C.SAM: I definitely had much better luck with my Gilbert S Flyer trains for two reasons: First, the technical/mechanical expertise of Ernie and his repair crew at Savoy Merchandise, who had a special relationship with the Gilbert Hall of Science folks and expertly reconditioned all Gilbert locos from the GHOS layout before selling them, and my family's ability to purchase a brand-new A-B-A North Coast Limited set, whose horn and diesel roar worked satisfactorily for what they were at that time. Savoy also had an unlimited supply of spare parts due to their close connection to the Gilbert managers at the GHOS.
Like you, all my close friends on my street had Lionel. My closest neighbor had quite a Lionel layout with the following motive power: 736 Berkshire, 2340 GG1, Lackawanna FM, and UP Anniversary Set. He also had an operating milk car and cattle car, plus several accessories. His father made a very good salary as a tool and die maker, much more than my dad's income as a civilian medical corpsman with the Brooklyn Navy Yard! I had a total of five-engines and twenty-eight cars plus a hand car, until I sold them at age 16.
