Quilt Patchwork Patterns

American Model Trains

Pop quiz:  what are the three most widely recognized American toy trains manufacturers? I bet you’ll remember them when I remind you.  Here they are: “Lionel, American Flyer and Bachmann Trains”.  You probably didn’t known that Bachmann was American, but it is. And American Flyer was a maker not just a line of trains.  Here’s the skinny:

Lionel Trains:  

Lionel was perhaps the gold standard of model train makers back in the day.  Thanks to perfect marketing Lionel out maneuvered its enemies.  One tactic it used was to embed model trains to Christmas traditions, making the circular train tracks around the Christmas tree a staple of the Christmas iconography.  Their O gauge trains which were one 48^th the size of real world trains ruled the roast up until the 1950’s when HO scale trains started to take over the market.  Lionel began to have problems in the 1960’s and went through several rebirths before coming back in it current incarnation.  Now Lionel is making a comeback, again offering its O scale and some G scale models to a new audience of model train hobbyists. Their great trains are well loved by all.

American Flyer:  

We mostly recognize American Flyer trains as a line of trains now, but they were their own manufacturer until 1966 when they were bought out by Lionel. American Flyer had its humble beginning in turn of the century Chicago.  They were bought out by A C Gilbert who also popularized the famous “erector sets” of the early 20^thcentury. American Flyer was the most robust national competitor to Lionel and its trains are perhaps the most popular collectible trains to this day. After World War II the company slowly failed as its trains switched to S scale.  When Lionel bought American Flyer in 1966, they kept and refurbished much of the equipment.  In the last ten years Lionel has started reproducing the most famous and popular of the American Flyer trains using the original manufacturing devices but updating the trains with new sound systems and 21^st century quality controls.

Bachmann Industries:  

Although this was the tardiest of the three toy train makers to enter the model train market, it is the the oldest of the three–having been founded way back in 1833. Despite its move from Philidelphia to Beijing, the Carlisle’s and Bachmann’s ancestors still hold positions on the company’s board.  Bachmann had its rise after World War II when it created less expensive starter kits in HO scale meant to appeal to a larger audience than the Lionel and American Flyer brands.  Their success continues to this day and they remain one the leading HO producers in the world.

We have never had more choices in model training. The Internet has created whole new choices for model train hobbyists.  You can choose from almost any gauge and from any era of train at just the touch of button. The three American classics I have been discussing are really American treasures.

Here is more information on Toy Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.