the first Lionel i got was in 1994 or 95 and it was a Lionel Santa Fe A-A unit. i still have it and although the paint is a little chipped and the horn sticks its an excellent running engine!
My first was probably around 1957-58. It was an 0-27 set featuring a red electric locomotive in a 2-4-0 configuration. You still see these at swap meets.
I still remember the cross hatched decorations on the box it came in, and the rag paper “accessories” catalog that Lionel packed inside the box. Pretty exciting.
Dave Nelson
I received mine for Xmas 1949 working Boxcar and Milk car and Platform,still have it, run it only at Xmas time,kids enjoy it.
This is kind of a trick question for me. When I was a little boy (1985-89) I used to play with my great grand pa’s lionel train at my grand pa’s house (Still do sometimes). Its an old beat up steamer. I tell you one thing, If you give it clean track and a good transfomer, you whould think the engine is new!
Now the first Lionel train I ever got, I just recieved for X-mas this year from my parents. An old metal 2-4-2 (Loco # 6110). The cars, tender, and transformer that came with it are mixed mached, but it all runs. The loco has a broken smoke pellet system, that I plan to install for next X-mas. At first I thought there was no way I could ever own any Lionel stuff due to some outragous cost. Then I started to look for the less sought after stuff (65-90’s). Hey I dont have all the cool stuff, But Im just glad I can even find something in my extreamly tight budget!
Icemanmike-Milwaukee
Have fun!!!
my first lionel was a Marx. Our family just could not afford the Lionel of 1957, no matter what the “pop pursueder” said to my dad. It ran well and two christmasses later our falily hat gotten a lot more prosperous. Under the tree was a big brown box with a Lionel HO Virginian Rectifier Locomotive, six athearn freight cars, an RDC-2 with HI-F drive. also a loto f track and a switch. I was in hog heaven. The Marx sold to a collector and paid for the extravagance.
Doug, in Utah
And now that Lionel HO would sell for collector prices.
Dave Nelson
My first Lionel set was Lionel HO in 1961, a NYC GP7 with milk car and dump car.
My first Lionel O set was a Sears uncataloged special with a 2037 steamer and a host of SAMAT cars.