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LIONEL TRAINS

“The Standard of the World”
By Larry LeMasters
LeMasters’ Antique News Service

so it was with only a how much America loved both of Lionel trains to be self-acquired
small margin of brag Mickey Mouse and Lionel trains. knowledge (being a long-time
that Cowen began Following World War II, Lionel collector), personal contacts with
calling his trains “The trains took off. The decade from collectors and dealers, and published
Standard of the World.” 1946-1956 is considered Lionel’s pricing guides (with which collectors
For the next Golden Age. Released in 1948, The have a “love-hate” relationship).
Growing up in Omaha, the author and every other Nebraska boy 20 years, Lionel Lionel 2333 diesel locomotive— The single most important factor
wanted this 1950 Lionel No. 2023 Union Pacific AlcoFA-1 diesel. trains rose in depicting the colorful Santa Fe in determining a Lionel train’s value,
Collectors often refer to this diesel as Lionel’s 50th Anniversary set, popularity, as “Warbonnet” paint scheme, became much like other antiques, is condition.
but Lionel never did.
children desired Lionel Company’s icon and the model Miller calls a train’s condition its
t would be difficult to find a them and men train that represented the Golden “appearance,” stating, “Collectors
Iperson, at least one interested became fascinated with them. A Age of American toy trains. usually care less about how the item
in antiques, living in America today budding Following 1956, [a toy train engine] operates than
that has not heard of Lionel trains. group of Lionel trains about how it looks.”
Proclaimed by Joshua Lionel Cowen model train began a long Pricing guides normally reflect
(founder and for whom the company enthusiasts decline into grading standards established by
is named) “The Standard of the turned a dark the Train Collector’s Association
World” in 1909, Lionel is, according into a tunnel. (TCA)—a great association for
to The Great Idea Finder, “The trainload of ↑ Lionel 1955 Wabash F-3 diesel engine. Manufactured in In 1959, would-be collectors to know. TCA’s
greatest name in the history of toy model train 1955 only, making No. 2367 a rare engine valued at $1,500. Joshua ratings range from “Mint” to “Poor,”
trains.” Yet Lionel trains started by owners and ↓The colorful Santa Fe No. 212. Called the Warbonnet, this Lionel with “Like New,” “Excellent,” “Very
accident. collectors, paint scheme is not only attractive, it became Lionel Cowen Good,” “Good,” and “Fair” wedged
Cowen and Harry Grant founded and it Company’s icon. This 212 Alco diesel sells for $240. sold his in-between them. All legitimate
Lionel Manufacturing Company appeared interest collectors of Lionel trains follow
(Lionel Corporation, New York that in Lionel these seven grading standards, so you
City) in 1900, even though they had nothing could Corporation should become familiar with each.
nothing to manufacture. In 1901, with stop the spiraling and retired. For over 100 years, the name
limited prospects, Cowen designed rise of Lionel This sale Lionel has been synonymous with
and built his first train—the “Electric Corporation. prompts many toy, electric trains. No company has
Express.” This first Lionel train was Sales and Lionel rain collectors to consider encompassed the great history of the
designed as an advertisement display demand were so great that in 1929 1959 the end of the American train-
for toy store windows, to catch the Cowen offered the public one of “true” or original era more than
eye of window shoppers in New York the largest toy trains ever made— Lionel train, and the Lionel has and
City. The Electric Express consisted the Transcontinental Limited. The date that separates no childhood toy
of a battery-operated, open gondola Limited stretched an overwhelming Lionel trains into has endured more
train car on 30 feet of track that was nine feet and cost $110, more money collectible or non- than Lionel model
propelled by a fan motor. than the price of a used Model T Ford collectible status. trains. Since many
The Electric Express was never car. Toy trains had truly gone up- The Lionel Made-in-USA,
intended to be a toy, but the throngs scale. Corporation vintage Lionel
of people Then continued until The Lionel No. 100 electric locomotive trains are still
that saw it the Great 1969 when it was known as B&O No. 5. Manufactured in affordable, there is
desired one, Depression hit. sold to General 1903, this engine is 12 inches long and little reason for new
and eventually Lionel Mills, ending the was one of Lionel’s first locomotives ever collectors not to
Ingersoll trains became original Lionel era sold. It is considered extremely rare since continue chugging
sold 12 of objects that of electric trains. very few have survived. along Lionel’s
these simple 1945 Lionel No. 224 Prairie Steam Engine: cash-strapped Today, Lionel trains nostalgic tracks.
trains, starting a produced in Lionel’s first postwar production families could from 1901 through 1969 are highly Lionel is truly a train that just keeps
revolution in toy run, this is one of the engines that helped kick live without, and sought after. These are the “Made in on rollin’.
train design. off Lionel’s “Golden Era” and sells today for sales plummeted. America” Lionel trains since Lionel
around $245.
Cowen In 1931, Lionel Corporation made all Lionel trains in
quickly added lost money for either New York or New
accessory pieces and a 110-volt the first time, and by 1934 Lionel was Jersey until 1969.
electric transformer to his Electric in court-ordered receivership, trying Thousands of collectors
Express and Lionel trains was born. to stave off bankruptcy. also consider Lionel
It has been said that no toy benefited One night, despondent over trains could investments.
more from electricity than trains, financial worries, Cowen dreamt of However, as Allan Miller
and Lionel took full advantage of it. a mouse loose in the Lionel train wrote in Guidelines for
During its first few years of infancy, factory. By Christmas of 1934, Lionel Collectors, “…some
Lionel trains proved to be popular offered the public a Mickey Mouse, toy trains, regardless of
as Cowen added engines, cattle cars, windup handcar that sold for a mere age, have not increased
passenger cars, tunnels, and even one dollar. Priced for Depression- significantly in value over
train stations to his widening train era families, Lionel trains quickly the years.”
catalog. sold over a quarter of a million of Miller considers the Lionel Mickey Mouse Circus Train, circa 1930s.
By 1909, Lionel led the nation as these hand cars, lifting Lionel from three best sources of This particular set is considered mint in box
the premier toy train manufacturer, bankruptcy and proving once again information on the value and was offered on eBay for $8,500.