Poll: my very first Lionel was a?

[Anonymous]

I got my first Lionel train for Christmas in 1956. The set was headed by a 2055 hudson which I still have today. I repainted the engine in the early 80's and started to run it again during the Christmas season. Now it's retired and put away as a keepsake.

Jim

[1688torpedo]

Hello Dennis Heartman! - If your 225E needs new axle bushings then Look up Dr.Tinkers Toy Train Parts as reproductions are being made & he may have some to install in your 225E. Take Care.

[MTsteamfan]

Mine was a #1609 steam set given to me by my grandfather in around 1962 when I was 6. It contained a 246 Lionel Lines steamer, a "Lionel Savings Bank" boxcar, gondola with 3 canisters, and red LL caboose. I still have the whole set today including the box and transformer (no instructions though) and it runs fine.

[Heartman]

My first "Lionel" was & is a 225E Gunmetal Gray Steamer that I got used in 1956. I still have it, It still runs, but it needs some new bearings. It's a little sluggish from the slop in the bearings due to the massive amount of run and fun time! [:)]

Dennis

[Anonymous]

A 2332 GG-1 back in 1948. It came with the green side dump car, the depressed center transformer, 6 axle crane and the DL&W work caboose with the searchlight.

I ran the train all year round and finally wore all the teeth off the worm gear. Lionel charged me $7.95 to replace the whole power truck in the middle 50's.

Replaced the E-unit once and lost three pantograph insulators, but otherwise, still going!

Tony

[danrunner]

...piece of crap. It was an MPC '70s era Yard Boss set w/ yellow diesel switcher. I miss it and will eventually pick one up for nostalgia sake, not because I like cheaply-made plastic trains.

D

[Brutus]

I'm not really sure. It was one my dad bought I think in the early 60's. I know I played with it through the very early 70's, but it was in a box in their basement and I think some of the other kids or neighbors more or less wrecked it. I think it was an inexpensive freight train set, maybe a Santa Fe? I remember it smoked when we first got it, but I think my mom objected to the smell or something.

[DCmontana]

Christmas 1952, Santa Claus brought me the 2056 baby Hudson, NYC gondola car, Sunco double dome tank car, Lehigh Valley hopper, and a Lionel caboose. My parents added a couple of switches so I started with a passing siding. I still run the 2056 the most. It is a link between my dad, me, a son that we lost, and a son I have now. I believe that is what toy trains are all about. Believe me, I would not part with that 2056 for all the command control electronic stuff you can come up with. That ole engine is toy trains to me!

[artyoung]

I still have my 2025 steamer with NYC gondola w/ barrels, SF animated boxcar, Sunoco 2 dome tanker and SP-type caboose from 1952. Still run it, too.

[Lafondue]

the 2004 Nickel Plate Road Super Freight set.....welll it's now 2 years later what a ride it's been.
Thanks Lionel

[Anonymous]

My NYC F3 2333 AA (48-49) set that my Father bought second had when I was born. Still pulling cars on my layout today!!!

[Kooljock1]

The Lionel Western Gift Pak with the Giraffe and Sheriff & Outlaw car, horse flat and a plastic 2-4-2. It all still works!

Jon [8D]

[Anonymous]

... secondhand American Flyer Sante Fe warbonnet freight set given to me by my cousin in 1968! [:D]

When my parents sent it to me after not seeing it for about 25 years the train bug bit me again.

When I wanted trains again in the mid 1990's I was awed at the selection of Lionel O guage available and made the switch. [:p]

As a kid, I remember how awesome my Flyer set seemed and how much fun it was. [8D] Looking at it now, I can see how used (and somewhat) abuse the set really is. [:0] There truely are some advantages at seeing things through the eyes of a child!

Someday I hope to restore the engines to their former glory! [:)][:)][:)]

Jim

[palallin]

1972 Sears set: 8020 Alco (Santa Fe Warbonnet), 9142 Burlington gondola, Weaties boxcar, PC log dump car, 9011 DARK blue GN hopper (according to Greenberg, the rare one), and 9061 caboose. Figure eight of track.

I still have it, of course, and it runs great (as does my #490 Marx, my first train from 1964).

[1688torpedo]

Jim A- You're very welcome for the help.More to restore- I see you've a 1688E in your possesion. Nice train to have & a good runner to boot. How is the 289E doing? has it been restored yet? Take Care.

[msacco]

My dad's 2056 followed by my father-in-law's prewar 262. Both still champs on the rails.

mike s.

[More to restore]

289E - 659 - 657 - 604
I inherited this in 1974 from my uncles. I never made permanent layouts, just made a temporary layout on the floor with a Marklin transformer. It still runs great, but is much cleaner and better maintained nowadays.
In the 80's I bought a set with 1688E and 1690-1690-1691 from my own money in a second hand toy shop, a little later came the 1666E-1679-1680 train.

[cnw1995]

I'll be my 248 will still be running in 2055 when it is about 127 years old. Reminds me of watching 'Back to the Future' last evening on VH1, they were going far into the scary future: 2015

[Anonymous]

My first lionel was a Hornby Train!
[:D]

[FJ and G]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Frank53

interesting that everyone who has 30-40-50 and older Lionel trains all report they still run them and some report they run "like a swiss watch".

WOnder if the same will be said for today's electonic trains come 2055 or so.

Actually, I think that the answer is yes and no. The likely will still be running but the circuits will be blown. You can snip the wires to the circuitry and keep the motors powered and I believe that they will still be running.

The only difference is that with the old Lionel, you could repair the motors yourself but with the newer motors, I think you have to get a replacement. So, with a possible remotoring and no circuits, you could still have them running indefinitely.

[Frank53]

interesting that everyone who has 30-40-50 and older Lionel trains all report they still run them and some report they run "like a swiss watch".

WOnder if the same will be said for today's electonic trains come 2055 or so.

[Jumijo]

You nailed it, Keith. I had the 1973 set, and I certainly do remember the Wheaties car and the Burlington Northern gondola. Thank you so much.

Jim

[1688torpedo]

Jim's (Jaabat) First Train was the Allegheny Set Lionel made in 1972 with a 4-4-2 Atlantic that was made from the old 2026 tooling & even the rear Diecast Trailing Truck came from the 2026. It had the Wheaties Boxcar, Short red Santa Fe Flatcar,Green Burlington Northern Gondola, (Some sets had a Blue Republic Steel Gondola instead) & a Yellow Cheasapeake & Ohio Caboose. The Engine & Tender also had the roadname Cheasapeake & Ohio in Gold Letters. In 1973 this Train was changed to the Rock Island Express with the Same engine,tender,& freight cars setup only that the roadnames on the freight cars was changed at that time & the Engine # was changed from 8204 to 8304. My First Lionel was the Broadway Limited from 1974 with the 9500 series passenger cars & sound-of -steam. I've still got it at home. Take Care. P.S. - Some of the Allegheny sets from 1971-72 had a Ford Autolight Boxcar instead of a Wheaties version.

[BillP1]

610 Erie switch engine.

I took one truck off of a Marx tank car and replaced it with a Lionel truck so that the 610 could pull my Marx freight train.

----------------------- Bill

[lionelsoni]

A new 2243 set in 1955. I gave all my Marx to a little kid across the street. The 2243 still runs perfectly.

[pmilazzo]

Mine was my father's 2025 set he purchased in 1947 that he gave to me in 1969. I still have that set and it runs like a swiss watch...It has has a few minor scratches / rubs from being played with hard, but it still one of my favorite post war engines with it's distinctive aluminum smoke stack.

[cnw1995]

I never had one - my brothers did though and now I'm 'holding' their trains (MPC-era) for them. My first was a Ballyhoo circus train I purchased myself in 2000. I consider though my dad's 248 (and matching cars) from the late 1920s to be 'my' first now.

[dwiemer]

First bought for me was a early 70s Sears set with the plastic 8040 engine. Then my Dad gave me his set that I had played with since before I could remember which was the 1949 freight set with the 2020 engine. Still have and run them all.
Dennis

[otftch]

A brand new 2026 which still runs my layout occasionally.Purchased as a family tradition the day I was born.I've never not had lionel trains.
Ed

[Jumijo]

My first Lionel was a 1972-74 set. Not exactly sure of the year. It had a loco that looked like a 2026, but with a 4-4-2 wheel configuration, and Sound of Steam. One of the cars was a Wheaties boxcar. The tender had the Rock Island livery - I think.

Torpedo1688 Keith would know what set I had. He's told me before and I've forgotten which one it was.

Jim