Explore the next period in Lionel’s great postwar history with 20+ articles organized year by year in this colorful 100-page special issue. When it comes to Lionel toy trains in the 1960s, this is your one-stop reference.
Lionel Trains of the 1960s
An appreciation for an imperfect decade • LIONEL FACED COMMERCIAL AND INTERNAL CHALLENGES IN THE 1960S
The 1960s – a decade of hope and uncertainty • STRUGGLES TO SUCCEED IN AN UNPREDICTABLE MARKET
Incredible diversity in great sets • QUANTITY AND QUALITY WERE STILL THERE EVEN AFTER MR. COWEN LEFT
Handful of rare & unique items • A PANORAMA OF ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS
3535 OPERATING SECURITY CAR WITH ROTATING SEARCHLIGHT
3376 BRONX ZOO OPERATING GIRAFFE CAR
Wonders in advance catalogs & gift packs • EXCELLENT O-27 AND SUPER O OUTFITS THRILLED EVERYONE
2359 BOSTON & MAINE GP9 ROAD DIESEL
3509 AUTOMATIC SATELLITE LAUNCHING CAR
Clever marketing to reach all buyers • LOTS OF FUN IN CATALOGED AND PROMO SETS
Fascinating and unknown uncataloged outfits • METICULOUS RESEARCH HAS HELPED SOLVE LINGERING MYSTERIES
6413 MERCURY CAPSULE CARRYING CAR
6463 ROCKET FUEL DOUBLE-DOME TANK CAR
Super O and promotional outfits offered gems • SUPERB ENGINES AND ROLLING STOCK REMAINED TO BE ENJOYED
6407 FLATCAR WITH MISSILE
6469 LIQUEFIED GAS TANK CAR
O gauge returns with a roar • PROMOTIONAL OUTFITS AND O-27 SETS STILL SELL
Unique & rare items of 1964 • Lionel produced items that collectors consider scarce or in some instances even rare or unique. Let’s take a look at some of the most desirable of them.
Trains starred – and crashed! – on televison • TRAINS WERE PART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE CLASSIC SERIES THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Entertaining and colorful sets • PLENTY TO FILL CATALOGED AND PROMOTIONAL OUTFITS
6651 SHELL LAUNCHING CAR
Growing variety of promotional and O gauge sets • CHALLENGING MARKET DRIVES INNOVATION
6464-375 CENTRAL OF GEORGIA BOXCAR
6431 PIGGYBACK CAR WITH TRAILERS & TRACTOR
Reducing the number of all outfits • CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE BLENDED WITH DISAPPOINTMENT
Short production run • LENNY DEAN, HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, ONCE NOTED THAT LIONEL’S RULE OF THUMB FOR STOCKING SELECTED PARTS DURING THE COMPANY’S HEYDAY WAS AROUND 7 PERCENT OF PRODUCTION.
Generic white and labeled boxes • LENNY DEAN ALSO SAID HE HAD RECOMMENDED USING GENERIC WHITE BOXES FOR A FEW ITEMS. HE POINTED OUT THAT SUCH PACKAGING COST LESS BECAUSE IT ELIMINATED UNNECESSARY COLORED GRAPHICS.
6464 BOXCARS WITH BRASS DOORS
More going on than might be imagined • DOWN TO MORE THAN A PAIR OF TRAIN SETS
Ending the era on a positive note • MORE SETS AND KEY MODELS CONCLUDE THE POSTWAR SAGA
645 UNION PACIFIC NW2 DIESEL SWITCHER