I think live steam model railroading is an awesome little hobby. Strangely enough, my favorite part is the railroad itself, not the trains. I love the idea of doing all the surveying, engineering, digging, laying ballast, etc. Something I might do when I'm older and finished with the Pietenpol (and have a couple acres to put it on, and I've already sailed around the world -- a man has his priorities.)

The Hoginwood Light Railway is a 5" gauge railway that has just been finished in northern Italy. The builder is an englishman who fell in love with an Italian girl, and decided to build a railway on some land that his future father in law owns.

A warning to the unaware -- Italy is rife with wheelbarrow thieves.