| When Joshua Lionel Cowen started his business of | | | | trains purchase as the continued passion in collecting |
| building Lionel trains as model toys for children and | | | | of toy trains and railroad model paraphernalia remains |
| adults all over the world, his aim was twofold. As | | | | strong, especially in the United States. This is entirely |
| these toy trains and each Lionel trains set were | | | | expected with the long and fabled history of the mode |
| targeted primarily at young boys, his first aim was to | | | | of transport which reached its height of strength in |
| provide a medium for both father and son | | | | post war America. Despite the advancement of |
| everywhere to form a relationship and communicate | | | | technology which has resulted in high tech trains that |
| through the time spent together building and playing | | | | can now travel at supersonic speeds or speeds which |
| with model train sets. It has always been well | | | | easily overshadows their aged counterparts, there |
| documented throughout history that males bond well | | | | remains an affinity amongst collectors for the antique |
| together through common activity, and as toy trains | | | | designs of both prewar and postwar Lionel trains. Part |
| hold a global appeal for males of all ages, it was a | | | | of this is due to the mystique which lends itself to the |
| great way to achieve this objective. The second | | | | highly detailed craftsmanship that was invested in |
| objective was to show people everywhere the kind of | | | | building those model toy trains, which was the result of |
| careful detail and ingenious invention that went into | | | | Cowen constantly hiring skilled model locomotive |
| these post war American trains, which were a | | | | builders who spent long hours making sure that the |
| testament to the leap in innovation and invention from | | | | replicas were true to the original designs. |
| the country during its formative years. | | | | Along with the consistent number of model railroad |
| During that time, trains were also one of the premier | | | | collectors worldwide, the tradition of toy train collecting |
| methods of travel, especially over long distances. With | | | | also continues to be spread down from generation to |
| that came huge coverage and media interest in | | | | generation. The fact that these toys still hold a |
| everything about trains. Cowen decided to leverage on | | | | fascination with men of all ages and diverse |
| that, as well as his own passion in the subject, to | | | | backgrounds, lend them to being timeless mediums for |
| produce toy trains of such detail and quality that they | | | | bonding between family members. It is quite a sight to |
| quickly became popular with children and men of all | | | | behold when a railroad set is completed and a toy train |
| ages, and were often a favorite choice as gifts. Lionel | | | | is seen chugging along the tracks with both father and |
| trains sets also became the choice for collectors and it | | | | son, or sometimes the entire family, smiling and |
| was often that you would see individuals from that | | | | cheering on their efforts. With other accessories |
| time who had amassed huge personal collections of | | | | including scenic landscapes that come with these |
| toy trains which primarily consisted of Lionel prewar | | | | railroad sets, it is not difficult to understand why Lionel |
| trains, which were a popular choice. | | | | trains remain close to the hearts of train collectors |
| Till now, you can often find someone making a Lionel | | | | everywhere in the world. |