1928 was a good year ,it was about three
years before the Great Depression took effect. My Fathers business
was going along very well and things looked great.
Uncle Pat (remember him) was working at the City Market on Mulberry
Street selling Christmas Trees. The one that he picked out for our
family could have made it as the City Christmas Tree in Military
Park. My Father had to saw off about four feet from the top and
bottom so that it would fit in our living room.
Santa came and delivered many presents. Among them where what
was known a Sidewalk Bike. It had wheels about 12" in diameter
and was chain driven.
The greatest present was a set of Standard Gauge Lionel Electric
Trains consisting of an Electric Type Locomotive colored Blue, an
Orange Cattle Car, White Refrigerated Car, Blue Gondola Car, Dark
Green Flatcar with a load of Lumber a Green Caboose. Included was
an oval layout of track. Many enjoyable hours were spent operating
these toys.
Over the years they provided countless hours of childhood pleasure.
As time past more and more accessories were added until it almost
outgrew the living room.
After numerous years of functioning drive wheel axels enlarged
the holes in the chassis causing the wheels to wobble. A Brother
in Law, Joe Romano who worked for Lionel picked up the Loco and
brought it to there shop. Many of the workers had been around when
my trains were built. They removed the wheels and axels drilled
the chassis and installed bearing for the axels. Since that time
the locomotive runs extremely well.
Several years ago I transferred the set to one of my daughters.
Each year the are in operation under her Christmas Tree, seventy
five plus years and still great ,operating very well.
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