Lionel Toy Trains

The Lionel Corporation was founded in the early part of 1900 by a Joshua Lionel Cowen (nee Cohen) Born in New York City on August 25,1877. He issued his first production catalogue in 1901 and by 1905 was making roughly $8000 per year. Lionel toy trains first advertising was in store windows as showcases to his product. The catalogue featured battery powered model trains, model train track and accessories including the his famous 340 suspension bridge.

By 1906, Lionel model trains changed from battery power to household electric power due to the Lionel invention of a simple and safe transformer. This led to the changes in the track from two rails to three. The third rail allowed for easy transfer of electricity to the engines. Lionel Named this track the "Standard Gauge" and had the name patented.

Lionel trains proved to be very popular, and before long Joshua Cowen was manufacturing cattle cars, coal cars, passenger cars, train stations, and tunnels. By 1909 more and more American homes were wired for electrical power and Lionel really took off. No toy benefited more from electricity than trains. It was 1910. Electric trains had become a big business.

In 1915, O-Gauge was introduced, which eventually became the most popular scale of train. Whatever the scale, Lionel Trains had become an active part of every child's beginning.

Between 1953 (Lionel train’s best year) and 1959, sales dropped by more than half. In 1958, for the first time since the Depression, the company lost money. In September 1959, the Cowen family, including Joshua, sold their shares of stock to a group of businessmen led by Cowen’s great-nephew, Roy Cohn. Cohn paid $15 for each of his Lionel shares in 1959 and four years later the business still declining, sold them for $5.25. Lionel survives today, having passed through many hands before falling into a group of investors including the singer and songwriter, Neil Young.

Many hobby stores carry Lionel model trains and accessories, online and offline. You can use your local phone book to find hobby stores in your area. The internet is also a great option when considering purchasing Lionel trains. You can go directly to these stores from right here by following these links:

               

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