American Model Trains
Pop quiz: what are the three most famous American model trains makers? I bet you’ll remember them when I tell you. They are: “Lionel, American Flyer and Bachmann Trains”. You probably didn’t known that Bachmann was American, but it is. And American Flyer was a creator not just a line of trains. Here’s other interesting facts about these American model train makers that you might find fascinating:
Lionel Trains:
Lionel was perhaps the the top dog of model train makers in your father’s day. Lionel’s great marketing allowed it to outwit the competition. One tactic it deployed was to embed model trains to Christmas traditions, making the circular train tracks around the Christmas tree a mainstay of the Christmas experience. Their O gauge trains which were one 48th the size of actual locomotives ruled the roast up until the 1950’s when HO scale trains started to take over the market. Starting in the 60’s Lionel went through several ups in downs but is still around. Lionel O gauge is back and as hot as ever. Their great trains are well loved by all.
American Flyer:
We mostly recognize American Flyer trains as a line of trains now, but they were their own manufacturer until 1966 when they were bought out by Lionel. American Flyer had its humble beginning in turn of the century Chicago. They were bought out by A C Gilbert who also popularized the famous “erector sets” of the early 20thcentury. American Flyer is partly still so popular as a collectible today because it offered such a strong alternative to Lionel’s O gauge trains. After World War II the company slowly failed as its trains switched to S scale. When Lionel bought American Flyer in 1966, they kept and refurbished much of the equipment. In the last ten years Lionel has started reissuing the most famous and popular of the American Flyer trains using the original manufacturing devices but updating the trains with new sound systems and 21st century quality controls.
Bachmann Industries:
Although this was the last of the three toy train makers to enter the model train market, it is the the oldest of the three–having been born way back in 1833. Descendants of the original founders of the company, the Carlisle’s and the Bachmann’s, are still on the company board, though the company is now headquartered in China, not in Philadelphia. Bachmann really began to catch on just after World War II when it began catering starter kits for middle class hobbyists. Their success continues to this day and they remain one the leaders in HO model trains in the world.
We have never had more choices in model training. The Internet has opened whole new choices for model train enthusiasts. You can choose from almost any scale and from any era of train at just the touch of button. It is not overstated to claim that these three companies are truly American treasures.
Here is more information on Toy Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
Vintage Model Railroads
I know people collect lots of things. Some people collect stamps, some hobbyists collect coins and some collect trading cards. There’s something ususual about collecting historic model locomotives though. When you collect something that actually still does what it is meant to in real life it is different than when you take that thing out of real life. So it’s not like you are just taking a gander at them in some book or on some wall. They still can be caused to serve their function in the world. Try doing that with your stamp collection!
What are the cool collectible locomotives today? Here’ the large three:
Lionel [train|locomotive]s:
First of all there are Lionel trains. Lionel train has been the longest lasting model crafting obsession. When you collect a Lionel locomotive you are collecting toy train royalty. Through savvy advertising they connected their locomotives with Christmas and by World War II when Lionel was forced to shut down manufacturing to aid in the patriotic struggle Lionel was the accepted gold standard of the model train world. Lionel’s historic model trains are some of the most popular and widely purchased locomotives around. The rocker, Neil Young fell in love with Lionel locomotives as kid and became a collector and then part owner of the company as an adult. Lionel has a strong literature that helps support it. Because Lionel was on top in the 1950s and because the post War era was the high point of model hobbying, it is no surprise that Lionel should be as well regarded as the company is.. The truth is that Lionel was in the process of being usurped by other companies during that period and that most of us, like Neil Young, didn’t actually get Lionel trains as Christmas gifts only makes Lionel more popular now as a collector’s item.
American Flyers:
The only model locomotive brand that can really give Lionel a run for its money is American Flyer. A. C. Gilbert’s attempt to take the Midwest company and make it a challenger of the juggernaut Lionel ultimately failed. Gilbert’s effort, however, created some of the most beloved trains around and collectors go absolutely ape doo doo over these vintage toy trains. The uniqueness of s scale adds to the mystique of the American Flyer brand. Perhaps no model locomotive release has been more anticipated by enthusiasts as the upcoming American Flyers release by Lionel LLC. They are sure to sell like hot cakes.
Ives:
If you actually want to get a locomotive that no one has try locating an old Ives train. Just before World War II it was an Ives, American Flyer, Lionel three way fight for supremacy. Ives did not survive but if you are lucky you might be able to discover one of their classic locomotives. Most are in O gauge just like Lionel but they are real collector’s items these days.
Clock operated [train|locomotive]s of the Victorian era:
If you really want to go old school you can’t go older than a 19th century clock operated train. These are mostly shown at shows these days but if you can actually find one, you’ll have a locomotive that is really a part of the creation of model locomotives. During this era in model training the toy locomotive market was dominated by German imports. This would persist until World War I when a sense of patriotism pushed potential buyers away from these foreign models. You can really make out the hand crafting on these simple wooden trains. No plugs, no batteries, no electricity—these are wind-up trains in the truest sense. They were largely purchased by the upper class back in the day and that’s who can afford to collect them now. They clearly had the children of the rich in mind. These trains can really capture the imagination of another age. In fact, you might say that model training came to us just like kindergarten. Both were part of Germany’s obsessions with childrearing in the early 20th century.
Whatever kind of historic model locomotive you choose to collect you will no doubt learn quite a bit about the history of toy trains, toys in general and us as nation. You could choose a far worse hobby.
Here is more information on Model Steam Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
S Scale Model Railroad
You want to know what’s really at the cutting edge of toy train world? What’s about to break that has every model trainer tossing and turning with anticipation? What style of toy train do hobbyists go gaga for?I could go on and on like this, but let me just let the cat out the bag: it’s s gauge model trains. You got it? You don’t even know what scale that is, do you? Do you even know about different scales? Alright so here’s what you should know for your next toy train railroader’s meeting:
Here’s a blast from the past, these s scale trains are “American Flyers”:
In a way it begins and ends with this. But a huge explanation why this gauge is so popular is because after having been decommissioned during World War II, American Flyer retooled and came out with a new line of state of the art trains in s gauge. This was in huge part an attempt to compete with Lionel who was the king of the roost at the time. S scale is an “inbetween” gauge, way bigger than HO but smaller than Lionel’s O. Real world trains are 64 times larger than s scale toys whereas real world locomotives are 48 times the size of Lionel’s O. That signifies that S scale is a bit more user friendly in terms of the minimum space suggestions for the track but still large enough for those of us that are into the arts and crafts aspect of model training. You can still really get into detailing with these large toy locomotives.
S scale is not a standard gauge:
A further reason that s scale has gained such popularity is that s scale is uncommon. American Flyers are fundamentally the exclusive kind of locomotives that were mass produced in this scale and even American Flyers were only made in this gauge for a brief period just after World War II. That means there are not that many vintage s scale American Flyer trains. This also means that those collectors of the s scale trains in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s had to make most of their replacement trains from scratch and to meticulously maintain their trains since replacement parts in the pre-google age were difficult to track down. The nature of this devotion has just made the trains that much more sought after.
American Flyers are about to enter the market again:
American Flyer’s nemesis Lionel bought them out in the 60’s and is now looking to reinvigorate both brands by releasing the vintage 1950’s toys that continue to be so loved by hobbyists. The great success of these releases has driven Lionel to resolve to re-introduce the s scale locomotives that avid fans are so infatuated with. It might not be long before we have to make room for s scale as yet another common size in the toy training world.
Now’s the time to put your chips down if you want to cash in early on this tip. This is when the early adopters wade in and check things out. Don’t say I didn’t give you a heads up later on. It’s like the coffee house craze of the early 90s. Not only that, American Flyer and s scale just rock even if nobody were into them.
Here is more information on Model Train Scale. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.