![]() In fact, in 1931, Lionel experienced its first year in the red, and things only got more difficult for them from there. ![]() Lionel trains were huge from their invention all the way up through the late 1920s, but the Great Depression caused Lionel some heartbreak as it did many businesses in those days. The Rise and Fall of Lionel from 1900-1960s As such, you should only use Lionel AC transformers on their modern products. There are many hobbyists who claim to run their trains on DC power, and while it might be possible, there are significant risks involved. As such, Lionel stopped their low-cost offerings in the 1980s and stuck to its higher-end merchandise.Įventually, technology improved to the point that Lionel could go back to utilizing inexpensive DC motors thanks to electronics that converted AC into DC safely, and this is the case to this day. Unfortunately, those trains weren’t at all compatible with their higher-end offerings running on AC, which caused confusion among hobbyists who wanted to mix and match their sets. In order to remain relevant, the Lionel company began incorporating those inexpensive DC motors and powerpacks into some of their own offerings that were directed at what we would call “big box stores” today – places like K-Mart, for example. This resulted in a huge influx of electric-powered toys, which slowly drowned out electric trains. Most homes ran on AC power, just as they do today, and thanks to new technologies, small, inexpensive DC motors hit the market. (This is not recommended today, but for the time, it was very clever.)īy the 1970s and 80s, things had changed a great deal. ![]() At the time that the first electric trains were developed, there were still plenty of homes that didn’t have any electricity at all, and parents would connect their kids’ train sets to car batteries, instead. In the 20th Century, most homes had only alternating current, or AC, but there were a few parts of the country that ran primarily on direct current, or DC. It’s important to use only modern AC transformers on today’s Lionel trains. While today’s Lionel trains make use of a relatively inexpensive DC motor, the trains include electronics that are designed to convert AC power into DC. However, not long after the first Electric Express went on the market, Lionel began incorporating a 100-volt AC/DC transformer into the model and into all of its subsequent offerings. The very first Lionel train, the Electric Express, was battery-powered. JJ W The History of Electricity in Lionel Trains Later, the battery used to power the Electric Express was converted to a 100-volt electric transformer, and it was included in all 12 models of the Electric Express that were eventually sold. He built it for the owner of a toy store where he had seen his first wooden toy train on display in the window. His first toy train, the Electric Express, was one of his favorite undertakings, so it comes as no real surprise that much of his focus and his money went toward developing it even further. Later, he used another variation of that invention alongside the US Navy for mine detonation. ![]() One of his first patents, in fact, was a tiny device that ignited flash powder in antique cameras, something that changed photography for the better. Virtually every child was fascinated by passenger rail lines like the Peerless Twentieth Century Limited during these times, and they all dreamed of the opportunity to ride one through the scenic countryside themselves.Ĭowen founded the Lionel company in the year 1900, and by this time, he was already known for several successful inventions. Cowen grew up in an exciting time, when the railroads that would facilitate the Industrial Revolution were being built from coast to coast. The Lionel company was founded by a man named Joshua Lionel Cowen, who was born in 1877, which was even before the first electric lightbulb was introduced. It’s one of the oldest train makers in the world, and they are known for their outstanding quality, true-to-life design, and huge selection of trains and sets that range from real-life rail lines across North America to fantasy lines based on Harry Potter.Ī common question about Lionel trains is, “Do Lionel trains run on AC or DC power?” Today, you can find the answer to this question as well as learn more about Lionel’s history, their popularity over the years, the electric train options they offer, and more. When you think of electric trains – even if you aren’t a hobbyist – the name Lionel probably comes to mind.
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