The Great Debate - Postwar Lionel or PWC Lionel

[FEClionel]

After a couple of years of collecting purely Lionel modern PWC - I suddenly started looking through old catalogs and Dave Doyle's new book and I started feel nostalgic. I'm 26, so all my postwar is my dad's but now all of my Lionel PWC rollingstock and engines seem boring. There is something about looking at the postwar stuff and think - wow this was made in the USA crafted by some of the greatest generation. I'm at a juncture on whether to sell all my PWC and start up by postwar search again. I like the sharp paint and the smoothness of the new stuff but the postwar stuff is real and I feel its something special I have have for years to run around the tree and run the floor pike. My problem is that I have limited space so I can only have so many trains - maybe thats my problem...

[LS1Heli]

I am around your age an basically I collect all eras of Lionel. I have to be in the "mood"  for a certain era. I love the postwar trains and I also equally like the PWC. This series defiently got me buying "new" Lionel again..the PWC stuff is just way cool. I got just about every PWC set since 2003.

To bad people don't feel like you about General Motors and Ford. All it is are shitbox Hondas and Toyotas today.

[FEClionel]

Don't even get me started about General Motors - thats my other passion and I can see from your screen name your a GM guy. I have an LS1 in my Camaro - I would trade that car for anything - happy to see that GM announced today that Camaro production has been approved! PWC stuff is what got me excited about trains after a 10 year absence(middle school, high school and college). I just want one great set to run with the Polar Express around the tree.

[Fred Bear]

We all play into the ( shitbox") market. If you listen to a radio, watch TV, have appliances, type on your computer, use most any electronics, including the stuff that comes in the Lionel trains of today, you are playing into the foreign market. I'm for 100% USA made stuff, but I think condemning Toyota or Honda or any other foreign makers is a bit sudden, unless you've abandoned all of the items I've mentioned above. Even the GM products are full of foreign parts. Rumor has it one of the new GM SUV's is made largely in Mexico. I've checked it out and darned if it's not. So...some items are not going to be made in this country, seems as if it can't or won't be helped. Just wondered where the cut off is on what's tolerated and what's not. Jake

PS. For any one wondering, my roots go to the Native American side.

[traindaddy1]

Please bare with me........("Old-Timers Memory" attack)  Refresh my memory: What is PWC. Thanks.

[BlackJack]

PWC post war classic: modern reproductions of 1950s PW postwar trains. Mostly done as they were, but some with upgrades like command control, railsounds, etc.

But they do seem to deliver that brand new post war feel.

[mitchelr]

Please bare with me........("Old-Timers Memory" attack)  Refresh my memory: What is PWC. Thanks.

I believe Post War Classics =  a series of modern remakes of classic Post War Lionel Trains made by Lionel.


Mitch

[traindaddy1]

EP5JET - MITCH:   Oh yes, now I recall. Many thanks.

[MartyE]

Actually it's PWC= Post War Celebration Series.  And in my mind the PWC stuff with TMCC are the cat's meow.

[msacco]

PWC or POstwar Celebration Series as it's called is a nice idea and originally the stuff was being made in Michigan. I didn't miss a beat when I picked up the red and white executive inspection car a few years back. I really love that the box says  "made and litho in USA.

   These early made in U.S.A PWC pieces to me are the only ones that can come close to the magic. But really, really, if you like this stuff you should be buying originals. There is really something magical about awakening 50, 60 year old equipment and seeing it run.

Postwar Rules,

Mike S.

[csxt30]

Actually it's PWC= Post War Celebration Series.  And in my mind the PWC stuff with TMCC are the cat's meow.

That's exactly how I see it !!

[Frank53]

I think condemning Toyota or Honda or any other foreign makers is a bit sudden,

a couple of nights of the History channel works wonders on that theory.

As for me, trains are post war, Made In The USA Lionel Trains, everything else is just a copy. albeit an entertaining one for many, but my personal train roots were planted in the 50's and I don't see myself having a change of heart anytime between now and when they plant me.

 

[3railguy]

Lionel and General motors got it right in 1955. After 1957 everything went downhill for both of them.

[okiechoochoo]

I am with you Frank, the 1950s it is.  There just isn't anything like a real to goodness postwar original.   They can be brought back to life and run like new.  If taken care of. the value remains.

You can't do that with PWC.  Turn a wheel and the value goes down.  Where will you find parts for this high techno TMCC stuff in twenty years. 

 

[mitchelr]

Actually it's PWC= Post War Celebration Series.  And in my mind the PWC stuff with TMCC are the cat's meow.

Doh...  I must have been having brain cramp. 

Mitch

[Jumijo]

FEClionel ,
The real post war stuff has a certain intangible attached to it that I'm not sure I can describe. It feels different when you hold it. It looks different. Even the "cheap" O27 stuff has a feeling of quality. I like buying post war pieces more for the age and history of a piece than for the collectability aspects. I will often wonder who owned the piece before me? Where was it purchased? Who made it? And yes, the fact that a member of the greatest generation built it does mean something to me.

The PWC stuff is also very nice. I own some of that too. It gives us a chance to own like-new replicas at a reasonable price. There's no rule that says you have to have either or. Collect what you like and enjoy the hobby on your own terms.

Jim

[trigtrax]

The best Postwar Celebration is made by Williams...

Oops, my bad

[YGBSM]

I'm 33 and I love the PWC stuff.  I respect postwar Lionel and treasure the few pieces my Dad has kept since his childhood.  They have a patina that only comes with age, and are undoubtable collectibles.

But for an operator, IMHO, nothing can beat the PWC with TMCC and all the modern goodies.  I have the #2544W Super Chief set and the #13150 Super O Frieght set, love 'em both.  Plus they cost a fraction of what similar postwar pieces go for.

Let's just all be thankful that PWC and postwar are far superior to the MPC crap I grew up with  . . .

 

[DCmontana]

I remember back in 52 when a friend of mine's dad would not get remote control switches.  He used manual only because the manuals would always work and the remote controls would break or wear out quicker and if they came out with new stuff you would not be able to repair the old.  Such is the price of change and progress.

GM made some fine cars after 57.  My favorite is the 58 Ponitac Bonneville followed by the 64 GTO.  As you went into the late 60's and the 70's their quality control really stank.  Anybody still driving a Vega???

[FEClionel]

Still on the fence on whether to sell off all the PWC stuff and go for some nice PW. Just put up poll for a PWC F3 set or go balls out with a 2367 or 2245 and some nice rolling stock.

[Jumijo]

I don't know why you don't want some of both. They are all nice.

Jim