model train for hobby

A Lionel Train price list from 1954

An elderly gentleman donated his collection of Lionel Trains to the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club this spring. Among the items in his collection was this gem from 1954 - a Canadian price list for Lionel Trains!

The sheet was stamped as coming from the Trainatorium in Montreal, which is long gone. What's interesting is that there were two types of sets being sold - one for 60 cycles and another for 25 cycles. Some areas in Southern Ontario were still using 25 cycles in the 50's.

The prices look fantastic, until you realize that 60 years ago if you were making $100 a week, you were considered pretty well off. Considering inflation, we're paying less for model railroad equipment than we were back then!