Will toy trains FOREVER be stuck in the 50s?

[FJ and G]

The 50s are looked upon with awe and reverence by toy train fanatics. Those were the golden memory years when Lionel and American Flyer were in all of their glory.

During the 50s, toy trains were actually played with by kids--most kids, in fact. Not just middle aged pudgy men. The ideal family existed then. A man. A woman, three kids. And a dog.

I Love Lucy was the show that the whole family could watch, or Leave it to Beaver. Although the Cold War was still on and Civil Rights had not taken hold yet, Americans were optimistic. Ike was President. Brown vs. Board augered a better life for all. And we had drive-in movies, 57 Chevies, cheap gas prices, and after the Korean War, nearly a decade of relative peace and prosperity.

Although the auto was now king, people still took the train; and train service was good. Actually great. And, the train went everywhere. And, there were even a few trolleys.

America's railroads had double the mileage that they had today. And riding the rails were cattle cars, wood cabooses, narrow gauge trains in freight as well as passenger revenue, humongous steam locomotives and colorful and multiple first generation diesels in all shapes and sizes and road names. But the streamliners were the queen of the rails.

It is no wonder that half a century later, most toy train modelers are still stuck in the 50s. And the wonder is even more impressive because many of them were not even born then or have little memory. So it is not just the personal nostalgia factor.

My prediction is that a century from now, toy train lovers will STILL be stuck in the 1950s; a decade forever frozen in time.

Dave Vergun

[Anonymous]

All in a nutshell... perfectly explained![^]

[spankybird]

The other thing to also remember Dave is that in the late forties and fifties, the RR were the major US employer. If our dad’s did work for the RR, then maybe our uncles did. My father-in-law is 75 and during that time, he worked for the NYC. My father in the late forties, work for the PRR as did my first father-in-law.

I also believe that is why so many of us had trains in the fifties, because that is where they worked.

tom

[jkerklo]

The 50s were certainly a good time for railroads, and toy trains, but the downhill slide was underway.

The railroads had come through admirably to help the war effort, and were rewarded by government with support for unions, the interstate road system, and expanding airports. Railroads could not replace wornout roadbed, motive power, and rolling stock
with the declining revenues of the 50s. Diesel engines still had a fireman and 50 miles was a day's pay.

Lionel had a few good years and new engines to model, but faced a declining interest in trains and competition from slot cars and space toys. Slot cars didn't take up a whole room and could be played with after Christmas.

We who were kids during the 50s remember the era fondly, and choose to model it, but when we are few, modelling the era will fade ... and maybe toy trains as well.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[Anonymous]

I was born in 1986, but somehow I do feel an attatchment to the 50's. I just love that era. In many ways things were better than today. They don't call them the Fabulous Fifties for nothing! I certainly do agree with you Dave that the 50's will forever remain a part of toy train enthusiasts.

[Anonymous]

I think the big reason that the 50s gets modeled so much is because it's the only era when steam & diesels were both running on the rails. If you want to have both on your layout, and you want to actually model something, you have very little choice in era.

On my layout, it's always Right Now.

Tony

[IRONROOSTER]

The 50's were a golden era. Those of us who were kids in that decade had parents who had come through the depression and WWII. Family life was strong and for the middle class it was a time of prosperity - relatively low housing, food , and energy costs. Wages were rising. War production shifted to consumer goods. With the end of the Korean War at the beginning of the decade up until the assasination of JFK it was an idyllic time.

Add in the fact that it was the steam to diesel transition and you have the perfect nostalgic age. But like other similar time periods, once those of us who remember it are gone, it will fade. When I first got into this hobby over 30 years ago the favored era was the 20's and 30's when steam was king. Interest in diesels was just beginning. I suspect that in thirty more years when the 80's are favored steam will be a definite minority, much like those who favor truss rods and archbar trucks are today.

Enjoy
Paul

[warner brook]

yo dave
don`t know about you,but the 50`s were damn good for me,had my first car a 40 studebaker,(don`t laugh) real good hunting out the back door could even carry a unloaded shotgun on public transportation before i had a car and nobody batted an eye i had 3rail trains back then if i recall it was lionel as were the accessories,i don`t remember how many times they fell off the platform and kept on running i had to keep an eye out for my father he`d kill me if he saw how fast i would run them.my father made a homemade oil refinery for the layout using pure oil decals,i even had a military post on the layout homemade by my father.drugs were unheard of in the suburbs of philly.my father took me on some of his business trips from philly. to atlanta georgia by train as he didn`t like to fly.my uncle worked in the coal division of the pennsy railroad out of the 30th. st.terminal both he and my father argued the merits of the trucking industry versus the r.r. industry it would be pretty lively as they would have a few under their belts.sorry to ramble on so much but it bought back alot of good memories my appologies. roy

[okiechoochoo]

I was born in 47 so I remember the 50s fondly. We never locked our doors or worried about being kidnapped while we rode our bikes all over town. We didn't have drive by shootings or gangs and nobody I knew ever brought up drugs. Then there were the railroads, about a block or two away and then there were also the toy trains of my youth, Lionels, and what was to become a life time hobby.

[Anonymous]

I was born in 1980 but I was always interested in the 50s and 70s. Not only was the 50s the age of steam and diesel, but lets not forget gasoline... It was also the age of the muscle car until the early 70s. I guess we lost out on a lot in the seventies. I am sure that many guys like myself will continue to model the 50s. However I think we could take a step up to the new age of trains as well. The new subway trains and the mono rails are not quite steam but they have nice shape to them.

[dougdagrump]

We had three generations that worked/working for the railroad, including myself. Having been born in 47, 19 not 18, we thought nothing of riding bicycles all over creation, my first car cost $15 and a set of brakes. Now as far as the model trains I wonder how many of todays designers also grew up in the 50's and how much of an influence that was.[|(]

[Anonymous]

If they keep making starter sets that look like the 50's trains, it will be stuck in the 50's. Lets see an Acela starter set.

[Anonymous]

I belive we should look forward instead of backwards. The products from the 50's were popular in part due to the fact that they were current and modern for that time. So why the halt in forward progress? I would love to see today's equipment as the predominant offering from the manufactuers. How about EOT equipped rolling stock instead of tons of cabooses. Let's face it the caboose is all but gone. F units-gone. FM trainmasters - gone. Catwalk equipped boxcars with second story handbrake wheels - gone. I say bring on the TTUX spline TOFC molds and go nuts! How about a SD70 starter set? The Acela set idea is great too. The 50's were 50 years ago. While I'm sure it was a nice time, it it still in the past. It's time to update a little bit.

[warner brook]

good morning too all
wow what a trip back to the fifties.life is good.
roy

[FJ and G]

John K writes: "We who were kids during the 50s remember the era fondly, and choose to model it, but when we are few, modelling the era will fade ... and maybe toy trains as well."

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John, what is so amazing is that at least (possibly more than) half of those who model 50s era (and I include all model railroaders) were either not born then or have vague recollections, I include myself in the latter.

The 50s doesn't appear to be fading at all. In fact, open any model train mag and look at the advertisements for steam and diesel. At least half are 50s models!

[Bob Keller]

My layout is based on the concept of the city Cynosure from the comic book "Grimjack" by Tim Truman. Cynosure was a place where all times and dimensions come together - hency my NYC Mohawk running alongside my NYC Genesis and Dash 9s.....Only in model railroading can you bend the very core of time and space to do your bidding.

[Anonymous]

Although born in the early 80's, I love the 50's and believe that it is still one of the best time frames to model. My first train set had an F Unit, Something would be lost if we missed out on F unit lashups and the dying days of steam locos.... I say we look to the future but continue to remember the past...
CW

[jkerklo]

I am a bit surprised at the number of 50s modellers who did not experience the era. The "steam and diesel" aspect has to be part of it.

It also occurs to me that idealistic depictions of the 50s are numerous via television reruns. The 50s are also considered the "golden age" of television as this entertainment medium was developing then.

I don't think I would be interested in modelling an era that couldn't reasonably include steam engines. When railroads or toy trains come to mind, my first thought is always a steam engine; diesels and electrics always come second. I have always been impressed by a steam engine, ever since, as a kid, standing on the sidewalk in town while one passed through the main street.

I suppose one could model a more modern era and include a 3985 or 8444 as an excursion train. I have been fond of the 8444: it was put into service the month and year I was born and served on the UP until 1960.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com