51-1 (08)
release dates: December 20-26
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Go dot to dot and color.
© 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
BETTY DEBNAM – Founding Editor and Editor at Large
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
A Holiday Tradition
All Aboard the Model Train
Have you ever watched a model train
display in a store or a museum during
the holiday season? Maybe you’ve had
the chance to play with a set of trains
and use your imagination about where
they’ve been and where they’re going.
For more than 100 years, model trains
have been an exciting part of the
holidays. The Mini Page talked with an
expert on model trains to find out more
about this holiday favorite.
Tracking toy trains
German manufacturers were the first
to make toy trains. They made trains
that kids could pull or push. Later they
made wind-up toy trains. Most were
made of iron. People began putting these
toy trains into their Christmas displays.
Full speed ahead
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
photos © Lionel L.L.C.
In 1900, an inventor, Joshua Lionel
Cowen, passed by a toy shop in New York
City where a toy train was on display.
What is a model train?
But the toys all just sat there. None of
Some toy trains don’t look much like
them were moving.
real trains. Model trains are close copies
Joshua told the store owner that he
of the real thing.
could make a toy train that would run
Some model trains are even exact
nonstop all day. He promised this would
copies, right down to the nuts and bolts.
bring people to the owner’s store.
A scale model is an exact, but smaller,
Joshua went home and invented a
copy of the original object.
moving freight car. His “Electric Express”
For example, the most popular size
looked like a wooden box with wheels.
model train is exactly 1/87 th the size of a This model train exhibit at Macy’s department The tracks were made from strips of tin.
real train. This means everything on the store in New York City has become a yearly
Joshua powered the train with a fan
tradition. The display runs through the line of
real train, right down to the seats and
motor and a battery.
visitors waiting to see Santa.
the wheels, is 87 times bigger than on the
Shoppers did
scale model train.
more than just
Train excitement
look at the train
In the mid-1800s, there were no cars or
in the store
planes. But trains were exciting because
window. They
they could travel much faster than a
wanted to buy
horse. They made it possible for people to
one for themselves.
travel much farther in a shorter time
Joshua formed the Lionel company to
than before.
manufacture
these moving toy trains.
Almost as soon as real trains were
Elves work on this Lionel Holiday Express
Other companies, such as American Flyer,
invented,
companies
began
building
toy
train. This special holiday train is an example
also began making electric toy trains.
trains.
of a toy train that is not a scale model.
TM
Rookie Cookie’s Recipe
Acorn Squasharama
You’ll need:
• 1 medium acorn squash
• 1 tablespoon butter, plus 1 teaspoon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon honey
What to do:
1. Have an adult cut the acorn squash in half with a large knife. Scoop out
all the seeds.
2. Place the two halves in 1/4 inch of water in a glass baking dish. Make
sure the cut portion is facing down in the water.
3. Cover with plastic wrap.
4. Microwave on high for 12 to 15 minutes.
5. Allow to cool slightly, then scoop cooked squash into a bowl.
6. Mix in butter, brown sugar and honey until blended well.
7. Divide into 4 servings.
*You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
Miley Cyrus is the voice of Penny in the
Disney movie “Bolt.” Miley is best known as
the star of the Disney TV series “Hannah
Montana.”
Miley has made several CDs and has gone
on concert tours as Hannah Montana. She has
co-written several of the songs for the “Meet
Miley Cyrus” album. She has also written
many of the songs that have been sung on “Hannah Montana.”
Miley, 16, is from Nashville, Tenn. She grew up singing with
her father, country music star and actor Billy Ray Cyrus. She
acted as an extra in several of his acting jobs. She then acted
with him on his TV series “Doc.”
She lives in Los Angeles with her parents, two brothers
and two sisters. She has one other brother. The family has
many pets.
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
TM
Supersport: Amar’e Stoudemire
Height: 6-10
Birthdate: 11-16-82
Weight: 249
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Amar’e Stoudemire grew up in the Sunshine State — Florida. He
plays basketball in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns. And on the
court, his talent shines.
Since making the jump directly from high school to the pros in
2002, he has won the Rookie of the Year award, and played in three All-Star
games. He averaged 25.2 points and 9.1 rebounds last year and is again among
league leaders this season.
His production got him a nickname — Stat, which means Standing Tall and
Talented. Nobody can debate the accuracy of that statement.
The sun hasn’t always shone on Amar’e, however. His father died when he
was 12, and he was raised by his mother, Carrie. He didn’t even begin playing
basketball until age 14 and attended six high schools before finishing at Cypress
Creek in Orlando.
But “Standing Tall and Talented,” Stoudemire proved he was ready for the
NBA and has become one of the league’s premier players.
Keeping Track of Model Trains
Early electric trains
Joshua Lionel Cowen used his son
as the main figure on the model
train catalog covers.
In the early 1900s, electricity was
still new to many people. Few people
had electricity in their homes. This
made electric model trains seem even
more magical.
Early electric trains needed batteries
to run. But batteries in those days
didn’t last long. This meant the trains
could run only for short periods.
Joshua Lionel Cowen made several
improvements on ways for model trains
to run on electricity. These changes
made his model trains easier to use.
This
holiday
display is
at the
New York
Transit
Museum
at Grand
Central
Station in
New York
City.
Look how the boy is
dressed in this 1925 cover.
How might an ad from
today look different?
photos © Lionel L.L.C.
photo courtesy Disney Channel
Meet Miley Cyrus
Inventions
Joshua invented a transformer, or a
machine to control the flow of electricity,
that was safe to use at home.
He then invented a simpler way to
run electric trains. Most electric trains
ran on a two-rail track. They used a
type of electric power called direct
current, or DC. DC current could flow
only one way.
This created interruptions in
electricity at the end of the tracks. The
trains needed a lot of extra wiring and
switches to keep them going.
To solve this problem, Joshua
invented a three-rail track system. It
used a kind of power called alternating
current, or AC. With AC, the electricity
could flow in two directions.
This meant the electricity could run
all around the track without any
electrical gaps to stop the trains.
This system was much
simpler to put together
and operate. It also
made it easier to run
several trains at once.
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
Running Through the Years
Taking off
Back on track
In 1907, the Lionel company made its
first true model train. It was a close
copy of a real train.
The company then added more cars
that were copies of real train cars.
These included a cattle car, a boxcar
and a Pullman. A Pullman was a train
car where people could sleep.
The company later made models of
many special train cars, including an
operating milk car where a worker
unloaded milk cans and a radioactive
waste car.
In 1910, Lionel made electric locomotives
based on the design of a real locomotive
engine. A locomotive is the first car on
the train. It pulls the rest of the train.
In 1939, companies displayed scale
model train sets at the New York World’s Parents would often set up a model train
around the Christmas tree, so kids would
Fair. After that, model trains became
see it when they rushed in to open presents
the best-selling toy in America.
During World War II, metal was needed in the morning.
for the war effort, so kids couldn’t get
A Christmas tradition
model trains. Lionel put out a paper
Model train sets can be expensive. In
train instead, but it just wasn’t the same.
the first half of the 1900s, they were
usually given as special Christmas gifts.
Stores started getting model trains in
September. They set up huge train
displays in their stores.
After Christmas, many parents put
the trains away, bringing them out
again each Christmas.
But in many homes, the dads got just
as excited as the kids. Some set up
permanent model train displays in a
basement or recreation room.
With the coming of the Space Age,
many kids lost interest in model trains.
They were more interested in rockets
and jets.
However, experts say today there is
new excitement about model trains.
Part of this is because of kids
discovering toy trains such as Thomas
the Tank Engine.
To many people, real trains seem
romantic and adventurous. New, highspeed trains like the Amtrak Acela can
run up to 150 miles per hour.
In other countries, such as Japan,
new high-speed trains can go up to
almost 190 miles per hour. California
has recently made plans to build a highspeed train system that will be able to
run more than 200 miles per hour.
Model train companies have already
made models of these high-speed trains.
photos (c) Lionel L.L.C.
This 1999 ad shows model trains
representing real trains throughout a
century. Notice how the modern trains differ
from the early steam locomotive on the left.
Next week The Mini Page is about artists
Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe.
The Mini Page thanks Louis Caponi, past
president, Lionel Collectors Club of
America, for help with this issue.
Look through your newspaper for stories
and pictures of modern transportation.
A model hobby
Experts say kids who play with
model trains can learn about electrical
wiring, since they have to follow the
instructions for wiring the model trains.
Building a model railroad can be an
ongoing project that just keeps growing.
Many people enjoy creating scenery
and models of
towns for the
trains to travel
through. Some
train lovers
create exact
models of reallife towns and
stations. They
design realistic
scenery. Others
use their imaginations to create brandnew places.
The Mini Page Staff
Betty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large
Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor
Lucy Lien - Associate Editor
Wendy Daley - Artist
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
TM
All the following jokes have something in common.
Can you guess the common theme or category?
Travis: What do you call a train with a virus?
Tess: A choo-choo train!
Terry: Can you think of a train that has no wheels,
no engine and no caboose?
Tomas: A train of thought!
Tara: What would be harder than trying to
catch a train?
Tanya: Trying to throw it!
from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
Brown
Basset ws
The Ned’s
Houn
TM
TRY ’N
FIND
Model Trains
Words that remind us of model trains are hidden in the block below.
Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find:
LOCOMOTIVE, CAR, ELECTRICITY, STEAM, TRACKS, BATTERY,
KID, CHRISTMAS, TREE, TOY, CURRENT, SCENERY, TOWNS, WIRE,
HOLIDAY, PLAY, DISPLAY, ACELA, SIZE, ENGINE, MOVING, RUN.
IS A TRAIN ON
YOUR WISH
LIST?
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from The Mini Page © 2008 Universal Press Syndicate
Mini Spy . . .
TM
Mini Spy and her friends are enjoying a toy train exhibit while
they shop for gifts. See if you can find:
• cheese wedge
• letter C
• carrot
• cup and saucer
• number 8
• whistle
• bell
• apple
• question mark
• ladder