In 1943 George Lagoudis’ father gave him a green miniature train to play with as a toy, and that was when he fell in love for the first time.
He knows almost all there is about engines – from trains to boats. “Train engines have developed over the industrial age and began with the invention of the steam train which used the power of fire to boil water which then pushed the train forward,” he explained. Despite its age, the green train proudly sits at the top of the shelf and even though it is not in perfect shape, it is Lagoudis’ pride and joy. Since he first held it in his arms it has led him to pursue a career as an engineer.
With over a hundred pieces of trains displayed in his workshop that already resembles the museum that he one day hopes to open, Lagoudis explains how, upon his father’s retirement, he offered to sell him and his wife the delicatessen shop that he owned.
The father of three has been the first direct importer of Märklin toys for several decades now and even though he eventually closed his miniature train store, A Portas, which was situated in Jeppestown when it was at the height of its glory.
Lagoudis spoke fondly about his days as a store owner and described what the Johannesburg CBD was like in his days. “Before the big supermarkets took over in the area I remember there was a store called John Orr’s (which later became incorporated into Mr Price) and it had different departments – from women’s wear to a children’s department and they also had a toy section where they sold Märklin toys which they bought through an agent,” he explained.
When it stopped being viable for him to continue to run his delicatessen store, he flew to Germany where he met the CEO of the company at that time and built a solid relationship with the company and becoming the first direct importer of Marklin products in South Africa.
He recently had a stall at the Great Model Train Expo which was held at the Hoërskool Randburg, where he displayed his Märklin toys straight from the oldest toy manufacturer in the world.
“I have been dealing with Märklin for a long time and up until today, they still take care of me,” he said at his home in Sunninghill.
Lagoudis smiles as he spoke about his favourite element of the train that he said was the comfort that one experienced inside the train. “One can sit very comfortably inside the train and enjoy a wonderful view as the train whizzes past the countryside and when one is hungry the food car serves as a very pleasant place to sit and enjoy some wine on the journey,” he added.
His wife Areti quips in that she always knew exactly where to find her husband when he did not show up for meals. “When he misses breakfast or dinner I know that he is lost inside this fantasy world of trains,” she said.
The Lagoudis have five grandchildren and have decided that they will bequeath their small little museum to them. Even though they have been together for over five decades, one can still see the special spark that has kept them together for such a long time.
Details: portas@mweb.co.za
