I love toy trains 3

Tom McComas became involved with toy trains by accident and with reluctance. It was 1970. McComas ran his own film production company in Chicago.

He produced documentaries and commercials. He also produced a promotional film for a friend who had invented a new toy. The toy failed.

“He wanted to leave town,” recalls McComas, “but he felt bad about the money he owed me so he offered me three boxes of old trains.”

McComas was single, living on the Northside of Chicago, and had no use for the trains.

“The last thing I needed was three boxes of old trains,” he explained.

But the friend insisted, so McComas took the old trains. A year later, McComas had some guests over for dinner. One guest was a train collector. McComas told him about the trains.

I love toy trains - all aboard

After dinner, McComas spread the trains out on the floor. The guest offered $5000. McComas immediately became interested in toy trains.

The collection included some of Lionel’s finest trains, including the streamlined Hiawatha from the 30s, a scale Hudson, a scale switcher, and classics from the Lionel Postwa