101 Classic Toy Trains

[Roger Carp]

Hi Pete,

 

Thanks for your kind words about my book. And I agree that the American Flyer no. 766 is a cool accessory and operating car. In case you missed it, I selected that neat item as the Collectible Classic for the September 2007 issue of "Classic Toy Trains." Check it out on page 98 of that issue or contact me if you missed it.

 

Roger Carp

Senior Editor

[Texas Pete]

Now that the pro nit-pickers are heard from I must say this:  Absolutely accessories should be in this book!  They are a major component of the classic toy trains snapshot.

The only (minor) nit I might pick is that the American Flyer #766 Animated Station and Operating Coach should have been somewhere in the top 100, if for no other reason that this accessory moved "people" and not livestock.

Pete

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Very good book, my daughter bought it for me for Christmas a couple of years ago.

[wallyworld]

In my earlier comment regarding how much I enjoyed reading the book I mentioned a few quibbles I had in regard to it's content and since you asked: I think the inclusion of accessories in "101 Classic Trains" in terms of affecting the hierarchy of the rating system adversely by mixing apples of trains and the oranges of accessories and yet at the the same time, also noting the exclusion of several exceptional trains that "could not " be included in the rating system as "also ran" examples. Yet it could be said that an accessory is not a toy train as they are accessories to a train, and so the concept is flawed, yet it is entertaining and a great read none the less. 25% of the book is accessories.

I would like to have seen the accessories set aside, and the notable exceptions placed in the ranking system. It would have been a more focused book. It abruptly umped the context too many times.As an example,I thought the inclusion of road signs jumped the shark of the premise, yet it was enjoyable to read about them.The alternative would have been a second more focused book; "The Top Fifty Classic Train Accessories" Lumping things together in a generic sense was my only disappointment in a difficult balancing act, that given the parameters as a misstep, was still well worth the price.

Three stars out of four.

As far as your response to the others as there being no market for what the others suggested as material , again I refer to your book. What is the the developed market and interest for Unique Arts diesels that are rare and obscure? Kusan? Colber? Thomas? Minitoys? I am glad you made an exception to your own professed instincts as to where the interest sells..This is where editorially, I think CTT needs to be less stodgy and conservative and more innovative. I am not the first person to say Lionel has been done to death in the past. Developing or prompting interest in new topics, in my view is what keeps me subscribing, not repetition.otherwise Id buy a book. 

 

 

[Roger Carp]

This is Roger Carp, the author of "101 Classic Toy Trains," in response to Major and Ray. I included American Flyer, Marx, and a few other, smaller postwar toy train manufacturers in my book--but the majority of items are Lionel. I appreciate what Gilbert, Marx, and others developed and do my best to include feature articles and "Collectible Classics" about those firms and their trains. Unfortunately, there is a limited market on books focusing entirely on American Flyer or Marx--beyond than a pocket price guide.

 

So I hope you will have the chance to read about the trains, sets, and accessories from the Flyer and Marx lines in "101 Classic Toy Trains" and let me know what you think. And we at CTT are always looking for manuscripts and ideas about those two train lines.

 

Thanks and all the best,

 

Roger Carp

Senior Editor

[AF53]

I fully agree with Major on this. And I believe it would have been a better book if all Lionel, American Flyer and Marx were in the same book.

As an American Flyer fan I would like to read a book that included them together, not comparing but describing the companies and their products of those years.

Ray

[Major]

Doing a book of Flyer's golder years or Marx's golden years would also be interesting!

[Roger Carp]

Hi and thanks for the kind words on my previous book. Also glad to hear about nits being picked--please do so. I would enjoy hearing about your selections. I would never claim to be 100 percent right about my 101--so let's hear your thoughts.

 

Also, look forward to our next special publication: "Lionel's Golden Years: 1950-54"--with updated articles, many new essays and stories, and great pictures recently taken of stunning train sets and accessories from those great years. Even if you have every issue of CTT, you will find new material in this special publication, due out in August. So order yours now: 1-800-533-6644.

 

Thanks for everyone's support.

 

Roger Carp

Senior Editor

[wallyworld]

A terrific book, one that I have reread more than once which is more than I can say for most of what I read. Even if I disagree or could parse some selections overall it was a great example of a successful editorial  balancing act that I felt was fairly objective which is a tough assignment simply to contemplate. Four stars.

[sir james I]

Foot in mouth for sure on this one. I talked to Roger several years back about these books saying  I felt that's what I was buying CTT to read. He gave a valid response that stated a lot of time went into research so the the books were warranted. I'm sure they are good books but I still feel the material should be published in CTT.

[Major]

I got a sign copy from Roger Carp at York and he has done a great job selecting the entries.  It is a great book!

[Texas Pete]

I won a copy of this book at a train show last week and I am enjoying the heck out of it!  Nits could be picked, I suppose, but the author's selections are as close to being without fault as is humanly possible.  The amount of thought and research that went into it is absolutely phenomenal.

Pete