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Lionel O Gauge Trains

Ahh Lionel Trains…who hasn’t heard of them? Baby boomers still remember Lionel as the crème-de-la-crème of model trains.  If you grew up in the postwar period and you saw a model train setup at a store, without fail it was a Lionel model train setup.  In New York City, for example, almost every major department store put up a Lionel train display on or near their toy department. Although its not what it used to be, Lionel still gives off a certain aura. Here’s the story why:

It’s the O gauge:  Part of the reason why Lionel fell from power in the post World War II era can be explained by the size of its locomotive. Lionel trains were usually in O gauge, but with the growth of model training in the 50’s more and more middle class model train hobbyists began to purchase trains for smaller spaces.  Real world trains are just 48 times the size of O gauge model trains. The smaller 4’ x 8’ space required by HO models lured would be Lionel customers away.  Lionel’s failure to stay in tune with changing times is what cost it and what makes its odd scale a real draw for enthusiasts these days.

Lionel’s long history makes it a model train lover’s favorite:  Because Lionel has been around for so long and was so popular in yesteryear it is one of the favorites of collectors. We cannot down play the nostalgia that Lionel inspires. These are, after all, the toy trains they grew up on or would like to have grown up on. Lionel’s durability also has helped it with fans.

You’ll find no lack of manuals and news items on Lionel:  Unlike a lot of toy train manufacturers, you can find several books focused specifically to Lionel. Lionel books come in two variations.  First, there are books that are specifically devoted to getting you going with model training using Lionel O gauge trains.  Second, there are several books that focus on the many incarnations of Lionel trains from the early days to the present.

Finally, Lionel is popular because they just made good trains:  Ahh, the quality of Lionel trains! No train is better for detailing and weathering. The size of Lionel trains make it a favorite among people who love to paint and detail model trains. The scale is also a big aesthetic draw for hobbyist’s who value looks.  You simply can’t look over a Lionel train.

Regardless of the company’s finances, Lionel O gauge should be a mainstay for the foreseeable future. It’s hard to visualize the model train world without Lionel. Lionel on very few occasions disappoints.

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

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.

Historic Model Trains

It’s really hard these days to encourage kids to be involved in history.    If it doesn’t connect to the power grid and add to the monthly electrical cost, lots of young people are just not that into it.  This is after all the cyber age and if a kid isn’t reading three things at once he feels like he is slacking.  But, as you know, the past is really a useful thing for them have.  It’s not enough to know that there were some guys named Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Benjamin who now have their faces on our bills.  If we’re going to remain a successful democracy we really need to instill some of our vibrant history to them.  So how do we get them to start the book on the traditions of this country without feeling like we’re pulling teeth? Toy locomotives can put our kids on the track to becoming more culturally and historically literate.  Yes.  Yeah, historic model trains embody a vibrant history with them but don’t burden us with feeling that we are being educated.  Here’s how to teach our traditions with toy trains:

Use trains as a secret vehicle for the past:

If you’ve already gotten your kids involved in toy trains, a great second step is to design a toy train lay out that accurately reveals a specific period and place.  For example, let’s say that you decide to depict the American Southwest in the period just after the Civil War.  You can get your kids to research this period and then add period details that will really add to the joy and historical accuracy of your trainlayout.  Imagine stringing up a long row of telegraph poles next to your track to show the communications system of the time.  A ghost town that failed to benefit on the railroad because it didn’t get a stop might be shown tantalizingly close to the track.  Maybe even put in a representative robber baron surveying his train empire.

Spice up the tired old school project by swapping in a model train setup instead:  

You might also manage to talk your child’s history teacher into allowing him to bring in a historic model locomotive track plan in place of the usual boring diorama.  A static diorama really can’t compete with the dynamic movement of a historic model locomotive design. A picture of Jesse James is fine, but what if you incorporated model trains to bring the train robber’s life details and cultural context to life.  You could show the robber awaiting the period specific locomotive with his whole gang and also show other aspects of this beautiful period of American the past.  It’s sure to be a success!

Visit a toy locomotive Museum:  

There are also a few model train museums and other train related historic sites where you can see historic toy locomotives and some real locomotives as well.  If your local historic train site doesn’t have toy trains consider suggesting they incorporate some to the curator or manager of the site.  In some places, model locomotive clubs often put on model train events.. Just keep your ears pricked and you are sure to come across one sooner or later.

Whatever you decide to do, you will discover that model locomotives are a door to the past even if you don’t explicitly use them as such.  Even if you just do model training without even considering the educational possibilities you will inevitably kindle a greater sense of historical knowledge simply by handling these little mechanical doorways to the past.  

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