I'm talking about the Lionel No. 675 steam engine and tender I received for Christmas ... So in 1950, 5-year-old Dickie Christianson got a "gently used" 1949 set for Christmas.

Kids of the 1950s loved Lionel’s little switch engines. The stubby proportions and whirling drive rods of these classics give them an industrious appearance as they scoot around a layout.

He got his first Lionel engine when he was 8 years old – and he still has it. "My roster currently consists of about 47 engines," he said. "I know there's people who have way more than that ...

He got his first Lionel engine when he was 8 years old – and he still has it. "My roster currently consists of about 47 engines," he said. "I know there's people who have way more than that, but for ...