Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

The company's history began in 1938, when its founder-to-be, Irvin Athearn, started an elaborate O scale layout in his mother's house. After placing an ad selling the layout, and receiving much response to it, Irv decided that selling model railroads would be a good living. He sold train products out of his mother's house through most of the 1940s. After becoming a full-time retailer in 1946, Irv opened a separate facility in Hawthorne, California in 1948, and that same year he branched into HO scale models for the first time.

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains

 Athearn Trains