There is a guy in Riverview Michigan that has a basement full of Lionel train sets with a HUGE train layout that has familiar Detroit and Downriver Building sites in the train layout. There are even pink colored Lionel train sets designed for girls, keeping them interested in model railroading. The home owner is a hourly worker from the Ford Rouge Steel Division, and opens his home during the Christmas for FREE. It's an AWESOME train layout display and model train collection - among other collections nestled in his huge basement. Well worth the trip to Riverview Michigan.
Thank you for this video of this person's trains running and trains on shelf display. I did have lionel H guage, but a small collection, now lost. Started a layout of H ? guage ,but change of $$ jobs, in storage somewhere. But my severe thanks for many collectors like you, we have the chance to bring back our kid train days.
Every time I see something THIS massive, First thing comes to mind is keeping all this dust free and clean OMG. Great stuff, thanks for posting. Happy Holidays...
The basement seems to remain quite dust free...although I'm sure there is some possible near 100 year old dust on some of those originals! This being a multi-generational collection, most of the original boxes and condition are there.
I love this layout! It is massive and like all good layouts it is still a work in progress, but the multi-tiered approach, the green "grass mats", the buildings and signals and structure placed without the need to make the layers feel "real"... Its all super nostalgic and just feels so right for these trains. Thank you for the find and sharing it with us!
This is so cool!!!! Ran across it by accident after I posted a train video. So beautiful! Would LOVE to visit. My husband will be awestruck when I show him this. Thanks!!!!
Hello from the UK. That is a really fascinating video and you really capture the love and enthusiasm of this old man for his model railway. Quite amazing to see the older stock, especially that which was owned by his father and he has so carefully kept it running in such wonderful order.
Such a cool layout and collection. I have a big closet of trains, magazines, and more❤❤ the part when you guys mentioned keeping the boxes REALLY inspired me, so I have about 11 boxes left for my train. By the way, I’m 12
Thats awesome!! By the time you are retired you should have an incredible collection just like his. We grew up with trains and its always cool to see them running, brings back lots of memories. Time to create your own!!
Very nice collection. Love seeing complete collections with the original owner. Such a good history teacher. This is for model enthusiast watching. I have been watching a TH-cam channel called "Locker Nuts" for one reason. MODELS. It is a couple that buys storage lockers at auctions and resale on the internet. He recently bought a locker for ONE DOLLAR. They opened the door and it was full from floor to ceiling with plastic totes full of model trains, cars, boats and airplanes of all gauges. The original owner worked for the original Apple corp. He passed away and the family had OTHER storage units to deal with and let this one go to auction. There are multiples of a lot of the models UNOPENED in their original boxes. He has done several shows unboxing and showing what they got. They are still doing shows because there is a ton of stuff. Rough estimate.... around $300,000.00 Yes...... the models are for sale. It's not just models. He has towns, airports, harbors, people, construction equipment......mind blowing the amount of stuff in this one locker.
This stuff is epic. Go back and get his personal stories. Like you were antiques road show. He is the limited edition collectors item for me. His flea market stories and other vague but specialized old stories of the visits he's made way back to other tracks. His stories are gold. We can always get info about the dates his collection represents. Great 1st visit... well worth going back. Bring his favorite whiskey and be like Joe Rogan pull his stories out.
Great video I am just now getting into the hobby of real locomotives and model railroad I am trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible about anything and everything that involves model trains or real trains the good thing is I've already narrowed it down to what my favorites are and what I want to collect
@@shadowmanmc1130 well for right now I live in a really small space so I can't do a layout or anything like that so right now I'm trying just to collect knowledge memorabilia pictures and stuff like that but as far as model trains are concerned I really love the Southern Crescent because of the paint scheme that it has in the history
Fantastic collection. I even saw one or two items that I have in my collection. I really hope the owner has made provision to preserve this collection, perhaps a museum.
throughout your lifetime (what 70 times around the sun) the only thing any of us are going to be left with are the memories, so make them as good as you can,
MY BROTHER WM. E. TONEY visited this place a short time before he passed. Bill was from St. Joseph, Mo. He owned one of the largest layouts for years in Missouri.
Love the train tour. Just a bit of advise give a mic to the owner and allow him to explain the collection. and please stop jumping around when the host is talking very annoying
I believe that I have this guy beat!!!!! I have THOUSANDS!!! AND THOUSANDS!!! Mine is all HO!!!!! I just bought two steam locomotives for 2800$ Custom Brass Union Pacific 2-8-8-2's THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!! I HAVE 2000+ feet of track on 3 levels!!!!!!
@@briandziewinski1955 I wouldn't expect someone who is unimpressionable to care!!!! My layout will be on the NMRA tour next year! DON'T COME TO SEE IT HUH???!!!! AND I AM NOT YOUR DUDE!!!
Undisclosed location my a$$! If the poor old guy wants you to keep his location a secret you don’t get a close up of his mailbox 🙄! Your just disrespecting the guy.
This is nice to see, but I've been in this hobby for 50 years and this is not that unusual. It's nice to watch, but the basic problem for this man and others like him is that the toy train hobby (not to be confused with model railroading) is dying quickly. Most people in the hobby are over 70 and there are very few children who play with trains like his past the age of 10. To be as clear as possible, on any given day now there are over 160,000 Lionel Train items up on EBay. 20 years ago, that number was about 50,000. The trend is obvious. I do hope his collection finds its way to a museum, but I think the museums will soon be drowning in that stuff and won't take anymore. I have put many people on notice that, "No, I won't buy your trains. You can give them to me or donate them to my club."
@@JayPlateFaceVideos Not sure what you're talking about, but model railroading and toy train operating are two different things, and that's not a put down or being elitist. It's just defining a difference that nearly every train enthusiast easily recognizes. Model railroads look like real railroads. Toy train layouts are just caricatures of the real thing. Each have their place, but toy train operating is slowly dying because those in the hobby are getting old and passing. That's the way it is, deal with it. The number of toy train operators born after 1960 represent 10% of the current hobbyists. Those born after 1980 are statistically insignificant. Those comments are based on the records of the TCA.
There's proof to the world's hardest to answer riddle: Q: What do a woman's breasts and an electric train set have in common? A: They're both made for the kids but dad always winds up playing with them. All good humor requires a grain of truth...
People need to realize......Lionel trains were damn expensive back then....even as far back as the 1930's. They were made well...but were not cheap to buy. Marx was the poor man's O gauge back then.....
Yes, talking with the collector we did discuss off camera just how expensive it actually was back then...someone making $35 a week and saving up for a $50 train set? Yes...run the numbers.
your channel is so underrated keep up the great work
Thanks for the kind words and support!
I always liked toy trains, especially ones that are old and really beat up. They show the love and attention they were given.
Plenty of those in the collection as well
I have only watched 5 minutes. Absolutely wonderful.
Thank you for your time!
There is a guy in Riverview Michigan that has a basement full of Lionel train sets with a HUGE train layout that has familiar Detroit and Downriver Building sites in the train layout. There are even pink colored Lionel train sets designed for girls, keeping them interested in model railroading. The home owner is a hourly worker from the Ford Rouge Steel Division, and opens his home during the Christmas for FREE. It's an AWESOME train layout display and model train collection - among other collections nestled in his huge basement. Well worth the trip to Riverview Michigan.
I'm sure these two have met up sometime...small community.
thanks for the info!
WOW just wow...i have never seen a collection like this. Incredible.
Thanks for spending your time with our video!
He has an amazing collection. I like that he treats his collection as a museum curator would with labels and arranged in an order.
Too many hours to count down in the basement "playing with his trains"!
Nice camera work.
Thanks!
Thank you for this video of this person's trains running and trains on shelf display. I did have lionel H guage, but a small collection, now lost. Started a layout of H ? guage ,but change of $$ jobs, in storage somewhere. But my severe thanks for many collectors like you, we have the chance to bring back our kid train days.
You're welcome!
Every time I see something THIS massive, First thing comes to mind is keeping all this dust free and clean OMG. Great stuff, thanks for posting. Happy Holidays...
Yes, Dwight, my thoughts exactly. EVERYTHING looks like it is kept behind plexiglass, or was just removed from its box! AMAZING!!
The basement seems to remain quite dust free...although I'm sure there is some possible near 100 year old dust on some of those originals!
This being a multi-generational collection, most of the original boxes and condition are there.
THIS is always my question. When my trains are set up, I have to vacuum the whole mess at least once every 2 weeks.
Thank you for sharing this. I have loved model trains all my life. This fellow's basement is a little slice of Heaven for me.
Glad you enjoyed it...Thanks for watching.
BEAUTIFUL I ALSO LOVE MODEL TRAINS
Thank you very much!
I love this layout! It is massive and like all good layouts it is still a work in progress, but the multi-tiered approach, the green "grass mats", the buildings and signals and structure placed without the need to make the layers feel "real"... Its all super nostalgic and just feels so right for these trains. Thank you for the find and sharing it with us!
Thank you for your time watching the video! And yes, definitely work in progress!
Amazing place and collection. Thank you for the tour and sharing.
Thanks for spending your time with us!
Very nice collection. Thanks for sharing. Love the Ives Prosperity Special.
Thanks for watching!
WOW! I love it!
Thank you! Cheers!
This is so cool!!!! Ran across it by accident after I posted a train video. So beautiful! Would LOVE to visit. My husband will be awestruck when I show him this. Thanks!!!!
Awesome...thanks for watching !
Stunning. Cheers.
I sure appreciate seeing this, thanks so much. Happy trails.
Thanks, you too!
Hello from the UK. That is a really fascinating video and you really capture the love and enthusiasm of this old man for his model railway. Quite amazing to see the older stock, especially that which was owned by his father and he has so carefully kept it running in such wonderful order.
I agree....this collection has multi generations in the making and much time was put into identifying and displaying so many items.
Such a cool layout and collection. I have a big closet of trains, magazines, and more❤❤ the part when you guys mentioned keeping the boxes REALLY inspired me, so I have about 11 boxes left for my train. By the way, I’m 12
Thats awesome!! By the time you are retired you should have an incredible collection just like his. We grew up with trains and its always cool to see them running, brings back lots of memories.
Time to create your own!!
Absolutely beautiful collection, remarkable indeed I wish you were my neighbor LOL!!! Happy Holidays too U!!!
Cheers!! Happy holidays!
Very nice collection. Love seeing complete collections with the original owner. Such a good history teacher. This is for model enthusiast watching. I have been watching a TH-cam channel called "Locker Nuts" for one reason. MODELS. It is a couple that buys storage lockers at auctions and resale on the internet. He recently bought a locker for ONE DOLLAR. They opened the door and it was full from floor to ceiling with plastic totes full of model trains, cars, boats and airplanes of all gauges. The original owner worked for the original Apple corp. He passed away and the family had OTHER storage units to deal with and let this one go to auction. There are multiples of a lot of the models UNOPENED in their original boxes. He has done several shows unboxing and showing what they got. They are still doing shows because there is a ton of stuff. Rough estimate.... around $300,000.00 Yes...... the models are for sale. It's not just models. He has towns, airports, harbors, people, construction equipment......mind blowing the amount of stuff in this one locker.
incredible!
Great video Thanks for sharing suc h a nice collection in a great space. "Happy Rails". GMan
Thank you for your time with our channel!
Even though I'm not into tinplate, it does my heart good to see someone with a setup they truly love. Great layout and video!
Thank you!
This stuff is epic. Go back and get his personal stories. Like you were antiques road show.
He is the limited edition collectors item for me. His flea market stories and other vague but specialized old stories of the visits he's made way back to other tracks. His stories are gold. We can always get info about the dates his collection represents.
Great 1st visit... well worth going back. Bring his favorite whiskey and be like Joe Rogan pull his stories out.
Thanks for the input! I plan on returning this summer for a second visit, I'm sure a couple glasses of wine will get plenty of stories to come out!
I love Trains
Nice collection, and Love the fact you ran the train at speed where most people run them slow.
Yeah...I was surprised on how fast it went!
Great video I am just now getting into the hobby of real locomotives and model railroad I am trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible about anything and everything that involves model trains or real trains the good thing is I've already narrowed it down to what my favorites are and what I want to collect
What are looking for.
@@shadowmanmc1130 well for right now I live in a really small space so I can't do a layout or anything like that so right now I'm trying just to collect knowledge memorabilia pictures and stuff like that but as far as model trains are concerned I really love the Southern Crescent because of the paint scheme that it has in the history
Fantastic collection. I even saw one or two items that I have in my collection. I really hope the owner has made provision to preserve this collection, perhaps a museum.
I believe that is in process...
Great to see all these trains, original and unrestored, nice to see it's still an ongoing build, Mick Thailand
Cheers Mick!
Nice upload, great find/work and thanks also to the collector/builder etc. for sharing, from the UK.
Thank you kindly! cheers!
Amazing!!! I loved it.
Thank you!!
Fantastic ! great Video of a Awesome collection!
Thank you very much!
Too good. Thanks for sharing 🙏
My pleasure 😊
Amazing!!! ❤🚅
All I can say is”Wow”
Thank you for your time, hope it was well spent!
Great Dude! Thanks
Thanks for spending your time with us!
Fantastic, thanks
throughout your lifetime (what 70 times around the sun) the only thing any of us are going to be left with are the memories, so make them as good as you can,
very true
Wow!
MY BROTHER WM. E. TONEY visited this place a short time before he passed. Bill was from St. Joseph, Mo. He owned one of the largest layouts for years in Missouri.
So glad you were able to see it in person, it is quite impressive.
7:18 The Yellow rain is the train General Motors made it's all aluminum
just. . Whoa!!! And Amazing!!! at the same time hahaa!!
Cheers! 🍻
@@arvbnb9735 Great stuff!
So that's where they all are!!
A bit of a hoarder...hahahaha
An amazing collection, everybody could visit it?
Unfortunately this is a private collection but I will make another video this summer of a publicly accessible collection in the area.
Have you ever thought about installing MTH.s DCS system. That way your trains would all run at the same speed. No more speeding up and slowing down.
Would LOVE to see this. Is he doing tours or were you just invited? Love trains my daddy got me interested.
No public tours that I know of...as they say, "you gotta know somebody that knows somebody..." 🤣
love pushing tin.
Wow the york pa train show i live in york
Been to Strasbourg in lancaster they have a large tomas train
Love the train tour. Just a bit of advise give a mic to the owner and allow him to explain the collection. and please stop jumping around when the host is talking very annoying
I 100% agree!! lets say I was a bit underprepared and overwhelmed
Thanks for the input.
wow
I believe that I have this guy beat!!!!! I have THOUSANDS!!! AND THOUSANDS!!! Mine is all HO!!!!! I just bought two steam locomotives for 2800$ Custom Brass Union Pacific 2-8-8-2's THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!! I HAVE 2000+ feet of track on 3 levels!!!!!!
From the owner..."you have some beautiful stuff there, some of the best you can buy!"
Whoopi do.
Just like a small child. Mine is bigger. Who cares
Who cares dude
@@briandziewinski1955 I wouldn't expect someone who is unimpressionable to care!!!! My layout will be on the NMRA tour next year! DON'T COME TO SEE IT HUH???!!!! AND I AM NOT YOUR DUDE!!!
The first thing I saw was the USNSUBS sign. It’s a bubble head!
He is a retired US Navy submariner
Undisclosed location my a$$! If the poor old guy wants you to keep his location a secret you don’t get a close up of his mailbox 🙄! Your just disrespecting the guy.
Thanks for your concern...the video was approved by the "poor old guy" before publication. FYI 😎
@@arvbnb9735 alright that’s good to hear man thanks 👍
This is nice to see, but I've been in this hobby for 50 years and this is not that unusual. It's nice to watch, but the basic problem for this man and others like him is that the toy train hobby (not to be confused with model railroading) is dying quickly. Most people in the hobby are over 70 and there are very few children who play with trains like his past the age of 10. To be as clear as possible, on any given day now there are over 160,000 Lionel Train items up on EBay. 20 years ago, that number was about 50,000. The trend is obvious. I do hope his collection finds its way to a museum, but I think the museums will soon be drowning in that stuff and won't take anymore. I have put many people on notice that, "No, I won't buy your trains. You can give them to me or donate them to my club."
I agree 100%
@@JayPlateFaceVideos Not sure what you're talking about, but model railroading and toy train operating are two different things, and that's not a put down or being elitist. It's just defining a difference that nearly every train enthusiast easily recognizes. Model railroads look like real railroads. Toy train layouts are just caricatures of the real thing. Each have their place, but toy train operating is slowly dying because those in the hobby are getting old and passing. That's the way it is, deal with it. The number of toy train operators born after 1960 represent 10% of the current hobbyists. Those born after 1980 are statistically insignificant. Those comments are based on the records of the TCA.
There's proof to the world's hardest to answer riddle:
Q: What do a woman's breasts and an electric train set have in common?
A: They're both made for the kids but dad always winds up playing with them.
All good humor requires a grain of truth...
booooo misogynist
How much is the Lionel remote control helicopter car worth?
People need to realize......Lionel trains were damn expensive back then....even as far back as the 1930's. They were made well...but were not cheap to buy. Marx was the poor man's O gauge back then.....
Yes, talking with the collector we did discuss off camera just how expensive it actually was back then...someone making $35 a week and saving up for a $50 train set? Yes...run the numbers.
@@arvbnb9735 Yeah....I mean most people were JUST struggling to EAT....much less buy a toy train. It's no wonder there are so few of these.
if i could afford this id put a spy on top of the train fighting some guy
No sale No Look
🤣
A man died and his wife sold his collection worth tens of thousands for a couple hundred dollars. I wish she had called me first.
This seems to be what typically happens....treasure to some, junk to others.
what an utterly uninteresting hobby to have.. obsessing over junk like this.
so you understand then....
@@arvbnb9735 i prefer not to.
Pretty shitty collection granpa!
Love your channel content! keep it up!! 🤣