Lionel Polar Express TrainStart a family tradition with a Lionel Polar Express Train. Lionel trains have been a long family tradition in our family. And, that tradition is now three generations deep. Every year as my dad was stringing the lights on the Christmas Tree my brothers and I would run to the attic to pull out the Lionel train box. This was our older brother's train with a 1952 Berkshire engine with a smoker and a whistle.

Our younger brother Joey has become quite a train enthusiast as he still runs this same train today.

Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer Ready to Play Train Set

Now let's fast forward a few years. Fran and I now have our own kids and this tradition also ran in Fran's family.

Her brother bought our kids the Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer as a Christmas gift. And, the tradition continues. When our grandson Bobby was born. Fran and I just couldn't wait to get him a train set. We decided on the Lionel Polar Express Train. And so the tradition continues as we are now three generations deep. We have so much fun every year setting up our Polar Express. The track connects easily and we have it set up and running in about 15 minutes.

Lionel Trains: A little history and a Holiday Tradition Begins

In the year 1900, Joshua Lionel Cowan and Harry C. Grant founded the Lionel Corporation. In 1929 they began manufacturing toy trains in New Jersey. The trains were only meant to be a department store display.

Cowan was a marketing genius, he convinced department stores to display the trains as part of their Christmas Tree Displays. The trains were larger than any other on the market. They painted the cars in bright colors with the intent of attracting children and their mothers. Thus a tradition was born making Lionel Trains a popular gift item for the Holiday.

The Polar Express Train: Created from the Movie

A children's book "The Polar Express" was written by Chris Van Allsburg in 1985. The book turned into a popular movie in 2004 starring Tom Hanks. The movie prompted Lionel to create the now very popular, Polar Express Train Set.

As I said earlier, my younger brother Joey is quite a train enthusiast. Here is a video of Joey operating his trains. About 1:45 into the video, he explains what every engine is, and later you'll see him operate some of the neat accessories he has set up.