Christmas, 1946. I always wanted a train set, any kind would do. I was born in 1934 in the upper Ohio Valley which was still in the depression.
WW II ended the depression and the making of toy trains. My first train was the 1946 Lionel O-27 1400W set, the grey 221 with the blue and silver passenger cars. My aunt bought it for me and it cost her three weeks pay. $30.00. I think an O gauge set was $10.00 more and beyond reach. I still use O-27 track.