Lionel Toy Trains
The History of Lionel Model Trains
Innovative marketing strategies have always been the underlying reason for the success of any company, and the history of Lionel Model Trains is no exception. Using the power of animated display, the first Lionel train was designed to attract window shopping New Yorkers.
The story first begins, however, when Joshua Lionel Cowen, in 1901 placed a small motor under a model of a railcar, run by a battery on thirty inches of track, and this little experiment resulted in the creation of the first Lionel Model Train. Since then more than millions of train sets have been sold, and an even more impressive fact is that Lionel manufactures and sells hundreds of miles of track each year!
It is a well known fact that the name Lionel has been as closely associated to Christmas as Santa Clause himself. These magnificent trains have been chugging around Christmas trees and triggering the imaginations of children since the early 1900's, and continue to do so today.
The initial success of Lionel trains had as much to do with brilliant advertising campaigns, as it did with the companies determined commitment to promoting the highest level of quality and attention to detail that placed it's product in a position above all others.
Although the other model train manufacturers got on the band wagon, and began producing three-rail track, 2 1/8" gauge tracks, this track size was actually the innovative idea of Joshua Lionel Cowen. Through this original idea, his new track was known as "standard gauge", and was the start of Lionel's domination of the toy train industry.
During the 1920's, this time period was known as the "Golden Age Of Toy Trains", and Lionel was the ruler of the model train world, producing some of the most beautiful trains that were available. It was during this period that quality rose to a higher level and Lionel became well known for it's rolling stock and locomotives precise detail.
Lionel took an entirely different path during World War Two and unselfishly discontinued it's toy production, and focused all of it's efforts on the production of items for national defense.
In the upcoming years Lionel experienced some downturns that were ultimately overcome, and today enjoys the unrivaled position of being among the top manufacturers of model trains.
An interesting and probably not well known fact is that Lionel sold the company to a group of investors in 1995 called Wellsprings L.L.C. of New York. One of those investors is the legendary rock star Neil Young, who has also been a passionate model railroader for many years. Along with his other contributions to Lionel, Young has been involved for a number of years in the creation of controls that make it easier for handicapped people to use model trains.
Given the timeless and valued history of Lionel model trains, it should be an easy choice to include this manufacturers trains as part your collection.
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Next, if you would like more information about Lionel model trains you can do so by visiting this site: http://www.modeltraintipsandadvice.com
Lionel Toy Train Christmas Pre-War Layout
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 LIONEL TRAINS PW 3361 OPERATING LUMBER CAR BOX ONLY A BOX ONLY AUCTION $12.95 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 50m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 Buy It Now |
 Lionel 32 6 Straight Super O Sections Banded 1958 66 $19.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2h 46m |
 Lionel 48 Insulated Super O Straight Track LN 1957 1966 $9.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 17m |
 Four Lionel Lines O Super Chief Aluminum Passenger Cars All NIB $199.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 13h 49m |
 Lionel 681 S 2 6 8 6 Steam Turbine + 2671 whistling Pennsylvania 12 whl tender $245.00 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 33m Buy It Now for only: $245.00 Buy It Now |
 Lionel Train Engine 2056 toy railroad 2056 $45.99 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 38m |
 Lionel Train Engine 2046 vintage toy locomotive railroad 2046 $47.76 (23 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 59m |
 AMERICAN FLYER S GAUGE 21105 READLING LINES STEAM LOCO $48.00 Time Remaining: 9d 20h 16m Buy It Now for only: $48.00 Buy It Now |
 Lionel 275 Watt ZW Transformer Nice Original $134.50 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 11m |
 LIONEL 4 4 4 4 T1 PENNSYLVANIA DUPLEX AND TENDER STEAM LOCOMOTIVE MADE IN 2000 $559.00 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 24m |
 Lionel 6026W 3 Lionel Lines Tender Body NOS $26.95 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 53m Buy It Now for only: $26.95 Buy It Now |
 Vintage LIONEL TRAIN Multi Control TRAINMASTER 275 Watt TRANSFORMER $51.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 7m |
 LIONEL NO 419 HELIPORT BOXED $82.52 (20 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 44m |
 LIONEL 1656 ENGINE AND TENDER $109.00 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 7m Buy It Now for only: $109.00 Buy It Now |
 LIONEL MULTI CONTROL TRAINMASTER ZW TRANSFORMER $99.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 23h 41m |
 LIONEL TRAINS S 4 STEAM TURBINE 6 8 6 SMOKING DIECAST ENGINE 671 POSTWAR NORESER $79.01 (27 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 41m |
 LIONEL 2330 GG1 $599.00 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 5m Buy It Now for only: $599.00 Buy It Now |
 Lionel 2340 1 Tuscan GG1 Electric Locomotive Nice Original $698.99 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 21h 48m |
 LIONEL POST WAR SANTA FE POWER UNIT 2343 AND DUMMY TYPE ll $152.50 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 1m |
 LIONEL 2 LIGHT TOWERS 394 395 $24.99 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 7m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 Buy It Now |
 Lionel Passenger Train Set Complete 2120WS From 1947 With Boxes Etc $299.95 Time Remaining: 21h 15m |
 Lionel 64 Highway Lamp Post All Original w Nice OB $27.00 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 34m |
 LIONEL GANG CAR 50 REPLACEMENT FIGURES 2 BLUE FIXED 1 GREEN ROTATING $7.50 Time Remaining: 10d 23h 22m Buy It Now for only: $7.50 Buy It Now |
 ORIGINAL UNUSUAL LIONEL FORM 861 FOR 1947 WHISTLING OUTFITS NO RESERVE $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 21h 31m |
 3 Lionel Engine Shells Motors Parts More $29.95 Time Remaining: 20h 18m |
 LIONEL LOG LOADER $29.99 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 7m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 Buy It Now |
 Lionel 6466W LOT OF 3 Train Engine Tender toy RAILROAD $54.00 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 9h 56m |
 Lionel 309 Yard Sign Set Complete w Nice OB $10.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 21m |
 LIONEL PW 2353 SANTA FE AAS C 7 EX HORN WORKS SERVICED RUNS FACTORY FRESH $429.00 Time Remaining: 16d 21h 52m Buy It Now for only: $429.00 Buy It Now |
 Lionel TW 175 Watt Transformer Nice Original w OB Instructions $48.99 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 6m |
 Lionel 2035 Engine And Box $23.06 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 20h 28m |
 Lionel 6468 BO Double Door Automobile Car G VG $24.95 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 18m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 Buy It Now |
 Fully Serviced Tested Lionel Postwar Transformer KW 190 Watt Runs 2 Trains $80.00 Time Remaining: 22h 31m |
 Lionel Machinery Car 6418 Black US Steel Girders Used $89.99 Time Remaining: 12h 39m |
 LIONEL 2 BUMPERS AND BUTTONS $13.99 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 7m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 Buy It Now |
 ORIGINAL LIONEL 3562 75 ORANGE BARREL CAR IN OB NO RESERVE $125.00 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 28m |
 Lionel Original 5D Tester Test Set with Original Instructions RARE $960.00 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 17h 22m |
 50 Lionel TC 23 Nickel Rivets to repair Lionel couplers on Lionel trucks $9.25 Time Remaining: 4d 21h 58m Buy It Now for only: $9.25 Buy It Now |
 50 SECTION LOT LIONEL O 31 TRACK IN VERY GOOD CONDITION $50.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 7h 56m |
 Lionel O 0 4 0 Electric 254E And 3 Passenger Cars 610 610 612 C6 rate $66.05 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 13m |
 LIONEL STEAM LOCOMOTIVE BOXES $20.00 Time Remaining: 13d 11h 51m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 Buy It Now |
 NEW NRFB Lionel 2331 VIRGINIAN FM TRAINMASTER Diesel Locomotive Type III 6 18370 $170.26 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 20h 55m |
 Lionel 2046W 50 Pennsylvania Streamlined Whistle Tender Nice Original w OB $60.99 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 21h 23m |
 LIONEL TENDER BOXES 204626712046PRR $10.00 Time Remaining: 27d 20h 17m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 Buy It Now |
 Lionel 6807 6808 Original PYRO Loads MINT $42.33 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 20h |
 vintage Lionel No2367 Wabash engine A B unitengine runs NR $122.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 49m |
 LIONEL PARTS F3 SET OF SHELLS AA 2243 269 $19.99 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 7m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 LIONEL2056 DIE CAST STEAM ENGINE AND 2046W TENDER FROM FIFTIES 0 GAUGE TRAIN $119.50 Time Remaining: 15h 1m |
 LIONEL Hudson 2055 Steam Engine w Smoke 6465W Whistle Sound TENDER O Scale $38.51 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 20h 28m |
 Toy Train Color Photo Collectors Calendar 1978 14 Color Plates 80 Years Good $12.70 Time Remaining: 29d 22h 33m Buy It Now for only: $12.70 Buy It Now |
 Lionel Train 2033 Postwar Union Pacific AA Diesel Engines w Master Carton NR $313.68 (19 Bids) Time Remaining: 20h 30m |
 LIONEL COCA COLA TANK CAR NIB N R $32.99 (9 Bids) Time Remaining: 1h 10m |
 LIONEL F3 T BOXES $22.00 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 17m Buy It Now for only: $22.00 Buy It Now |
 LIONEL 6466W POSTWAR TENDER EXTRA NICE $26.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 22m |
 Vintage NY Lionel O scale Automobile Flat Car w 2 plastic Lionel autos 6424 60 $12.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 58m |
 LIFE LIKE F 7 DIESEL HO SCALE ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE MIB $24.95 Time Remaining: 29d 23h 33m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 Buy It Now |
 c1951 LIONEL LINES TRAIN 2023 ALCO DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE UNION PACIFIC $46.59 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 16h 56m |
 Lionel 1865 1866 W A Western Atlantic RR Passenger Cars $32.33 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 20h 2m |
 LIONEL ZW MODEL R ORANGE REPRODUCTION BOX WITH ALL 4 INSERTS $35.00 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 16m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 Buy It Now |
 LIONEL O 27 STORE DISPLAY PLASTIC FIBERGLASS LAYOUT MODERN ERA $100.00 Time Remaining: 12h 38m |
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