Toy trains are Christmas classics. When movies and advertisements want to convey the warmth and harmony of the holiday season, they show a model train chugging around a Christmas tree.
Not as many families run model trains around their Christmas trees as in decades past. However, if you want to tap into some good old-fashioned Christmas nostalgia, Christmas trains are one of the best ways to delight and unite generations.
If you don’t have a vintage electric train set packed away in a closet or attic, you can still track that same nostalgic feeling with a battery-operated Christmas train.
Designed for convenience, these Christmas tree trains make setup easy. They’re simple to assemble, safe to operate and add a sentimental touch to your holiday. Many sets come complete with an engine, cars and track, so you can create a festive focal point without a big investment.
History of Toy Trains
Toy trains first appeared in the early 1900s. Popularized by toy makers and department store holiday displays, electric train sets quickly became prized Christmas gifts. Savvy model train manufacturers began creating colorful, detailed train sets to complement Christmas trees and pair with Christmas villages.
Interest in electric trains peaked in the 1940s and ’50s. Lionel, considered the gold standard of electric trains, published annual Christmas catalogs full of trains and accessories destined for children’s Christmas wish lists. Between 1945 and 1969, the company featured 469 different sets.
Christmas Trains Have Enduring Appeal
While the heyday of model trains is long past, toy train sets in various forms continue to entertain children and adults alike, at Christmas and throughout the year.
A train circling the Christmas tree can be truly captivating. Bright colors, twinkling lights and motion add life to holiday decor, with whistles and tunes that make the scene feel like it rolled straight out of a Christmas movie. A moving train gives the whole family one more reason to linger together near the tree.
Before choosing a model train set, however, consider a few key questions to ensure the set you bring home is a perfect fit.
What You Should Know About Buying a Christmas Train
What Kind of Train Should You Choose?
There are two main types of Christmas trains: electric and battery-powered. You can purchase both kinds of trains brand new or pre-owned.
Prices and features will vary, but here are some important points to consider.
Gauging Your Train Size
Most battery-operated trains come as complete sets with an engine, cars, track and accessories, ensuring all items in the set work together.
Electric trains come in several sizes, from minuscule to extra large. The size, or “gauge,” indicates the width between the rails. Power is transferred to the metal train wheels through the track, so they can only run on a specific track size.
Since vintage trains are often acquired piece by piece, knowing the scale is crucial to ensure that the train and track you purchase are compatible.
Whether you use a battery-operated or electric train, choose a size that won’t be dwarfed by your Christmas tree. Measure the area where you want the train to run, then compare it with the track’s circumference to be sure it fits.
Battery-Operated vs. Classic Trains
If nostalgia is your aim, you may be in the market for older model trains. You can often find a 40, 70 or even 100-year-old electric train in good operating condition. Vintage train sets are sometimes sold at garage and estate sales, but also check hobby shops, online and even Grampa’s attic.
While both types of trains enhance the Christmas atmosphere, each style has its pros and cons.
For instance, a classic train can be expensive, while many battery-operated train sets are reasonably priced.
An old electric train might need repairs – and it’s getting harder and harder to find local hobby shops to service them.
Families may want to avoid electrically operated toys for the safety of small children and pets.
Snap-together tracks and a simple on-off switch make a toy train easy to set up and operate. Conversely, electric trains can be fussy; children may have difficulty hitching cars and centering them on the track.
Finding the Right Location
The traditional spot for a Christmas train is under the Christmas tree. However, this location might not be practical if your space is tight or you’re worried about safety. Alternatively, you can set up your train on an end table, coffee table or dining room table for convenience.
Scope out your location before placing your layout directly on the floor. Model train tracks can sag or separate when assembled on carpeting or uneven tile surfaces. Gaps or kinks will stop a model train in its tracks. A bare wood or vinyl floor is preferable.
Another option is to stand your tree on a piece of plywood large enough to accommodate your train track. The board provides a level surface and can be disguised by a large tree skirt or a snowy white sheet.
Expanding Your Train Layout
A Christmas train can spark an interest in expanding your display with a nativity scene or a Christmas village. In fact, many Christmas village collections start as an extension of a Christmas train set, while trains are often added later as charming accessories to existing villages.
Look for Fun and Helpful Features
If you buy a Christmas train purely for looks, you don’t have to worry about how – or even if – it runs. However, if you do want to play with your train, consider fun and helpful features that can make running it a pleasure – or a nuisance.
A train around the Christmas tree should have a round or oval track, not shaped in a figure eight. Some train sets have tracks that can be configured in multiple ways.
Train sets for children should have tracks that snap together easily. Your young engineers will quickly learn how to set it up themselves, without needing help from an adult to reattach or reconfigure the track.
Kids love bells and whistles – and that’s where model trains shine! Consider trains with working lights, whistles, clanging bells or even Christmas music. Conversely, look for sets that offer the option to turn off sound effects.
Maintenance & Storage
If you plan to store your Christmas train set once the holidays are over, remember to remove any batteries, which can corrode, leak and ruin your train.
Most new train sets come in a box with molded plastic compartments that will help protect pieces during storage.
A classic electric train should be packed carefully and protected from cold and damp.
Family Entertainment
Simple and timeless, a train set can spark imaginative play for children. Around the holidays, Christmas trains carry a special nostalgia, creating a family tradition.
Don’t be surprised if your Christmas tree train lures some of your adult visitors, too. After all, what captures the spirit of the season better than a toy that brings family members of all ages together around the tree?