Where Did Toy Trains Come From?
Where did toy trains begin? How have they evolved over the years? Are toy trains educational for children? You would be amazed how things have actually changed. The box set of a train and track was introduced during the 1850’s by Marklin, a German company that made dollhouse accessories. They made extra tracks, rolling stock and buildings for accessories. Soon after, in the United States, electric trains followed in 1897, believed to have been introduced by Carlisle and Finch. Later, in a New York loft around 1901 a man named Joshua Lionel Cowen, constructed a single motorized gondola car that has since evolved into the most popular hobby in both America and Europe. Using his middle name, “Lionel”, Joshua came up with the name for his toy train company, now reknown as Lionel Trains. With in-home electricity at the time a luxury, the first trains were battery powered. They were also larger than most modern indoor trains. Other manufacturers soon followed suit, and were making electric t
