Lionel

Lionel

Lionel Corporation

Lionel Corporation was an iconic American toy manufacturer that had been in business for over 120 years. Founded in 1900, the company specialized in various products, but their main claim to fame was their toy trains and model railroads. During its peak years in the 1950s, Lionel sold $25 million worth of trains per year. In 1969, the Lionel product line was purchased by cereal conglomerate General Mills and rebranded as Lionel LLC.

Today, Lionel LLC is an American designer and importer of toy trains and model railroads headquartered in Concord, North Carolina. According to its reorganization papers filed as part of its bankruptcy plan, about 95% of the company’s sales come from O gauge trains with Lionel accounting for about 60% of that market. The company estimates that US$70 million worth of O gauge trains are sold each year with Lionel having a commanding share of 60%. With such a long history and strong presence in the market today, it’s no wonder why Lionel remains a popular choice for model railroaders and train enthusiasts alike.

Lionel gauges and scales history

Lionel has been producing model trains for over a century, and in that time they have used various scales to create their products. The most popular of these are standard gauge, O gauge, and HO gauge. Standard gauge was the first scale Lionel used, beginning in 1906 and continuing until 1939. It was then revived in 1986-1990 and 1999-2002. O gauge was introduced by Lionel in 1915 and is still being produced today. HO gauge was first released by Lionel in 1957 but discontinued in 1967 before being reintroduced again in 1974-1990 and 2016-present. G scale models were produced from 1987-1995 and 2005-present while S scale models were made available with the purchase of A.C. Gilbert’s American Flyer line in 1967 and continued production until 1979.

Lionel’s electric trains were powered by 110 volt transformers with a three-rail track system which allowed for realistic layouts to be created with engines, rail cars, and accessories. O gauge became the most popular scale for Lionel and is still the most widely used today.

Lionel’s Legacy

Lionel Corporation has been a major player in the model train industry since its inception in 1900. The company has gone through many changes over the years, but their commitment to quality and innovation has remained constant. Lionel trains have become iconic symbols of American culture and are beloved by generations of train enthusiasts. The company’s legacy will continue to live on for many years to come.

Explore our selection of Lionel train sets,  as well as parts and accessories from years past made by this toy train manufacturer, products on our website now.  We have some hard-to-find parts from this popular toy train company in stock and ready to ship.

 Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of model train history. Shop Lionel Trains on our website today!