It is frequently observed that when a real locomotive starts up, the front set of drive wheels commences to turn before the rear set of drive wheels begins to turn. The present invention is a simple device that permits this effect to be simulated in a model locomotive. The electric motor of the model locomotive drives a worm which turns a first gear. A second gear is mounted on the same shaft as the first gear but is not otherwise connected to the first gear. From the side of the first gear that faces the second gear, a pin extends at a particular radius. Similarly, two pins extend at the particular radius from the side of the second gear that faces the first gear. When the motor starts, the first gear turns immediately, but rotation of the second gear is delayed until the pin on the first gear strikes one of the pins on the second gear. In this way a delayed rotary motion is imparted to the second gear.

A model electric train car possessing various movable parts which allow the train car's pivotally-mounted truck and coupler assembly to maneuver around tight curves without interference from model train steps, skirts or other train car parts in close proximity to the train coupler, thereby, avoiding derailment of the toy train. The steps, skirts or other train parts to swing, slide, rotate, or otherwise move away from the truck and coupler assembly, being attached to the train car by pins, hinges, slides, snap connectors or the like to allow the free movement of the train parts.

A model train locomotive has a set of drive wheels and a power system for rotating the drive wheels. The power system comprises an electric motor mounted for rotating a power input shaft, a control mechanism for regulating the amount of electric current supply to the motor for varying the rotational speed of the power input shaft, and power transmission assembly for transmitting power from the power input shaft to rotate a driven output shaft which is coupled to rotate the locomotive drive wheels. The power transmission assembly includes a flywheel and gear train for rotating the flywheel about an axis of rotation when the electric motor is rotating the power input shaft while the driven output shaft is not rotating. The gear train is effective to rotate the driven output shaft while the flywheel is rotating without stalling the electric motor when the control mechanism increases the amount of electric current supplied to the motor to increase the rotational speed of the power input shaft and rotate the locomotive drive wheels.