After retiring from sea and starting to work with all the model trains I have been given over the years, I was wondering if my trains were ‘classic’.
The newest train is the 2055 Lionel made in 1953. All the others are older and some, Marxx and Lionel, are tinplate.
So am I a Classic train owner?
Thank you so much. Fair winds and following seas to you all
captjack
I would say yes. This magazine does mostly newer than that but to me anything from the early 80’s back really are classic as if you think about it even if you strech it to 1987 thats 30 years old. We’re classics actually [(-D] I did my time in the Navy.
without question you have classic trains. Anything made by the original Lionel Corp. Louis Marx,American Flyer, and the smaller companies like AMT. And Lionel MPC should be included IMHO. Nothing against the new trains, but when I think of a classic toy train, these are what I think of.
You’ve got some classics there Skipper, no doubt about it.
Hey, I was built in 1953 like your 2055, and I’m a classic!
On the other hand Lady Firestorm just informed me "You’re not a classic, you’re a geezer!
Oh well. Nothing like having a good woman on hand to keep you grounded!
I don’t recall the term “Classic” being used in the world of toy train collecting before Classic Toy Trains was published. It’s a loose term that doesn’t mean much of anything because it means different things to different people.
If you believe your trains are classic, then they are.
Yes you have Classic trains. In fact I think the Lionel MPC era is fast approaching that catagory. The magazine seems to be moving towards newer trains which leaves me to think it’s not Classic Toy Trains anymore. Yes you gotta keep readers interested to survive but I don’t think newer trains were the original intent. And don’t get me going on the seperate books they are selling…
Sorry Bob, just me thinking out loud.
S.J.
Ahoy and good morning:
Thank you for your reply and thank you for your service. I started at 17 in the Coast Guard and, after retiring, found that the civilians paid their captains more money so I spent the next 30 years in merchant service.
Fair winds and trailing seas to you.
captjack
Thank you so much for your reply.
I thought that, after seeing some of the new MTH and Lionel reviews where they cost in the thousands of dollars, my little 2055 purchased by my Dad and delivered by Santa Clause (my Mother) for $40.00, might be a classic.
Again, thank you
captjack
Ahoy and welcome to another old geezer. There is an Old Geezer Club and Raggy Ragsdale over in Mississippi is the president and I am the current Vice. T-shirts and everything.
Thank you for your reply and be glad that you are not being classified in the Old Farts Club.
captjack
Ahoy and thank you.
I understand, as you said, classic means different things to different people.
So, I will just delare all my trains as classic and be done with it.
Thank you so much
captjack
Ahoy and thank you for the reply.
I watched some of the new Lionel and MTH locomotive reviews and was astounded by the prices. The Lionel Big Boy is selling for 20 time more than my first car. How crazy is that. I can also see where the days of playing with the trains are over. Yet, I am going to play with mine by gosh!
Thank you again
captjack
“Classic” doesn’t simply mean that something was made X amount of years ago. Some things are “instant classics” due to their popularity or how innovative they are. If age was the prime requirement for the term, a lot of Hollywood starlets couldn’t be described as “classic beauties”. A Stingray wasn’t a “classic” in 1967 but it easily could have, and should have, been labeled as such the minute the first one rolled off the line. True classics only make up a very small amount of any larger grouping and they can occur at any time.
Good evening all,
I think there are certain items that most people would consider a classic. A Blue Comet comes to mind or a Duesenberg perhaps. Others could be considered as such depending on your point of view. A Girls’ set or maybe a Corvair. Then there is the run of the mill item, which may be due to mass commonality, such as a Scout set or VW Beetle. Nothing necessarily wrong with the quality of the last category, but the attraction may be diminished by being readily available. I will be interested in seeing how this conversation goes. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana