Regular readers of this blog will know I focus on traditional model railways, Hornby etc. But occasionally I like to play with other forms of tiny train, Lego in particular.
They’re trains and railways after all and a whole lot of fun.
I’ve previously written about lessons railway modellers could learn from Lego trains and occasionally review them, as I did with the Lego 60051 Intercity Express.
But there’s another point.
Just watch this quick insanely big house and garden Lego railway.
There’s also this alternative view of it.
The take away is something model railway builders sometimes lose sight of along the way.
Trains are fun.
You can’t help but watch and not want to run the trains on it.
And that’s what we sometimes overlook. We get so wrapped up in building layouts we forget just running them. I certainly do.
So if you’ve been spending the evenings this winter making models, stop and run your trains for bit. That’s what all your efforts are leading up to after all!
It’s great to see them hurtling around, or shuffling if you have a shunting layout.
Of course, this also has the advantage that you’ll be testing your track and rolling stock and can fix any problems that have crept in.
So what are you waiting for. Go and run your trains. I am!
Andy is a lifelong modeler, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 20 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian/early Edwardian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas. His website has won several awards, and he is a member of MERG (Model Railway Electronics Group) and the 009 Society.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.
