Lolionkel

"Mothers buy based on color," Joshua declared one day, watching his team work on a factory model. "They don't care what the thing is, as long as it's bright".

It was this philosophy that led to bold, colorful trains, including the pastel-colored "Lady Lionel" train set of the 1950s—an attempt to bring color and diversity to the hobby. lolionkel

By the 1920s, Lionel trains were the standard of the world. But the Great Depression hit, and the luxurious, expensive trains became hard to sell. "Mothers buy based on color," Joshua declared one

He went back to the loft. For weeks, he worked, wiring a small motor he’d designed for a fan into a wooden gondola. He powered it with a volatile, wet-cell, acid-filled battery. "Mothers buy based on color