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Why do Lionel trains have three rails?

Dave Farquhar Toy trains August 10, 2017August 5, 20171950s, 1960s, american flyer, electric trains, lionel, Louis Marx, marx, o gauge, Quaker Oats, Standard Gauge 0 Comment

Why do Lionel trains have three rails? After all, real trains usually have two. This unrealistic feature is a legitimate drawback for Lionel and other makes of O gauge trains, but the decision made sense at the time.

The Marx factory fire in Girard PA

Dave Farquhar Toy trains July 13, 2016November 26, 20181950s, Classic Toy Trains, Joy Line, Louis Marx, marx, Quaker Oats, sears

The birthplace of scores of classic toy trains fell victim to the Marx factory fire in Girard, Pennslyvania.

The old Marx factory stood at 227 E Hathaway in Girard, Pennsylvania. For a time in the 1950s, Marx was the largest toy manufacturer in the world. Marx made toy trains at the site, which caught fire on July 12, 2016. There were no immediate reports of injuries, fortunately. There was very little news coverage of the fire.

Marx vs. Lionel

Dave Farquhar Toy trains March 3, 2016November 16, 20181:64 scale, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, 1990s, boxcars, christmas, electric trains, HO, ho scale, Korea, lionel, Louis Marx, marx, marx trains, Model Power, New Jersey, New York, New York City, o gauge, o scale, old trains, postwar lionel, Quaker Oats, sears, tin

In the 1950s, Marx and Lionel took turns being the biggest toy company in the world, largely riding on the popularity of O gauge trains. Neither company particularly liked the other, but both owed some degree of their success to being compatible with one another. Because of their interoperability, the two makes of trains are frequently compared and contrasted even today.

Estimating the value of a Marx train

Dave Farquhar Toy trains February 23, 2016November 25, 20181950s, american flyer, Baby Boomers, Joy Line, Kansas City, lionel, Louis Marx, marx, marx trains, New York, New York Central, pbs, Quaker Oats, tin, Union Pacific

One of the most frequent questions I see or receive directly about Marx trains is what a Marx train is worth, or the value of a Marx train. Of course without seeing the train, it’s nearly impossible to give a good estimate, but there are some general rules that you can follow, either to protect yourself as a buyer, or to keep your expectations realistic as a seller.

What’s an Allstate electric train?

Dave Farquhar Toy trains January 11, 2014November 25, 20181950s, 1960s, 1980s, american flyer, atari, atari 2600, electric trains, HO, ho scale, insurance company, kenmore, lionel, Louis Marx, marx, marx trains, New York, o gauge, old trains, Quaker Oats, sears, whirlpool

In the 1950s and 1960s, it was possible to walk into Sears and see an Allstate electric train on the same shelf as Lionel and American Flyer. These trains are still somewhat common today. That leads to some further questions.

Yes, it’s Allstate, as in the insurance company. What did they have to do with electric trains?

Lionel in the non-hobby media

Dave Farquhar Toy trains July 17, 2013November 25, 20181990s, Korea, lionel, lionel train, Louis Marx, marx, New Jersey, Quaker Oats, Richard Kughn, Spare Parts

Cnet took a field trip to the official Lionel repair facility and wrote a feature story about it. It’s nice to see the attention outside of the hobby press, since it’s frequently news to people that Lionel is still around in any form. Read more