If you are going to buy young children their first model railway (train set), then it is important to restrict your own enthusiasm and put in place a few very basic steps to help the kids to enjoy the experience.

1. Remember that this will be for the kids to play with and even though you will get a lot of pleasure out of it, it is basically not for you!!

2. Buy a ready-to-run set. This is where everything is included and it will be easy to put everything  together quickly.

3. Buy a set that is safe. No tiny loose objects for little children to swallow. If it is an electric train set, it must have a safe transformer to reduce the household current so there are never any worries about the child touching the track.

4. Babies and toddlers are always fascinated by any moving object or something that makes a noise. So even when they are too young to operate the train set they still love to have one to watch and listen to.

5. Buy a train set that is small enough to handle easily and yet big enough to stay on the tracks. The HO size or scale, will be too small for most children whereas the O or O-27 gauge meets the the correct criteria.

6. Naturally you will want to get the best and most you can for your money. Even though it is always good to get something that is new, many of the second hand sets have been lovingly looked after and have had additional items purchased over the years which could offer you some great savings.

7. Buy a system that will be able to grow with the child. You must ensure that you will always be able to buy accessories that will fit with the set. As the child’s enthusiasm for the train set grows, it will be able to get even greater pleasure when new items are added from time to time.

These guidelines are not to be taken as the only criterea for buying your children’s train set. Obviously the look and feel of the set as well as the overall cost and available floor space will help to determine your eventual decision.