Introducing the all-new Trains.com Forum! Become a part of our Community! >>VISIT NOW
10 more helpful tips for your layout Smooth and steady steaming It’s not surprising that postwar Lionel steam locomotives are extremely underpowered. They’re single-motor locomotives that must tow a heavy tender, so you’ll seldom get them to pull more than a dozen freight cars. Keep the wheel axles, side rods, and smoke-unit mechanism properly lubricated, […]
From the first product releases, the Menards line of Plug & Play buildings have stood out from structures by other O gauge building makers. Interesting designs, add-on detailing, and often unique lighting features such as strobes and flashing signage add to the fun. Most of them look great simply sitting there. Powering them up, though, […]
Many of us have memories of visits to Grandma’s house from when we were kids. Menards is offering a way to recapture those memories in O gauge form with the release of Grandma’s House (2959376). This prebuilt structure is a two-level single family home measuring 8 11/16” wide x 8 ⅜” deep x 6 ¾” […]
My first train set (or locomotive) was…? When I was quite young, my parents bought me a secondhand Christmas train set. My best recollection is that it was probably a Marx set with strange couplers and lithographed tinplate sides. There was a small 0-4-0 steamer, a silver Gulf Oil tank car, a tan baby Ruth […]
The town of Cripple Creek expands! The latest addition to Menards Cripple Creek O gauge building line is the No. 275-9378 Cripple Creek Feed & Seed building. It features a compact 8 x 6 inch footprint that should make placement fairly easy. The design is a small farm supplier that is more warehouse than office. […]
Editor’s note: Kirk Lindvig reached out to Classic Toy Trains offering to send product samples for review. When he emailed photos of his U.S.-based manufacturing process, it reminded me of the behind-the-scenes manufacturer profiles CTT used to do years ago. I felt our readers would find the process interesting. I present this Q&A interview with […]
It’s hard to remember exactly when the Base3 was announced by Lionel. It seemed that the announcement was overshadowed by the simultaneous announcement that the Legacy Base and Cab-2 remote were being discontinued. Regardless, the latest edition to the digital world of model railroading finally arrived on hobby shop shelves in July 2024. Inside the […]
Name: Art Volz’s O-27 gauge layout Dimensions: 10 x 20 feet Track and switches: Lionel (diameters range from 27 to 31 inches) Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern) Rolling stock: Lionel (postwar, modern), Menards Controls: Lionel Nos.1033, 1034, type-ZW transformers Accessories: Lionel, MTH Structures: Atlas O, Lionel, Menards, MTH, scratchbuilt, Woodland Scenics See more in the […]
Verlyn Noring received his first train set when he was 5 years old. Today, he still admires that Marx No. 999 set, which is proudly displayed on his fireplace mantle. In 1982, Verlyn and Louise attended the LCCA convention in Dearborn, Mich. They spotted a custom painted postwar Christmas train set for sale. Like many […]
Model railroading — in any scale — can be a challenging hobby for people with disabilities, whether caused by illness, accident, or age. In addition, visitors who use a wheelchair or walker may find it difficult to view distant points on a large layout. The pike shown here was built with such limitations in mind. […]
As part of our 90th anniversary celebration, we’re featuring never-before-published articles from our archives on Trains.com. This story is from 1994. Products mentioned in the article may no longer be available. I’ve had an active interest in model railroading for more than 45 years. My ultimate goal was to build a layout of my own […]
Even the smallest layout needs at least a few structures on it. We’ve compiled a list of manufacturers offering products in O and S scale. We’ve noted each manufacturer’s contact information, what type of structures, the material(s), and if the kits are lighted. Please contact the manufacturer directly if you have questions about their products. […]
