When I was growing up, there were two types of male kids: model car kids and model train kids. I was the former because I was a car nut at a young age. And they were cheaper and took up less real estate. Then there were the model train kids whose stuff may have eventually filled up a basement. This collection is from Lionel Train’s O-Gauge Series (more on that in a minute), looks quite extensive, and may date back to the 1950s. It takes up a whole room in Vero Beach, Florida, and is offered here as a package deal here on eBay for $9,500 OBO. What a tip from Howard A!
Lionel Corporation (aka Lionel Trains) began in 1900 and over time focused on the manufacturing and retail of toys, specifically model trains. The peak of the model train era may have been in the 1950s, when they sold millions of dollars in trains during the early Baby Boomer years. Tastes were changing a couple of decades later, and Lionel sold its roster to General Mills by 1970 and remained as a holding company until 1993. You can still buy these products new today.
In the railroad world (real and toy), Gauge is the name of the game. That word refers to the distance between the rails of the tracks from outside to outside. At Lionel, several Gauge sets were offered, including the O-Gauge, like the seller’s. O-Gauge track systems measure 1 ¼ inches between outer rails. We understand that any O-Gauge car or power unit can use the tracks. These are electric-powered, and everything in and around them is 1:48 in scale. Controls are provided to manage lights, sounds, and even smoke! Take them out of their boxes, and you could be ready to go in minutes.
We have a feeling this extensive set was Grandpa’s, and the family is ready to free up the space it occupies. Little knowledge about the set is imparted except that the pieces date to the 1950s and are as recent as 2020. We assume this set includes duplicates, and if anything possible is missing, only a true Lionel train guru could tell us (Howard?). The seller rates the grade of this collection as C-7, which is supposed to be “excellent”. And everything (we think) was built right here in the good ole USA. Who’s ready to take command of this railroad?!
Good eye, Howard and another feature doing a tangent from much of the norm in good taste Russ!
Very impressive train set here with a great deal of patience and work done over many, many years..
Let’s hope it goes as a whole set and not broken up into bits or pieces.
GLWTS
Some people go nuts over their train sets while some people go nuts over someone else’s train sets. I love train sets but keep mine limited to our Christmas village. However, there are some out west who have grown either into a complete 30×32 garage, or the back yard. Whatever, I love visiting them and taking pictures. I might add that they give me some ideas on what to do with mine.
Train sets are like car or airplane models, they allow people to use their imaginations. And some of them turn out pretty good. The downside, of course, is what to do with everything when the owner passes on.
But, life goes on. Collections last longer than most people (Of course, I can think of some individuals who will last forever because God doesn’t want them and neither does the devil). I see collections show up at the annual swap meet each year and it’s sad to see one’s passion suddenly end up boxed up and displayed with a For Sale sign…
This is great Russ!! And also a huge thank you to Howard for finding this as well. Russ, in our house, we had ( well, my older brother) had both. But, at different times. This is quite a collection, and Geomechs made a good point, what happens to the collection when the owner, passes on? And its very sad to see someones whole life being sold off. Thank you again Russ for writing this up. I had remembered, my Grandpa had a Lionel Standard gauge set back in the 1920’s, unfortunately it disappeared over time, that would have been neat to have.
Great find Howard, my kids are going to have to do the same thing with my model car collection.
I buy and sell.model trains at shows. While thus looks like a decent collection the reality is that there were a LOT of Luonel trains made over the years. Just because it might be old doesn’t, mean it is rare or has value. Pretty much it is worth play toy value if newer thsn the early 60’s. There are collector sets abd special models, but the bulk is just toys. And that’s great because it keeps the prices moserate and available.
The layout is an albatross. Strip it of models, track, controllers, recycle the rest.
Whole thing based on photos would be around $3k. Not a popular opinion, but a realistic one based on market conditions