Interesting Toy Train Video

[Jumijo]

I borrowed a video from my local library this week that was pretty fascinating. "How are Toy Trains Made?" from the "Did You Ever Wonder?" video series. It showed vintage O, O27, and standard guage in a musem, followed by a tour of the Lionel assembly plant at Chesterfield, where a large, O-scale Hudson steamer was followed from start - melting the zinc bars, to finish - final testing of the loco.

The one thing that struck me, aside from the fact that all the people in the video no longer work for Lionel, was how much effort goes into building just one locomotive. Almost all of the work was done by hand, including filing the loco's shell. The engine highlighted in the video had over 500 parts put on it. No wonder toy trains cost so much.

Another thing that amazed me was that the person who painted these locos did so without any type of respirator at all. She just put the shell on a hand-held spring-action holder and started spraying at half an arm's length. Even with an exhaust booth, I'd wear a respirator. Especially if I did it 8 hours a day, five days a week.

I found the video interesting and it was free. Check your library. You never know what treasures are hiding out there.

Jim

[csxt30]

Jim: I think I still have that very video! I think mine is titled " Making of the Hudson". I got it around 1996 when I bought a Hudson. I think it is a great movie, too, & my boy sure liked it, as he was only about 7 then. Thanks, John

[Anonymous]

its a really good vidioethanks 4 putting it on the website