Model trains have provided hours of fun for generations of kids, as well as an outlet for them to express their creativity and imaginations. If you’re wondering what to get for the young train enthusiast in your life, you have a wealth of options to choose from. Check out the gift ideas in this guide for inspiration.

What to Buy a Train Enthusiast

1. Wooden Train Sets

Many littler children first discover their love of trains by playing with sets of simple wooden trains and tracks. Wooden tracks usually slot neatly together with jigsaw-like attachments at either end, which allows younger hobbyists to build endlessly elaborate networks of rails. The sets come with a wide variety of train cars, engines, and track pieces, like trestle bridges, switches, and roundhouses. You can help them stay organized by buying them a tabletop set, which combines a versatile surface for building, as well as storage bins to keep the tracks and cars out of the way and safe.

2. Remote-Controlled Model Trains

Once children get older, they become more knowledgeable and develop finer motor skills. As a result, they may be ready to move onto detailed remote-controlled trains. These options come in several sizes or scales—the most popular of which include HO, N, and O scales.

These trains are endlessly customizable. They come in a multitude of historic passenger trains and can be modeled after freight cars from every era of rail history. They’re typically ideal for lifelong train enthusiasts who have the space to erect a dedicated table where they can construct detailed landscapes through which to run their favorite remote-controlled sets.

3. Train-Themed Books

After spending their early years playing with toy trains, many kids enjoy branching out into stories about trains as they grow older and develop their reading skills. Children’s literature is rife with classic picture books and kids’ novels about locomotives. There are lots of informative nonfiction books packed with exciting pictures of trains and unique track setups to choose from, as well.

When you’re looking for the perfect gift for young train enthusiasts, pay a visit to Hamilton Hobbies. For the last two decades, this hobby shop in Hamilton, OH, has provided train lovers of all ages with a wide selection of model trains and modeling accessories from manufacturers like Bachmann®, Athearn®, and Lionel®. Visit the website to browse their full selection of model trains, cars, and airplanes, and call (513) 892-1456 to discuss your gift ideas with a knowledgeable team member.