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Vintage model train collectors and hobbyists tend to specialize by scale or gauge (O scale, HO scale, N scale, Z scale, G scale), by type (brass, tinplate, steam, etc.), or by manufacturer (Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, Märklin). Until the National Model Railroad Association was formed in 1935, there were no standard gauges and a train from one manufacturer wouldn’t necessarily run on a track from another. The NMRA developed the standardized gauge system that is still in place today.
O scale model trains, built to a 1:43, 1:45, or 1:48 scale reached a height of popularity before World War II. True O scale trains ran on a two-rail track and were built to scale. Companies like Lionel and American Flyer made O gauge trains, but these ran on a three-rail track and are not as collectible as O scale.
HO scale model trains were introduced in the 1930s and became popular in the 1950s. HO, short for "Half O," is scaled to a 1:87 size and has the widest available range of rolling stock and accessories of all model railroad scales. Most HO scale trains run on a two rail track.
N scale is built to a 1:160 scale, much smaller than O and HO. First introduced in the 1960s, N scale model railroads are in demand because they don't require a lot of space to set up a layout. An even smaller scale, Z scale (built at a scale of 1:220), was first introduced in Germany in 1972 and became common in the U.S. shortly after.
G scale trains are the largest model trains and can be used for either indoor or outdoor (aka 'garden') model railroads. G scale trains, built at a scale of 1:22.5, are the largest electrically-powered model trains.
HO scale trains are currently the most sought-after, although O scale was most popular in the 1930s and '40s.
The earliest model trains were mostly made of tinplate. Tin trains, which were cheap and efficient, were produced until shortly after World War II, when other materials took the lead. After WWII, soldiers returned to the U.S. with brass model trains from Japan, sparking an interest in brass railroad sets. Although still made today, the most collectible brass model trains are those produced in Japan up through the 1970s.
Until the 1950s, steam locomotive models were more popular than diesel, and they continue to be desirable among collectors today. Steam model trains are categorized by wheel configuration and railroad name.
Some people tend to collect more by the railroad than the manufacturer, even creating railroad layouts that are historically accurate. Some of the most popular railroads to collect and recreate are the Pennsylvania Railroad, New York Central, Chicago and North Western, Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, and Great Northern.
MidgeToys
DAD'S TOYS
Lionel Post-war 2368 B & O F3's,w/rare Grey Shell,mint +,un-run,w/master Carton!
Aster Usra Light Mikado 1/32 Scale, Live Steam Locomotive
Lionel Set # 291w W/ 226e Steam Loco 2226w Tender & 2954 2955 2957 Freights Nice
The "buddy L" Line - Outdoor Model Train , Circa1920 
Lionel Girls Set 1587s / X738 Complete W All Boxes - Rare Version - Excellent
Key Imports Brass Prr Q-1 Duplex F/p
Rare Tenshodo Union Pacific 4-12-2 Mint
American Flyer "whites Auto Store Special Set" #20212 1961
Lionel Post-war Set 2183ws, Mint +, Un-run, From 1952, Boxes, Setbox, Paperwork
Mth Railking G Scale Up "bigboy" 4-8-8-4 70-3009-1 Proto 2
On3 Brass13 Ton Open Cab T Boiler Shay By Echo Mountain Imports
Lionel Alaska Railroad Superliner 2 Level 4 Car Passenger Set 6-15395 Sealed Nib
Ives 1694 Loco 4-4-4 Crca 1932 Original The Rarest Prewar O Gauge Loco Made
N Scale Train Set Layout
Northern Pacific Z5 2-8-8-4 Pfm Fujiyama Crown
Lionel 763e Prewar Hudson 4-6-4 & 2263w Tender Vg+rare!
Lionel Pre-war Rare Gun-metal Set 6504e, Mint, W/setbox,boxes, Paperwork,scarce!
Lionel # 6-11332 -4-8-4 Atsf Northern Steamer W/rs & Legacy **year End Special**
Brass Ho Overland Omi Ajin New York Central Nyc 'hudson' J1b (4-6-4) F/p -new- 
Eric Cab #5016 Triplex Steam Engine - O Gauge - Mikes Train House
Ho Brass Psc Np Northern Pacific A-5 4-8-4
Zycon/cmc Komatsu D575a-3 W/ripper Brass (only 25 Units Produced) 1/87
Lionel Prewar Standard Gauge No. 53 0-4-0 Engine W/ No.181, 182 Passenger Cars
Rare Ltd. Edition Lgb Glacier Express Blue Crocodile 412 Locomotive-no Reserve!
Accucraft Pennsylvania K-4 4-6-2 #3750 Live Steam 
N Scale B&o Baltimore & Ohio Key Imports Brass P7d Cincinnatian Locomotive New 
Lionel Post-war 6464-325 B & O Sentinel Boxcar, Mint +, Orig.box, Awesome Piece!
Ho Westside Santa Fe Big 3
Lionel 12820 Virginian Fm Set, Circa 1965 Complete Mtob's "no Screw Cracks Fm"
Boston & Maine P-2-c 4-6-2 #3689, F/p "flying Yankee" 1930 By Overland
Lionel Corp 400e Blue Comet Set Bn Unopened 11-1009-1, 11-40021
Lionel Post-war 2379 Rio Grande F-3's With Master Carton, Mint+, Un-run, W/ob's!
Lionel 6-38060 Jlc U P H-7 2-8-8-2 Steam Loco & Tender #3590 Nib Odyssey Tmcc
Lionel Pre-war Scarce Set 292, Mint-, Test-run, With High-grade Set Box, Awesome
Mth O Scale Premier 4-6-4 Santa Fe Blue Goose Hudson W/ 8 Passenger Cars 
Brass O Psc Great Northern Sw-1 F/p No Reserve 
Lionel 6-31742 Santa Fe Super Chief Set 2544w
C&o H7a 2-8-8-2 Supr Detaild Unpaintd Brass - Free S&h In Us
Lionel O Gauge Union Pacific Steam Engine - 6-38029
Lionel O Scale Diesel Locomotive Santa Fe F-7aba Set (pwr A#332, Dmy A #333)
On3 Max Gray Slim Princess Southern Pacific Sp 18 Ten Wheeler
Lionel Mth #1694 Ives Electric W/proto-sound 2.0 & 3 Blue/silver Passenger Set
Lionel Brand New Boxed With Master Carton Santa Fe 2383 F3 Aa Set
New-g-scale Steam Locomotive 
Lionel Trains Hiawatha #350-e Passenger Car Set Engine Cars Milwaukee Road Huge 
Z Scale (*marklin) Collection
Sp Cab Forward Ac-4 4-8-8-2 By 3rd Rail...awsome !!!...(lionel, Mth, Weaver)
1929 Ives Train Set W/ Box-490r-1122 Engine Locomotive-freight 121 To 128-lionel
American Flyer Pre-war 102 Central Station, Mint, 1930's, W/grade 9/10 Orig. Box
Lionel Post-war Motorized 65 Handcar, Mint, Orig. Box,ob, With Insert And Papers
Brass O Scale 2 Rail Oriental Great Northern Gn H-4 4-6-2
Mint Lionel 6-38144, 6-14541 Mint Lionel Chesapeake And Ohio F3 A-b-a Engine Set
Ho Brass Joseph Stalin Streamlined Steam Loco Is 20-16 #8/50
Marklin 39540 - Ho - "gottardo" Tee Electric Rail Car Train - Brand New
New Haven P32ac-dm (cdot) #231 Mcginnis Scheme By Overland Models/ajin New/mint!
Lgb G Scale # 51 Unitah Railway Engine 20882 Near Mint In Box Awesome !
-lionel 1930s Blue Streak 5 Pc Ex Streamliner Commodore Set-
Tenshodo Union Pacific 4002 Ho Brass Train
***lionel Early 1946 Postwar 726/2426w Nice With Boxes***
Roco 43848 Museum Obb Austrian Steam Engine 310.23 For Marklin Ac And Digital
