| No toy train is better known than O gauge trains. | | | | favorites among collectors. We cannot say |
| O gauge trains were masters of the model train | | | | enough about the nostalgia that Lionel inspires. |
| market in this country until the 1950s. Oh those | | | | Long lost memories come chugga-chugging out of |
| giant hardware store display trains that took hold | | | | dark tunnels of the subconscious when you see |
| of us as children. Around Christmas the local | | | | one of these classic trains. Lionel's durability also |
| hardware store would put one up and watch as it | | | | has allowed it to remain in the hearts of |
| drew us all as bees to flowers. Competitors like | | | | hobbyists. |
| Bachmann and financial woes have long since | | | | You'll find no lack of manuals and news items on |
| undone Lionel's supremacy, but the brand still | | | | Lionel: Lionel's got its own little universe of |
| carries a lot of its former cachet. This is why: | | | | devoted enthusiasts including the rocker Neil |
| Lionel Trains are built in O gauge:Part of the | | | | Young. Lionel books come in two flavors. First, |
| explanation why Lionel fell from grace in the post | | | | there are books that are specifically devoted to |
| World War II era was because of the scale of its | | | | getting you started with model training using Lionel |
| trains. Lionel trains were usually in O gauge, but | | | | O gauge trains. Second, a ton of books trace |
| with the growth of model training in the 50's | | | | Lionel's exemplary history. |
| more and more middle class model train hobbyists | | | | Finally, Lionel is popular because they just made |
| began to purchase trains for smaller spaces. O | | | | good trains: Ahh, the engineering of Lionel trains! |
| gauge trains are one 48th the size of real world | | | | Larger than most other trains, they are ideal for |
| trains and require an 8' x 16' space as a minimum. | | | | detailing and decaling and weathering. The size of |
| Real world trains are just 48 times the size of O | | | | Lionel trains make it a favorite among people who |
| scale model trains. This was simply too big of a | | | | love to paint and detail model trains. The scale is |
| space requirement, so fans turned to HO scale | | | | also a big aesthetic draw for hobbyist's who value |
| which only required a 4' x 8' space. So the unusual | | | | beauty. You simply can't ignore a Lionel train. |
| O scale that makes it such a draw for hobbyists | | | | Regardless of the company's finances, Lionel O |
| today is also what almost drove the company | | | | gauge should be a mainstay for the foreseeable |
| under in the 60's. | | | | future. Even if Lionel declares itself bankrupt, |
| Lionel's long history makes it a hobbyist's favorite: | | | | hobbyists will continue to collect its long history of |
| Because Lionel has been around for so long and | | | | trains. Lionel never disappoints. |
| was so popular in yesteryear it is one of the | | | | |