Modern Ogauge trains. Still toys?

Kinda reminds me of the debate about G.I. Joe being a doll.

NO, he's an action figure!   LOL

TOYmato - toMODEL.

Rusty

This could be looked at a couple of different ways.

If we go by what it does, they are all toys, because they are specifically designed to provide us with entertainment. That alone can take many forms. Recreating railroad history is one of those forms.

Now, if we go by what it is, it can be a scale model, a hi-rail model (scale proportions but big flanges and/or couplers), or a tin plate train, which is an approximation of a real train, with varying degrees of realism.

Even back in the day, we had sheet metal locomotives and the scale Hudson, both made by Lionel.

It's kind of like the difference between "toy soldiers" and "army men".

Trainman2 posted:

It's kind of like the difference between "toy soldiers" and "army men".

Those are the same thing, but scale model military figures are something else indeed. 

jay jay posted:

Trainman2 posted:

It's kind of like the difference between "toy soldiers" and "army men".

Those are the same thing, but scale model military figures are something else indeed. 

In essence, yes. But toy soldiers were originally those die cast pieces that are now marketed by Britain's and they are quite detailed as well.

TOY$ 

For me, the last word on this subject was made many years ago by an expert in the field.  I enjoy running a mix of pre-war, post-war, and modern trains.  At Christmas my usual practice then and now was to set up a huge layout on the living room floor and invite the neighbors and their kids over for a running session.  

  One evening a neighbor came over with her 7 year old daughter.  As we walked into the living room the young lady came to an abrupt halt, gasped, and said in a shocked/delighted voice, "It's toys!  It's a WHOLE ROOM full of toys!"  Her mother, who was cognizant of the sensitivity that some people have toward the word "toy" quickly said, "No dear, these are scale models."  To which I replied, " No, she's right.  It is a whole room full of toys and I'm just the oldest kid on the block."