Do you remember that sixties B flick where scientists shrunk down and entered this patient’s body to save him? I can’t remember now exactly what it was called  Was it “Fantastic Journey”? Something like that.  Other movies have shown people shrinking down or getting bigger but that’s the one that really stuck with me.  Well, that’s the feeling that a lot of us get when we look at micro trains. We are just lured into the tiny world of these intriguing and strange model trains. Here’s what’s great about these trains:

The tiniest trains you can buy:

What is their exact scale? Well, N scale model trains are 1/160^th the size of the real trains they’re based on. Stick out two of your digits. That’s the size of an N scale train. Think that’s small? Consider Z scale trains. full scale trains are 220 times the size Z scale trains!

No matter how small your space, you can likely fit a micro train there.

Thought you couldn’t fit anything into that tiny 2’ x 4’ alcove in the foyer? Try these little guys. A 2′ x 4′ area is just enough room for these guys. These little trains are sometimes called “tabletop” trains because they so easily fit on any flat surface. Just watch them whiz by tiny little chickens and pigs, farms and workmen! neat!

Here are some draw backs:

I hear they torture sweet old grannies with trembling arthritic fingers and weak vision in some countries by forcing them to detail N and Z scale trains: 

These locomotives are so tiny that you won’t actually be using them for weathering or other sorts of crafts activities. Because these trains are so small people just get generic landscapes and accessories. Don’t even try detailing or decaling these guys.

Choking DANGER for small children: 

Be watchful against tiny hands getting a hold of these bite size trains. N-scale is bad enough but Z scale really shouldn’t be put in a home with small children!

Z Scale can be hard to find: 

Z-scales are also a bit less popular. This means fewer variations in model types for you.

If you love tiny little trains though, N and Z are the choice for you. Enthusiasts are drawn to them in the way that they are drawn to looking through microscopes—there is just something wonderfully uncanny about seeing a shrunken little world! Just ask Gulliver and the Jolly Green Giant.

Here is more information on [1] Model Train Information. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to [2] Model Trains.