Vehicles are a frequent topic of discussion on the various O and S gauge train forms. At times these discussions can get rather heated.

Since use on train layouts is rarely the objective of the companies making various diecast vehicles, there's no true right answer to what one should or shouldn't use. This is my personal philosophy. Take it for what it's worth.

On Sunday, I went to Target largely because I had a coupon, but I also wanted to get a gift for my son.

I had heard Target was selling Lionel trains, and I'd seen a picture of the endcap, which included a Lionel teddy bear in addition to the trains. I wanted one.

I like this tutorial because it uses common materials and works for almost any kind of train: Making detailed oaks and maples.

It doesn't hurt that the results look good too.

Spookshow is an N scaler's autobiography of his hobby experience.

I agree with him that he isn't a master modeler, but if he's mediocre, he's upper-tier mediocre. The biggest difference I see between his layouts and the layouts in magazines is the photography--their photographers take clearer, "poppier" shots, and they don't take photos of the layout's weak points. (What you don't show is as important as what you show.)

For the first time since about 1997, I've created a hobby web page. Since my ISP provides web space and I pay for it whether I use it or not, I thought this would be a good use for it. I have some photographs there, and some general information on toy trains, particularly tinplate trains.

The address is pages.sbcglobal.net/dave_farquhar/.

I've been spending entirely too much time on train forums lately. So have a lot of other people. Places that used to be good for learning things have turned into cliques, or worse yet, hateful arguments over stupid things like whether Lionel O gauge is more popular than HO scale (something that hasn't been true since about 1957, and I'm shocked anyone has believed otherwise since about 1960).

A few months ago, someone actually posted something helpful: a suggestion that you spend 15 minutes a day working on your hobby instead of talking about it.

I saw a story on one of my train boards today that illustrates just how much the world has changed since 1923.

This story came from the 1950 book Messrs. Ives of Bridgeport, by Louis H. Hertz.

Modern Lionel train sets come with a new, more realistic track called Fastrack with integrated plastic roadbed and lots of ties with simulated wood grain that to many eyes looks better than the traditional three-rail track with just three metal ties per section, and it's a lot easier to assemble and disassemble.

Unfortunately it's also a lot more prone to manufacturing defects. If your new Lionel train slows down at some point on the track, or it has trouble tripping your accessories, you'll have to either return your track, or do a fast and easy DIY repair.

My wife and I decorated for Christmas today, which used to be something I didn't look forward to, but today I do, because it means I get to have a train upstairs for about six weeks.

I kept it simple this year.

I've noticed a disturbing trend lately on the Classic Toy Trains forums. It seems like every time a new issue hits the street, someone has to find an article that has something wrong with it and point it out.