Explore 80 years of model railroading innovation with Athearn’s Jim Wiggin! Ride along with Trains.com hosts Cody Grivno and Lucas Iverson, and you’ll hear Jim outline the company’s evolution from Irv Athearn’s garage to the exacting production of highly detailed Genesis line HO and N scale products. Discover how modern technology like 3D printing and […]
It’s my pleasure to tell you, our devoted readers of Classic Toy Trains, about our brand-new colorful and informative 100-page special-interest publication: Great Layouts You Can Visit! Packed with photos and filled with stories and details, it offers toy train enthusiasts of every age, background, and level of interest and experience something enjoyable and useful. […]
Like Robert Frost once wrote, good fences may make for good neighbors. I’ve learned that good fences also make for great models. With a little thought, fences can define and separate scenes and add considerable detail to your layout. While there is a wide variety of interesting fencing available today, the old board fence is […]
Locomotives & rolling stock Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205, offers an O gauge Gunderson 60’ Hy-Cube Boxcar as part of the Master series. The boxcar features several roadnames and O-54 operation. Expected delivery in third quarter of 2026. Price: $109.95. Website: shop.atlasrr.com MTH Electric Trains, 7393 Washington Blvd. Ste. […]
On the final day of 2025 and the Trains.com seasonal mini-series, David Popp transforms the Alturas & Lone Pine boxcar from a pristine model into a grimy road warrior. Using three colors and a double-action airbrush, David demonstrates how to achieve realistic weathering in under an hour. Join David as he shares expert techniques, from […]
Q: I have several On30 locomotives with Digital Command Control (DCC), but was recently gifted a passenger set that has a direct-current (DC) locomotive. If some DCC locomotives are sitting on the track, can I use a DC transformer to operate the DC engine on the same track without damaging the DCC locomotives? What would […]
On the fourth day around Christmas, David Popp shares professional tips for building a vehicle maintenance facility. He moves beyond basic instructions to demonstrate plastic part preparation, from using flush-cutting pliers to sanding away stubborn ejector pin marks. Learn how to ensure rock-solid wall alignment using a framing square and solvent-based adhesives—while protecting yourself with […]
Please enjoy this selection of holiday-themed photos of toy trains from Lionel and American Flyer in O gauge, S gauge, and Standard gauge. If you have a photo you’d like considered for a future gallery, contact editor@classictoytrains.com See even more holiday photos! […]
On the third day of the Trains.com seasonal mini-series, David Popp resuscitates a shed that has been roofless for two years. Using self-adhesive diamond-tab shingles, David demonstrates how to transform cardstock structures with ease. Follow along as David shares expert shortcuts, including using a spacing guide for perfect rows and splicing leftover scraps for seamless […]
On Day Two of the Trains.com seasonal mini-series, this episode features a long-awaited workbench rescue as David Popp finally applies custom decals to a boxcar two years in the making! Moving away from finicky dry transfers, David demonstrates the ease of using water-slide decals to bring the Alturas & Lone Pine Railroad to life. Join […]
As part of a Trains.com seasonal mini-series, this episode of “The Five Days of Christmas” highlights David Popp’s efforts to dust off a classic LGB train set—proving that even a 40-year-old engine can run like brand new! Join David as he dives into the essential maintenance, from reviving dull, oxidized track with specialized abrasive blocks to […]
A holiday toy train photo gallery is just the thing to get you in the Christmas spirit. Please enjoy this selection of holiday-themed photos of toy trains from Lionel and American Flyer in O gauge, S gauge, and Standard gauge (with some bonus N and large scale trains). If you have a photo you’d like […]
