Addendum

Foot enthusiasts, on the other hand, wait for everyone else to have all the feet. They'll never prosper no matter how far technology advances.

Pioneering Space Habitation

The first true space colonies will essentially be enormous, full-sized model train tracks for train enthusiasts because those guys are willing to spend on their hobbies. I realize everybody knows this already, but I wanted to get it in writing.

Train Fantasy

I bet that would do pretty well. The problem is that anyone capable of writing convincing train fantasy is busy looking at trains.

Characterization

Make sure to give your characters hobbies and interests such as model trains. This is for fantasy. In science fiction, replace that junk with long descriptions containing phrases such as "tidal-locked." Nobody has time for space chess when there's speculation about genetic optimization of luck to drop on the page.

Addender

A train between planets, like a space elevator, but slightly longer. What happens during the trip? A murder.

Addendum

Maybe trains are as futuristic as they're going to get, and therefore unexciting. No, that can't be it. There must be trainy days ahead.

Genre Mysteries

Does fantasy have more trains than science fiction? If so, why? Do science fiction writers not like trains? My latest theory is that they're more likely to know people who really like trains, I mean really really, you know the ones, and that puts them off trains.

Train Facts

1) Perry Mason once says he wants to run a model train through his office and law library. But he doesn't. What's stopping him? The truth may be too much for the human mind to comprehend.
2) Trains are fast!
3) Not all trains turn into robots, but more than you would think do.
4) It's not as if he doesn't have enough money for it. Clients are always paying him big money to stay out of the gas chamber.
5) That thing you sometimes see on the front of a train is called a "slow car."
6) If your train is late, it was probably doing something more important.
7) Perhaps he fears that buying a model train set would be a betrayal of his Navy service.

Community Christmas Project

Get together with your neighbors to set up a model train line that passes over all your front lawns. If it snows where you live, dang, that's rough. Sit inside and yell carols out the window.

All Things Change But This

Dale Alkirk grabbed wads of maps and timetables off the shelves and slammed them on the table. Map after map he opened up and ran his finger over while tapping his mouth with a pen. "Hm. Hmmmm. Uh uh. Hm." Simon wanted to help his boss but refrained from getting in the way. An abacus might as well try to assist a supercomputer.
"No . . . no . . . maybe . . . is it? Yes! This is it!" Dale ground his finger into the map and poked straight through. "Make a note to replace that. Not now, though. We have to move. I figured out how Hollis plans to move the stuff. He's using the Grant-Chifton line."
Simon gasped. Dale nodded. "That's right. Who does anything by train in the year 2832? That's exactly what Hollis is counting on. He knows the police won't look into that. They probably don't know trains still run."
"I sure didn't, boss. Why do they? It doesn't seem like it could possibly make financial sense." "It doesn't, Simon, but to this day there are always a few unreasonably rich men who get very interested in trains. Very, very interested. Very, very, very interested. Very, very, very, very, very, very . . ."
Finis