Inside Lionel's train factory, part 1

[@raysrails2164]

The good old days must have been a nice time.

[@FrankELembo]

In 1950, when I was 3, we had American Flyer S gauge trains. My dad would start setting up the two 4 X 6 foot sections during mid-Nov. . I was young then, but I loved watching him build up the layout. It was so great when it was up & running ! Sure miss those days leading up to Christmas and especially my Mom & Dad too. Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad .

[@sammyvh11]

My dad bought me a Texas Special set for Hannuka in 1966. Miss my dad!

[@machia0705]

The factory is still there. From the Garden Sate Parkway you can stll see the LIONEL tower but it is painted green. The factory is in Irvington , NJ , but part of it is in Hillside, NJ. If you are not familiar with NJ, the factory lies just west of Manhatten and Newark International Airport. My Dad worked there after WW2 for a short time and the AIREX factory (Lionel) was right next door.

[@colestrains1]

Can I still walk in and find old trains?😂😂😂

[@DrFrankensteam]

The amount of hand labor is crazy! Plus the lack of safety is jaw dropping as well, but I love my Lionel trains!

[@johnhagan7742]

Remember back in the day when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work? This is an example of that.

[@kaijufan6246]

I just bought a postwar O Gauge F3 Northern Pacific diesel by Lionel. This will be my first Lionel train. Lionel Trains dominate the imagination of the young and young at heart

[@ArtBoy54Productions]

Very interesting! I wish they still made those fun little gimmicks like the moving cows

[@charlespapelian9403]

The Lionel display in NY in the 1950s was great! The video of the Lionel layout brought back warm memories for me about family-Dad Uncles Mother and brothers and cousins all sharing building and operating the post war Lionel trains. I just got back back to collecting and operating and bought back most of my original post war collection. GREAT FUN!

[@MecFan7470]

It's cool to see those cars and milk barrels brand new and shiny

[@davidschaadt3460]

Really enjoyed this..Beautiful.

[@frankmmiii]

"They run the trains nonstop to see which part wears out first and then design a better part." Where do you see that being done today?

[@kge420]

BMW do that all the time. Albeit they use customer cars

[@kmcwhq]

It's a promotional film. They say things like that in these films to pump up customers watching them. Does not actually mean they do what they are saying they do.

[@c.c.hiliner1065]

Johnson and Evinrude did it the entire time.

[@Greatdome99]

Airplane wings

[@skimilburn61]

I have 5 Lionel locomotives. The best ones were made in 1947 and 1950. They pulled long trains around the Christmas tree every day for the last two weeks without a hiccup.

[@longviewfarm226]

I remember the cattle car Me and my brothers would close the door to the room where we had the trains set up and put the drops of whatever it was into the smoke stack on the train and completely fill the room with smoke. I remember picking up the locomotive and couldn’t believe how heavy it was. Lionel, nothing but good memories

[@gibiliz]

THANKS CTT!!!! I am from Brazil and I LOVE Lionel Trains and your Magazine!

[@sudriansignalman9387]

I have around 100 model engines in my workshop alone, and most of my O/O27 is Lionel, I also have all the buildings mentioned in the video, I even have a standard gauge Lionel and on top of many others, my favorite Lionel engines are as followed: my 226E, my two 2026s as one was my grandfather's growing up, my 1225, and all of my diesel engines

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

my favorite is the 681 with 12 wheel tender and back up lights. looks great on my shelf. i have that 681, two 2056s and one 2020. all great engines.

[@sudriansignalman9387]

+Steve Thomas well, since this comment was posted I have gained more fleet members, my favorite might just be my 224 Lionel engine and tender, as it is one of my strongest engines

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

i just started collecting 3 yrs ago. havent had the oppertunity to aquire a 224 yet. but im sure its a great one to. but personaly i like the 20 wheel 681 and it has magna trackion.

[@sudriansignalman9387]

+Steve Thomas I have been collecting for 5 years, when she came in she had a broken connecting rod, so I fixed it and now it can pull up to 13 postwar cars and a caboose by its self

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

thats good. my 681 pulls 13 to 15 cars plus caboose. good runner. my 2056 wont pull this load. it pulls about 10 cars. im in the market for another 681 with tender. do you have one to sell ?

[@MrNemesis63]

Very cool piece of model train history.

[@npo64]

I'm always so happy to hear that US factories are coming back. I just bought some extra cars for my train and it makes me sick to see the label "Made in China" on the box. Thanks!

[@nightisright1873]

What difference does it make if it manufactured in China

[@Homosapien77]

@@nightisright1873 cheaper assembled wrong and made like shit usually when manufacturing is switched over seas to save money it's not the only thing that changes. The U.S was known for long lasting quality products a different generation a different mentaliy. Why have the trains run all day? for troubleshooting if the thing brakes they can get you back there to buy another one and why have service stations for your product if it will only bring back the long lasting product that you sold to them to get fixed? Most of today's manufacting is garbage in and garbage out.

[@davidsheriff8989]

80% of goods in USA comes from China...why? Profit = Walmart , Costco...towns desolate, families split up tol give China a boost....

[@earlwright9715]

@@nightisright1873 a BIG difference. How old are you?

[@nightisright1873]

@@earlwright9715 okay boomer

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Awesome

[@gabrielmikhail7525]

0:00 sounds like if you won a game of call of duty in the old days! Mission accomplished!!!!!!

[@kiteslights7189]

I miss these days

[@NANONilsWORLD]

thank you for this video....nice

[@MrLuvOldies]

Thanks. I Love Lionel Trains.Mmmmmmmm

[@stevedoubleu99B]

Fascinating stuff.

[@machia0705]

Originally, the factory was on 21st Street in Irvington, NJ. Now home to Aristo-craft. Atlas is nearby in Hillside, NJ, on Florence Avenue.. Alot of trains had and are still built in this small area of NJ, bordering Newark.

[@ClassicToyTrains]

Currently, most Lionel production takes place in China. However, Lionel has started the process of returning some train manufacturing to the U.S.

[@Chief_5]

Seems like with proper automation the price could be the same or less because you’d lose tariffs and shipping costs. 🤔

[@devonmerrick1111]

i know Im asking randomly but does anybody know a trick to log back into an instagram account? I stupidly lost the login password. I love any tricks you can give me

[@dariofinley4867]

@Devon Merrick Instablaster =)

[@fiddlerpin]

That woman looked like she was baking bread! I would go nuts at that track making table if I had to do that for 8 hrs!

[@Fabricator55]

So cool

[@billsalvey]

lol now i want to pull out my train set

[@martybadboy]

Born in 73. I got that cattle hearder from my grandpa.😊

[@gpholtz]

Golden times!!!!

[@michaelbenoit248]

Back when they made trains that last decades if taken care of. I run mine a little but don’t let it get to hot, I give mine a break after 5-12min of use, these things have to last forever.

[@JonBrooks105]

Notice the different models of turnouts on the factory test layout. They wanted to be sure that new trains would negotiate all the possible configurations.

[@nolanjustus2215]

Great video

[@ClassicToyTrains]

Nolan Justus Thanks!

[@nolanjustus2215]

No problem I really enjoyed it

[@williamschlenger1518]

My friends dad worked at Lionel in Irvington. He could always get spare parts.

[@granskare]

In the 40s, I had an American Flyer set. Just as good as this one :)

[@yeck1982]

It was sad to see Lionel leave the USA, more people should want them to come back. It was sad to see the article in CTT with Mike Wolfe, his opinion that train manufacturing won't return to the USA seems harsh.

[@Mrrick1444]

Nice vid!

[@texasranger7262]

Wow!

[@ClassicToyTrains]

Thanks! Part 2 will be up soon -- stay tuned!

[@trainroomgary]

Cool 🚂

[@littleevan99]

That's pretty cool!

[@MilePost106]

Joshua Cowen has to be spinning in his grave wondering what happened to his Lionel trains he founded.

[@9005067]

very interesting

[@6672rock]

This was back when Lionel trains were quality products and USA-made with pride. Now, the NJ factory has burned to the ground from what I heard, and the new company owners outsourced manufacturing to China. I wouldn't waste my money on the newer trains. The best Lionel trains are everything pre-1969, before the company got sold to General Mills. I am fortunate to own vintage Lionel trains from the 1910's to the 1950's. The attention to detail is astounding. The newer Chinese-made trains are only good for kindling to start a fire as far as I'm concerned!

[@groovee63]

+6672rocK yep, made in China and the prices are outrageous.. just doesn't make since to buy anymore

[@captainscott2]

I 100% Agree. "Santa" brought me my set in 1965. I've still got every piece, and take it out to "play" with it each Christmas.....I wouldn't trade it for gold.....

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

you mean pre - 59. after that they all sucked. to much plastic.

[@AshtonLoyd]

6672rock snow white

[@nateheffner656]

They’re still better than MTH trains, made by the guy who looks like the Keebler midget AKA mike wolf

[@hussainmohammedmahf]

Super

[@yeck1982]

Labor costs are obviously part of the reason, when you can make the trains and still ship them here from China labor costs have to be low. The costs of trains surely aren't coming down.

[@fiddlerpin]

But the cost of postwar trains is! Lucky for me!

[@XYtruck25]

Nice video. American history right there. Is the New Jersey factory still standing?

[@nightisright1873]

Nope

[@BAKU2K2]

@@nightisright1873 The factory is still there, multiple businesses occupy it, though Lionel hasn't manufactured there since 1974.

[@nightisright1873]

@@BAKU2K2 let’s be honest baby boomers ruin this hobby for younger people

[@cyclenut]

This was from when everything was made in the USA. Today very little it made in our country. The factories moved out of the US from the late 70s well in to the 90s. The main cause was, after the US oil production started to wan in 1970 caused fuel cost to rise. The other main cause was lower wages in other developing countries.

[@Stanf954]

OSHA would have had a field back then with all the saftey violations.

[@rodneycody8746]

Ok captian point it out

[@SeaboardAirLine]

3:24 that is my dream job.

[@saturnsongs]

Mine is at the 2:50 mark.

[@Zipshysa]

@bulldogy1 I believe you have stumbled upon something interesting, regarding S gauge being ignored. Since you think there is a gap in the market, why don't you create a magazine focusing on S gauge?

[@robertbaker8342]

www.heimburgerhouse.com/s_gaugian.php sscaleresource.com/

[@microbusss]

so what is at the old factory location NOW? hehe

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

verizon cellular

[@arielfilmsinc1926]

A burned out building last I heard When Lionel was moved to Michigan in 1970 the building made linen Been meaning to go there myself but the neighborhood is supposedly quite grey

[@johnnyd63]

Bad dudes named Tyquan and Shyquann.Their bitches be named LaTyquann and LaShyquann. How far we've fallen.

[@skiiipawbs]

I got a 1946 671 s2 turbine with them smoke lamp. It has a 6466 written tender. I don’t have the whole set though

[@chriswright8464]

Made in NJ.

[@williamsimmons152]

Even the official production can’t get the difference between “scale” , “toy” and “gauge”.

[@Sirphil-dj9dh]

Hi I have two O gauge trains with the Fastrack layout. Each has its own power pack. But what I am looking for is a power pack that can run two different trains at the same time. Some input here would really help. Thanks

[@mrlionel1965]

Any of the newer Lionel and MTH transformers should handle what you are asking, otherwise, search the train shows and swap meets. A great vintage 150 watt ZW can be had for just under $150. You will have all the power you need to run 2 trains with extra power to spare for running other accessories and lights. You can never have too much available power for a model train layout.

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

get a lionel zw 275 watt will run 4 trains at once or two trains and electric lights

[@Sirphil-dj9dh]

Hi Steve....Thank you for the information. This really helps. I am a little short of money at this point so adding to my two Lionel trains has taken a bit of a backseat. But this is just temporary.

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

yeah im short on cash to got a divorce last yr. all my stuff is packed away in a storage building.

[@fearplug6027]

Low key wanna work there for employee discount

[@divo9455]

wouldn't you have just loved to work there

[@joaquintall5180]

My dad's sister worked in the Irvington plant on 21st Street. We lived in Newark at the time. When my brother and I were old enough to care for things like a train set, my aunt got us one. We had an 027 gauge set with a 4-6-4 steam engine, a tender, a tank car [Shell Oil, I think, nooo, it was SUNOCO!] two box cars, a signal man box car and a caboose. Initially, we had the #1033 transformer, but when we got a bit older my folks [God Bless Them!] and my aunt got us the larger KW 190. We had the whole layout on a piece of plywood the size of a large bed mattress. When my brother got too old [?] to play with trains, they were mine. I played with them until I was in my early 20's

[@Toaster844]

Bro imagine

[@clementgoetke2385]

when i was a boy we all hat trains and airplanes to play with and learn now they have grand theft auto

[@concorde2003]

Strictly according to Hoyle.

[@stankuczynski9808]

I laughed heartily when he said trains run constantly to see which parts wear out first then back to the engineering department to make a better part. I can hear the board of directors heads exploding today over that comment. What make a product that lasts more then a couple years preposterous who ever heard of such a thing. Any one coming up with that idea today would get fired because it cuts into their profit margins.

[@stevenspaziani9159]

Lionel trains use to be the best in the world and even a junker bought at a swap meet could be made to run again thanks in part to a great aftermarket supply chain. sadly when they moved to china the electronics and quality has suffered. I've purchased a small number of items, sets and locomotives. first to go wrong was the fan in one of my new transformers, next the switches on my 1225 would lose contact, the 2-4-2 locomotive from a set I bought for my grandson barely runs and same exact thing with a duplicate set he won at a train show. I have I have 60 year old and older locomotives the still run like day one and transformers of the same vintage and older that still work and don't need a cooling fan. Yeah, I'm not impressed with cheaply made expensive lionel trains made in china. I'll stick with older ones from a train show any day.

[@OvermarsGaming]

3:45 lol

[@doozowings4672]

The iPhone for boys of the 40's and 50's

[@sitarnut]

Good grief! GG-1's in first scene coming out of the form press.

[@K-Effect]

Officer why did you pull me over? Sir I pulled you over because you're swerving and driving 15 mph under the speed limit. Officer I had no idea. Sir have you been drinking or smoking marijuana cigarettes? No officer i'm sober. I just got off of work at the Lionell factory painting trains for 10 hours.

[@edisoneladiosanchezluarte633]

Verdaderos trenes de metal muy buenas fabricas lamentablemente llego el plastico y se teminaron lo verdaderos juguetes

[@wahoo7654]

By having a 4x3 picture transferred to 16x9, you miss out on the top and bottom of the image. Notice how the framing seems cropped throughout this video. Next time, have Digital Ranch transfer the vintage films in 4x3. End users can always stretch the image to fill out a 16x9 monitor, if they must have widescreen.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

Bruh he's literally being payed to run toy trains.

[@nightisright1873]

I’d kill for that job

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

kids these days dont want trains. they want cell phones and lap tops and they dont care about history or the good stuff made in the old days. toy trains will never come back up.

[@mustangcircut]

Steve I'm 37 and got my dads Lionel 1464w set from 1950 when I was 5. It survived 5 brothers and sat in an attic. Looked brand new and still to this day. It came with me to my home where my basement is filled with sports and train memorabilia, true man town. It is a big set and I have done all post war collecting since I turned 20. I agree with you with gaming yes I have done it to, but I never forgot where the real fun is in trains. I used to have people say you never grew up to now saying wow you have those!!!??? They are behind a glass case on a wall and come down during Christmas when my parents come over. I just hope to the heavens that my boy will love them and respect them as much as I did when I'm gone.

[@stevethomas-cc5lz]

Im 46 and started collecting 4 yrs ago. I have five complete sets. Lionel, Two 2056, one 2020, one 681 and one mth dash 9 diesel from 1996. It has six tankers and six reefers with caboose. All in matching green and yellow chicago and northwestern paint. I also have one marx with five cars from 1938. Needs painting and has original transformer. All trains run perfect. I dont have any kids. So when i die i have no idea what will happen to all of it.

[@CodyJohnstonbaugh]

I'm 19 years old and I just love model trains. I get picked on constantly over it by kids my age but in the end of the day I know i'm the real winner!

[@mrlionel1965]

Cody, don't worry about what others think. You do what makes you happy. I am the president of the NEW O Gaugers club in Green Bay and we all have a passion for these things. There is a level of fun and family that you just cannot get from having your nose stuck in a smart phone. There needs to be more family interaction and Lionel Trains are the perfect platform for that. You enjoy what makes you happy. Best of luck to you and Merry Christmas.

[@mustangcircut]

Coady I agree with mr Lionel. Being now 38 the respect for this hobby is unfathomable. The detail is so beautiful but my passion is for the old post war trains. Let's see the people who pick on you pull an engine apart, clean it, oil it and get it going. Not only your motor skills will improve but attention to detail will come to. You will get the respect, you already have it from me! Merry Christmas...

[@jeffreystpierre6898]

The third rail system keeps me from being a Lionel fan, unrealistic American Flyer by Gilbert, realistic!!!

[@BAKU2K2]

All prewar electric American Flyer is 3 rail though.

[@rayst.pierre4499]

Lionel used that third rail, American Flyer from Gilbert was more realistic!

[@BAKU2K2]

American Flyer made 3 rail O and Standard gauge too, though.

[@edwardbianchi192]

I thought the bodies were made out of plastic.

[@1940limited]

Another great industry with plenty of jobs back before Irvington became the hell hole it is today.

[@jpolar394]

I thought that they were made in Hillside ?

[@iamrichrocker]

the nay votes are from dudes who play with Barbie..

[@ElNinoDeOro1925]

I'm too old for model railroading.

[@npo64]

Where's Lionel's factory now, China?

[@metraforce441]

npo64 yep. It's sad to not see the made in the US of America anymore...

[@JPaul60]

Harvard Business School grads sent those jobs and factory to China. Thanks Harvard Business School Grads.

[@bry4950]

Interesting but this is not 1950. I would like to see what goes on in China.

[@timpriddy349]

Look ma .......AMERICAN PRIDE

[@longwindingroad]

Lionel is cheap junk now and kids don't play with them anymore. They won't be around in few years. Pullmore motors were tough and ran for decades. Can motors are chinese junk. Even German stuff has turned to crap.