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Lionel Train: The Golden Years, 1950-54

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Lionel Train: The Golden Years, 1950-54
Posted by Roger Carp on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 10:25 AM

Our mailbox has been strangely quiet about the latest special-interest publication from Classic Toy Trains. Lionel Trains: The Golden Years, 1950-54. Anyone out there reading it? Which articles have you liked the most? Which ones are helping you with your trains? Let us hear your thoughts!!!

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Central Texas
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Posted by Texas Pete on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 12:12 PM

"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light."  - Edward Abbey -

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Posted by overall on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 2:20 PM

I posted on this subject on August 1st and it got 14 replies. I got one of these and very much enjoyed it. Thanks for all your hard work Roger. Keep it coming.

George

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Posted by Penny Trains on Friday, September 28, 2012 7:43 PM

I finally got a copy yesterday at my LHS!  I'm about halfway through and it's great reading!

On the Zephyr/WP F3 issue I had a few thoughts.

Is it possible that Lionel wanted to do a D&RG scheme for this loco?  (That's not to say that the WP scheme isn't fantastic, because I for one think it is.)  But wouldn't the Rio Grande black and yellow striping on a silver body plus the nose art have been more in line with the paint schemes used on the previous F3's than just an orange stripe?

Based on the whole Korean war issue, is it possible Lionel wanted to do a D&RG Zephyr rather than a WP one but couldn't becaue of the restrictions on chromium?  Could that D&RG artwork have been made in 52, shelved, and then later used on the 2379 F3 A-B and 6657 caboose of 1957 when wartime restrictions had been lifted and sales were rising?

Another thought.  As you mention, the WP wasn't exactly a household word in 52.  But could the choice of the WP for use on the Zephyr been an attempt to give the SanFrancisco sales office a region specific marketing tool?  If that was the case, would the salesmen in the Chicago office stgart aggitating for a similar regional specialty?

Just speculation of course, but that's the fun of collecting!  All the mysteries left behind!

Becky

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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Posted by Blueberryhill RR on Friday, September 28, 2012 8:50 PM

I too, posted on the "Coffee Pot", that I had received my copy of this magazine. I was happy with it and need to finish reading it.

I would have liked to see it extended from 1950 to 1956.  Many nice items were offered by Lionel during these two years.

You guys did a good job.

Chuck

Chuck # 3 I found my thrill on Blueberryhill !!
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Posted by Cobrabob8 on Friday, September 28, 2012 10:49 PM

Regarding the newest special issue, Lionel Trains 1950-1954, another grand slam homerun by Kalmbach! Thanks for another KEEPER!!!
Bob Schulz

Toy Trains, they are not just an adventure, they are a way of life !

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Posted by David Barker on Saturday, September 29, 2012 8:25 AM

I enjoyed them all!  I would like to see a similar series on Gibert American Flyer and Marx.Cool

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