Collecting classic toy trains like Lionel trains, is one of the most common train collecting activities around. There are lots of resources for classic toy train collectors to use to learn about this hobby and to make money with this hobby. I found that a good way to get started collecting classic toy trains is to read everything that you can get your hands on. Trade magazines, ezines, blogs and articles offer insight into the items to look for and the ones to stay away from. They are also a great resource for finding local train shows and seminars.

Another area of toy train collecting that I am interested in is character toy trains. While most serious collectors aren’t focusing on modern character toy trains like Thomas the Train yet, I think that in ten to fifteen years, these character trains are going to be highly collectible, especially if they are in mint condition. This is why I have started to invest in special character pieces. These pieces are not opened or played with, as this would decrease their value. However, because modern character toy trains are so inexpensive, I buy one set to play with and one set to keep as an investment piece.