Explore the next period in Lionel’s great postwar history with 20+ articles organized year by year in this colorful 100-page special issue. When it comes to Lionel toy trains in the 1960s, this is your one-stop reference.

Lionel Trains of the 1960s

An appreciation for an imperfect decade • LIONEL FACED COMMERCIAL AND INTERNAL CHALLENGES IN THE 1960S

The 1960s – a decade of hope and uncertainty • STRUGGLES TO SUCCEED IN AN UNPREDICTABLE MARKET

Incredible diversity in great sets • QUANTITY AND QUALITY WERE STILL THERE EVEN AFTER MR. COWEN LEFT

Handful of rare & unique items • A PANORAMA OF ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS

3535 OPERATING SECURITY CAR WITH ROTATING SEARCHLIGHT

3376 BRONX ZOO OPERATING GIRAFFE CAR

Wonders in advance catalogs & gift packs • EXCELLENT O-27 AND SUPER O OUTFITS THRILLED EVERYONE

2359 BOSTON & MAINE GP9 ROAD DIESEL

3509 AUTOMATIC SATELLITE LAUNCHING CAR

Clever marketing to reach all buyers • LOTS OF FUN IN CATALOGED AND PROMO SETS

Fascinating and unknown uncataloged outfits • METICULOUS RESEARCH HAS HELPED SOLVE LINGERING MYSTERIES

6413 MERCURY CAPSULE CARRYING CAR

6463 ROCKET FUEL DOUBLE-DOME TANK CAR

Super O and promotional outfits offered gems • SUPERB ENGINES AND ROLLING STOCK REMAINED TO BE ENJOYED

6407 FLATCAR WITH MISSILE

6469 LIQUEFIED GAS TANK CAR

O gauge returns with a roar • PROMOTIONAL OUTFITS AND O-27 SETS STILL SELL

Unique & rare items of 1964 • Lionel produced items that collectors consider scarce or in some instances even rare or unique. Let’s take a look at some of the most desirable of them.

Trains starred – and crashed! – on televison • TRAINS WERE PART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE CLASSIC SERIES THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Entertaining and colorful sets • PLENTY TO FILL CATALOGED AND PROMOTIONAL OUTFITS

6651 SHELL LAUNCHING CAR

Growing variety of promotional and O gauge sets • CHALLENGING MARKET DRIVES INNOVATION

6464-375 CENTRAL OF GEORGIA BOXCAR

6431 PIGGYBACK CAR WITH TRAILERS & TRACTOR

Reducing the number of all outfits • CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE BLENDED WITH DISAPPOINTMENT

Short production run • LENNY DEAN, HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, ONCE NOTED THAT LIONEL’S RULE OF THUMB FOR STOCKING SELECTED PARTS DURING THE COMPANY’S HEYDAY WAS AROUND 7 PERCENT OF PRODUCTION.

Generic white and labeled boxes • LENNY DEAN ALSO SAID HE HAD RECOMMENDED USING GENERIC WHITE BOXES FOR A FEW ITEMS. HE POINTED OUT THAT SUCH PACKAGING COST LESS BECAUSE IT ELIMINATED UNNECESSARY COLORED GRAPHICS.

6464 BOXCARS WITH BRASS DOORS

More going on than might be imagined • DOWN TO MORE THAN A PAIR OF TRAIN SETS

Ending the era on a positive note • MORE SETS AND KEY MODELS CONCLUDE THE POSTWAR SAGA

645 UNION PACIFIC NW2 DIESEL SWITCHER