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LCCA announces 2025 convention updates
The Lionel Collector’s Club of America announced updates to their 2025 National Convention lineup. This year’s convention will be July 21-26, 2025 in Scranton, Pa., and will celebrate the group’s 55th anniversary. Highlights of the convention include: Angela Trotta Thomas will host a special drawing class for moms and kids, and a special run of […]
MTH RailKing Alco RSD5
The RSD5 diesel locomotive was produced by Alco from 1952 through 1956. Just over 200 of these units were produced, a small quantity compared to the more than 1,200 RS-3s Alco produced earlier in the same decade. The RSD5s produced 1600 hp with just over 71,000 pounds of tractive effort. The three-axle trucks, each axle […]
MTH RailKing Alco RSD5
The RSD5 diesel locomotive was produced by Alco from 1952 through 1956. Just over 200 of these units were produced, a small quantity compared to the more than 1,200 RS-3s Alco produced earlier in the same decade. The RSD5s produced 1600 hp with just over 71,000 pounds of tractive effort. The three-axle trucks, each axle […]
Original Thomas & Friends models up for auction
Want to own a piece of toy train television history while also benefiting a worthy cause? You’ll have that chance this month. In a press release sent to Classic Toy Trains, auctioneer Propstore, in partnership with Mattel, is hosting an auction featuring more than 200 items from the iconic Thomas & Friends television series. This […]
Increase to prices of Lionel Hallmark ornaments
Hallmark recently released its 2025 Dream Book. An addendum in the back in the catalog increased the prices as of May 2, 2025. Lionelville Table Decoration,QFM3972), was $129.99, now $142.99 Lionel NYC 700E Hudson gold, QXE3502, was $22.99, now $28.99 Lionel NYC 700E Hudson, QXR8233, was $22.99, now $28.99 Vanderbilt tender, QXI 81225, was $23.99, […]
A look back: CTT’s first cover
Each week, I will pick a random page from a back issue of Classic Toy Trains and talk a little about it. I’ll kick off this series with the very first cover. It was one of the few covers to feature a person, Richard Kughn, next to part of his collection. You’ll also notice the […]
Behind-the-scenes: Video shoot
Recently, CTT was on location at the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club to shoot video. Here are a few photos of what happened during the event. Stay tuned for video on Trains.com soon! […]
Behind the scenes: Cover photo shoot
Ever wonder what happens when we design a cover? We recently shot some images at the Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Clubhouse for our upcoming special issue! Assistant Art Directory Lisa Schroder, Group Technical Lead Cody Grivno, and Editor Rene Schweitzer were there to make sure we got the best possible photo. […]
Why I collect Marx
I’ve been collecting Marx since the 1990s. Growing up with American Flyer S gauge and Lionel, I had largely not gotten to know Marx. Eventually I started to take interest, especially in the plastic locomotives and cars. Plastic molding is something I like to look at and study. I did have a Marx plastic set […]
MTH RailKing Skyline Chili Bump-N-Go Trolley
MTH has sold a “Bump-N-Go” trolley for many years, but I could not find evidence that CTT ever reviewed one. This version (No. 30-5249) was a custom-run for Dixie Union Station, as part of the RailKing line. The blue and yellow paint is well done. The Skyline Chili logo is on the lower center side […]
Titletown Train Show this weekend
The Titletown Train Show will be held May 3-4, 2025. The event will be at the KI Convention Center, 333 Main St., Green Bay, Wis. Show hours are Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features 35,000 square feet of operating display layouts, vendors, hourly door prizes, […]
