If you’re as old as me (mid-50s), you likely started out with Lionel trains. In July I visited the Saint Paul, MN Twin City Model Railroad Museum’s Toy Train Division, which is filled with Lionel and other scales (about 20 layouts in all).
I am OLDER than you, and I did NOT start out with Lionel, though I admit all my friends did. I started out with Gilbert’s American Flyer. I liked it better because it had two rails like a real railroad. After I got my paper route, I switched to HO.
I wonder if the youngsters in here remember when young teenagers delivered the daily papers.