Why do men play with model railways?

Why do men play with model railways?

Before you pass judgement, model railways are not just for anoraks. Yes on the surface it seems like grown men are playing with toys but there are lots of reasons why model railways still remain a popular pastime.

Social & creative activity

We all need a way to unwind from the stress of life, particularly in the last 18 months. Those of us that found ourselves furloughed were able to utilise the time to really indulge in our model railways. Most of us use our brains at work in a different way than we do with our railways. It gives us a chance to be creative, to zone out from the challenges of life. When  generations of a family get involved then it really is a bonus. Add in the clubs and events that we all participate in then we also have the gift of friendship, companionship and socialising with like minded individuals who share our enthusiasm and a passion for model railways.

Investment for life

For those of us engaged in this hobby, we know it doesn’t come cheap. The component parts we buy for our railways are born out of passion and chosen with care. For over a century model railways have captured the imagination of people all over the world and that makes them collectable. When you look at the level of detail I thought that goes into some of these collections, it’s obvious why they are not just a hobby but an investment.

Family hobby

In a time when we have all been separated and divided, it is so important for the family unit to have something that pulls them together and model railways does just that. When so many of us spend time staring at screens including our children, what better way to take them away from their electronic devices than to collaborate together with the family in bringing your model railway to life. Your children will learn problem-solving and the power of working together. It's a precious time that generations will reflect back on and remember the enjoyment they got from the model railways.

Enhances skills

As those of us who are part of this incredible network of enthusiasts, we know it’s not just a case of cobbling together a few bits of rail and some wheels. There are so many skills you need to draw on to assemble a scale model railway. You need to be both a carpenter and an engineer. It is essential to employ logic when working out the finer details of your model railway plus you must have knowledge of electricity and electronics to ensure your layout is operational. And of course you learn about full-scale real life train networks and how they work. 

Why do men play with model railways?

So why do grown men play with model railways? Well if we haven’t given you enough reasons to climb on board above then the short answer is simply, why not?!