Monday, December 3, 2012

Lionel Train Display



Madison resident, Ken Capuder installed a mini exhibit of his Lionel Train collection as part of the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts’ Collectors Cabinet.

Capuder states, “I always liked mechanical things.  Since the commuter line ran a little more than a block from my house, this attraction manifested itself as an enthusiasm for trains at a very young age.  When my Dad brought my brother to his music lessons in a nearby town that had freight service, I always tagged along with the hope he would take me to the candy store and let me watch the colorful and varied freight trains roll by.  I started with HO trains when I was about seven and then my Aunt and Uncle bought me a used Lionel set for my ninth birthday.  The Lionels had more heft, were noisier, and made smoke.  I was hooked.”

When Ken’s son was young he showed his old set to him and soon he was hooked as well.  “Since then, our Lionel accumulation has grown steadily.  We have a modest table on which we run O Gauge Lionel Trains from the 1940s through the 1990s.  The trains in this display are larger, having a distance between the outer rails of the track that is about twice that of O Gauge.  Lionel called this “Standard Gauge” and produced the items here between 1914 and the early 1930s in factories in Newark, Irvington, and Hillside.  These toys were crafted and assembled by hand with the assistance of machines in the making of the parts and metal stampings,” says Ken.

The Museum invites guests young and old to visit this nostalgic exhibit and enjoy the variety of trains Ken has put out on display.  The exhibit will be on display until mid-February, 2013.

If you have a unique collection you would be interested in showcasing contact Education Curator, Meg Wastie at 973-377-2982 x12, schools@metc.org for more information.

Regular Admission.  Regular Hours.  Call 973-377-2982 x12 for more information or visit www.metc.org.    

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