Christmas and Trains non-internet researched

Probably a lot safer and much more enjoyable than today's air travel!

Great story Nick - thanks

A simpler time. Was it better? I don't know. War's were still being fought, People were still mad at each other, just couldn't post it on-line.

Trains were marketed with Christmas for business reasons is my guess. A lighted loco. and passenger cars added to a lighted Christmas tree. A novelty in the early 20th. century. The train going around in a circle added motion. There were no video games at the time. Throw in a few operating accessories like an automatic gateman, and now you've got something... Getting something to move under it's own power was state-of-the-art at one time.

It was always my understanding that the Germans started it with pull toy iron trains on the floor for kids marketed as gifts at Xmas & that evolved into clock work trains & then electric. Imported to the US & then eventually made here by Ives & Flyer, & Lionel.