My journey

I worked in a Toy and Hobby shop as a kid in Indianapolis. First just hung out there and helped on Saturdays, and later they actually paid me. I loved it. Learning about hobbies and helping customers with theirs.

Later in life, as a business executive that was constantly working, I needed an escape from all that and returned to my interest in hobbies – I started into Model Railroading. First in HO, and then as I needed to give my eyesight a break, I moved up to O Gauge trains. They had lights, smoke and sound – and you could operate them with a remote.

Every day, for at least a half hour or so, I would assemble building kits and detail them. Pretty soon, I was designing an operating model train display, referred to as a layout. I found that focusing on a hobby provided a terrific outlet for me – I stopped working so much and smiling more. I kept collecting and building, and collecting and building, and that led to MrMuffin’sTrains.

Why hobbies?

From the material published by Jared Diamond in his bestseller Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, societies developed once man could store food. The beginning of agriculture meant that humans could store food, and therefore they would need to protect it. That brought about the development of societies, and the need to be constantly wary. In today’s terms, they were “interrupt driven.”

Over time, some members of society were secure to the point that they could turn their attention to creating, inventing and building. They could focus and not be “interrupt driven”.

So, that brings us to today. Because of technology, we have returned to being “interrupt driven.” We are constantly checking our devices. This makes it very difficult to focus, to create, even to think. When I first realized this was robbing my time and the multi-tasking was stressing me out, I sought refuge in my hobbies.

Challenges raising children?

Of course, this “interrupt-driven” behavior brought to us by our technology can consume us, and our children. They are losing the opportunity to think; to focus; to create.

I raised four children, and one of my strategies was to expose them to lots of hobbies and see what really caught their interest. When something did, I invested in it – not just with purchases, but with seeking out and attending events with like-minded hobbyists for them to learn and share.

My daughter won several contests around art and is an art teacher today; one son got into marine biology and scuba diving, and we have over a hundred dives together; another son is into the Games Workshop miniatures and hosting gaming events; and my youngest son throws pottery. Of course, they all cook.

So, my advice to you is to schedule a time at least once a week where the electronics get put away, and you and they work on his or her hobby. It also gives you a great opportunity to talk with them. Two sets of hands working makes the conversation easy. 

So, why model trains?

Well, first, kids love them – they are like dinosaurs – but with wheels. Seems to us everyone has a story about trains – ask your parents.

We are all about STEM in education. Well, model trains teach STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art and math – plus a dose of history. You develop all those skills building and operating a model train layout. Honestly, it’s a lifetime hobby, whether you put up a layout, or just set it up around the tree at the holidays.

So, why O gauge?

Yes, they take more space, but they are easier to handle and put on the track, and they are heavy, so they stay on the track! They are well made, at least by the major manufacturers, like Lionel, MTH and Atlas - and they have a one year warranty. (I recommend buying from someone that will answer questions)

Where do I start?

First, I would determine how much space you want to set aside for a train layout. Maybe it’s a simple under-the-tree setup or you have enough room for a 5’ by 9’ table. In that space, you can set up a layout that runs at least two trains at a time, has sidings to park cars, and plenty of room for scenery. A good place to start – of course bigger is better!

How about a Ready-2-Run train set?

Also, a good place to start. A Ready-2-Run set includes an engine, cars, track and transformer for powering everything. Some of the sets include a remote, or you can buy one, or you can download a free app on your phone or tablet to operate the engine.

Lionel, for one, prices the sets so that you basically pay for the engine and get the rest of the set for free. The bad news is the set only comes with a small oval of track – but track is inexpensive – a ten-inch piece of track is $6.

Any questions or comments about this, I can be reached at mrmuffin@mrmuffinstrains.com or call our shop at 765.292.2022 (22 for Choo Choo)

To see all of our Ready-2-Run sets, go here

To order additional track, go here

Thank you - Steve Nelson - aka MrMuffin