Starting in 1951, the Soviet Union began producing an 'O' gauge electric train set to serve as a special gift to Communist party members and foreign dignitaries. Sets were also presented to adolescent members of the Young Pioneers, the USSR equivalent of the Boy Scouts. This example, produced under Stalin, bears his initials. Many Stalin-era toy trains were later destroyed under orders from Nikita Khrushchev to purge all reminders of the Stalin personality cult.