Great Thread, enjoy the stories and pics.

My first Lionel set was the 1611 C&O set from Christmas 1960 with helicopter, rocket launcher, and exploding boxcar. I had a  bunch of plastic army men with tanks, trucks and jeeps so this train fit right in. I was 7 years old. The box is long gone. Santa knew what he was doing back then.

Here it is running under our Christmas tree on it's 60th anniversary in 2020. I will never part with this one, too many memories.

My brother, who is 6 years older, had this train from I believe 1950. We were lucky to have 2 trains,  a 1033 transformer, couple of switches, the gateman, and the rotating beacon. Our Dad made a fold up plywood table painted green which was in the basement. Here we ran our 2 trains and at other times our Strombecker slot cars. I think this was the 6110 scout set 1461S from 1950. I had this set for many years as my brother had no interest in trains. A few years ago I gave it back to him and he runs it under his Christmas tree.  I found the 6110 loco, tender and cars on the auction site for old times sake.  Running it brings back great memories of being a kid. Here it is running on the basement layout.

Here is a picture of my original American Flyer  #312 steam engine. No, I no longer have it.

Father bought us reckless kids a Lionel 1623 set maybe 1959/60. The only surviving piece is the 2349 Diesel. Found it a few years ago clearing out my parents house. Had rust on the wheels and did not run. It meant so much to me I had it restored by Lenny. Since then I have replaced all the others cars. The fire ladder and aquarium cars are later issues. Can't put a price on memories.

@jim sutter posted:

Here is a picture of my original American Flyer  #312 steam engine. No, I no longer have it.

We all ended up in the basement ……thank you for sharing this gem! This is a at once a great image, an impressive furnace and beautiful layout. Look at all those engines!

WRW, Glad you enjoyed the picture of my layout from 1955.

WOW!!! 500th post on the OGR Forum!

Yes.  Received Lionel NYC Empire State Express from Santa on Christmas 1976.  We were recently reunited!

Seeing my first train set for the first time in ~35 years:

Here I am having gotten this for Christmas. I think I am three or maybe four at most.

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

Here I am having gotten this for Christmas. I think I am three or maybe four at most.

Great shot, Jeff. But leave it to me - what catches my eye??? The albums on the shelf… Beethoven, Offenbach, Rimsky-Korsakov, and excepts from Carmen Jones!!!

Good eye Paul. Yes, those are my Dad's 78s, and I still have some of them. Just like I still have the trains shown.

Yes, uncatalogued set 56 Minn&St. L, 6112 blue gondola, 6014 Bosco, 6017 Caboose