Lionel Train Movie

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

When I was a kid, back in the 50’s, I remember a movie that would come on TV every Christmas that featured a Lionel Train Layout with a puppet as the main character.

The layout was based in NY City somewhere around 23rd Street and was on the second floor.

Does anybody know the name of this movie and where I might get a copy of it.

Thanks

2

Are you talking about the TV show “Tales of The Red Caboose”?

Jon [8D]

3

Sorry, no that is not the movie I am looking for.

But thanks for your help

4

Any other hints you can give us? I don’t remember anything like that and I grew up in the NY metro area in the mid 50’s to early 60’s.

5

I dunno… a puppet? Was it “Wonderful World of Trains” (1962) maybe? You can get that on one of TM’s “Lionel: The Movie” discs, sans puppets.

Edit: These people offer the whole thing, uncut. It’s at the bottom of the list: http://stores.atomictelevision.net/Detail.bok?no=11

6

Could you be thinking of Captain Kangaroo?

Here’s a synopsys of some shows from http://www.toytrains.info/trainmovies.asp

“From time to time, the Captain ran a compact Lionel “O” Gauge layout with two levels, like those built by Lionel for dealer displays. On one occasion, a 736 2-8-4 speeded off a curve on a trestle set. “Oh!” the Captain exclaimed, “We have a wreck!” Such was the impression that this writer can recall it vividly to this day.”

Kurt

7

OK, what makes 23rd street stick out in regards to this and why the second floor?

Can you describe the puppet? Was it an animal (e.g. Big Bird) or more like a marrionette (e.g. Howdy Doody/Charlie McCarthy)?

8

That was the first thing that came to my mind when he said their was puppets in the movie. I have that movie on vhs and its compiled of 3 different movies, including the segment with the puppets and a young boy talking about the “New” super O track and show casing the new Lionel military trains. Its a classic by far[:)]

John

9
10

No, it wasn’t Captain Kangaroo. The puppet was a marionette. Strings and all. And it wasn’t Howdy Duddy. I use to watch both of those shows religiously when I was much, much younger.

Thanks for the input.

11

It’s the “Wonderful world of trains” and it featured the Suzari marionettes:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Television-Trivia-2104/f_4618918.htm

There are edited versions of some of the shows available on DVD (usually sans the marionettes).