This post on Brass HO Trains is about the Lionel Trains Company.  Joshua Lionel Cowen, born in 1877, grew up with real trains. He saw all those changes in the trains and the innovations and modifications that resulted to the modern era engines and wagons. During the time that he founded Lionel in 1900, the trend was passenger lines like the peerless Twentieth Century Limited that represented the technology and sophistication of America.

Cowen brought in the interest of the Americans by the electricity used, which was still a rarity, and the complex railroads. The first trains were powered with acid-filled batteries, which were then replaced by the 110-volt electric transformer. Pre-assembled track and a set of engines and cars were in the market and a lot of homes, too. Influenced by the bustling economy and the growth of electric power, a lot of products like the World War defense production, war train with cannons, Racing Automobiles and a passenger train with internal lighting.

Cowen created his toy trains and was well-known among his peers. He not only created the trains, but brought in ideas like Lionels would prepare boys for their adulthood, involving their fathers created a great father-son bonding, etc and got people involved in this new hobby. Christmas saw many layouts from the Lionels, and also various trains that would be the envy of the neighbours. However, this trend did not keep up after the 1960s, during the destruction of New York’s Pennsylvania Station, and also the passing away of Joshua Lionel Cowen.

The trend is back now and America is getting back to the railroads and model trains hobby. It is now a fusion of old traditions and new technologies. The high-speed passenger lines are back with the historical landmarks to rekindle the memories of the Penn station incident. The highlight of the 1970s was the Mickey Mouse Express, which was an instant hit and envied possession. By 1980s, the so-called hundredth birthday of Joshua Lionel Cowen saw the invention of seven commemorative boxcars, recreation of the greatest steam locomotive and the company itself rolling off into the hands of a Detroit-based railroad enthusiast, Richard Kughn.

The latest trend is the Lionel VISION line products that are realistic prototypes with the mechanical and operational realism. The Scale diesels, operating rolling stock and the interactive accessories. The Steam locomotive has a model fireman who opens the firebox door and shovels coal into the furnace. The Santa 3000 and Pennsylvannia steam locomotives come with the realistic features like shuddering of wheels, steam blowing, rumbling of the locomotive are all the special effects. The various technical and interior detailing are the most awaited models of all times.

Brass HO Trains

The collectors of brass HO trains are always on the look out for the trains and where to buy them. The companies that involve themselves in supplying these collectibles can be classified as manufacturers, importers and distributors.

Most of the companies that manufacture HO model trains sell them online or in their own retail showrooms. Some of them import from China and Korea and sell them directly or are the distributors of the HO brass model trains. Many companies not only sell the trains, but also tracks, bridges, HO scale passenger equipment kits and locomotive HO. They also have model trains of other scales like O, HOn3, On3, G, N, etc.

Some of the manufacturers have come out with fine detail models in white metal and etched brass. Handcrafted brass model HO trains, Brass O scale steam locomotives, freight cars and girder bridges, etc are manufactured by some companies. Some manufacturers cater to the British railway modelers in 4mm or 7 mm gauges which have prototypes of early 19th century carriages. Manufacturing is also done in some European countries like France, Germany and United Kingdom. Some manufacturers attend to the special needs of the collectors and create custom-made versions of trains exclusively for them.

2-rail and 3-rail models are the models that are the classification system used according to the tracks and most of them are 2-rail models. The prototypes that can be found in the market are Sweden, Italian locomotives, North American or European railways. HO scale passenger equipments available in the market are made of brass, wood, plastic or nickel silver.

Importers take pains to find the right kind of manufacturing companies overseas and get them make available in their own countries. Most of them also import accessories like detail parts, scratchbuilding supplies, rolling stock, scenery flats, buildings, etc in the various scales apart from the model trains. These would be suitable for both collectors or operators.

The distribution system is usually a network across several states and countries, bringing up several kinds of model trains. The retailers obtain all kinds of models from these distributors and are the mediators to get them to the collector. The Lionel HO trains, Bachmann HO trains, Atheran HO trains, Marklin HO trains, etc are all well-known versions of the various model HO trains.

Online suppliers add up their stock with newer versions of trains and also new models of steam, passenger and freight trains. Most of them also buy the model trains if the collector or others wish to trade or dispose them for some reason. Internet is an ocean of information for the collectors for the latest items and display methods and models. Various kinds of electrical, electronic and digital layout planning and equipments are available for displaying running models of the precious Brass HO trains.

Brass HO Trains

Today at Brass HO Trains we’re talking about the most popular coupler for locomotives HO Scale Trains, namely the: Kadee #5 Couplers. They’re relatively easy to attach and are very realistic looking. Most brands make couplers (i.e. Bachmann HO Trains, Marklin HO Trains, Lionel HO Trains) but making couplers is what Kadee does so they’re the specialists. The Kadee #148 is also a popular brand.

I think Europe brands use a different type of couplers so if you’re in Europe I’m not 100% sure about this.

Sometimes a bit of handiwork is required to sand them down or cut them back a bit.  Unfortunately with the HO Train set scale’s size you will probably battle a little and it tends to be a bit fiddly but this is the nature of the beast   For all couplers,  regardless of brand,  you must make sure that the couplers don’t touch the actual body work of the models.  And try and avoid having metal touching metal as this can lead to short circuits.Visit http://www.brasshotrains.com/

Kadee #5 Coupler

Welcome to Brass HO Trains,

HO Scale is a type of model train.  It is a reference to the size of the model in comparison to the actual object that’s being modelled.  This ratio is 1:87.  So for any item found on the real train the model train’s item will be 87 times smaller. So if your train is 87 feet long then the model is 1 foot in length. The HO scale is the most popular and thus the easiest to find parts. As an example here’s a list of the more popular items and brands in this range: Athearn HO trains,  Bachmann HO trains,  Locomotives HO,  Broadway Limited HO trains, Marklin HO trains, Lionel HO trains and electric trains.

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