Are you offended by the "T" word?

No. 

Not in the least, we all need to play, especially during these difficult times. Miketg

Nope- remember the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.....

Nope, that is exactly what they are, toy trains. Some are very expensive some are less expensive.

Toys for some. Models for others.

I think it depends on the individuals layout and collection. 

I've seen layouts reminiscent of postwar toy style layouts. Others  rival reality ,aside from the center rail.

There's room in this hobby for both, and everything in between.

I'm not offended but I think there is a clear distinction between toy trains and model railroading that people need to recognize - even though both are certainly part of the same hobby. I consider myself to be a model railroader, not a toy train collector or operator. To me, both are equally worthwhile activities. Some people insist on calling what I do "toy trains." In my opinion they are incorrect, but they can call it whatever they want. However, people should be respectful of how others describe themselves, and responses to this question often are not. This question comes up frequently on the Forum and the disagreement never ends. Enough already.

MELGAR

For the train Enthusiast it is a hobby with Scale Equipment,for the casual observer they are toys.

Mikey

@MELGAR posted:

I'm not offended but I think there is a clear distinction between toy trains and model railroading that people need to recognize - even though both are certainly part of the same hobby. I consider myself to be a model railroader, not a toy train collector or operator. To me, both are equally worthwhile activities. Some people insist on calling what I do "toy trains." In my opinion they are incorrect, but they can call it whatever they want. However, people should be respectful of how others describe themselves. This question comes up often on the Forum and the disagreement never ends. Enough already.

MELGAR

Bingo! 

OK, maybe not offended but a touch annoyed. 

George

No

I live for the next TOY.

I blame it on “testosterone poisoning.” It’s not my fault.

I took an engine to work one day. Of course, the loudest most brash person instantly bashed me and my "toy". I expected that from him as he always was a vocal opponent. I wasn't changed by that persons criticism. It fit his profile. I feel it keeps him from being a better person. His loss. His mouth is his own enemy. He speaks automatically without proper thought or any care.

His brother in-law later said to me how nice it looked to him. Several others came up to me. It looked like several people had toy trains at home and kept it quiet. Some just remembered them from their childhood. It was funny that the people who came up to me seemed to be apologetic for what happened.

NO....they ARE toys......

@Engineer-Joe posted:

I took an engine to work one day. Of course, the loudest most brash person instantly bashed me and my "toy". I expected that from him as he always was a vocal opponent. I wasn't changed by that persons criticism. It fit his profile. I feel it keeps him from being a better person. His loss. His mouth is his own enemy. He speaks automatically without proper thought or any care.

Your brash coworker might have low T.

They're toys and I play with them.

There toys no matter what scale they are.

My office at work is filled with Postwar Lionel Trains, employees, vendors and clients come in and see them and say they or someone they knew had or has trains, we both know they are talking about toys, doesn't bother me.  I just like having them around to look at while I work or am supposed to be working.  Keeps me sane.  Well mostly.

Chris S.

PS, "People think I'm crazy but I have a good time" - Joe Walsh

I am not offended at all by the expression Toy Trains, and believe that much of what I have on my layout, such as Postwar accessories like the Animated Newstand, Operating Barrel Loader, #38 Operating Water Tower, and 282 Operating Gantry Crane, are best described as toys. That is because they are much too big (and/or have figures that are much too big) to be scale in size, are more like caricatures than models, have great play value, and enchant children and the child in us adults.

But I also believe that many of the trains I have are best described as models, not toys, because of they are scale (or approximately scale) in size, have fine detail, and have a realistic look and sounds.

I recently started a thread that I entitled Model Train Stations. I thought of calling it Train Stations, but didn't because I was more interested in seeing our model stations than real ones. I also thought of making the title Toy Train Stations, but thought that most Forum members would share photos of stations that are more like models than toys. By the way, one of the photos I posted is that of a station that I would consider to be more of a toy than a model, specifically the pre-war or early Postwar #115.

I enjoy it all, model trains, toy trains and real trains, and what I prefer depends on my mood at the moment. Arnold

No, these things are toys. Some are really expensive toys. But they are toys nonetheless. 

@MELGAR posted:

............. However, people should be respectful of how others describe themselves, and responses to this question often are not. This question comes up frequently on the Forum and the disagreement never ends. Enough already.

MELGAR

To the original question, no I am not.  While I have a good mix of both "flavors" some of my stuff clearly is "toy trains" (I realize I will never see Warner Brothers or Disney boxcars, operating gondolas, etc on the real railroad lines ).

But to MELGAR's point, too often there is a disdain shown for the toy aspect.  The "Why do they waste resources making xxxx when they could instead make obscure thing yyyy?  I'm sure they would sell a ton of yyyy." comments are pretty regular.

-Dave

No, and I'm not offended by the "M" word, either. We all have bigger fish to fry.

The distinction between scale models and toys have been debated ever since the first scale mode was built.  There will always be people that will refer to scale models as toys.

There are more important things to worry about, I just roll with it.

Rusty

If they ain't hauling people or product to generate revenue they are toys. 

As Greenwich Village's  Dave van Ronk sang-"you take Mary and I'll take Sue, aint no difference twixt the two....". Call me what you want-a toy train person or a train modeler- I'm just an old guy still having lots of fun and enjoyment in my waning years !! 

@Rusty Traque posted:

There are more important things to worry about, I just roll with it.

Rusty

Life is good when “model trains vs toy trains” even make it on the list of concerns.

The very epitome of 1st world problems. Someone called my trains toys and it hurt my psyche.

As a big, over-grown kid, everything I own (trains, planes, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, guns, tools, yard equipment, yadda, yadda, yadda) are all toys to me.  And I like to play with them all!

So no, I don't get upset.  For those that do, I dunno - maybe "Lighten up, Francis"? 

LOL!  No.  Too many people in this world being offended by too many things.  

Curt

Toy Trains vs. Scale Models

Registered seniors on this site should remember these magazines back in the 1950s:

Model Railroader, Model Trains, Model Railroad Craftsman, and Toy Trains.  I believe these were the four leading periodicals of the time.  There were others and if any of you recall them, please add to this list. 

Remember now, only model and toy magazines, not any ones that covered the Real McCoy, e.i. Trains, Railroad, etc.

I doubt if any model railroaders read Toy Trains, or toy train guys who read the model magazines, although there were a few who probably read them all.  

Item: Lots of collections have been placed on display for all the world to see, as well as enjoy, many which bring back memories to the guys who say, "Gee wizz, I had one of those as a kid!"  I sold my O27 trains in 1962 when I was converting to HO.  Since they were pretty well worn out by then, I look back with NO regrets!  Before you ask, NO, none of them became high price collectables on today's market. 

Joseph Toth Jr.

it seems we had an almost identical topic a few weeks ago. I guess this is a perennial favorite- because there is no real answer. And the hobby runs the gamut from Hafner and Marx wind ups running in loops to scratch-built brass engines and point to point scale layouts. Let's say there is a toy-model continuum, where do you fit on it?

@Will posted:

 Let's say there is a toy-model continuum, where do you fit on it?

Anywhere I feel like.

Rusty

I am not offended by the T word.  I revel in it.  If someone asks what I am going to do, I tell them "I am going to play with my trains" rather than something like "I am going to operate a model railroad".

What bothers me isn't when people think of my trains as "toys".  Its when they think of them as "just toys".  As if calling them a toy somehow justifies mistreating them or using them without permission.  Whether its a toy, a tool, a work of art or a functioning model, if it is someone else's then treat it with respect.

Not at all......

Peter

Everyone is offended by something. Take a number and someone will be with you shortly.

Doesn't bother me at all but I did notice when someone asks about my hobbies I say railroad empire or some such and not train set.

I love my toy trains and dont care who knows it

One of the most accurate aphorisms ever "The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys".

Scale models are still toys though many of us "scale modelers" don't really run those toys often enough. 

@fast freight posted:

Doesn't bother me at all but I did notice when someone asks about my hobbies I say railroad empire or some such and not train set.

I second this. The term "Toy" doesn't offend me, but "big train set"  annoys me a little. I feel as if that phrase undermines the work put into finding higher-end-scale-pieces that fit my layout/collection. Still not offended by the phrase, more along the lines of slightly bothered.  I understand that most non-train-people are accustomed to trains being sold in sets rather than as individual pieces.

Yes.

I am not offended by the word toy.

I do believe that the high price scale models in any scale are not toys.  You don't give a Lionel, MTH, or 3rd Rail Big Boy to a young kid to push around on the floor or play with in the backyard dirt.   Would you give a kid a Kohs or Key brass model to play with?  Of course not.  NH Joe