: wooden structure, crane, looped rails;
pluses: smoothly polished wood;
cons: small size.

Brio attaches great importance to children's aspirations. A complex with a long railway track will give a basic understanding of the railway infrastructure:

model name: Brio Road and Crossing 33210;
price: 4200 r;
characteristics: ring road, overpass, road with a barrier, 2 cars, 1 train;
pluses: well-fitted wooden parts;
cons: plastic elements do not hold tightly.

New Year's

New Year's toys are in great demand. Get your kids in the holiday spirit!

model name: Hasbro "Christmas Express"
price: 4600 r;
characteristics: straight track 460 cm, 2 diesel locomotives, 3 mail trolleys, artificial snow tank;
pluses: colorful landscape;
cons: the balloon should be immediately taken away from the child, otherwise the whole apartment will be covered with snow.

LEGO products have high quality standards and are aimed at developing children's imagination:

model name: LEGO "Christmas Train";
price: 7800 r;
characteristics: closed line 500 cm, 1 locomotive, 4 trolleys, 734 parts;
pluses: a small number of parts;
cons: overpriced, small parts.

Big

The long ring road of the "Mountain Road" will open wide scope for children's imagination. Among the Top Train sets, this one is considered the most popular:

model name: Top Train "Mountain Road";
price: 10000 r;
characteristics: closed line 1270 cm, 2 trains for 1 locomotive, 3 cars;
pluses: a huge set, different options for arranging scenery;
Cons: Parts don't fit well.

The train directly from the fabulous land of Oz will not leave children indifferent:

model name: Eurotrain "Train from Oz";
price: 13000 r;
characteristics: triple ring line 980 cm, composition on analog control, 5 stations, 6 forks;
pluses: a large selection of placement of parts;
cons: not found.

Small

Hasbro products are aimed at satisfying children's desire to know everything. Check it out with the new HDD set:

model name: Hasbro "Jolly Company";
price: 1200 r;
characteristics: straight track 150 cm, 2 turning circles, 3 locomotives in a coupler, 1 stop;
pluses: build quality, characters familiar to children;
cons: overpriced.

Eurotrain is famous for its prefabricated models of domestic railway equipment. A great example of this is Armored Train:

model name: Eurotrain "Armored train";
price: 3000 r;
features: battery-powered, buildable children's model of the Soviet armored train, 180 cm straight track, realistic scenery;
pluses: historical toy;
cons: a lot of small parts.

How to choose a children's railway

To buy a children's railway and not make a mistake in choosing, you should base your choice on several criteria:

Material. Very rarely, toy manufacturers may use materials that acquire toxic properties when heated. Avoid toys containing PETE (PET), PS (PS) plastics.
Engine power type. If the choice fell on the mobile version of the toy, keep track of the fuel used: it does not have to be batteries. Not everyone wants to smell diesel fuel in the apartment.
type of toy. The modular locomotive model can be in the same packaging as a regular toy.

Hobbies are different: someone quietly and calmly collects stamps or candy wrappers, fitting their entire collection into a thick album in the top drawer, someone plays golf on Saturdays, and someone chooses an entire art direction as a hobby and devotes it all ones life.

This is exactly what can be said about lovers and fans of a railway or railway miniature, because to create a craft of this kind, one desire is not enough - it will take a lot of time, effort, careful collection of information, sometimes resources, and financial investments, and also, of course, the ability to as a result, you have a real miniature railway of your own.

A miniature railway is a subject of interest not only for children, but also for adults, and adults even more and more often. Almost every child had a children's toy in the form of a railway station with rails, locomotives and wagons, and if it cost more, then the kit included various railway signs, a semaphore, figures of drivers and other interesting details.

It’s interesting to play this, but I always wanted more, for example, that the railway network would be more developed and contain many branches and turns of the rails, so that train models were inertial or moved by themselves, and you could control them using the remote control, so that there were many additional elements: tunnels, bridges, roads with vehicles, trees, people, etc.

To make such a toy, or rather, not a toy, but a real mock-up of a railway with your own hands, you need to work hard, and not all children have such an opportunity, so you will probably need the help of your parents. It’s good if they share your passion for railway miniatures and help in creating crafts. For an adult lover of railway modeling, of course, it is easier in this regard.

As for the directions in which there is a miniature railway hobby, they are separated by several:

some simply collect only toy rails, trains and all their accessories;
others also collect, but already scale models;
still others are engaged in the manufacture of railways in miniature, recreating entire historical stations and railway stations, laying a real railway network from different directions of the tracks, engaged in the actual reconstruction of certain objects;
someone tries to make miniature copies of real or existing locomotives and trains in the smallest detail;
and another interesting type of railway modeling is a park or garden railway, for the creation of which a very large scale is used, so such a model of the railway can even be used as an attraction and transport people in it.

A bit of history

A miniature railway is not a tribute to fashion and not a new phenomenon, because the history of railway miniatures and modeling goes back more than one hundred and fifty years. For the first time, the model of the railway appeared, like a toy, in the nineteenth century (in its second half). Germany, represented by the manufacturer Märklin, took over the provision of the necessary industrial volumes. Their miniature railways were of such high quality and good that even the royal family ordered such a model for the Winter Palace.

Based on the scale of the railroad shown in the German-made miniature, scale standards for railroad modeling were later adopted. By the end of the nineteenth century, America also joined the cause, for the first time in the world, launching an electric model of the railway on the market (manufacturer - Carlisle & Finch).

Almost until the middle of the last century, both an ordinary toy in the form of railway rails with a train, and an ideally exact copy or a miniature railway were perceived in the same way, however, after the toy ceased to cause such a stir, and modeling began to take shape as a serious hobby, gradually finding more and more more fans.

Therefore, the manufacturers tried to please their new admirers - adults who were eager to assemble a full-fledged miniature model of the railway. To do this, they began to produce more advanced models, where the rails could be folded into a full-fledged railway track in miniature, where locomotives and wagons had many parts and elements, which also included various buildings, road paraphernalia and signs, a semaphore, etc.

In our time, there are practically no world-class giant firms left that would be engaged in such production, however, there are many small successfully functioning companies specializing in the production of certain models of trains or additional accessories, without which a miniature railway is impossible.

Scales, components and other nuances

To make a model of a railway, you need to understand many nuances, for example, on what scale a miniature railway is usually made, what types of kits and configurations of crafts can be obtained, whether a diagram is needed and where to get it, what to do with accessories, necessary details and various accessories, etc.

Scale and size standards for railway modeling are very different. The most common are sizes bearing the symbol TT and NO.

The TT standard size - from the English Table-top trains - means that the model of the railway is carried out on a scale of one to one hundred and twenty (1:120) with a gauge of twelve millimeters. Such a miniature railway is also called a twelve-millimeter railway. All mobile models of trains are also made in it - this is done by supplying electricity along the rails, although it is possible to connect an electric locomotive through a contact network.

A large number of models and various accessories for assembling railway miniatures of this size are produced by:

German companies Berliner TT Bahnen, Tillig;
European manufacturers Roco and Piko have a small selection;
Jago pleases fans with rare models of vintage locomotives;
Russian firms "Peresvet" and "TT-model";
American PossumValleyModels, GoldCoast (some models of wagons and locomotives).

Another common size is NO. The name comes from the English abbreviation HalfZero or half zero. The model of the railway in this case is produced in a scale ratio of one to eighty-seven (1:87). There is also a size 0, in which the scale is taken twice as much, that is, 1 to 45. And here it turns out half of zero, but the Latin letter O is used instead of it in the designation.

A miniature railway in this scale is considered the most popular and widespread in the world due to the fact that it can be made without the use of complex devices, moreover, these models of railways are large enough for detailing, but at the same time quite convenient and compact to place the layout in the house or apartment.

A miniature railway of this standard size is also mobile: energy is supplied from a contact network or along rails (in the case of electric motors in locomotive models). Plus - you have the opportunity to use additional interesting elements when creating crafts:

a smoke generator device that will run on oil and create a smoke effect over diesel locomotives or steam locomotives;
installation of a sound decoder in the rolling stock - you can play any sound files that imitate noises and sounds of train traffic, etc.;
signaling devices, which stands for signaling, centralization and blocking.

Various other sizes also exist. For example, the large-scale G standard, which has been developed and produced since 1968 and is still being developed by the German company LGB. This is the clearest example of an outdoor garden railroad. In general, the larger the scale at which the miniature railway is being built is chosen, the more detailed the prototype should be repeated, the smallest details and elements should be taken into account.

Do it yourself or buy?

Today you can find many thematic forums, special publications dedicated to railway modeling. You can purchase various elements separately and put them together later, mounting your own railroad layout.

However, first of all, you will need to decide on the available free space. Can you allocate half or even an entire room for the layout? If not, then you will first have to deal with the construction of a mock-up or equipment of a special place. To do this, you can use at least a separate table or make a retractable / folding tabletop, which will be used only for your project and nothing else, which means that you do not have to fold and remove the layout every time.

There are also options for modular layouts, which consist of individual blocks, cantilever structures (you can attach mock-ups to the walls like shelves) and lift-ups (easily stows away under the ceiling).

It is also better to take the appropriate scale for an apartment, for example, with a size of 1:87 you will not do much, because you will need at least a space of one by three meters. It is better to stop at the scales of 1:120 or 1:160, since designing a layout in an even smaller Z size (1:240) will require a lot of skills, effort and financial investments.

To create your own miniature railway, you will need to come up with and think over its future appearance to the smallest detail. Perhaps you should start with the simplest scheme, for example, make only one rail ring and a locomotive with several cars. Over time, you will add additional tracks, trains, semaphore and signs, station and buildings, figures of people, etc. to the project.

Experienced craftsmen already know how to create whole detailed landscapes - mountains and plains, bridges and tunnels, forests and fields, miniature streets, numerous forks in the paths, depots and other interesting things.

Even for the simplest project, it is better to make a diagram. Just try to draw what exactly you want to create. If your plans are to create a railway of a certain historical era, then you will need to thoroughly study all available information on this topic, find archival photographs, copy them, etc.

Also, a detailed diagram will be needed for the manufacture of models of locomotives and wagons. You can use the drawing diagram of a particular machine by looking for its photo. Just divide the real dimensions of a particular train by the scale you need and you will have a ready-made construction plan.

Step by step work plan

Provide space for the project and make a sub-layout (a simple configuration can even be placed on a plywood sheet).
Transfer the scheme of the future railway miniature to the mock-up (draw how the rails will pass, mark the forks and turns, roads where you will place buildings or structures). For a complex rail arrangement, the scheme can be designed on a computer in a special program.
Laying rails. Rail material can be bought at a specialized store or you can make them yourself. Since current flows along the rails in moving roads, the craftsmen make them from thick copper wire, rolling it to a rectangular section on a manual machine. Sleepers are made from thin bars, which are also cut on the machine. The tracks are attached in two ways: they are either glued or nailed to the base with small studs, you can then solder the rails to the same studs or also glue the rails to the sleepers.
For a mobile model, it is necessary to additionally develop an electrical circuit, and then mount it on a breadboard model. Homemade blocks are usually taken as a power source, you can also take a factory one. Do not forget about safety rules - the output voltage cannot be high, use a power supply unit up to sixteen volts, and if the model is small, then six to nine volts will be enough. The electric motor for the train can be purchased at the radio store or removed from any toy. Conduct electricity to the engine from two rails. To distribute electricity throughout the base, stock up on connectors and copper wires. Think over all the details before wiring - where the semaphores and traffic lights, barriers will be located, whether the lights will be on, etc.
Backfill and lay the ballast, selecting it in size among aquarium soils or any household bulk materials.
Think over and make a relief and a landscape. To make your layout look like a real one, be sure to design a beautiful landscape. You can use professional materials such as trowel-mass, forest floor, meadow powder, different layers of the earth, crushed stone, sand, gravel and other interesting accessories from well-known manufacturers. If you choose more budget options, then to imitate the mountains, it is quite possible to get by with construction foam, which can then be easily painted in any desired color. Hills, fields, vegetation and other decor can also be recreated from plywood, gypsum plaster, fiberglass, papier-mâché, wood and other finishing materials. To paint the details, use acrylic paints.
If there is no time and desire to bother so much, then many elements can be taken to the layout and ready-made, for example, from toy sets, in which there are figures of trees, and dummies of grass or bushes, animals, cars, signs, people.
The situation is the same with buildings - either use ready-made options, or build your own from cardboard, wood, plywood, papier-mâché. Use photographs of real stations and other buildings as references.
Add the necessary components: draw roads, paint the grass, arrange the figures of people and put the trains on the rails.

Passion for railway modeling can start with a gift set with a railway and trains. Such a hobby, although it requires considerable effort and expense, undoubtedly helps to develop, think, create and not stand still.

Plan your garden space appropriately. You will need to allocate sufficient space for laying paths, landscaping and additional elements such as buildings and bridges.

Try to choose a visually appealing location with easy access.
If possible, raise the railroad above ground level; so it will be easier to care for her and admire. Focus on a height that is comfortable for a small child.
Do not forget about the main purpose of the garden, consider the possible consequences of the construction of the railway. Also think about possible problems that domestic and wild animals can cause, and provide appropriate protective equipment.

Find helpers. Building a railway can be turned into an activity for the whole family, because this way things will go not only more fun, but also faster. Usually children are very fond of helping, but their interest largely depends on how good they are, so it's best to find something for everyone by age. If the neighbors also want to participate, then why not?

Create a plan and path layout. The project should take into account aesthetic preferences, available space and available budget. If you are going to make a railway in several stages, then consider this moment when drawing up a plan.

For starters, a simple round or oval path pattern would be a good option. So it will be easier for you to plant plants next to the canvas and install additional elements, if you wish, you can add a bridge or a tunnel.
When planning a more complex structure, check the feasibility of the plan by first trying to assemble such a railway in a free place.
Always consider the size of the train, as it affects the size of the tracks, which in turn affects the entire design.

Calculate your budget. We immediately warn that the garden railway can cost a round sum, including the cost of preparing the garden plot (soil, supporting and lifting elements, gravel / pebbles, etc.), the cost of plants, the tracks themselves, trains and additional elements. The more complex the plan, the higher the cost, but you can save some money by looking for some parts on online auctions and similar places. With a phased construction of the road, you do not have to lay out the entire amount at once.

Purchase suitable tracks and wagons. Tracks and wagons must be suitable for outdoor use in all weather, so purchase or make fixtures that can withstand the weather. Among other things, you will need:

Buildings and structures
Natural objects that will be part of the garden railway
Tunnel

Start building the railroad. It may take from several days to weeks or even months to complete the work, depending on the amount of free time and the complexity of the project. A lot will also depend on weather conditions.

Prepare the site. Remove all debris and unnecessary plants from the site. Use a level to level the surface.
Gather materials. When using lifting and supporting elements, they are installed first.
Consider drainage and weed protection. You can put a special lining. Ensure proper drainage properties of the soil.
Follow the plan. Lay the tracks according to the plan. Use stainless nails and screws.
Place the materials that will cover the ground around the railroad and on the track (sand, gravel, etc.). Railroad ballast is made from several layers of sawdust, screenings or gravel, and then larger pebbles or crushed stone.
Level bulk materials.
To remove sand or soil from the tracks during the construction process, use a brush (both a pastry brush and a paint brush will do).
After the railway track and pavement, install buildings and structures.

Select trains. You have already chosen the appropriate train size for the track. Now is the time to choose the models you need!

A decision needs to be made about the type of train power supply: it will be a battery that is inserted directly into the train, or a transformer cabinet. When using electricity in the garden, follow all safety instructions and, if necessary, seek the help of an electrician.
Trains should have a timer so that they do not run constantly, continuously draining the battery.

Children's toys with trains are unique in many ways. After all, a crumb at 2 years old, and a peanut 4-5 years old, and a schoolboy, and even an adult can play with them. They are of interest to both boys and girls. And most importantly - all railways are excellent educational toys. It remains only to find out how to correctly choose a steam locomotive for a child ...

How useful is the railway for children?

Steam locomotives, wagons, passenger and freight trains, rails, sleepers, semaphores with barriers, stations and train stations - all this is fanned by the charm of a long journey, from which even small children, who are not really familiar with charm, cannot turn away! That is why toys that allow a child to get to know the railway theme closely are always popular as a gift. However, their charm is not only that they are able to arouse a sincere interest in a given topic in a child and captivate him for more than one hour. For loving parents, the developing factor of such fun is no less important. Children's railway improves fine motor skills, develops coordination, promotes figurative and spatial thinking of the child. Moreover, all these qualities only increase over the years! After all, complex sets designed for older children are comparable to full-fledged ones, where it is necessary to create your own railway network from many elements. And this requires a well-known and the ability to concentrate, as well as imagination, ingenuity and creativity. What can I say, if the hobby for the miniature railway world can turn into a real hobby for life - a huge number of adults collect model trains around the world!

What are "railroad" toys?

But, as often happens with children's toys, in order for the trains and trains of the baby to be truly interested, a number of factors must be taken into account. And the most important of them is the compliance of the selected set with the age of the child. He will not fully appreciate a railroad that is too complicated for a little man, but he will completely ignore a completely simple one. Therefore, start with the age group:

During this period, children are just mastering "transport" toys. For them, the accuracy of reproducing a real object and its ability to copy the behavior of a prototype is not important - it is much more important that the toy is large, understandable and durable. Therefore, choose simple plastic or wood trains, with a bright design (it's good if the train is "brought to life" with the help of painted eyes and a smile, or stylized as heroes of popular animated series) and a minimum of small details. For an interesting game, 1-3 wagons and not long looped rails are enough. And for very young “drivers” you can pick up a kit without a railway at all. For them, a train is often enough, which can be rolled directly on the floor and table (in fact, this is not a train, but a kind of machine “under the train”), and not limited to one direction of movement in a circle. By the way, for the same reason, crumbs do not need mechanized trains. They are much more interested in moving the locomotive with their own hands, and not just watching it move at the behest of the electric drive.

By this age, the simplest trains can start to bother kids. Therefore, it is worth choosing already more advanced models. Thus, the design becomes more realistic and detailed (although still far from large-scale modeling). The number of cars for an exciting game also requires much more - at least 5-6, and different in content (passenger and freight cars, a tank, a platform for a typewriter, etc.). The child's wish also changes in the structure of the railway itself. The base ring is no longer exciting, and you need a set that allows you to collect a variety of options for train tracks - with forks and arrows, turns and crossings. All this contributes to a noticeable variety of games, they do not bother the child for a longer time. At the same time, the games themselves also become more complicated. If before that the kid is “behind the eyes” of riding a train, periodically saying the coveted “tu-tu!”, by the age of 3 he is already interested in role-playing and story games. Therefore, it is worth telling him (and even better show on video) how the railway works.

3-5 years and older

The child is already old enough to be seriously interested in the functioning of trains. That is why he perceives with a bang very accurate miniature copies of real steam locomotives, diesel locomotives and electric locomotives! He demands the same realism from all other attributes of the children's railway: rails, hauls, stations, driver's booths. There are even drawbridges, tunnels, trees and animals in some sets, which allows you to create a “real” landscape around the playground! Separately, it is worth mentioning the mechanization of the toy mentioned above. If at 2-3 years old many children are glad that the locomotive can move independently with the help of a built-in motor launched by a button on the body, then from 3-4 years old it is already too easy. And therefore it’s good if the little “station chief” has a real remote control in his hands: to start, stop and reverse the train, to switch arrows, raise barriers and even turn on semaphores! Needless to say, in this case, not just cars, but already one train is not enough - better than 2 or 3 ...

What characteristics of the children's railway are important?

When choosing a particular railway set, you should pay attention to a number of its features. Among them:

light music: many trains for both the smallest and older children have light and indication: flashing lights and signals while driving, this makes the game more fun;

smoke: the apotheosis of realism, put on expensive models, this is real smoke coming from the chimney of a steam locomotive, resulting from a safe chemical reaction - just keep in mind that it can smell unpleasant;

hitch: pay attention to how easy it is to hitch the cars to each other and to the train - remember that for a small child, a simple hitch with a hook or magnet is better, which does not require much effort;

the size of the locomotive: the rule is simple - the smaller the child, the larger the train and wagons for playing are needed, so that they can be easily handled by children's fingers with underdeveloped fine motor skills, and vice versa;

canvas size: here the rule is the opposite - it is better for small children to take a set of rails that is not very large, and for older children the set is 2-3 times longer (it is only important that there is enough space in the nursery for its installation);

accessories: it is important to consider the possibility of further expansion with the help of separately purchased rails, crossings, bridges, train stations, new cars, etc., so that the game “grows” with the baby;

quality: try to evaluate the set without packaging - is there any chemical smell, cracks, traces of inaccurate assembly, glue, chips, paint peeling off, hinges have any play, does the toy crack from light compression;

materials: children's toys should be made exclusively from safe plastic, wood, metal, so do not forget to look at quality certificates that guarantee the high quality of the locomotives;

era: relevant for older kids. If you choose a historical type railway, you need, as with, to take into account whether the child himself is familiar with that era - otherwise it will not be clear to him what kind of steam locomotive it is and why it is so unlike modern trains.

And one more, largely unexpected, but important nuance when choosing in a store. Try to put the train with wagons on the rails and roll back and forth a bit. It should not only roll easily and without the slightest creak, but also ... not derail. For some manufacturers, the design of the set is such that with any inaccurate handling (and for children this is in the order of things), the composition falls off the canvas. Which, of course, disappoints the child, causing him more than legitimate indignation. Therefore, if there is a suspicion that the wheels are not very confident on the rails, it is better to refuse to purchase.

Does your child already have a set of children's railroad - or are you just planning such a gift?

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The railway for children is one of the most interesting and popular educational games. The children's railway will bring joy and pleasure from the game not only to kids, but also to adults. This is an exciting family constructor, in the collection and in the game with which there is something to do for mom and dad.

How useful is this educational toy?

A toy railroad is a great gift for a child. Your child will be very interested in laying railroad tracks, installing turnouts and intersections, railroad crossings, stations, train stations, cargo terminals, bridges, trees and other infrastructure and sending trains on a journey through an apartment or a country house.

The railroad is a versatile and durable toy that suits both boys and girls. When choosing a toy railroad, you need to take into account many parameters, such as the age of the child, and the temperament of the baby, and the cost of the railroad, and the materials of manufacture, the brand, the control method, the possibilities for expansion so that the toy is interesting for as long as possible.

Typically, a standard children's railway set consists of a rail track, sometimes including arrows that can change the route of the train, and a train with trailers of various shapes and purposes. Collecting such a toy is not difficult. Also, railway sets sometimes include additional accessories: stations, tunnels, trees, barriers and other buildings. A remote control may also be included.

Child's age

One of the first questions to ask yourself before buying a railroad is who will play: the kids or the parents? And you need to answer it honestly. And if you understand that yes, dad will play - you can safely buy radio-controlled trains, collectible models of cars and multi-level interchanges: dad will cope with them. Quite a lot of adults are interested in modeling and railways are a great hobby. But if you are sure that you are purchasing a railway for a child, then pay attention to what age the selected set is designed for.

Psychologists say that a child under 4 years old needs simple models, without great detail and radio control. The child first dismantles what the parents built, then begins to roll the locomotives on the rails (they like to roll the locomotives on their own), then they begin to transport goods and little men, and only then they begin to build the road. Almost all children's railways for kids will cope well with a similar task.

For kids 2-5 years old, you need to choose a simple model made of plastic or wood with large parts, without complex components and mechanisms. The railroad for babies should not contain small parts (which the baby can swallow) or protruding sharp elements (which the child can get hurt on). For kids, the excessive plausibility of a steam locomotive and wagons is not required. No smoke or remote control required. On the contrary, we need simple and understandable forms, colorful colors. At the first stage, a steam locomotive with two or three wagons and one rail ring or figure eight will be quite enough. For young children, railways are suitable: Brio, IKEA, WOODY, Chuggington Wooden Railway, Chuggington StackTrack (Die-Cast), Thomas & Friends.

For children aged 5-12, it will be more interesting to model a railway with different switches, control panels, switch points, crossings, interchanges, stations, railway stations, trees, towers, sounds, light signaling, etc. Thanks to the switches and different mechanisms, the child will develop thinking and logic. It is better for children of this age to buy a train with batteries or accumulators. The more options you have to change the settings of the game, the longer your child will be interested in the railway. An excellent choice would be a railroad constructor from LEGO. In addition to it, hundreds of other sets are sold, from which you can build an entire city. If parents understand that they will not play trains, but their smart child, then when choosing a model, it is also worth considering the opinion of the future owner. Suitable railways:, Tomica, Strela.

For kids over 12, teens and adults, choose the most realistic railroad you can find. Detailed believable model railways with a metal canvas on a digital or analog control with a lot of additional parts and elements will do. More interesting will be a toy in which there are such functions as light, sound, sometimes steam. Very popular models of modern and old railways, which are a reduced copy of the originals, in fact, these are real masterpieces. Such toys repeat every detail of the reproduced object. In addition to the railroad sets, expansion kits are sold to furnish an entire city: houses, landscapes, stations, trees, drawbridges, airports, railway signs, animal figures, etc. Good model railways are produced by PIKO, Fleischmann, Roco, Märklin, TRIX, Mehano, etc.

The cost and quality of the railway

The price of a toy railway depends on the quality of workmanship, detailing and elaboration, brand popularity, scale, the material of which the road and rolling stock are made, the availability of electronics and remote control, as well as the size of the set and the number of items in the box.

For example, in good large collection sets of well-known brands there is a digital remote control, the rails are made of metal, diesel locomotives and wagons are worked out in detail and are miniature copies of their real prototypes. It is clear that such railways are more expensive than plastic and wooden analogues without detailing and radio control.

On the other hand, we do not recommend buying the cheapest Chinese low-grade toys. Not only will their poor quality disappoint you and your child, but there is also the possibility that such a low-quality cheap railway will not last more than a few days. And you won’t have to console an upset child because of a breakdown and spend money on a re-purchase if you bought a solid toy from the very beginning (comparing price and quality) from a trusted manufacturer. Good railways always have high-quality packaging, with colorful pictures and good printing.

Production material

Children's railways are made of various materials: plastic, metal, wood. Wooden ones are used for kids 2-5 years old. Plastic railroads are versatile and commercially available for ages 2-12. Metal railroads look the most realistic, and they cost more. Such sets are usually produced for older children from 9 years old. It is important to pay attention not only to the material of manufacture, but also to the quality of the materials used and assembly.

Control method

Wooden and plastic railroads for toddlers 1-3 years old do not contain electronics and are designed for hand rolling. For toddlers 2-6 years old, battery-powered sets usually use simple controls. For example, the plastic one is easily controlled by one button located on the roof of the steam locomotive (this is the most successful and simple control for a battery-powered train). And the Chuggington or Thomas railroad, depending on the set, uses both button control on the locomotive and control using switches and levers on the track, and remote-controlled Chuggington locomotives are also sold.

Railway sets for children over 6 years of age usually have a remote control. For example, a battery-operated plastic one for children aged 6-12 is controlled using an infrared 4-channel remote control. Moreover, up to 8 toy trains can be controlled from this remote control, lighting is also controlled from the remote control. For model railways for older children, teenagers, and adults, digital and analog remote control is commonly used. With the analog control method, metal rails are used to transmit the signal.

Expandability

All good children's railroads have additional expansion kits. To begin with, a starter kit is usually bought, and then additional rails, stations, barriers, arrows, additional rolling stock, vehicles, tunnels, bridges, and accessories are purchased. When choosing a starter kit, it is important to clarify the expansion options. Many options for developing track facilities or surrounding infrastructure are available for Lego Duplo, Lego City, Brio, IKEA, WOODY, Chuggington Wooden Railway, Chuggington StackTrack (Die-Cast), Thomas & Friends, PowerTrains, Tomica, PIKO, Fleischmann, Roco, Mehano .

Scale

There are several standard sizes defined for detailed railroad models with a metal track. The most common of them (in ascending order): Z (1:220 - track width 6.5 mm), N (1:160 - track width 9 mm), TT (1:120 - track width 12 mm), H0 (1 :87 - track width 16.5 mm), S (1:64 - track width 22.5 mm), O (1:45 - track width 32 mm), G (1:24 - track width 45 mm). The "Z", "N" and "TT" standard are popular among adult rail model fans. The "G" standard has become widespread for outdoor construction (garden railroads).

Theme and era

This criterion may be important if you are purchasing a toy for older children, teenagers, or adults. Among the sets of railways, which can be found in stores, there are various historical eras, countries and themes. For example, for fans of domestic railways, sets with modern Russian Railways rolling stock or USSR trains are sold. Also on sale you can find, for example, steam locomotives depicting the era of the Wild West or European railways during the First World War. If desired, you can purchase railway sets of different themes and purposes: freight, repair, fire, postal, military, oil, passenger trains, high-speed trains, electric trains, metro trains, monorail trains, etc.

Manufacturers of wooden railways for children 2-5 years old

Brio (Sweden)
IKEA (Sweden)
Woody(Czech Republic)
PlanToys (Thailand)
Biltema (Finland)
Bino (Germany)
Eichhorn (Germany)
ELC (UK)
ROYS (China)

Manufacturers of plastic railways for children aged 2-12

Lego (Denmark)
Tomy (USA)
Fisher Price
Little Tikes
Jakks Pacific
Joy Toy

Manufacturersrolling stock models for children from 10 years old

PIKO Spielwaren GmbH (Germany)
Roco Modelleisenbahn GmbH (Austria)
Gebr. Fleischmann GmbH (Germany)
Gebr. Marklin & Cie. GmbH (Germany)
Tillig Modellbahnen GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
Brawa Artur Braun Modellspielwarenfabrik GmbH (Germany)
TRIX Modelleisenbahn GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
Liliput (Germany)
Bachmann Industries (USA)
Hornby Railways (England)
Lima S.p.A (Lima Models) (Italy)
Rivarossi (Italy)
Arnlod (Germany)
Elektrotren (Spain)
Mehano (Slovenia)
Jago-Modellbau (Germany)
Kuehn (Germany)
L.S. Models (Belgium)
Graham Farish (England)
Kato (Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd.) (Japan)
LGB (Lehmann-Gross-Bahn) (Brazil)
Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc. (USA)
ACME (Italy)
wm. K. Walthers, Inc. (USA)
Ibertren Modelismo, S.L. (Spain)
Dapol (England)
Athearn (USA)
M.T.H. Electric Trains (USA)
BEMO Modelleisenbahnen (Germany)
Os Kar. International (Italy)
Broadway Limited Imports, LL (USA)
Rocuhan (Toytec Corporation) (Japan)

Manufacturers of premium models for children from 10 years old

Lemaco (Lematec Prestige Models SA) (Switzerland)
M1 Modellbau (Germany)
Bavaria (Germany)
Micro-Metakit GmbH (Germany)
Flugurex (Switzerland)
Weinert-Modellbau (Germany)

Manufacturers of model accessories for children from 10 years old

Faller-GERB. FALLER GmbH (Germany)
Auhagen (Germany)
Peco (England)
Noch GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
Woodland Scenics (USA)
Busch GmbH & Co (Germany)
Vollmer GmbH & Co KG (Germany)
Viessmann Modellspielwaren GmbH (Germany)
Heki Kittler GmbH (Germany)
Heljan (Denmark)
Kibri (Germany)
Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH (Germany)
ESU electronic solutions ulm GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
Preiser (Germany)
Zimo (Austria)
Kadee Quality Products Co (USA)
Uhlenbrock (Germany)
Lenz Elektronik GmbH (Germany)

Manufacturers of domestic models for children from 10 years old

TT-Model (Russia-Germany)
Eurotrain (Russia)
Onega (Latvia)
Model Hobby-Orenburg (Russia)
Bergs (Latvia)
Russian Costum Train (RCT)
Modelldepo (Russia)
Peresvet (Russia)
Norkin-model (Russia)
miniaturmodelle
Phoenix (Latvia)
Model (Latvia)
ModellHouse (Russia)

Do you still have doubts?

Do not doubt the benefits of such a purchase. Having received a model of the railway as a gift, your child will be provided with a calm and interesting activity. Playing the railroad is a very exciting activity for children. This game performs an important cognitive and developmental function. Laying railway tracks and launching trains along the routes, your child develops figurative and spatial thinking, logic, coordination of movements and fine motor skills of hands. You can play the railway with the whole family, where everyone will have their own roles: the head of the railway, the train driver, the passenger, the railway worker, the cashier, etc. By inventing various game scenarios, children develop their imagination, have fun and spend time usefully.

In the end, which railroad to choose?

Our dear readers and customers, whatever you decide, in any case, the choice is yours. For ourselves, after looking at all the options and weighing all the pros and cons, we made this choice in favor of the LEGO railways. For our two children (one and three years old) we bought sets