The Lionel Train Changed Fathers and Sons

There may be some argument as to the exacthistory with more and more sales. Needless to
date, however 1900 is very close to the yearsay, Lionel trains were the most popular scale
that Joshua Lionel Cowen officially establishedmodel railroad train at the time.
Lionel Model Train. Right from the start, JoshuaEverything is always changing in life, and so it was
was focused on creating, manufacturing andfor model trains because in the mid 1900's cars
distributing the highest quality model railroad trainsand airplanes enter the scene and people now
in the world, starting in America.flew or drove their cars. By the 1960's the new
As in most small business start ups, the Lioneltechnology of planes and cars took a toll on
Train was birthed in a small dingy office in Newmodel train sales. If we look back over time, it's
York City and much to everyone's surprisealmost eerie to see the how technology has
became the world's most renowned toy trainaffected our lives because Joshua's desire to build
maker across the globe. The business wasthe father son relationship succeeded until the 60's
immense when you consider that Lionel modeland with the end of the father son relationship in
trains had sales of over 50 million train sets1960 came the start of the "generation gap", kids
across the world and this number was greaterwanted to be "Cool" and hanging around Dad
than all of Lionel's competitors combined. Unlike sowasn't a very cool thing to do. In retrospect, the
many businesses today, Lionel would not havedecade of the 60's was pretty tough for Lionel
achieved such success it if wasn't for JoshuaModel Trains and it almost destroyed the
Lionel Cowen's attention to detail and quest forcompany when it changed hands and investors
excellence while surrounding himself withwere brought it!
employees and others of a like mind.Much has happened to the Lionel Model Train
Perhaps the motivation or interest in trains forcompany since 1960 while model train hobbyists
Joshua came from the fact that Joshua's familyhave seemed to rediscover Lionel Trains and the
moved to New York City in the late 19th centurycompany is up and operating once again as good
at a time when mass transportation consisted ofas before. It seems as though the hobby of
the horse and buggy, the iron horse and stagecollecting, setting up and building model trains has
coaches and the train was a fundamental methodbeen resurrected again in America along with
for moving people around at that time. Also atother countries across the globe, if Joshua's
the same time American technology began tooriginal vision for the model train could only bring
really take off along with it was the ability toback that father/son relationship also. New and
mass produce manufactured items. Surprisinglyfaster Lionel locomotives are now built, all train
Joshua already had a few inventions under his beltlines are constantly being upgraded so that the
before he cranked out his first Lionel modelsome Lionel Model Trains have become collectors
railroad train.items. Lionel's long run as a model train
Joshua was a man of character and possessedmanufacturer can definitely be considered a
vision and moral values so his model train projectlegacy which has lasted for over 100 years. After
started with a desire to create something thatall these years the name of Lionel is still on top
would help fathers and sons come together andafter passing the scrutiny of today's most
form that critical father and son relationship. Thedemanding model train enthusiast.
Lionel model train became a toy model train withThe way things are done today, it's odd and hard
a purpose because he told young boys that theseto find high quality manufactured goods, but the
model trains would prepare them for adulthoodLionel Model Train takes new technologies and
and he shared his vision for the trains withmerges them with the traditions of old and the
fathers. It's not hard to see how father and sonend result being one of the most perfect model
could spend hours in the basement buildingtrains produced today. It's refreshing to see a
layouts, adding tracks and maybe even startingproduct and company weather the storms of
clubs, but Joshua's encouragement was the "extratime and changing in a positive way only to
something" that made these trains more thanmerge as a better company with a better
toys! The father-son time proved to be theproduct resulting in the traditions of the Lionel
secret sauce the propelled the Lionel Train intoModel Train living on!