Lionel Train headquarters is located in Concord, North Carolina, but all the items they make is made in China.
"N" and "Z" gauge trains are really small. "Z" is about the size of your pinky.
Mr. Howe's most prized piece is his Yankee Zephry "S" gauge locomotive done in an art deco motif.
His daughters are always asking him when he is going to sell his train stuff. he says to them, never. he's taking it with him. He plans to have train tracks laid out in his mausoleum and have his daughters come in once a month to run his trains. After that, his executor will cut them a check. (One way to get your family to visit your grave he says tongue-in-cheek.
Thomas the Engine has sparked some interest among kids in trains, but it is too bad they rarely if ever get a chance to ride one as he did while growing up. he does wish that more kids would get involved with model railroading.
However, some city parks and amusement parks do have model trains you can ride on, like Goldsboro, North Carolina's Herman Park.
--CooterWooWoo
Showing posts with label model trains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label model trains. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Fox Lake Historical Society Meeting-- Part 2: Model Trains, Quaker Oats?
American Flyer used "wide gauge." Then there came an "HO Gauge."
During World War II, the government eliminated model trains and toys as materials were needed for the war effort. No toys were made. Lionel made compasses for destroyers, cruisers and battleships.
After the war came "S" Gauge.
Now model trains are high-electronics. At one point Mr. Howe mention model car "trucks." The question arose, what are train trucks. Those are the wheel assembly of the cars.
The Marx Company sold their train-making operations to the Quaker Oats Company. Marx also made toys, which was why Quaker bought it.
In 1967 Lionel bought American Flyer.
John Menard, of Menard's Home Improvement stores was a huge model train buff and would spent thousands of dollars at a hot on his hobby.
--DaTrainDaTrain
During World War II, the government eliminated model trains and toys as materials were needed for the war effort. No toys were made. Lionel made compasses for destroyers, cruisers and battleships.
After the war came "S" Gauge.
Now model trains are high-electronics. At one point Mr. Howe mention model car "trucks." The question arose, what are train trucks. Those are the wheel assembly of the cars.
The Marx Company sold their train-making operations to the Quaker Oats Company. Marx also made toys, which was why Quaker bought it.
In 1967 Lionel bought American Flyer.
John Menard, of Menard's Home Improvement stores was a huge model train buff and would spent thousands of dollars at a hot on his hobby.
--DaTrainDaTrain
Fox Lake Historical Society Meeting March 19, 2016-- Part 1: Model Trains
Presentation by Phil Howe on Model Railroading. he is president of the Lionel Operating Model Society which has 1900 members.
There have been trains around for almost 200 years. Starting in the 1870s, there were model trains for kids brought over from Germany. However, World War I proved a boom for U.S. model train makers since the ones from Germany could no longer be imported.
Electric model trains were made in Cincinnati in 1896. Joshua Lionel Cowen began making them in New York City. He also invented flashlights and electric fans. Two things that helped him with the model trains.
I wonder why he used his middle name instead of his last for his company's name.
He realized that merchants could sell more items if they had a model train running around display windows.
The Lionel Train Company headquartered in New Jersey.
The Ives Co. of Bridgeport, Connecticut had "O' Gauge. Lionel had "standard gauge."
--Cootrain
There have been trains around for almost 200 years. Starting in the 1870s, there were model trains for kids brought over from Germany. However, World War I proved a boom for U.S. model train makers since the ones from Germany could no longer be imported.
Electric model trains were made in Cincinnati in 1896. Joshua Lionel Cowen began making them in New York City. He also invented flashlights and electric fans. Two things that helped him with the model trains.
I wonder why he used his middle name instead of his last for his company's name.
He realized that merchants could sell more items if they had a model train running around display windows.
The Lionel Train Company headquartered in New Jersey.
The Ives Co. of Bridgeport, Connecticut had "O' Gauge. Lionel had "standard gauge."
--Cootrain
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