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Joshua Lionel Cowen of the now iconic Lionel Trains was born in 1877 to Jewish immigrants. He came to America, landing in New York with his family just after the Civil War. It was in the midst of major changes in the world, namely the industrial revolution that Lionel Cowen began his life in America. The electric light had just been created by Thomas Edison and railroads and trains became perfect symbols of this new industrial and mechanical age. America was finally joined by the Central and Union Pacific lines which meant both the shipping of goods, as well as people, was now a possibility in the exciting exploration of the west. Growing up amidst this revolution of change, it made sense that Cowen would be an inventor. Credited with the invention of the flashlight, and getting his first patent for a component used in camera flashes, despite being a college drop out, he had already made some significant achievements.
Before the age of ten, it was said that Cowen had created his first working model trains. One of his earliest creations was a small actual working steam engine carved out of wood. This early steam locomotive experiment unfortunately exploded, damaging his parents kitchen Lionel did not get discouraged despite the loss of his early steam locomotive and in 1900 at the turn of the century, founded the Lionel Corporation. This was the time when passenger rail travel was fascinating and cutting edge. The then modern technology enchanted adults and children alike.
The initial train made by what would soon become Lionel Corporation was designed to be a store display prop to help showcase featured items. It was a gondola train called the electric express. In it’s task of featuring store items, the flat electric express gondola wasn’t very successful however, it succeed in a then unexpected way. No one paid any attention to the contents of the display train, instead the electric train itself generated all the interest and many request to purchase it. Lionel Cowen took notice of this and focused Lionel Corporation on what we know and love them for, model trains.
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