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 19^th 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 20^th 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.