Lionel O Gauge Trains - Their History and Buying Them Today

Unlike smaller HO or N gauge trains, as a collector, you can truly appreciate the artistry of well-made, Lionel O Gauge Trains. Their heavy stature may require you to literally hold them with both hands, but that same large stature allows you to view the intricate details of your train without bifocals or a microscope.

Can you recall department store's holiday displays from your childhood? Just about every one featured a beautiful model train. Most likely, you can also recall dreaming, wishing and praying every night of December to wake up with that train under your tree Christmas morning. Or perhaps you were never able to own that special locomotive, for it was too expensive for your family to afford. Now you can relive those wonderful memories and share them with your own children buy collection Lionel Trains.

O gauge trains are a favorite of collectors for their stance historical in the American toy industry. Classic or vintage Lionel locomotives of often fetch high prices on e-Bay while any model locomotive enthusiasts like to collect Lionels from different decades. We believe that even if this particular scale had no following, it would be very probable for hobbyists to begin their collections exclusively with O Gauges. They truly are the ideal size for model locomotives, so start your collection today!

Straight from the mouth of a devoted train enthusiast, we have found a great Lionel repair manual. Our friend Frank has complied an extensive guide that not only shows you how to repair and restore your vintage trains, but gives you a reference for Lionel parts and a complete catalog of photos, diagrams, and blueprints for just about every vintage Lionel train out there. We've yet to find any other book with more extensive knowledge than what he has presented. And when you consider what you typically pay for repairs and restorations, this guide is a steal. If you love vintage Lionel trains, you really need to pick it up.

Appealing to a new audience, recent Lionel Train sets have been themed based, such as the Polar Express train or the Harry Potter train. Other trains in this genre include a Nascar Train and the Thomas Lionel Train.

With the Nascar Train Set, Lionel has combined the trill of America's fastest growing sport in an O gauge train designed for NASCAR fans everywhere. The set includes colorfully decorated diesel engine reminiscent of Nascar vehicles, a single-dome tank car, a boxcar with the champion's trophy, and a caboose unlike anything you've ever seen. In addition, there are sex expansion packs featuring legends of the sport, including Dale Earnhardt Sr., Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, and Tony Stewart.

The Nascar locomotive features:

• transformer controlled forward, neutral, and reverse operation
  
• TrainSounds sound system with diesel engine revving, horn, bell squealing brakes, and operator-controlled, multi-part crew dialog
  
• Operating headlight
  
• Dual operating couplers
  
• Dual powerful maintenance-free motors
  
• Metal frame
  
• Operating strobe light
  

Additional statistic on the O Gauge Nascar Train:

• Minimum Curve: O-27
  
• Dimensions: Length: 53"
  
• Layout dimensions: 40" x 60"
  

The Thomas Lionel train comes to us via PowerMaxTransformer and Lionel's patented FasTrack track system. Your child will be transformed to the Island of Sodar for exciting adventures with Thomas, his faithful coaches Annie and Clarabel, and our favorite Controller, Sir Topham Hatt. The Thomas locomotive features moving eyes and the Annie and Clarabel cars our built with removable roofs to allow you to load and unload your passengers.

The set includes:

• Thomas the Tank Engine with three interchangeable faces
  
• Annie
  
• Clarabel
  
• Three play figures
  
• Three straight FasTrack track sections
  
• Eight curved FasTrack track sections
  
• FasTrack terminal section
  
• Powerful Lionel PowerMax transformer.

The train length is 21" while the track layout is 40" x 60". The Lionel Thomas & Friends set has a number of extension packs as well, allowing you to add more classic Thomas characters to the your set. This Thomas Lionel set is a perfect first train for a child - it allows them to engage with their favorite characters manufactured in stellar quality, giving them the opportunity to save this train for their own children. Relive your own memories of childhood fun with Lionel model trains as you pass those memories on to the next generation.