Over on another thread, I just responded to a post about the possibility of more FM Train Masters in Lionel's upcoming 2016 catalog. And it dawned on me that I saw my first Lionel FM in 1966, the year my Dad gave me my very first Lionel train set. 50 years ago!!! 
My first train set was a starter O-27 set, but I vividly recall paging through the catalog that year and admired some of the O-Gauge sets, one of which was a freight set headed up by a blue/yellow Virginian FM. I think the entire set was $135, and it included an operating poultry car and had a pair of remote O-Gauge switches. The FM was also catalog'd with an ala carte price of $65. I still have the original catalog tucked away somewhere with the $65 price crossed out and marked down to $52 by the LHS store employee. Even that was a lot of money back then.
I know some of you folks have been in this hobby longer than 50 years, but I just realized 2016 will be 50 years for me. A lot has certainly changed in this hobby during those years, but my excitement for this hobby remains as alive as it was in 1966 as seen through a child's eyes. 
Anybody else "celebrating" their Golden Anniversary in model railroading this year??? 
David
