Dad, born in 1908, received his first Lionel set, 366W...1835 engine with whistle tender, three two-tone blue series 300 passenger cars...in 1934, I believe. He was 26. His parents both worked in the laundry business. Yeah, it was a tough time for the country and lots of folks. They're all gone, of course, but I still marvel at the legacy they...those generations...left behind. It's not really taught anymore in school......especially the taking personal/family responsibility for making the difference in ones life when times were that tough. And that's too bad.
Still have the set. Shakes the table/floor when it rumbles around the standard gauge oval. Lovely to look at when at rest on the shelf.