| Miniature railroad enthusiasts around the world enjoy | | | | Coleman kept the American Flyer name, and the |
| constructing their own railroads in their homes, adding | | | | company went on to be extremely successful in the |
| to them year after year and creating a miniature world | | | | 1940s and again in 1960. |
| in their garage, basement or spare room. World wide | | | | Now a part of Lionel LLC the American flyer is |
| there is many of these train manufacturers. While | | | | predominately manufactured using the S scale, is |
| many companies based outside the United States, that | | | | famous and retains its separate and distinct look from |
| does not mean we do not have our own versions | | | | the Lionel model trains. |
| though there are fewer U.S. manufactures of scale | | | | Bachman |
| model railroads then you would imagine, they have | | | | Bachman is a company that started with American |
| done brisk business in this country in the last 100 years. | | | | model trains but is no longer considered such since |
| Let's take a look at the Most popular of the American | | | | selling out to the China based Kadar company. These |
| model trains. | | | | miniature railroads originally made their name, not |
| Lionel | | | | through the design, and scale of their engines, cars, and |
| Lionel scale railroads are the undisputed leader in | | | | cabooses, but through the creation of their buildings |
| United States of manufactured miniature railroads. | | | | that made scale railroads come alive. Their tiny town |
| These engines, cars, and accessories have been | | | | dubbed Plasticville, U.S.A. was so realistic and detailed |
| leading the country every since Lionel Cowen | | | | that miniature railroad enthusiasts flocked to buy these |
| produced his first train generations ago. Some version | | | | products. |
| of the Lionel been owned by most children and scale | | | | You can see many Plasticville buildings decorating the |
| railroad enthusiast at one time or another. However, | | | | cities and countryside of almost all the competing |
| the company itself has struggled financially from time | | | | railroads in almost every home. |
| to time, been sold to other, different companies, quality | | | | Their actual rolling stock became the undisputed leader |
| of these products has held firm, and the name has | | | | in HO scale railroads following World War II. Their |
| lived on from generation to generation. | | | | tracks and rolling stock continues to improve since the |
| This company is now called Lionel LLC and still | | | | company moved to China. It has also become popular |
| produces new stock annually. | | | | in the world market of scale railroad building. |
| American Flyer | | | | It seems the entire world has a love of railroads, and |
| The only company and product to compete with Lionel | | | | there are hobbyists of scale railroad building on every |
| for any length of time, The American Flyer company, | | | | continent around the world. While the United States |
| began as a toy clock work (nonelectrical) train | | | | may have less than its share of manufacturing |
| designed by William Hafner who originally partnered | | | | companies for these products, American model trains |
| with William Coleman in the manufacturing of low | | | | can compete with those from any country in the |
| budget miniature railroads. When the partnership ended | | | | world. |