Vintage Postwar Lionel Model Trains

During World War II, Lionel’s Irvington, New Jersey factory was kept busy fulfilling government war contracts for binnacles and other navigational aids for ships, a particularly important task in the days before radar. On the side, Lionel also produced an assemble-it-yourself train-in-a-box made of cardboard, with wood for the axles. It included everything from a locomotive and caboose to 198 inches of O-gauge track. The company also sold a wood pull train for patriotic kids who had donated their old Lionels to scrap drives.

In 1945, Lionel achieved two technological breakthroughs. The first was the creation of an automatic knuckle coupler, which was opened by a combination of trip devices in special sections of track that activated an onboard electromagnet. The next year, the company introduced a steam locomotive that actually belched smoke. The puffs were the result of an ammonium nitrate pellet placed on a specially engineered dimple in the train’s headlight to produce nitrogen oxide.

One of its first postwar trains was the No. 671, a black behemoth with a 6-8-6 wheel configuration. Radio receivers in each car of a No. 671 set were designed to trigger coupling...

To increase the play value in layouts, in 1947 Lionel introduced its Automatic Milk Car, which featured a little man that popped out of the car to push milk cans onto an awaiting platform. Other vintage Lionel accessories that are today quite collectible are the water tower, coal elevator, magnetic crane, and operating watchman.

Lionel’s No. 726 Berkshire followed in 1948, as did the 20-wheel GG-1. A replica of the Pennsylvania train of the same name, with styling by industrial designer Raymond Loewy, Lionel’s GG-1 could draw power from either the third rail in the tracks or lines strung overhead.

These were impressive trains, but all would be eclipsed by the F3 diesels Lionel introduced that same busy year. Until now, kids had only East Coast and Midwestern trains to play with, but the Santa Fe F3 changed all that. With its bright red nose, classic yellow detailing, and sleek aluminum body, the Santa Fe became the Lionel to play with and collect. Other F3s in this iconic O scale line are the Milwaukee Road, Illinois Central, Wabash, Southern, and, later, the B&O.

To power its new diesel line, in 1948 Lionel introduced the ZW transformer, which was strong enough (275 watts) to move four model trains at once. And as the decade ended and the 1950s began, Lionel trumpeted a new featured, Magne-Traction, which used magnets in its engines to increase pulling power, speed, and control.

The 1950s began as a decade for Lionel to reap what it had sowed. By 1953 it was the largest toy manufacturer in the world, and every year, it seemed, brought some new, even-more-wonderful machine. The innovations were not just limited to the new diesels, either. 1957 saw the debut of the No. 746 Norfolk & Western, a powerful looking streamline steamer with gorgeous lines and a handsome, rounded nose.

But in the 1950s, air travel was replacing train travel, and a new network of interstate freeways was replacing the nation’s railroad system. Thus, Lionel struggled to create products that would keep it relevant.

Predictably, a pink train for girls in 1957 bombed, although vintage examples of this so-called Lady Lionel are highly sought by collectors today. Even more prized are the companion baby-blue trains made for boys, which were so scorned they were not even released. To capitalize on the infamous reputations of these two disasters, Lionel reissued both as collectibles in 1991.

No better were the trains made to help fight the Cold War in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Some featured flat cars that carried ominous chambers labeled "Radioactive Waste." Other cars were configured to fire missiles at enemies or to explode and break apart on contact.

By the end of the 1950s, with the Cowen family selling its shares to a group of investors that included former Joseph McCarthy lawyer Roy Cohn, once-great Lionel was on thin ice. In the 1960s, it dabbled in science kits and introduced lesser versions of earlier achievements, but by 1967, Lionel would file for bankruptcy. It would do so again in 2004 and 2008.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Prewar Lionel Toy Trains, from Gondolas to Blue Comets

The first train I ever played with was during World War II in New York City. At the time we had blackouts because officials were w… [more]

Robert Schleicher Tracks the History of Lionel Model Trains

My dad got me a big Lionel train set when I was about 8. Prior to that, when I was a really little kid, he would take me to watch … [more]

The Beauty of Brass Model Trains

We’ve been operating Dan’s Train Depot, which is the parent company of BrassTrains.com, for about 11 years now. We bought out a ve… [more]

Train Talk with the National Model Railroad Association's Brent Lambert

The NMRA library’s original purpose was to focus on model railroading, but over time we’ve also received donations that have helpe… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Postwar Lionel Trains Library

Postwar Lionel Trains Library

Bernie Schulz’s Lionel Trains Library focuses exclusively on postwar Lionel trains and accessories. The site cont… [read review or visit site]

Airfix Model Railways

Airfix Model Railways

Dave McCarthy's Airfix Model Railway treasure trove is an in-depth archive of the company's plastic railway kits fr… [read review or visit site]

Gateway NMRA

Gateway NMRA

This great reference site for model railroaders, from the Gateway (St. Louis) division of the NMRA (National Model … [read review or visit site]

HOseeker.net

HOseeker.net

This site is a treasure trove of HO scale model railroad manufacturer catalogs and other reference information, inv… [read review or visit site]

Eric's Trains

Eric's Trains

Eric Siegel's site displays his collection of O-gauge/O-scale trains, tracks, turntables, and other accessories. A … [read review or visit site]

Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT

Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT

MIT's model railroad club, as one might expect, has one of the best websites for learning about how people play wit… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Model Trains

Discussion Forums: Model Trains

Other Great Reference Sites: Model Trains

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 1,205 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Lionel No 2148ws 773 Hudson-2426w Tender & 2625, 2627, 2628 2 City Madison CarsLionel Train Sets Lionel # 2356 Aba Southern F-3s With Original Boxes UsedLionel Hudson Locomotive Steam Engine 773 & Metal Tender 2426w With Boxes, 19501956 Boxed Lionel 710 Set With All Boxes And Set Box In Terrific ConditionLionel No 2244w Or A-25 No 2367 Wabash F3 A-b W/ Flat Channel Cars W/set Box&obsLionel No 2345 Western Pacific F-3 Aa Units W/ Ob's, Liners And Master CartonLionel 773 Nyc Hudson W/ 2426w TenderLionel Perforated Boxed 2521-2522-2522-2522 Presidential Passenger SetBeautiful Lionel 2332 Gg-1 W/ Original Box, 2 Inserts, Instruction Sheet - 1949Lionel Freight Train Set 2151w, New York Central F-3 Awesome Complete Set, 1949Lionel F-3 I.c. Engine & B-unit 2363 W/ob Paper Work Must SeeeeeLionel 3494-550 Monon Operating Boxcar, Type Iib, Ln+, No BoxRare Fifth Panel 1954 Postwar Lionel 6464-150 Missouri Pacific Boxcar, Vg+/obLionel 746 Ss Norfolk & Western Northern "j" Short Stripe '57 Spectacular No Re Lionel 2330 Dual Motor Pennsylvania Gg-1 1950 "magnificent"& All Orig. No ReservNew Condition Lionel No. 2343c Santa Fe B-unit Louvered W/c-9+ Box From 1953-54Lionel Santa Fe 2383 F3 Aa Diesel Loco SetNew Sealed Condition Lionel No. 0s O Gauge Straight Track W/c-9 O.b. From 1958Lionel 165-83 Bag Of Scrap For The 165/1821955 Lionel No. 1615lt Master Carton No. 1615 Switcher No. 1615t Tender NewLionel 736 Berkshire-1950 (early) Loco& Rare 2671wx 12 Wheel Tender, No Reserve!Lionel 2339 Wabash Gp-7 Diesel~nice Original~w/obLionel 38-70 Sealed Packet Of Color TabletsLionel No 12820 Virginia Fm Set W/ No 2322train Master Set Box & Ob's Ln2245 Texas Special Ab Units W/obs And Paper- Excellent!Prewar American Flyer O-gauge Union Pacific #806 4-8-4 And TenderSuper Rare Lionel 6464-500 Orange Timken Boxcar With "mpc/9200 End Plates" C-10!Lionel Santa Fe 2343 F3 Aa Diesel Loco SetLionel 2331 Virginian Fm Trainmaster .. NiceLionel726 Engine With 2426w Whistle Tender 2-8-4 BerkshireLionel Boxed 275 Zw "r" Trainmaster Xfrm SetLionel Prewar # 263e Engine W/ 263w Tender Gun Metal Gray No Res (dakotapaul)Lionel Trains No.2334 New York Central F3 A-a Diesel Locomotive Units, O GaugeLarge Lot Lionel Trains O Gauge 2352 Pennsylvania Rr Engine Plus Cars With BoxesMint Lionel 6805 Atomic Energy Disposal Car/p-9 Ob & Instructions No Reserve12 Lionel #50 Gang Cars To Restore Or For PartsLionel Santa Fe No. 208 Set Of Aa Alco Diesel Engines No Reserve (dakotapaul)Mp38 Lionel 3349 Olive Drab Military Turbo Missile Firing Car Rare Jc PenneyLionel F-3 Santa Fe Engine 2243 W/ob Must SeeeeeLionel 2037 Locomotive With 6026 Whisting Tender Some Cars Andte Set Box 1583wsLionel 2023 Union Pacific Alco - A A Matching Set Lionel 1656 0-4-0 Steam Switcher And 6403b Bell Tender L@@k Prewar American Flyer O-gauge Pullman Passenger CarsLionel Spirit Of 76 Complete Set .. ObsNew Condition Lionel No. 375 Operating Turntable W/c-9 O.b. From 1962-64Later Version Lionel 6414 Evans Auto Transport Car With Kelly Green Autos C-8Lionel No. 2344c New York Central B Unit In Original Box And WrappingLionel Post-war 726rr 726 Rr Steam Engine 2046w Tender Variation Ii C-7Lionel 2328 Burlington Gp-7 Diesel~nice Original~w/nice Ob1950s Four Lionel Lines Railroad Train Cars O-scale Passenger Baggage CarsLionel U.s Navy 6-11745 Complete Electric Train Set 027 GaugeLionel 2343 Santa Fe F3, Aa Diesel Locomotive Set, Excl, Runs Great, No Rsv!New(10) Condition Lionel No. 6413 Mercury Capsule Carrying Car From 1962-63Set (4) Lionel Postwar Santa Fe Passenger Cars 2412, 2414, 2416 Nr (dakotapaul)Lionel O Scale - Custom Painted Erie Lackawanna F3 A - B -a Set Lionel Train Weather Reefer Boxcar Set - All 8 Cars - Complete2020 Lionel Train Locomotive Steam Engine W/6466 TenderLionel 736 Berkshire Steam Loco & 2046w Tender, Excl, No Rsv, Runs GreatLionel 3854 Operating Merchandise Car

Recent News: Postwar Lionel Model Trains

Source: Google News

Rail fest chugs into Homewood Sunday
SouthtownStar, May 16th

Three model Lionel train layouts will be set up for kids to drive the trains. Children also get the opportunity to ride on Little Obie, a scale model of a Canadian National locomotive that comes with a flatcar and a caboose. Little Obie helps promote...Read more

Our View: Richard Brewer: A 21st century leader
Norwich Bulletin, May 7th

That is, of course, when he's not in the basement of his Massachusetts home with his grandchildren playing master train conductor with the model trains he's accumulated over the years, beginning with his first Lionel train set as a child — and which...Read more

How we made: The Railway Children
The Guardian, May 6th

Jenny Agutter, actor. I was reluctant to accept the role of Roberta because I'd played her two years earlier in a BBC series, and had since left school. I'd filmed Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout, so it felt like going backwards. But the director Lionel...Read more

Smell of smoke shuts three métro lines for 40 minutes - Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette, May 5th

MONTREAL — Sunday made for another frustrating day for métro riders, as back-to-back disruptions halted service on sections of the green, orange and yellow lines. Société de transport de Montréal official Amélie Régis said service on a section of the...Read more

Torrington Model Railroaders celebrate National Train Day
Torrington Register Citizen, May 4th

TORRINGTON>> National Train Day will not pass unheralded in Torrington. Members of the Torrington Area Model Railroaders gathered at their Lewis Street clubhouse to host an open house, with many tiny electric trains whizzing around the tracks in...Read more

Jacket Baseball Has Big Scare, Knight OK
Grundy County Herald, April 30th

Kenneth has pieces of a Lionel train set which once belonged to his father. The train was taken out at Christmas, run for a trip or two, and then stored away where two little inquisitive boys couldn't bother it. Sad, I think. However, that train was...Read more

Hansen: Model trains and the middle-aged men who love them
Omaha World-Herald, April 29th

He points out a Lionel train — the first popular model train, introduced in 1901 and inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame alongside the Easy Bake Oven. We meet a man and fall into a conversation about a recent “operating session.” One day in January, a...Read more

Final Word: Can I take someone else's child to work? - USA Today
USA TODAY, April 23rd

My niece and nephews, now their 30s, still remember Christmases at their grandparents', when we'd run the old Lionel train over "Farmer Jones" and his wife, little plastic figures who just happened to end up on the tracks. They thought it the funniest...Read more