Postwar Foreign train set[s]

[Anonymous]

Has anyone heard of a "varney" [sp?] train set.
Or sounds like "varney".
Told it is 1948 train set from Yugoslovia and "certified by model railroaders in 1951" ?
Please help
e-mail add:[e-mail]
Greg Fierstine
729 pine st
Marquette, Mi 49855

[dknelson]

Something does not quite add up here but let me take a stab at it. "Varney" is one of the oldest names in model railroading. Around 1950 or so anyone in HO would have probably had a majority of their layout made up of Varney stuff. They had some big steam locomotive kits, an EMD F3 and a switcher, all in solid metal. They also had a parts catalog that was famous: 1001 Parts it was called. They had an interesting line of metal freight car kits. In the 1950s they introduced some plastic cars at very low prices: the Varney ore car is famous and is still seen at swap meets. Some of their plastic cars neglected to include weights though.
I think some of the old Varney tooling lives on in ultra cheap models that I see from time to time. The 35 foot reefer is the best example.
But all of this stuff was made in USA. I think Gordon Varney lived in Chicago.
Anyway in the late 1960s Varney attempted a comeback. I seem to recall an ALCO RS-11 locomotive of trainset quality that was manufactured in Yugoslavia, as were some of the AHM models of that era. And they made heavy advertising use of their long heritage and past reputation for high quality.
So what I suspect is that you have one of those "second generation" Varney trains, but it would not itself date from 1948. It might be that Varney created his HO line in 1948.
Obviously this is pure speculation by me. Maybe a Varney collector in the audience can cast more light than I can
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dave, I'll do some more review and research and you did help alot. I'' ll know more [baby steps] now as i take another call/ look a this set. I havent seen it. Some one called me on it.

[Algonquin]

Hi Greg,

Kahmbach publishes a Greenberg collectors guide on Varney trains. It may still be available on this site or at hobby shops.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari