Len Carparelli knew The Lionel Story very well. This talented artist, who made a career from restoring trains, primarily locomotives, built by Lionel during the post-World War II era of production, understood deeply the heritage that had shaped him. Len respected greatly the painters and designers who had come before him, and he aimed with […]
According to a 2023 article from U.S. News & World Report, approximately 73% of Americans celebrate Halloween. In recent years, there’s been a boon of Halloween product releases from manufacturers like Lionel, MTH, and Atlas. Menards is jumping on the bandwagon with a lighted Halloween boxcar. This boxcar features orange sides with a black roof […]
Follow Rene Schweitzer, Editor of Classic Toy Trains magazine, as she visits the Lionel Trains LLC headquarters to chat with Parts Manager/Customer Service Manager Aaron Fraser. In this exclusive video, get an inside look at how Lionel catalogs and manages its extensive inventory of over 35,000 unique parts, plus more than 2 million on-hand items! […]
In its heyday as “The Standard Railroad of the World,” the Pennsylvania Railroad had thousands of trackside industries systemwide to service. Each needed regular switching, and many were located in industrial complexes with tight clearances and sharp curves. The PRR developed the 0-6-0 switcher, or as they called it, a “shifter.” The first model B6 […]
Name: Norm Jurgen’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 16 x 18 feet Track and switches: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 60 to 72 inches) Motive power: Lionel Rolling stock: Lionel Controls: Lionel Nos. 22983 180-watt PowerHouses (9), CW-80 transformer (5) with TrainMaster Command Control Accessories: Lionel, MTH Structures: Department 56, Lionel, MTH, Woodland Scenics Vehicles: Altaya, […]
Name: Jim Steed’s Blairsville & Georgia Southern RR Gauge: O Dimensions: 8 x 21 feet Track: K-Line, Lionel, Menards (diameters range from 31 to 54 inches) Switches: Lionel Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern), MTH, Williams Rolling stock: Lionel (postwar, modern), MTH Controls: Lionel type-Z, MTH No. Z-4000 (3) transformers Accessories: Hafner, Lionel (postwar, mod-ern), Marx, […]
Fun and fancy fill Lionel 2025 Catalog Volume 1. What am I writing here? You will recall that I recently explored for Trains.com the latest additions to the roster of O gauge sets, locomotives, and rolling stock presented in Lionel’s brand-new catalog. There, I focused on a handful of great trains that impressed me because […]
In this episode, David Popp builds out a river with rapids and waterfalls for his Olympia & Sand Creek On30 logging layout. He gets things started by sharing his proven method for installing styrene dams to contain the resin “water” pour. Next, David focuses on creating the riverbed with a mix of sand, rock, and earth. […]
Menards O rail maintenance office Scale: O (1:48) Price: $49.99 Manufacturer: Menards, 5106 Menard Dr., Eau Claire, WI 54703; menards.com/trains Menards O rail maintenance office features: Factory-assembled scene Factory-installed figures, barrels, cans, crates, ladder, and railroad ties Includes small Cripple Creek & Western Rail Maintenance sign on left side of boxcar and large logo on right […]
Lionel’s No. 2159W GG1 Freight Set for 1950 often has received criticism from collectors for being less than outstanding. In fact, this O gauge outfit generally has been assessed as a disappointment because it came with some common items. Admittedly, the locomotive included with the five pieces of rolling stock outshines these freight cars and […]
MTH announced its latest run of Norfolk Southern SD60E diesel locomotives in November 2024 and they arrived in late summer 2025. This version, much like its predecessor, features DCS and Proto-Sound 3.0. After nine years (the last run was in 2016), these models have become challenging to find. For those with an affinity for the […]
Leonard Carparelli has passed away at the age of 75 on August 27, 2025. It seems fitting to share part of an article Roger Carp wrote for the November/December 2022 issue, where one of Len’s repainted engines was featured on the cover. We at CTT send our condolences to the Carparelli family. – Rene Len […]
