Christmas toy trains celebrate 125-year anniversary

Model train whistles have been blowing full steam this year at the headquarters of Lionel, LLC, located in Concord, N.C., in celebration of the brand’s 125-year anniversary.

All this fanfare is meant to create a buzz at Lionel’s retail store in Concord Mills, a giant shopping mall in Cabarrus County. The company is preparing for what promises to be a banner year for sales of model trains this Christmas season.

The toy train was invented in 1900 by Joshua Lionel Cowen of Queens in New York City and first displayed in the front window of a small store that sold toys and novelties. 

Cowen suggested that an electric train would create an interesting and active exhibit, enticing shoppers to come inside the store and look around.

Store owner Robert Ingersoll agreed and ordered a dozen of the toy trains. That set the Lionel Manufacturing Company into motion. “The little engine that could” grew into the industry pacesetter.

By the end of World War I, Lionel was one of three major U.S. toy train manufacturers; the others being American Flyer and Louis Marx and Company.

Cowen convinced department stores to incorporate his toy trains in their Christmas displays, linking toy trains to the holiday, and making them popular Christmas presents.

 

One of the favorite Little Golden Books of all time is “Donald Duck’s Toy Train,” published in 1950, with its bright yellow cover. Written by Jane Werner, the story is about Donald Duck’s train that he rides around in his backyard.

 

He discovers that Chip and Dale, two mischievous chipmunks, “borrowed the train” one day and took it into the village of Canyonville. They hopped off and moved into one of the homes there that was “just the right size.” And they all lived happily ever after.

The 1950s were the golden years for model trains. Not only was Lionel the largest American toy train manufacturer, it was for a short time, the largest toy company in the world.

American Flyer was a formidable competitor, as a product of the A. C. Gilbert Company of New Haven, Conn. Lionel bought the American Flyer brand name in 1967.

 

That was the same year that Roger Miller, a folk singer-songwriter, released a classic Christmas song titled “Old Toy Trains.”

 

The original Lionel company went out of business in 1993, but the brand has since been revived by private investors. One of them is Neil Young, the famous Canadian-American singer, songwriter and guitarist, who has an elaborate model train layout at his home in southern California.

 

Model railroaders know that all train tracks lead to the village of Strasburg, in Lancaster County, Pa., home of the National Toy Train Museum and headquarters for the Train Collectors Association.

 

The Strasburg Rail Road is the oldest continuously operating railroad in the western hemisphere, chartered in 1832. 

Today, the heritage railroad offers 45-minute excursion rides on trains powered by steam locomotives on 4.5 miles of track in Pennsylvania Dutch country. Ride along with Santa Claus during the holiday season. Select from various amenities.

 

An additional attraction, The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, houses a collection of more than 100 historic locomotives and railroad cars that chronicle American railroad history.

Strasburg’s claim to be “Traintown U.S.A.” is further enhanced by The Choo Choo Barn, a 1,700-square-foot train display that features more than 180 hand-built animated figures and vehicles…and 17 operating trains.

 

Commenting on the barn, Anita L. of Ewing, N.J., told Tripadvisor: “Our family loves trains, and this display…is mesmerizing. It’s well taken care of and certainly worth every penny for the visit.”