TOY TRAIN MEMORIES [Hardcover]

John Grams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000

Toy Train Memories tells the captivating story of how toy electric trains were once the only Christmas gift children wanted. Throughout the 1920s, '30s, '40s, and into the mid-1950s, Lionel and American Flyer actively promoted the relationship between Christmas and toy trains, and kids everywhere eagerly awaited their fabulous fall gift catalog. During those years, families shared happy hours building railroad empires that began with a locomotive, boxcar, or operating milk car wrapped up in colorful paper and placed under the tree. Woven within this wildly entertaining gift book are over 100 stunning full-color photos of toy trains guaranteed to bring back happy memories of simpler times. But the stars of this book are the dozens of vintage black-and-white Christmas-morning snapshots of happy boys and girls with their brand-new trains—photos that will evoke fond memories of childhood, family, and the holiday season. For history lovers, nostalgia fans, and train enthusiasts everywhere, Toy Train Memories is an enjoyable celebration of the toys of our youth and a fabulous journey back to simpler, happier times.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Grams, Ph.D., has collected and studied toy trains for the past 40 years and has authored dozens of magazine articles and several books on the subject. A broadcast journalism professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he lives in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 159 pages
• Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing Company; 1 edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871161982
• ISBN-13: 978-0871161987
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 10.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Toy Train Memories, November 3, 2002

By 

Rick Evans (Atascadero CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: TOY TRAIN MEMORIES (Hardcover)

I find it to be a beautiful book, a mixture of newer color photos of Christmas layouts, mixed with older classic black and white photos sent in by toy train lovers. Makes a great coffee table book during the holidays, or any time for that matter!
And I will admit that page 33 is my favorite,...due to the fact that,...it is a photo of me!! This book will make a GREAT Christmas present for all toy train lovers, and just might interest some to re-kindle their childhood memories, and drag out those trains and dust 'em off!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A veritable treasure trove of nostalgic memories, January 5, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: TOY TRAIN MEMORIES (Hardcover)

Vividly illustrated from cover to cover with numerous full color photographs, Toy Train Memories by John Grams is a superbly organized and presented celebration of classic model railroad sets, such as many readers might have once received as Christmas gifts or seen in department stores near the holiday season, especially during the 1940's and 1950's. Very highly recommended for enthusiasts and collectors of classic model trains, Toy Train Memories is a veritable treasure trove of nostalgic memories about these fascinating toys enjoyed by generations of youngsters (and their fathers!), the companies that created them, as well as the advertising and marketing efforts that made them household names.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nice book, February 9, 2008

By 

L. Olson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: TOY TRAIN MEMORIES (Hardcover)

Very nice book with high quality photos. I did not read it all but enjoyed flipping through after we became interested in model trains this Christmas. I like the nostalgia of it although I personally did not experience it in my past.