China Lionel Factory

[Payitforward]

Thank you and enjoy this Memorial Day weekend.

[cnw1995]

Wow, my last post on this thread was 13 years ago. My then 3 year old turns 16 in a month. Glad you are enjoying your hunt for Lionel trains, Payitforward!

[Firelock76]

Payitforward

Thank you. I have been looking for shows and found one.

 

Great!  You'll have a ball, I always do!  And if it's a BIG show prepare to be a bit overwhelmed when you walk in the door.  It'll be all right, just take a deep breath...

[Payitforward]

Thank you. I have been looking for shows and found one.

[cwburfle]

It's a Lionel. Not really a knock-off, but a re-pop.

Call it what you will.
As illustrated by the post above, the practice is deceptive and leads to confusion.

[Payitforward]

I see. But a numbered engine should represent a year produced. If a 247 was originated in say 52 how can they justify calling it a 247 in 1980?  Just asking. Seems terribly dishonest to me. The 1980 value is nill compared to a 1952 value. Vintage is what you pay for or at least I do.  Thanks for your imput. Just wondering how they justify this.

[Payitforward]

stumbled upon it.  :)

[ADCX Rob]

Payitforward

...whe I got ii I was amzed how clean is was until I turned it upside down and saw the Made in China Label. This was supposed to be a vintage set featuring a Model 247 engine and tender. Buying online I want to warn everyone there are knock offs...

It's a Lionel. Not really a knock-off, but a re-pop.

[Firelock76]

Yeah, I'm amazed myself.

Payitforward, how'd you find this thing?

[Payitforward]

Thank you for the advice. I seem to be doing well on ebay. Yesterday I poicked up a 2035 in very good condition for $40 and today a 2026 for $38  I had alson gotten some cars and accories to start my set at afforable prices. Can't wait to dig in and build and repair as necessary. I will be bacl a lot seeking advbice. This is very exciting to be finally fulfilling my aspirations of doing a nice train layout. My recent dissappointment was buying a set ( 4 cars and a cab) on ebay featuring a #247 engine for $70 When I got it I was struck on how nice it was until I turned it over and saw Made in China. I will be checking out the shows now tht you mentioned that. Thanks again  George

[Firelock76]

If you're looking for vintage Lionel, and by that I mean the classic post-war stuff, now is a good time to get into it.  Prices are dropping from what they were several years ago, except for the "brand-new-still-in-the-box" articles which are a whole 'nother category, but sometimes you can find good deals there as well. 

If you don't mind some surface flaws in the paint, and all that means is it's been played with usually, you can find some good deals.  I too prefer to see it before I buy it.  My advice is click on "Resources" waaaay up on top of the website and check for any train shows that may be coming to your area.  There can be some good hunting there. 

And of course, the nice thing about post-war is if you've got good electrical/mechanical skills you can usually fix 'em yourself.  We can't say that with the modern stuff.

Click "Resources", then "Coming Events", and follow the instructions from there.  It's a good tool and it's accurate.  I use it often, especially if I'm traveling to a different part of the country just to see if there's a show there I might attend.

[Payitforward]

I have been buying trains to create a large layout at home. I love the old Lionels. My Father gave my set away when I was ten. It was a simple four foot diameter set, but sure did love it and never lost the desire to have one again. Now that I am in a position to do so I am acquiring as I find fair pricing. The other day I bought one online that look decent and whe I got ii I was amzed how clean is was until I turned it upside down and saw the Made in China Label. This was supposed to be a vintage set featuring a Model 247 engine and tender. Buying online I want to warn everyone there are knock offs. Caveat emptor!

[cnw1995]

If you are going through Hong Kong - take the train up into Kowloon one day to visit the Railway Museum - it's a hike from the station but I thought it worth it - visited it a few years ago. It's a former station along the R-o-W with models and signboards highlighting the history of railroads in HK. There's a few model railroading shops in HK - mostly European HO and Japanese N - I scoured them as well as the big department stores which had entire MR departments - again mostly N, and a model railroad society that meets regularly in HK too - though they are mostly into the smaller scales too.

[Anonymous]

If that is true, they might have some complete TMCC or DCS boards!

[Anonymous]

Congratulations on your adoption! It's always great to see kind people like you doing noble things like this. Hopefully your girl will bring you a lot of enjoyment and pride in the years to come. Be sure to raise her right by making sure that she gets lot of trains to play with!

As others have said, there are better things in China to do. I'm not sure where in the country you are going, but there are some excellent railway museums that you should definetly check out if you are in the area and have the time. Here are some links with information:

http://www.railway-museums.com/china_rm/index.htm
http://www.railway-museums.com/shenyang/index1.htm
http://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/english/branch_sel_hkr.htm
http://home.c2i.net/schaefer/railwaymuseum/
http://www.railwaysofchina.com/beijing.htm
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/heritage/museums/mu_nt_0003.jhtml

QUOTE: Originally posted by zwbob

I heard there is a thrift store with all kinds of train parts that sell for pennies. If you can find it bring back some number boards for the new Lionel F-3's. A friend of mine melted his and Lionel doesn't have replacements in the US.

Wow! Are you serious? If I ever found that place, I'd buy out the whole store!

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Allan Miller

Lionel trains are--or once were--American icons. You're probably just as well off holding onto your childhood memories and forgetting about visiting the place where the trains are made today. It's not a Lionel factory, per se, in any event--Lionel is just one of the brands being ground-out there (in several locations, as I understand it).

sad but true

[cnw1995]

Dwiemer, congratulations on your new baby girl! We've adopted each of our three kids - the youngest turns 3 today.

[ChiefEagles]

dwiemer, good job on adopting the baby. Hope all goes well. God bless you and your family.

[Bob Keller]

Note to PC 8885: I don't care if you guys talk about China, but when the bombs start getting tossed, the thread goes....

[Anonymous]

I'd say your chances of getting into the factory are very slim - I recall reading about a MRR magazine over here that attempted to send a couple of writers and a film crew "inside", getting the relevant permissions took them months, even for a well-known publication. Chances of any of us modellers getting in would be pretty low therefore, as in their eyes we have no legitimate reason to be there - trying to convince the staff otherwise is impossible given the nature of China!

[underworld]

penncentral8885 What's going to happen??? Maybe the ghost of Mao will send out a hit squad? Or maybe Lionel will send someone out to our homes at night and switch the polarity on our transformers.....nevermind. [:p]

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Man you guy's better stop talking about China and Lionel!!! I'm suprised the big ax hassen't fallen on this thread!
We don't talk about these things here!!!!!!,,,,,,,,,,,I don't know why,,,,But I had a therad about some of this stuff and it got shut down!!!

[zwbob]

I heard there is a thrift store with all kinds of train parts that sell for pennies. If you can find it bring back some number boards for the new Lionel F-3's. A friend of mine melted his and Lionel doesn't have replacements in the US.

[Anonymous]

This would be a perfect opportunity to turn this discussion into a pro China vs anti China discussion......

BUT LET"S NOT DO IT!!!!!!!

Thank you for adopting a baby, it's a great thing.

[3railguy]

It is my understanding Chinese factory workers are provided with room, board, and health care. That their paychecks are mad money.

[Anonymous]

Underworld, yes they are tweety in a Santa hat.

Frankie Z, did you see anything in my pictures that looks like a sweatshop?

The factory I work at here in Virginia doesn't have Air conditioning everywhere, so in July it's a bit of a sweatshop too I guess.

Alan said it right "You're probably just as well off holding onto your childhood memories and forgetting about visiting the place where the trains are made today."

Besides, far more interesting than Chinese factories are Chinese construction sites. Go watch a building being put up. They like to make scaffolding by tying bamboo together with twine. And the scaffolding is 20 stories tall. It's cool watching someone climb up to the top carrying a bucket in one hand and no shoes.

and as backwards as everyone wants to believe they are, they make some nice buildings,

[csxt30]

That reminds me, I have that movie Lionel made called Making of The Hudson. Shows the eng. being made & lots of other stuff. I really liked it. Now, I wonder if there are any model train guys in China ? Thanks, John

[Big_Boy_4005]

All this talk brings back fond memories of my tour of the factory in Mt Clemens back in 1993.

My advice, see the Great Wall, take a train ride, and forget the factory.

[Anonymous]

Lionel trains are--or once were--American icons. You're probably just as well off holding onto your childhood memories and forgetting about visiting the place where the trains are made today. It's not a Lionel factory, per se, in any event--Lionel is just one of the brands being ground-out there (in several locations, as I understand it).