NC now home to world famous toy train company

Lionel Trains now has its world headquarters in Concord. The 115-year-old company began after its founder, who designed window displays, figured that moving toy trains with lights would attract shoppers.
Posted 6/29/2015, 10:58:15 PM Updated 9/23/2025, 7:50:51 PM

STEPS ARE BORDERED IN BRIGHT

YELLOW.

>>> OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER IS

PROVIE FILING INTERESTING AND

UNUSUAL NORTH CAROLINA

COMPANIES.

WE FIND HIM IN CABARRUS STORY.

A STORY ABOUT A BUSINESS BASED

IN CONCORD THAT'S AN AMERICAN

ICON.

>> Reporter: THE CHARLOTTE AREA

IS KNOWN FOR RACING FOR SPEED

FOR POWER.

AND NOT JUST FOR CARS.

SO CONCORD IS NOW THE WORLD

HEADQUARTERS FOR LIONEL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Reporter: SINCE 1900.

>> ROGER THAT DISPATCHER.

OUT.

>> WE GET PAID TO PLAY WITH TOY

TRAINS.

>> I'M READY TO ROLL,

DISPATCHER.

>> Reporter: LIONEL ROLLED INTO

NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE OF CARS.

>> THE NASCAR SIDE OF THE

BUSINESS WAS LOCATED AER IN

CONCORD.

>> Reporter: THE DADDY OF

LIONEL WAS JOSHUA LIONEL WHO

ONCE HAD A JOB DESIGNING STORE

WINDOWS.

>> LIKE A SHOPPING WINDOW.

HAVING MOVING DISPLAYS.

MOVING PARTS AND FLASHING

LIGHTS AND THAT ATTRACTS

PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE WINDOW

DISPLAYS BECAME POPULAR TOYS.

>> WHOLESOME FAMILY HOBBY.

>> WAITING FOR YOUR SIGNAL.

>> Reporter: WELCOME TO

LIONELVILLE.

HEY, IT'S THE TOWN PICK THICK

IN THIS WEEKEND -- PICNIC THIS

WEEKEND.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE LIONEL

ARCHIVES.

>> THIS IS THE HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY.

>> Reporter: OLD TRAINS THAT

NOW REMAIN ON THE SHELVES.

>> THIS IS APPARENTLY A ROCKET

CAR PROTOTYPE THAT NEVER SAW

THE LIGHT OF DAY AS A PRODUCT.

>> Reporter: OLD MECHANICAL

DRAWINGS.

>> ALL DRAWN BY HAND.

>> Reporter: FILE CABINETS FULL

OF THEM.

>> IT'S THE HISTORY OF THE

COMPANY.

>> ROGER, YOUR TRACK IS CLEAR.

DISPATCHER OVER.

>> THIS IS WHERE WE COME AND

TEST THE PRODUCT.

>> Reporter: THE PRODUCT HAS

CHANGED OVER MORE THAN 100

YEARS.

>> THE ATTRACTION IS THE

CREATIVITY.

>> Reporter: THE TRAINS AND

LAYOUTS KEEP GETTING MORE

CREATIVE.

>> YOUR IMAGINATION IS REALLY

THE LIMIT.

>> Reporter: CHUG CHUG.

PUSH.

PULL.

>> THAT'S AFFIRMATIVE.

>> Reporter: WEE.

>> CAN I GET A GREEN LIGHT,

OVER.

>> IT'S ELECTRICAL.

IT'S ARTISTIC.

EVERY DISCIPLINE OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: AND YOU CAN LOSE

YOURSELF TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

COUNTLESS HOURS.

>> AND WHAT I LIKE, THE REAL

SMOKE.

IT IS SO REALISTIC.

>> LIKE A KID ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> I CAN GET INTO THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOT EVEN JUST AT CHRISTMAS TIME

TOO.

ALL YEAR ROUND.

>> IS LIONEL HAS DEEP ROOTS IN

MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK BUT IN

RECENT YEARS IT HAS BEEN

HEADQUARTERED IN CONCORD.

© WRAL