Collecting model trains

“I always loved Thomas the tank engine as a kid, and still love it these days, but around New years of 2020, I found a channel called Sams Trains. Loved the content and made me want to get my own model railroad, so in late January I ordered a Hornby train set to play around with. Once I got into having my own, I realized that I could go back to my childhood and have TTTE characters running around my layout, so I've expanded both my collection and my track layout itself. So I've only been in the model train world for about 8 months now, but it's definitely a better stress reliever and more enjoyable pastime than "competitive" video games such as Overwatch and Siege, like I was addicted to before my transition.”

“Every Christmas My Dad would put a Lionel Train under the tree. It was a Lionel Postwar #671 6-8-6 with a tanker, gondola, hopper, flatcar, and a Baby Ruth boxcar. I later learned that it was passed down to him from his late-father. (Who also had a Lionel setup. Thomas was my way into the Hobby when my parents got me the newest Lionel Thomas the tank engine back in the 90s. It had (of corse) Annie, clarabelle, and Harold the helicopter on a flatcar. And from there I found out there was an entire Hobby and society built around it. There were old Prewar, postwar Railking, Williams and American flyer (which I didn’t understand until I was 20!) My Father, his father, and my other Grandfather encouraged my love of toy trains...Even my Mother! I have up to 10 trains, and I’m still growing that collection. So that I can pass it down to my Kids ❤️”