Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! A Photo History of an American Icon (Hard Cover)
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Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! A Photo History of an American Icon (Hard Cover)
Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! A Photo History of an American Icon is a captivating tribute to one of America's most beloved and influential consumer brands. This beautifully designed, award-winning coffee-table book features 100 visually stunning and insightful photo essays, revealing how electric toy trains were woven into the fabric of American history, society, family life, and pop culture in the 20th century. Discover their cherished place in holiday traditions and family memories, from living room floors to department store displays, Hollywood films, and television screens.
Lionel trains connected generations through wonder, creativity, and play. Through seldom-seen vintage photography, historic advertisements, and insightful commentary, this book shares the story behind Lionel's significance, taking readers on a ride of joy, imagination, and the craftsmanship that made these innovative toys national treasures and essential parts of American childhood.
Award-winning Lionel train historian Roger Carp brings a historian's sharp eye, collector's insights, and a storyteller's warmth to this guide, sharing with readers the magic that made these vintage toy trains so popular and iconic. Whether you're a model train enthusiast, pop culture historian, or just someone longing to relive cherished childhood moments, this book offers something truly special.
Readers will enjoy:
- Archival photos of families and celebrities alike, such as James Cagney, Joe DiMaggio, and Lucille Ball, enjoying Lionel toy trains.
- Collectible materials that reveal the depth of the brand's impact on Americana.
- Meaningful stories that celebrate the bonds Lionel trains built across generations.
This heartfelt and nostalgic visual history of Lionel trains is a must-have. Secure your copy today for yourself, a loved one, or anyone who cherishes Americana culture, classic photographs, and the golden age of toy trains.
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Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains!
Numerous Awards
- Gold Winner, Best Coffee Table Book, from the National Indie Excellence Book Awards (NIEA).
- Silver Winner, Best History, from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Book Awards.
- Silver Winner, Best Coffee Table, from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Book Awards.
- Silver Winner, Best Cover Design, from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Book Awards.
- Silver Winner, Best Pop Culture Book, from the Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards.
- Finalist, Best Pop Culture Book from ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Awards.
- Finalist in four categories: Best General History, Best Arts/Photography/Coffee Table, Best Total Book Design, and Best Interior Design, from the MIPA Book Awards (sponsored by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association).
- Finalist, Best Overall Design (Non-Fiction), from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
- Category Finalist, from the Eric Hoffer Book Awards.
About the Author
Roger Carp has been fascinated by Lionel trains and the people who created them since he received a small steam engine and some freight cars as a youngster in 1956. His interest directed him, after earning a Ph.D. in American history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to Classic Toy Trains magazine, where he has served for 20 years as senior editor.
Roger has written or edited more than 20 books and special-interest publications about Lionel—its trains and accessories, its leaders and workers, its showrooms and displays, and its legacy. Among them are The World’s Greatest Toy Train Maker (1998), Classic Lionel Display Layouts You Can Build (2000), The Art of Lionel Trains (2003), Authoritative Guide to Lionel’s Postwar Operating Cars (2005), Authoritative Guide to Lionel’s Promotional Outfits 1960–1969 (2007), Inside the Lionel Train’s Fun Factory (2008), Collectible Lionel Classics (2017), Lionel Trains of the 1950s (2019), and Lionel Trains of the 1940s (2022). He also oversees production of the annual edition of Greenberg’s Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains.
A native of Los Angeles, Roger lives near Milwaukee with his wife and Lionel trains.
Hard Cover, 224 Pages, 11" x 8.5", Full Color, 220+ Photos & Images.
ISBN: 978-1-933600-07-9
- ISBN:
- 978-1-933600-07-9
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Reviews
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Looking Back
As I, a 78 year old, who received his first Lionel train in the early fifties, Roger Carp wrote a historic review and nostalgic rememberence of Lionel.
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Excellent Book and Service
Great book on history of Lionel. I am enjoying reading it and very pleased that the publisher made the book availabe.
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More
I love this kind of publication because it brings us back to our childhood. The pictures of children with the trains in period when the trains were new lets our imagination run away. I would like to see more pictures of the factory and how the trains were made on the assembly line
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Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains
Well written and awesome old photos, very informative and hard to put down when reading.
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A Historical Photographic Archival Review of Toy Trains
A fantastic Photographic Historical review of Lionel Toy Trains. These Photos and the written details of each scene is priceless. A fantastic book of Historical artifacts. Roger Carp should be commended for the hard work it took to compile these archival Photos. Being an Historian and a former Public-School Librarian as well as a Toy Train collector I applaud Rogers' work and expertise. This book is a must for all Toy Train collectors.
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, LIONEL TRAINS
I just received LIGHTS, CAMERA, LIONEL TRAINS its t he best Christmas present I received snce my 1957 Loniel train set.
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Fascinating picture-history
Excellent compendium of Lionel's graphic and sales highlights. Informative captions.
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awesome new book
just got my 2 copies of new book great photos a must have book .very well done a must have to read .great storys of lionel trains .thanks
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Worth the wait
More than just a picture book this title tells the behind-the-scenes story of marketing and selling Lionel trains. Wonderful stories about the people who promoted and sold Lionel products as well as the customers who enjoyed them, both famous and ordinary. A most pleasant and long-overdue read!