Trainmaster USA-A Guide to Lionel® Licensed Products by Eastwood Memorabilia® and Corgi Classics®
By Bob Mintz
(Update Winter 2013) — Lots of photos; allow download time.
County Seat: 15-17-19 East 26 th Street, Madison Square North, Trainmaster 10, USA, (formerly 48-52 East 21 st Street)
County Phone Number: SPring 7-1111
Trainmaster USA is a small town with respect for yesteryear’s values and history, located just minutes from the world famous Plasticville® USA.
We have a very unique community rich with agriculture, farms, stock watch electric fence controllers, lumber, ore, key making, pre-school toys and a new military presence by manufacturing equipment for the Navy and Army Signal Corps. The citizens of our community will continue to cherish our values and roots in the past while we grow our future.
Since World War II, Trainmaster has epitomized the phenomenon of a growing suburbia.
Trainmaster USA…an investment in happiness
About Trainmaster USA- (Our History)
Although early land patents made it difficult to determine precise details of its’ early years since the first catalog did not appear until 1903 and no catalogs were available for 1907 and 1908, historians are certain Trainmaster lay within the huge tract known in the 1900s as the 24 acres of the Murray territory.
The town grew slowly as a quiet agricultural area through the early 1900’s and in 1909, was best known for its’ sales and service.
On January 22nd of that year, a citizens’ meeting in the Hillside Hotel at 105 East 23 rd Street, was “key” and set the stage for the secession of the three towns by proposing the creation of a new Trainmaster USA County. The name was proposed since it reflects the region’s earliest Magne-“Carter pin “-traction colonial heritage, and was used for honoring Joshua Cohen (1877-1965), who was Duke of Dorfan, Marquis of Marx, Earl of Ives, Viscount of Varney, Baron of Bing, Lord of Linex, Count of Carlise & Finch, Baronet of Buddy-L, Knight of Kusan, Majesty of MTH, Highness of Hornby, Monarch of Marklin, Regal of Rivarossi, and Dean of Lenny, as well as a member of the House of American Flyers, General of Mills, and great-grandson of the Prince of “Orange” (N.J.) and great-nephew of the King of “Blue” (Ball, PA).
By the turn of the century, the Lionel Lines Rail Road had become the dominant means of transportation to New “York” City via the Hellgate Bridge.
Italian immigrants soon followed in 1905 when a small group known as the Brothers Caruso brought over the family factory business called LaPrecisa, and started in the area as tool and die makers and manufacturers of Lion-eds wooden toys.
Other family members included Production Manager and brother-in-law Charles V. Giaimo, Personnel Director and nephew Philip H. Marfuggi and Engineer Frank Petit, married to Mario Caruso’s niece.
Later settlers would include Arthur Raphael, who was a brilliant merchandiser, and engineers like Joseph I. Bonnano and John DiGirolamo. Spokespeople for the tiny hamlet included Joe DiMaggio and Roy Campanella.
In 1911, the railroad completed direct rail service to Pennsylvania Station in the heart of Manhattan. The population of Trainmaster’s small villages along the railroad lines swelled with commuters, leaping from the 128 newsstands and the 115 stop stations built to serve the community.
The economic impact of the estate construction and real estate development of railroad villages began to create a unique suburban county, its growth straining the old rural government system in the 1950’s.
Until 1969, Trainmaster USA, consisting of the three towns of Lionel City, (including the Port of Lionel City), Lionelville and Lionel County was governed by a Board of Supervisors, with each town represented by its elected supervisor. This Board was responsible for County Business, and each supervisor was accountable for the affairs of his individual town government.
In 1954, the Board of Supervisors appointed a committee to study alternative forms of government for the rapidly growing County. After several attempts to write a charter in 1956 and 1957 proved unsatisfactory, a group of citizens formed “T”he “C”harter “A”ssembly the summer of 1957. The document they drafted became the basis for the charter approved by the voters of Trainmaster USA County in 1958. Approval by the New “York” State Legislature followed, and the Charter went into effect on 1 January, 1959.
The 1960 Charter provided for a new administrative officer, the County Executive, while retaining the Board of Supervisors as the legislative body. County administration was centralized and streamlined, and a County police and fire department, and municipal bus line and truck service was created.
By the late 1980s, a Michigan entrepreneur by the name of Richard Kughn had converted a portion of “The General” Hardware shop into a museum and parts Super Store. More than 17,000 bushels of parts were shipped bi-annually by railroad to the New “York” City. Among the most popular and best-selling parts on the market, they were sold under the name “Madison”. In 1996, it was sold to a group of colonists from the Well of Spring.
The hardware store no longer exists; however Trainmaster USA still has a strong train related presence.
A Brief History of Trainmaster County , NY By Joseph H. Lechner
Careful examination of early property-tax records suggests that Trainmaster County incorporates territory that was ceded to it by the late Earl of Shaw and the dreaded Marquis de Shur, who once engaged in a conspiracy to impound all the surviving Lionel items in New Jersey and hide them in a cavern somewhere underneath 22 nd Street . The Earl was legendary in lower Manhattan for his womanizing and for his ability to marinate steak in cognac and grill it to perfection. He could, however, strike terror in the hearts of young boys who used to lurk around 23rd Street in hopes of glimpsing a 773 Hudson . Rumors abounded that the Marquis de Shur carried a loaded Colt revolver to defend his hoarded treasure.
There are reports that many of the residences in Trainmaster County were once owned by a classical musician who performed with the New York Chamber Orchestra, but who dabbled in real estate on the side. His true name has been lost to antiquity, but he was colloquially referred to as the Bach Man. He used to terrorize lower Manhattan when he patrolled the narrow streets, dressed in a black Brooks Brothers suit and carrying his violin case, visiting tenants to collect their monthly rent.
Organized crime was a very real threat in Trainmaster County , and there were skirmishes when the House of Roy and the Cone Heads wrested control from the last vestiges of the Caruso Nostra family.
A semblance of order was eventually restored when the surviving heirs of Captain Linex imposed martial law and created a security force called the Say-police. Trainmaster County then enjoyed several peaceful years under Lord Ron and Lady Cynthia, until the dreaded Michigan gambit of 1970, when all of Trainmaster County ‘s best properties were occupied by flour-baggers until they were liberated some sixteen years later by Richard the Lion-Hearted.
There are some who claim that Trainmaster County was actually named in honor of King Neil the Younger, who tried to revolutionize the community by eliminating all knobs and levers in favor of more ergonomic keypads. However, that eventually led to conflict with the Baron of Columbia, which has left Trainmaster County impoverished to this day.
Tragically, local citizens have few resources left with which to combat the inroads being made by the Duke of Klein. Unless something is done to stop him, Klein’s minions are poised to begin cutting parallel grooves into all of the streets in Trainmaster County . Once that project has been completed, the priceless vintage vehicles which Bob Mintz has described will all become obsolete. Local residents will henceforth be required to purchase imported cars with flanged wheels. This will further devastate the economy of Trainmaster County by transferring thousands of manufacturing jobs to the Far East .
Collectible Photos:
Corgi C54007- Lionel Bus Lines GM 4502 Bus
Corgi C53902 – Lionel Bus Lines Yellow Coach 743
Corgi C53904 – Lionel City Bus Lines GM Yellow Coach 743
Corgi C54011 – Lionel City Bus Services GM 4507 Bus
Corgi C54401 – Lionel City Bus Services GM 5301 Fishbowl Bus
Corgi C54103 – Lionel City Coach Company GM 4507 Bus
Corgi C52503 – Lionel City Express Company Mack B Series Van
Corgi C52002 – Lionel City Fire Co CF Mack Pumper
Corgi C52402 – Lionel City Fire Dept Mack B Series Pumper
Corgi C51801 – Lionel City Fire Dept. American La France Aerial Ladder truck
Corgi C55004 – Lionel City PCC Trolley Street Car
Corgi C51302 – Lionel City Police Department 1957 Chevrolet Belaire Sheriff’s Car
Corgi C54404 – Lionel City Transit Corp. GM 5301 Fishbowl Bus
Corgi C54302 – Lionel City Transit GM 5301 Fishbowl Bus
Corgi C52302 – Lionel City Van Lines Mack B Series Semi Container
Corgi C53501- Port of Lionel City Mack B Series Semi Dropside with crates
Eastwood 1901 – Joshua Lionel Cowen Signature Set, 1950 Chevrolet tractor-trailer and 1901 Ford Delivery Van/Bank
Eastwood 1901 – Joshua Lionel Cowen Signature Set, 1950 Chevrolet tractor-trailer and 1901 Ford Delivery Van/Bank
Eastwood 337500 – Lionel 1937 Beechcraft Staggerwing/Bank
Eastwood 291000 – Lionel 1940 Stearman Biplane
Eastwood 192400 – Lionel 1951 Ford Delivery Dry Goods Van
Eastwood 116700 – Lionel 1952 GMC Cab over engine (COE) delivery Van
Eastwood 190104 – Lionel 1951 Ford Delivery Dry Goods Van
Eastwood 325500 – Lionel 1953 Kenworth COE Tractor Trailer
Eastwood 303500 – Lionel 1955 Chevy Delivery Van/Bank
Eastwood 325500 – Lionel 1953 Kenworth COE Tractor Trailer
Eastwood 423300 – Lionel Balloon/Bank
Eastwood 423300 – Lionel Balloon/Bank
Eastwood 416500 – Lionel County # 1, Streets & Sanitation street sweeper and Ford F-150 Flareside
Eastwood 416500 – Lionel County # 1, Streets & Sanitation street sweeper and Ford F-150 Flareside
Eastwood 624032 – Lionel County # 2, Parks & Recreation Set Dodge Ram Pickup, Trailer, and 2 wood picnic tables
Eastwood 410500 – Lionel Display Service Truck/Pup, 1953 White 3000 dry goods van and pup trailer
Eastwood 417500 – Lionel Freightliner FLD 120 Tractor Trailer
Eastwood 397000 – Lionel Plant Security patrol, 1956 Ford Tudor Sedan
Eastwood 211700 – Lionel Set, 2-piece 1930 Chevrolet Delivery sedan/truck
Eastwood 211700 – Lionel Set, 2-piece 1930 Chevrolet Delivery sedan/truck
Eastwood 257500 – Lionelville Set # 1, 1946 Chrysler Windor Police Car/1950 Chevy Taxi Cab
| Eastwood 257500 – Lionelville Set # 1, 1946 Chrysler Windor Police Car/1950 Chevy Taxi Cab |
Eastwood 258000 – Lionelville Set # 2, rescue team 1913 Ford ambulance/1955 Chevy Cameo wrecker
Eastwood 258000 – Lionelville Set # 2, rescue team 1913 Ford ambulance/1955 Chevy Cameo wrecker
Eastwood 292000 – Lionelville Set # 3, 1932 Ford Roadster/1938 Chevrolet panel Delivery Van
Eastwood 292000 – Lionelville Set # 3, 1932 Ford Roadster/1938
Chevrolet panel Delivery Van
Eastwood 31800 – Lionelville Set # 4, 5-piece set 1953 Chevrolet pickup truck
Eastwood 311500 – Lionelville Set # 5, Model A Delivery truck set
Eastwood 311500 – Lionelville Set # 5, Model A Delivery truck set
Eastwood 338500 – Lionelville Set # 6, Lionelville Oil Company Tanker truck with 2 metal figures
Eastwood 343500 – Lionelville Set # 7, Workin’ The Lionel Lines 1950 Chevy COE Dump
Eastwood 383500 – Lionelville Set # 8, Parcel Delivery Set 1950 Chevy van and two figures
Eastwood 624005 – Lionelville Set # 9, Iron Horse Ranch Set 1956 Ford pickup truck and Featherlite horse trailer
Eastwood 624017 – Lionelville Set #10, 3-Piece airport set Stearman biplane, fuel truck and metal windsock
Eastwood 624017 – Lionelville Set #10, 3-Piece airport set Stearman biplane, fuel truck and metal windsock
Eastwood 624033 – Lionelville Set #11, Classic Commercial Vehicles wrecker and ambulance
Eastwood 624033 – Lionelville Set #11, Classic Commercial Vehicles wrecker and ambulance
Eastwood 624059 – Lionelville Sanitation 1950 Chevy Garbage Truck
Eastwood 624060 – Lionelville Quarry 1950 Chevy Dump Truck
Eastwood 624061 – Lionelville Electric 1938 Chevy Panel
Eastwood 624062 – Lionelville Surf Shop 1940 Ford Woody
Eastwood 624063 – Lionelville Moving And Storage 1948 Diamond T
Eastwood 624064 – Lionelville Plumbing 1938 Chevy Panel
Eastwood 291500 – Madison Hardware-1953 Ford C-600 Dry Goods Van
