Classic Toy Trains (Motorbooks Classic) - Softcover

While this book was last published in 2002, we have just received a review copy and thought it would be of interest to those train collectors amongst our readership. The book was primarily written for an American audience and so, obviously, is about American manufacturers and brands. There is much nostalgic use of printed material of bygone days, as well as pictures of the real trains on which the models were based. As Lionel is an American equivalent of Hornby, no surprisingly Lionel features heavily amongst the examples used. Steam, clockwork and electric are all covered and the book carries a great stock of photographs of the models and working model railroad layouts. The history of the competition between the competing manufacturers makes very interesting reading. This is defiantly a must for the train collector with transatlantic interest. --Model Railway Express

From Lionel's first printed pamphlet in 1902 to the full-color fantasies of the 1950s and beyond, Classic Toy Trains revisits the collectible toy trains of Carlisle & Finch, American Flyer, Ives, Hafner, Lionel and others. Filled with over 200 images of rare toy trains, accessories, layouts and catalog artwork, this nostalgic volume flashes you back to the fun-filled days of yesteryear and your care-free hours spent riding the rails.