Having spent over seventy years running my toy trains (HO and O) and having “time on my hands”, I took a close look at my current Lionels and accessories and realized that most of them are almost as old as I am.
Question: What is the average age of the trains and accessories in your collection?
As always, many thanks.
I’d say that the majority were made within the 25 years prior to my birth in November 1969. But my collection of equipment from the other 50 years would be a close second in a headcount. Accessories is a different matter. The majority were made in my lifetime.
Just a few modern pieces…2005 MTH RK PRR M1a, couple MTH Kline Prr cars, some LTI Pennsy passenger cars, 50-50 Postwar and growing Prewar back to the '20s.
The collection (accumulation?) I’ve got I can separate into two “blocks,” if that’s a proper term.
I’ve got Lionel post-war locomotives that date from 1946 to 1953, and as I was born in '53 I’ve certainly got some as old as I am! After that the collection re-starts in 1999 and runs through 2019.
Rolling stock is all modern, I’m not interested in the post-war articles.
Mixed Lionel, MTH, Williams, RMT, and one Marx. Basically, if I like it, I buy it.
Great question. As I was born in 56 during the peak of the PW years, on the average I’m about the same age as all my PW trains.
That being said, I have decided to downsize and collect the year 1956. A ‘Lionel Trains 1956’ sign would be perfect if there is such a thing.
Average age of my trains?
100 years old!
I hope I look this good when I am 112, but somehow I doubt I will make it there.
One “modern” train, an O gauge Polar Express. Two Lionel remakes, Gabe the Lamplighter, and Billy the Baggage Smasher.
The rest is from mostly the 40’s and 50’s, and some up to the mid 60’s when Gilbert went out of business.
Jim
I have a mixture of prewar, postwar, and some modern, to put an average age I would have to say it would fall in the postwar area maybe early 1960’s I was born in 1955. I like the convience of TMCC but I’m just as happy running conventional.
I have a little of everything from Pre War to Modern, with the exception of Legacy. I have 3 LionChief engines.
Like RT - I love the TMCC system and all the sounds and smoke but also love the conventional stuff…
My oddity is a 2026 with TMCC in it…THAT is too cool!!
The stuff that I myself have bought ranges from 2000-today. While my dad’s model trains go very far back, to when he was a child. His stuff is all Marklin, but everything still runs beautifully minus one engine. I may have to open it up one day and see if I can fix it!
Interesting! Thanks to all for your replies.
And tonight at my “Happy Little Chugger Society” meeting I picked up a special-run O gauge Bowser trolley from 1989 marked “Virginia Electric & Power Co.” for $40. Couldn’t pass it up for that price.
I tell you, it just never stops… [:'(]
Looks like this…
https://marketplace.trainzauctions.com/offer/details/8320205
Although I was born in the 21st century (Yeah I’m a young’n alright) I’ve not been particularly fond of trains past the postwar era, though I still allow the occasional newer (1970-1990s) car, and won’t bark at anything that has the decency of a Pullmor in it (I dislike the sound, or “feel” of can motors, and I really don’t like the lack of servicability on later trains). That said, most of my trains are postwar Lionel, with cars that pinpoint from the very beginnings of the postwar era, to some equipment that dates to the early and mid '60s. I also have a small assortment of Marx, some is Postwar from the '50s and '60s, and then I also have a few delightful clockwork locomotives ranging from the '30s to the '50s. My accessories are almost entirely postwar. I have very little prewar, mostly because it hasn’t been where my luck has struck. If we take everything into account, I think the average age of all my trains is somewhere around 65 years. This is averaging stuff from as early as the '20s, up to stuff as recent as the '80s.
Good morning all,
The vast majority of my stuff is from the MPC era as that was what available when I got back into the hobby. I have one post war freight car (Alaska 6162 gondola, I think that was the number) and some Kughn era Lionel items as well. I have some items more recent than that. Standard gauge is mostly Lionel Classics or MTH with one original 8E set and some other restored prewar pieces. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
The 6162 was a NYC car, but Lionel made an ARR version of it, numbered 6162-60, in 1959, the year Alaska became a state.
For Lionel, Marx, and American Flyer, it’s about 65.
My 1st trains were a 4x7 HO loop with several built freight cars and a John English 0-4-0 Dad bought used for my 1st Christmas in '55. The 0-4-0 died shortly afterwards and he bought a Gilbert 0-6-0. Literally ran the wheels off of it, had them replaced and ran it more. Still have it. During my teenage years I added cars an accessories. Trains took a back seat for a few years, out only for Christmas. Son rekindled my interest when he was 2 or 3… Bought a lot of blue box Athearn during the 80s. As his interest waned I started collecting GILBERT HO. As I acquired all the easy stuff I refuse to pay for the hard stuff so started buying just about anything RTR from late 50s early 60s that strikes my fancy. With Dad’s passing 5 years ago his 254E set became mine. I’ve since added a 259 and some frieght cars for under the tree. Best guess is most of my trains are the same are as me
Many are older than me, dating from the 1920’s and 30’s, others are from the 70’s and 80’s. All predate DCC for the most part. I prefer older trains and only wish they could tell me the stories of all the adventures they have had thru the years. I myself date from 1973, so I am in my middle 40’s now. I am also drawn to the HO brass that I saw as a child in magazines and glass display cases that were beyond my means back then. Mike the Aspie
I realized at some point that the majority of my Lionel just happens to be from the early post war years. Late 1940’s, and very early '50’s. It just worked out that way. I bought what I liked.
Paul
Most of my 3 rail O gauge trains are from the last ten years. One set is about 25 years old. My HO and 2 rail O gauge is spread pretty evenly over the last 40 years. S is spread over the last 25 years.
While I have accumulated quite a bit over the last 48 years, I’m really a casual collector. Like others have mentioned, I buy what I like.
Paul
