Vintage Model Railroads
admin | April 10, 2010
Hobbyists collect lots of unusual things. My brother collected Coca Cola cans from various places and I once met this guy who collected chocolate wrappers. But collecting vintage model locomotives is a little different. Part of it is that a lot of these locomotives can be rehabilitated and made to work again. So it’s not like you are just staring at them in some book or on some wall. The locomotives still can be made to serve their role in real life. Try doing that with your stamp collection!
What kinds of trains do collectors collect? Well, there are lots of kinds but here are some of the most well loved and wonderful:
Lionel locomotives:
We have to start with the big tuna, Lionel locomotives. Lionel train has been the longest lasting model hobbying obsession. Lionel trains once topped the model training community. Baby boomers will recall the Lionel Holiday displays they saw as children. Lionel’s classic toy locomotives are some of the most popular and widely purchased trains around. Famous folks like the rocker Neil Young and the actor Tom Hanks have been life long Lionel fans. Lionel has a extensive literature that helps support it. Because Lionel was dominated in the 1950s and because the post War period was the high point of toy hobbying, it is no surprise that Lionel should be as well regarded as the company is.. Lionel’s value is raised by the truth that it positioned itself out of range for most customers back in the post war era, creating a scarcity that helps bouy its value even today.
American Flyers:
Among hardcore collectors and model locomotive enthusiasts no type of toy train has more cachet than the American Flyer S scale models that came out just after World War II. Although Gilbert failed to dethrone Lionel with his S scale locomotive in the 50’s, American Flyer locomotives are perhaps even more sought after today than Lionel’s vintage trains. Many collectors will absolutely swear by the quality of these locomotives. The uniqueness of s scale adds to the magic of the American Flyer brand. They are so popular among collectors and hobbyists that Lionel LLC, the current holder of the American Flyer patent, plans on re-marketing many of the most popular locomotives from this period. They are sure to disappear like hot cakes.
Ives:
If you really want to get a train that no one has try locating an old Ives locomotive. Just before World War II it was an Ives, American Flyer, Lionel three way fight for supremacy. An old Ives toy locomotive is a real find. Most are in O gauge just like Lionel but they are real collector’s items these days.
Clock operated locomotives of the Victorian era:
These toy trains from the very early period of toy training are really a find. These are mostly shown at shows these days but if you can actually find one, you’ll have a train that is really a part of the creation of toy locomotives. These clock operated trains, however, really give you a sense of how such trains were viewed before toy training became so popular. These classic model locomotives were clearly made for young people. They were clock operated because there was no power source yet. They were largely purchased by the well off back in the day and that’s who can afford to collect them now. They clearly had the children of the rich in mind. These locomotives can really capture the imagination of another age. These trains were part of the German obsession with development, and came to us along with kindergarten. Both were part of Germany’s obsessions with childrearing in the early 20th century.
Whatever style of classic toy train you choose to collect you will no doubt learn quite a bit about the history of model locomotives, toys in general and us as nation. There are certainly worse pursuits to spend your time on.
Here is more information on Model Steam Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
