Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! A Photo History of an American Icon presents 100 stunning photo essays that reveal how Lionel electric trains became an American cultural and social icon of the 20th century.
Those innovative and exciting toys defined what it meant to be a happy and fulfilled child while enabling celebrities in sports, show business, and politics to stay in touch with the innocence of their past. Full-color and black-and-white photographs from archives and private collections tell the story of how one dynamic toy maker arose to influence life in the United States.
You're sure to be entertained and informed by what Lionel historian Roger Carp writes about the dozens of rare and delightful pictures. And those images will nurture memories of the electric trains you may have played with or seen in action on television and in motion pictures.
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.
LG (Submitted on Dec 4th 2024)
Excellent compendium of Lionel's graphic and sales highlights. Informative captions.
marlowe koch (Submitted on Nov 30th 2024)
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
Jack Stein (Submitted on Nov 21st 2024)
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!
David Osborn (Submitted on Nov 16th 2024)
What a treasure trove of information and pictures. The book is so amazing I am sure it will be an outstanding source of information for years to come. Future generations will treasure this book because it shares with them the experiences we had enjoying our trains.
Mike Noday (Submitted on Nov 15th 2024)
I just received my new limited edition book, (Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! A Photo History Of An American Icon) This is another wonderful book published by Project Roar Publishing. This is a well made book of the highest quality. The photos throughout the book are fantastic! I have just started to read the book and the information in the book is just amazing!
Thank You John Schmid and Roger Carp
Rob Strenth (Submitted on Nov 13th 2024)
This is my third book from Project Roar and like their other titles it is amazing. Roger Carp has taken a unique approach to explain the history and cultural significance of Lionel Trains through the examination of photographs. Photos have been taken from both within the Lionel Corportation and from individuals who received or admired these magnificent electric trains. This is a welcome addition to any Lionel or photography enthusiast.
Clark A. Vegazo (Submitted on Nov 11th 2024)
An amazing amount of information & pictures for every Lionel enthusiast. It is a beautiful, hard-cover book that you will read over & over.
Unknown (Submitted on Nov 2nd 2024)
I pre-ordered this book at the TCA York train show, and my copy just arrived. Roger Carp did a great job telling fascinating stories through pictures and providing the story behind each image. The pictures are awesome! A must have book.