"God Bless America"

I'd like to welcome everyone to this site. The objectives of this home page are threefold. First, be sure and check out the Lionel picture catalogue. Second, this is a place where you can sell toytrains, vintage antique toys and models and diecast vehicles for cash. And third, I am now offering select Lionel and other trains, Department 56 and Madame Alexander dolls from my private collection at reasonable prices.

Go to Lionel Picture Catalogue! Sell Toytrains, Vintage Antique Toys and Models and Diecast Vehicles For Cash! See My Current Lists Of Available Trains, Department 56 and Madame Alexander Dolls I Have For Sale!

In addition, I purchase Department 56 items for my layout. I am also constructing a list of descriptions and links to the sites I have found to date. I am always looking for and adding new sites, so be sure and check back in the near future for additional links. If you would like to be added to my list, simply mail me your web site address and I'll see what I can do.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to give them.

As my mother would say (with her southern accent) .... Y'all enjoy!

My primary interest lies in collecting Lionel trains. Over the past several years I have collected not only the actual trains produced by Lionel, but many of their other paraphernalia as well. Among these, some of the more interesting items I have are the old Lionel train catalogues. Following is an excerpt from the 1927 Lionel Catalogue. I include it here as an answer to those who would ask why I collect trains.

Lionel will give you all the thrill and fascination of operating a real railroad. You can either play the part of locomotive engineer, train dispatcher, switchman or station master, and perform all the duties of real railroad men with your Lionel Model Electric Railroads, for they are real in everything but size.

Ready? Let's go! All aboard!! You switch on the current from your "Multivolt" Transformer, and the Lionel Limited with its powerful headlight shining and cars brilliantly illuminated, gracefully glides away -- smooth and silent, just like a big all-steeled Pullman Train.

You advance the transformer switch, and immediately the massive motor responds -- increasing its speed and hauling the big train with perfect ease. Down the straightaway stretch we go -- cars gently swaying, as real railroad cars do -- past the steel telegraph posts, semaphores and block signals.

Now we go dashing over the "Lionel Bridge" -- a beautiful structure built of steel throughout -- and on to the level railroad again.

Steady there 'round the curve! -- then, through the new illuminated all-steel Tunnel -- out again into the open. In the distance we see the brilliantly illuminated Station at Lionel City -- a touch of the transformer lever, and the Lionel Limited reduces speed and majestically stops -- the body of the engine quivering like a living thing, as though satisfied with a glorious run. A signal from the conductor -- All Aboard!

LIONEL IS THE REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE LIONEL CORPORATION, NEW YORK, NY. This page is neither authorized nor approved by the Lionel Corporation or Lionel Trains, Inc.

Special thanks to my son, Michael Mattes, for his patience in helping me with these pages.

Send any comments to sam@mattes.org.