Model trains first appeared in the late 19th century as simple tinplate toys, often crafted by hand. Companies like Märklin in Germany and Lionel in the United States were pioneers in this space.

Dennis Lakomy has been collecting and running model trains since his dad gave him his first model train set in 1962.

Model train collecting is a hobby that families have shared together over the generations — dating back to the time the popular model train manufacturer, Lionel Corporation, started producing them in ...