Lionel trains first came into being at the turn of the 20th century. They quickly rose to becoming one of the top makers of trains in the world. Both pre- and post-war Lionel trains received a lot of attention. Vintage post-war trains were built from 1945 to 1969 – 1945 being the year the company resumed production after World War II. The most noticeable feature of pre-war trains were their bright colors that were a high selling point for their buyers.