Vintage Model Railroads
I know hobbyists collect lots of things. My cousin collected Coca Cola cans from various places and I once got to know this hobbyist who collected candy wrappers. There’s something ususual about collecting classic model locomotives though. Part of it is that a lot of these locomotives can be rehabilitated and fixed to work again. So it’s not like you are just taking a gander at them in some book or on some wall. You can get just as much satisfaction from them as when they were first opened. Try doing that with your stamp collection!
What are the cool collectible trains today? Here’ the big three:
Lionel locomotives:
First of all there are Lionel trains. Lionel locomotive has been the longest lasting toy crafting obsession. Lionel trains once ruled the toy training hobby. By means of savvy marketing they connected their trains with the holidays and by World War II when they were forced to shut down production to do their part in the war effort Lionel was the acknowledged gold standard of the model train world. Lionel’s vintage model locomotives are some of the best received and widely available locomotives around. Famous folks like the rocker Neil Young and the actor Tom Hanks have been long time Lionel fans. These trains are such favorite items because many adults remember them from their childhoods when Lionel displays were often set up in department stores. Because Lionel was ruled in the 1950s and because the post War era was the high point of model training, it is no surprise that Lionel should be as well regarded as it is.. The truth is that Lionel was in the process of being usurped by other brands during that time and that most of us, like Neil Young, didn’t actually get Lionel locomotives as Christmas gifts only makes the brand more popular now as a collector’s item.
American Flyers:
The only model train brand that can really give Lionel a run for its money is American Flyer. Although Gilbert failed to displace Lionel with his S scale train in the 50’s, American Flyer locomotives are perhaps even more sought after today than Lionel’s vintage trains. Gilbert’s effort, however, made some of the most beloved trains around and collectors go absolutely gaga over these classic model locomotives. The uniqueness of s scale adds to the uniqueness of the American Flyer brand. Perhaps no model train release has been more anticipated by enthusiasts as the upcoming American Flyers release by Lionel LLC. Watch out for them.
Ives:
If you really want to get a train that no one has try locating an old Ives train. Ives was the third competitor in the Lionel versus American Flyer triumvirate. Ives did not survive but if you are lucky you might be able to find one of their classic trains. Like Lionel, Ives runs on O gauge.
Clock operated trains of the Victorian era:
If you really want to go old school you can’t go older than a Victorian era clock operated locomotive. These are mostly shown at museums these days but if you can actually find one, you’ll have a train that is really a part of the genesis of toy locomotives. These clock operated locomotives, however, really give you a sense of how such trains were viewed before toy training became so popular. You can really make out the hand crafting on these simple wooden locomotives. They were clock operated because there was no electrical source yet. They were largely purchased by the rich back in the day and that’s who can afford to collect them now. They clearly had the children of the well off in mind. These locomotives can really capture the imagination of another age. These locomotives were part of the German obsession with the growth of character, and came to us along with kindergarten. Both were part of Germany’s obsessions with childrearing in the early 20th century.
Whatever type of classic toy train you choose to collect you will no doubt learn quite a bit about the history of model 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.
