Maybe that’s a stretch!

I was doing some research on the Lionel Model Train and ran across an article by Ryan Baldwin entitled Who Killed The Lionel Train and it raised some interesting thoughts as well as bringing up some notable memories.

Lionel trains is over 100 years old and has a fascinating history riddled with various partnerships, experiencing great success and at times hanging on by their finger nails while finally culminating in a recent bankruptcy. Mr Baldwin wonders “who killed the Lionel Train?”

Lionel Model Train Original

My memories of the Lionel Model Train reach back to the late 50’s and early 60’s and I was probably between 6 and 12 years old. Every Christmas the old, blackened, heavy Lionel locomotive and Lionel cars were set up in an oval around the Christmas tree. Unlike Mr. Baldwin, we didn’t have an elaborate set up, just tracks laid down on the thick carpet. The old transformer consumed electricity and had a electrical burning smell with a fingerprint belonging only to an old train transformer. The tracks pinched our fingers, I remember little shocks from the transformer and I remember an orange or red controller lever. Yes…just as my DNA is a fingerprint of who I am, those lionel train memories will live forever in my brain.

Ryan Baldwin’s article contrasts the old model trains of yesterday with the digital toys of today. He insinuates that it’s impossible to compare an old train to a Nintendo wii and that today’s children would have no use for the old black Lionel train, further claiming they’d be bored to death.

It’s probably true….but such a pity!

The one faculty that we have, as humans, our imagination has largely gone to the wind. Our youth will surely suffer for that. LCD screens projecting digital images which are controlled by buttons attached to fingers mesmerizes more than motivates and encourages the development and use of our imaginations. I wonder exactly how that will affect our youth as they grow up and consequently our culture.

See what I mean when I say the rabbit hole is deep!

However, all is not lost. Lionel Trains has pulled out of their bankruptcy and once again producing the quality model trains and model train accessories. You can purchase new Lionel Trains or you can jump over to ebay and discover a whole new world used Lionel trains and Lionel train accessories. Model train enthusiasts have perfected the fine art of renovating older Lionel trains. You’ll be amazed at some of the auctions for old Lionel locomotives and quickly discover that Lionel trains and Lionel train sets have become collector items……some are for big bucks.

Mother never let us forget what a bad move it was to trade our old Lionel locomotive train set for a new spiffy ho scale model train. It’s been 50 years since we made that trade and Mom will rant on for a couple minutes….brings back so many memories. I wonder what kind of memories Nintendo will bring back.

I don’t know how old Ryan Baldwin is but he does mention that he was exposed to model trains in his childhood, in fact, his father’s Lionel Layout was featured in a model train magazine. He mentions his affinity for things digital, Guitar Hero and Rock Band making mention of Neil Young as if he were some sort of dinosaur! To that I say, I’m in my early 50’s and ear plugs go in with the sound of Neil Young but Guitar Hero and Rock Band are a little more than I can handle

The thought of scale model trains never crossed my mind until I became a father. Twenty-five years after my childhood experience with a Lionel Train I began to search for a train for my young boys. We ended up with a LGB train set which I’m sure when the time comes will cause my boys to recall their youth, the big train and all the fun they had.

So Ryan, there’s hope for you my friend….maybe someday the issues of your life will come together and you’ll once again seek the perfect Lionel train layout!

Lionel Model Train Railways An Iconic American Business

When Joshua Lionel Cowen first immigrated to the United States, New York was their first stop and public transportation, at least in one form, were trains. You can imagine that anyone, at that time, would be impressed by the Iron-horse and Joshua was no different, he was completely fascinated and obsessed by the huge beast. His obsession of trains proved to be the seed for an idea that involved developing toy trains. Lionel Train Model Railways officially began designing, developing and manufacturing Lionel model trains in a small one room office in New York around 1900. The fact that they started by hiring very skilled workers as employees was a key factor in their success because of the final produced product. The first train sets produced by Lionel Model Train Company were extremely detailed and immediately attracted the attention of anyone who saw it, so their quality from the beginning was the seed that sprouted the companies initial and continual success.

Lionel Model Train Original

Lionel model train railways expanded their operation and before long became a multi-million dollars business that expanded even into my generation. Business is tough and only the strongest survive, it was no different for Lionel Model Trains, they endured fluctuation economies and overcame corrupt business partners and even were able to rebound from bad investments. In early 60’s, in the boom of airplanes and cars, Lionel model train railways slowly decreased in popularity. During the decade of 1960, the Lionel Model Train Company faced a major paradigm shift in the way people traveled, jet airlines and fast cars almost proved too much for Lionel trains because people lost interest in an old form of transportation and an old model toy train, kids wanted the newest and shiniest toy that was advertised on TV!

Still, during this time other countries began to make further developments on trains and train transportation and it has been a viable form of transportation in many countries for years because it is so economical. For instance, Japan created a high speed train that exceeded all modern day speed records. Monorail trains were being developed and the train industry keeps chugging along. Our preponderance for the new never seems long lasting and the model train industry began to pick up steam in the 1980’s once more. Another element entered the model train market and that was the fact that older trains became collector items, large scale trains were once again becoming popular and the Lionel Model Train Company once again was in the spotlight.

The Lionel model train company has changed hands several times with trains no longer being mass produced. Reconditioned Lionel model train locomotives can be found on ebay or by doing a Google search you can find local dealers or locate a dealer if you’re looking for a specific item. Lionel model train sets have been reproduced and you can easily find an entire reproduction of something like the Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer Freight Train on Amazon for around $200 dollars. I remember the feeling of the Lionel model train locomotive when I was about 5 years old, that was 50 years ago, the train was heavy, it was solid and it was more like a tool or piece of equipment and when it derailed it could do some damage! The Lionel business model has much to offer today’s entrepreneur, first you need a vision, produce something of high quality and produce your products with integrity. Lionel offers so much for the collector to the train hobbyist and I tip my hat to Joshua Lionel Cowen for a job well done!