Toy trains take the high road

LONDON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A space-strapped Crewe, England, man said he has set up his model trains where no locomotives have gone before -- the ceiling of his home.

Keith Beadle, 73, said he has spent $10,000 patenting his magnet-powered designs for the upside-down model train track and he is now seeking a major manufacturer to mass-produce his idea, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.

"It is a question of getting the magnets just right. It was trial and error at first but know I have got it down to a fine art," Beadle said. "Space is at a premium these days in every home and that's why I think a model railway that runs on the ceiling is a winner. One bonus is that a young child can have it on the bedroom ceiling and it has a mesmerizing effect and can help in getting them to sleep."

"I have produced prototypes with scale models but it could also be developed with trains like Thomas the Tank Engine," he said. "I think it has got real commercial potential and the possibilities for applying it to all kinds models is virtually endless."