The original Lionel Corporation was founded in New York as an electrical novelty company (1900), by Joshua Lionel Cowen and Harry C. Grant. Lionel's first train, the Electric Express, was intended as a store display, not for sale to the public. However, the public expressed more interest in the train than the items being advertised. The Electric Express was battery powered, and ran on brass track, with a gauge of 2 7/8th inches.
By 1906, Lionel trains were advertised as The Standard of the World, running on what became known as Standard Gauge track, with rails 2 1/8th inches apart. 0 gauge track was introduced in 1915.
Lionel flourished in the pre war and early post war eras, but falling sales lead to the sale of tooling and a licence for the Lionel name to General Mills in 1969, leading to the Modern Era (post 1969). General Mills operated Lionel as part of their Model Products Corporation (MPC era) until 1973, at which point Lionel became part of the General Mills Fundimensions group. Lionel was sold again in 1986, becoming Lionel Trains Inc (LTI era), owned by Richard Kughn. Next comes the current Wellspring era (Lionel LLC), after Lionel was sold by Richard Kughn in 1995. For far more details of the history and ownership of the Lionel name and products, please refer to Wikipedia.
Lionel first introduced 00 models in 1938, continuing until 1942. The 00 sets, scale 1:76, featured a Hudson loco, scale or semi scale, two or three rail, with a range of freight cars in ready to run or kit form. Various track pieces were produced, gauge 3/4 inch or 19mm. For further details with illustrations, please refer to the Cornucopia of Toy Trains web site.
Following WWII, Lionel introduced H0 models in 1957, continuing until 1967. Initially, models were imported from RivaRossi, switching to Athearn in 1958, after which Lionel purchased tooling from John English’s HObbyline for H0, ceasing 1967. The H0bbyline range issued by Lionel included FA diesel locomotives, 0-4-0 tank loco, box car and hopper. The FA diesel was subsequently issued 1974-76 and again in 1988 with Railscope camera. Lionel returned to H0 in 1973, continuing until 1978, then reintroduced H0 in 2003.
Lionel H0 box car, Bangor and Aroostook livery, circa 1978 Box end shows Bangor and Arcostock |
Lionel H0 catalog, 1958 |
Lionel H0 catalog, 1959 |
Lionel H0 catalog, 1974 |
Lionel H0 catalog, 1974 |
Lionel H0 catalog, 1975 |
Lionel H0 catalog, 1976 |
Lionel H0 catalog, 1977 |
page views since 1998