Which era toy trains do you have?

[tjsprague]

First half of the 20th century. With a couple newer sets I got just 'cause i liked them.

[Jumijo]

Last night the kids and I watched a TM video with Ward Kimball running OLD trains from the late 1800' and early 1900's, including the very first train Joshua Cowen ever built. Amazing.

Jim

[mitchelr]

Welcome envfocus. - You will find many other like minded folks who like the pre-war trains.

I have some modern, some post war and some pre-war. I only buy what I like and run what I buy.

Mitch

[jefelectric]

I like anythng that has flanged wheels and runs on steel rails.  Big or small, new or old.

For my layout I buy whatever fits into the 1950,s prototype era, regardless of when it was made.  I am not a rivit counter and you will find a few items on my layout that don't exactly fit that era.

I really enjoy seeing well maintained and/or restored prewar, but don't own any.

I can even enjoy a well done HO layout.

brianel027,  I don't want to start an argument, but there are quite a few low priced items in the Lionel catalog.  Being realistic, Lionel was never the low end train line.  I once figured out that the Lionel set my Dad bought me in the late 40's cost him a little more than a weeks pay at that time.  I sure didn't appreciate it then but I do now.  Anyway the set in the Lionel catalog that is the closest to that set is listed at $199.00.  I don't know many people that make that amount per week now.  It looks to me like the low end in the Lionel catalog has actually come down in price.  If Lionel catered only to the low priced market, a lot more of us would be buying MTH & Atlas as that is the type of product a lot of us older guys want.

This has been rehashed many times on the other forum and as I said, I'm not starting an argument, just my worth.

Thanks for listening.

[Frank53]

Run that PE Berk and enjoy it! Jim

 

I'd really rather run this one - just gotta blow the dust off it:

 

 

[Jumijo]

That is a beauty, Frank. Add that to the list of locomotives I'd like to own someday. 726 or 736?

Jim

[Frank53]

That is a beauty, Frank. Add that to the list of locomotives I'd like to own someday. 726 or 736? Jim

thanks Jim. That is a very original 1947 edition 726. It proudly displays the battle scars of six decades. Not quite sure how my Dad came about it but I know it was running around our Christmas tree before I was born. Although we stopped having trains up for Christmas in the mid 60's, my Dad dug this one out and had it displayed in his living room sometime in the 90's. It was his favorite and hopefully will be passed from generation to generation. Maybe in 2080 my great grandkids will post a photo of it on this forum telling about how their Dad's Dad's Dad's Dad bought it after fighting in the big war. 

[brianel027]

Jefelectric, no arguement and to some point I agree with you. I also had an expensive Lionel set that was very easily more than a weeks pay for my dad. I too didn't appreciate that for years until now.

But back when we were both kids, Lionel was the premiere toy to have. Lionel was third behind Sears and Mont. Ward in catalog printings and the trains were sold everywhere. And if you couldn't afford Lionel back then, there was still MARX, which really was sold everywhere and was more affordable. We both know many in the hobby today got their start with a MARX set. Today, Lionel is not the premiere toy nor do Lionel products have the visability.

I absolutely agree there are a couple if not several very decent Lionel starter sets that are good bang for the buck. The Lionel add-on packs are also a very good value and I applaud Lionel for doing the unit price break down... another good idea. They should do that once again for the starter train sets too. I've recommended the NYC/PRR Flyer type sets to many. And have run into people later who thanked me for the tip and told me they bought the set.

But do as I have done, and show a new current catalog to newcomers and their reaction is almost always the same. First perceptions are everything, and though I will agree, there are some values in a Lionel catalog, much of the product is very expensive, high end and not exactly for kids. Parents notice this right off that bat. I cannot count how many times I've heard the reaction "this is not a hobby for kids" from parents after a flip though a current Lionel catalog.

I'm big on promoting this hobby. When I did shows, my display layout was geared towards kids and newcomers. I'd much rather go to a small local show and meet real folks than a show like YORK, even if there are more trains and selection at YORK. The folks at Lionel should try the same approach.

Also if you have noticed, when many folks on the forums quote prices, like $140 for the Lionel PRR Flyer Set, they're quoting a mail order price, not a list. Like years ago, novices and newcomers will tend to gravitate towards a hobby shop where they can actually see things first. And most small shops do not get the same wholesale advantage that the preferred Lionel dealers and the mail order venues get. They can't sell a $199 list set for $140... that's below their wholesale.

Once folks get a feel for the products and what they're looking for, then they start looking at mail order.

Mail order prices may be the ones quoted as if they are the real price, but there's little arguement that a kid will get far more excited looking at a display layout and products actually on the shelf than over a black and white discount mail order listing. And kids don't ask for toys that they can't see or that they don't know exist.

[palallin]

I have trains from all the eras:

I have a few Standard Gauge pieces, prewar.

I have one loco and a couple of Postwar cars.

At least 1/3 of my trains are MPC.

A like amount are LTI.

I have a few LLC pieces.

 

I also have a couple of postwar Marx items.

[prewardude]

Prewar reproductions for me. I like the prewar era best and I like to run my trains, so going with reproductions is the only way to go for someone in my position. I'd love to acquire some original prewar pieces someday, but they would definitely be shelf queens. I just can't see putting wear and tear on a 70 or 80-year-old train. They are a part of a bygone era and deserve to be preserved.

I do have some MPC and modern-era Lionel sets, but all that plastic just doesn't have the same "vibe" as the prewar metal stuff.

Regards,
Clint

[guilfordrr]

I have mostly Postwar and Modern, with a little MPC mixed in.