Which era toy trains do you have?

[FJ and G]

In another fine post, Jim writes the eras (I didn't know about LTI):

Prewar - anything before 1941

Postwar - 1945 - 1969

MPC 1970 - 1985(ish)

LTI - mid 80's - 1994/5

Modern - 1995 - present

A rivet counter is someone who likes accurately detailed, scale replicas.

Wet water = scotch and soda

Which eras do you have:

I have all but prewar and LTI (although I had some prewar Marx at one time).

Wet water: I use rubbing alcohol AND soap to make wet water (mixed with adhesive).

Used to do scotch and water/ice in Japan decades ago. Really miss the companionship there too!

[csxt30]

I have Modern , LTI , MPC , & Postwar !! Just not enough !!  

Thanks, John

[chuck]

All of the above, though the LTI/MPC stuff is pretty much just rolling stock or Motorized Units.

[dwiemer]

Majority of my stuff is post war, but I have a good bit of everything.  I love the old stuff, but find some of the new productions to be pretty good.  Really like the Dockside engines and some of the Hudsons that have been produced lately.

Dennis

[Dr. John]

Predominately postwar. Some modern (mix of Lionel, K-Line, Williams and MTH), some Marx from the 50's and 60's, a little MPC and a little prewar.

[Anonymous]

Mostly Modern era engines but I due have a few post war engines also. (My Dad gave them to me)

[brianel027]

The only era Dave you didn't list: the Affordable Era.

Of course this means that I might be missing a rivet or two... AND a truckside might not be accurate... AND a car or engine might not be a prototypical scale length in a roadname that might not be prototypical as per the type of equipment... might even be a roadname Lionel LLC has never heard of (at least on smaller starter trains).

And totally lacking any kind of digital control or speed control, one might think "Dang, how can I possibly have any fun with trains?"

Actually, I do have speed control.... I place my hand on the transformer throttle. I know, it's a little low tech, but it works surprisingly well.

[MikeE44]

I have a lot of pre-war Lionel standard guage.  I also have quite a bit of post war Lionel.  I have been collecting some newer MTH and Williams.  I like Lionel but a lot of the post war is not to scale although I like the operating accesories.  I always wanted to model HO for realizsm but never have the time.

[jwse30]

With the exception of about a dozen pieces, my trains are about 1/2 postwar and1/2 MPC. I have one LTI engine, a few LTI cars, a few MTH cars (4 hot metal cars), a few Weaver cars, and a K-line boxcar. Oh, almost forgot about  the Thomas set I picked up last fall.

Most of my operating accessories are MPC, and most of my buildings are Plasticville, or K-line.

J White

[okiechoochoo]

I have postwar Lionel and some of the newer PWC rolling stock, 6464 boxcars, etc.  Most accessories are postwar.  Engines are all postwar, as I don't like the complication of the newer engines.

[Nick12DMC]

Still early days for me. 1 Modern Lionel and 1 RMT loco at the moment. I think I will be going for Williams when it comes to new locos. As these are more in my price range. May upgrade them to TMCC and sound with kits from Electric Railroad Co. I have done this with the Beep and it works great.

Wish list is a AA Santa Fe F3, S2 Turbine, and a scale Hudson. Can't decide which to get for Christmas , any suggestions?

 

Nick

[3railguy]

Most of my stuff is postwar along with some modern Atlas, Lionel, and MTH scale stuff.

[Jumijo]

I have equipment from all eras and they are all nice in their own way. Recently I had a chance to buy a Lionel 665 Hudson for a good price, but I declined. I'd rather buy a new Williams than an old Lionel. I feel like a bit of a heratic saying that, but it's true.

David, I make wet water from dish soap and water. Only lately have I heard about alchohol as a possible ingredient. Your garden railroad is wonderful. Please let us all know when it will be published!

Brian, I'm beginning to think you're Clyde Coupler or what ever his pseudonym is. You and he say "dang" an aweful lot. Has anyone ever photographed the both of you in the same room? You of all people must be disappointed with Lionel's K-Line offerings.

Jim

[Frank53]

Recently I had a chance to buy a Lionel 665 Hudson for a good price, but I declined. I'd rather buy a new Williams than an old Lionel.

 Jim

blasphemy!

All of my engines, rolling stock, track, accessories transformers, etc are post war, and I know the background on most of it.

In a weak moment I bought a Polar Express set last year with the two add on cars. It's nice, but it just ain't teh real thing to me. As my layout ideas have changed since then, I probably won't even have it on my layout.

[ChiefEagles]

A little postwar, a few mid 80's [being converted to TMCC and Railsounds] and a lot of the modern [command].

[Jumijo]

Frank53,

You also said you'd never have Santa Fe F3s on your pike, but you have some now, don't you. Run that PE Berk and enjoy it!

Jim

[Frank53]

Frank53, You also said you'd never have Santa Fe F3s on your pike, but you have some now, don't you. Run that PE Berk and enjoy it! Jim

 

well, I admit they're under my roof.

Whether or not they run in my northeastern setting layout, become shelf queens or get sold off has yet to be determined. But I admit, they sure look nice.

[Jumijo]

I don't have any F3s, hudsons, or pre war locomotives, but am looking into getting some. Those would probably end my search for motive power.

Jim

[Frank53]

I don't have any F3s, hudsons, or pre war locomotives, but am looking into getting some. Those would probably end my search for motive power. Jim

 

I know where you can get a nice set of Santa Fe's:

with the original boxes and wrapping:

 

[Jumijo]

Frank,

If you're serious, e-mail me and let me know what you want for them. Most likely those are going to cost more than I can afford.

If you're just torquing my lug nuts, I'm not going to paint any backdrops next time I'm in FLA.

Jim

[Frank53]

Frank, If you're serious, e-mail me and let me know what you want for them. Most likely those are going to cost more than I can afford. If you're just torquing my lug nuts, I'm not going to paint any backdrops next time I'm in FLA. Jim

left my torque wrench in my other tool box.

Tried to send you an email through the forum, but that appears to be one of the functions that is not quite up to speed.

Send me an email at [e-mail], and I will respond.

[Jumijo]

You've got mail.

[Frank53]

You've got mail.

 

as do you.

[brianel027]

Ah Jaabat, if I were really Clyde, the direction at Lionel would be a lot different. Radically different!

But I am as determined and as passionate about the hobby from the low end as Clyde is from the high end. I just feel my viewpoints are a little more steeped in reality and common sense than are those of Clyde. If you want to know what families with kids think about the hobby, you can't go to YORK... you have to go to the little run of the mill train show located at the local union hall, fire department, youth center, etc. That's where you get the real story.

Here as follows is another one of those little observations from Clyde:

The "FEEDBACK" feature is fun for kids and young at heart adults. It is a novelty feature that can be easily turned on or off at any time directly with its own dedicated easy to read button. Novelty features are an important part of the hobby.. Trains are not just for serious adults.

Man, what a hoot! It's almost funny except that Clyde somehow seriously believes his own press.

Dang, Clyde needs some fresh air. I would say it is the "serious adults" that attend YORK on a twice yearly basis (and can afford to attend too). It is the "serious adults" that confront and write the train companies demanding the products they want. It is the "serious adults" that can afford to spend the big dollars for all this high tech wizzardry. It is the "serious adults" that spend hours and fortunes building full-basement sized layouts. Hey Clyde, please introduce me to one working class kid who goes to YORK 2 times a year, has a layout bigger than a couple sheets of plywood, etc. etc.

Of the thousands of kids that have seen my display at local shows, not one has ever complained about Chuff rates, the lack of ozone or the low-tech manner of my display... things Clyde seems to lose sleep over. Quite the opposite, most kids are really impressed with my display - especially the parents. I love to see the smiles and excitement on their faces... and it didn't break my bank either! And MY way won't break their bank either!

Of the folks I personally know, the usage of TMCC is holding steady at less than 5% and has been that way the past few years. I doubt new improved Cherry Vanilla flavored TMCC is going to change anything except raise prices on everything across the board. When Clyde uses the word "Dang" I sense it is part of his conceived on-line persona... when I use the word it is sarcastic to make a point.

I can't see how Clyde in his right mind thinks that $400+ train locos are for families with kids... certainly none I know or have ever talked to. I show the Lionel catalogs to newcomers with kids and the responses are nearly the same... the kids think the stuff is cool and the parents (upon noticing the prices and the lopsided selection) almost always say "this is NOT a hobby for kids!" It's NOT hard to see why they would say that, yet Clyde doesn't seem to understand this. Dang.

And Jaabat, you are so right about K-Line under Lionel. It shows me that Lionel lacks a total absolute understanding of what made early K-Line products so popular. Those new clueless K-Lionel paint schemes are beyond words, along with the price increses. Dang, I might have thought they were kidding, except the joke is now in the 2006 flavor 2 catalog.

My understanding of this agreement is that Sanda Kan is trying to recoup some of their massive losses by allowing Lionel to market fromer K-Line products under their name and distribution network. But for this long-time K-Line buyer, taking the same items and changing the color of the packaging does not warrant such hefty price increases.

To me it seems to point to the money trouble Lionel is really in, or potentially be in. They know it too... the Lionel name is not part of the main company nor are the new TMCC advances. I'm sure they realize they could as easily lose the lawsuit as well as win it. Nevermind all thier recent tooling expenses. I did read someplace that Lionel supposedly also has debt with Sanda Kan.

High tech in the world of consumer electronics is a total different game from the world of toy trains. If DVD players were still $500, they wouldn't be selling the way they are now at a fraction of their original cost. But I think Clyde and Lionel are under the illusion that if the box says Lionel, that you can still sell it for $500.00

All I can say is Dang, thank goodness for companies like Williams and Ready Made Toys and Industrial Rail. My attitude from square one has been when I have bought a train item, I want to pay for that train item, not a box color scheme and a name that is not holding its' value the way it once did. But then again, that value was in part based on sheer speculation and memories of a time when Lionel trains were toys marketed primarily at kids first and their dads second.

[DCmontana]

I will echo John, Modern, LTI, MPC, and post war.  Yes, I need more, more!  But, my finances and my wife are controling interests here!

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!   I have Prewar,Postwar, & Modern( MPC-LTI-LLC) & enjoy them all. The 1688s are my favorite of the group & Postwar is neat as well as The Modern Trains with their colorful paint & graphics.Take Care all.

[cnw1995]

Let's see: I have some pre-war, some post-war, some MPC, and some modern. I'm not gluing anything these days - wet or dry. But I prefer Miller over other domestic brands...

[rlplionel]

 My layout is predominantly postwar Lionel, but as the photo below shows, there are other eras and manufacturers represented.

[Anonymous]

My toy trains are all prewar and postwar.  These are the eras that I am most interested in and stick with in my collecting.  The historical aspect appeals to me greatly.  However, I have very broad tastes and my prewar and postwar trains include electric, clockwork and battery operated trains from many different manufacturers and countries.

The only exceptions are a James Gang 4-4-0 and a few (maybe ten, no more) MPC freight cars.  These are pieces that I have managed to pick up cheaply over the years and I don't have them on my layout or on display.  The James Gang gets run on the display that I bring to train shows and sometimes around the Christmas tree.

I do have a very large amount of modern era HO, but this topic is about what era of "toy" trains you have and so I would put my HO in a seperate category.

[envfocus]

I dabble only in pre-war trains.  I'm fairly new to the hobby and got started a few years ago when my mother gave me her "Christmas train" from her childhood.  She even had the 1934 catalog that they ordered it from.  Very cool.  So, I started by learning some basics and getting her 259E engine, tender, 603 pullman, and 604 observation car to work.  For the past couple of years, my son and I take time twice a year to buy a few new things for the set (on his birthday and then again on mine).  We've graduated up to running two trains (we've added a 253E electric locomotive that pulls several 800 series freight cars).  Anyway, I just joined the forum and look forward to learning a lot more as our efforts grow.