This was my first toy train engine: the Lionel 289E. I got it as a small boy in 1976. It was passed on to me as a heirloom item. The old crooked tracks that I got with it were misfits and it took me several years to figure out what it was and how to run it properly. I restored it in 2010 and this month it was time to run it again with some matching passenger cars.
The old American, Lionel 289E passenger train service runs smoothly by, while the new European Merkur passenger trains waits its turn.
This toy train is from 1937. It was the first I received and it is still one of the best running engines. It represents a time period when the US was producing quality consumer goods and these were then top of the line. And they are still great nowadays. A reminder of a time gone by.
The Merkur engine is from the Czech republic in the centre of Europe. After the iron curtain feel in 1989, many authentic, central-European industries slowly re-emerged. And so did Merkur. In a short period of time they manufacturerd quality, sturdy toy trains. This toy trains is from the 2010-2015 period. Unfortunately, they couldn't make it in the longer term and now these trains are sought after specialties. Time to let them run.
Side by side, toy trains from different locations and eras. Both appreciated for what they represent and offer.
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