| Lionel Train model railways, founded in 1900, were one | | | | people right from the start and this allowed multiple |
| of the first big companies to take advantage of the | | | | expansions of the business within the first few years |
| popularity of the railroads that allowed individuals to | | | | of its founding. This went on until the 1960s when |
| travel across the United States, giving them freedoms | | | | popular trends and crazes were to move away from |
| that they had never known before. The railroads had | | | | the train and onto other transportation systems such |
| everyone in awe and were greatly admired far and | | | | as the aeroplane and automobile! The technology that |
| wide. Children only wanted one toy - a train. Every | | | | humanity possessed had grown tenfold and society |
| household in the United States had one and they were | | | | evolved with it. Unfortunately, for a time, Lionel Train |
| usually of the Lionel Train model railways variety! | | | | model railways [ no longer popular and business really |
| Joshua Lionel Cowen and his family had only arrived in | | | | took a downturn for them. Train toys, and especially |
| the United States just after the Civil War, not being | | | | Lionel Train model railways, still sold well, but nowhere |
| natives themselves. The railroads had just been laid | | | | near as well as they had been selling before |
| and were marvelled by all of the natives and | | | | technology dictated otherwise. The 1960s did not quite |
| immigrants alike. Cowen himself liked to observe that | | | | get rid of Lionel Train model railways as a business, |
| trains and slowly found out as much information as he | | | | but was not far off. |
| could. He decided to take advantage of their popularity | | | | In the last decade or so though, trains have undergone |
| and regard in the public eye and began to create his | | | | a revival. They have begun to pick up where they left |
| own toy trains. They proved to be a big seller and | | | | off and gain significant popularity again. Sales have |
| soon enabled him to move out of his cramped New | | | | picked up and Lionel Train model railways are now |
| York offices. He employed a few fantastic craftsmen | | | | much sought after amongst the model making public. |
| and made the most wonderful creations with them. | | | | Lionel Train model railways are no longer |
| Nobody ever thought the idea would take off as much | | | | mass-produced, but that just seems to fuel the public |
| as it did, let alone thinking that Lionel Train model | | | | need for them. As a result, the prices have |
| railways would ever have the popularity or longevity | | | | skyrocketed. However, it just goes to show that true |
| that they have at the moment. | | | | quality always prevails! |
| The detail of Lionel Train model railways has amazed | | | | |