THE GOLDEN AGE OF TOY TRAINS

Lionel and American Flyer – two names that are riveted in the memories of anyone who grew up in the late 40s and 50s. TM’s new DVD takes you back to those happy times right after WWII when toy trains topped every kid’s wish list. Sleek diesels, smoke-puffing steamers, log and coal loaders, milk and cattle cars – train boxes under the Christmas tree. We interviewed collectors from all over the country, filmed their layouts, captured their memories. Fierce loyalties ran deep – and still do. Lionel dominated but American Flyer had their loyal following. So did Marx and Kusan. The catalog illustrations made the trains look powerful and irresistible. You stared at the color pages and dreamed. Nobody cared if the angles and proportions were stretched a bit. Reality lived up to the fantasy.