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Model trains have long captivated the imagination of hobbyists, collectors, and enthusiasts of all ages. From their origins as simple tinplate toys to today’s intricate, highly-detailed machinery, model trains trace a fascinating evolution that mirrors advancements in technology and changes in cultural trends. Let’s explore how this beloved hobby developed over the decades. Tinplate Trains […]
Trainz has purchased the inventory of screws, bolts, springs, rivets, and fasteners from L&L Model Train Restoration Co. (Len Carparelli). The business, known as the Ted Nyerges Bolt & Screw Company, offers a line of fasteners for postwar Lionel trains. Trainz plans to increase the availability of screws, fasteners and other small parts at Trainz.com. […]
Classic Toy Trains Senior Editor Roger Carp and Project Roar’s John Schmid open and unbox a brand-new book called Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! This hardcover book, published by Project Roar and authored by noted toy train historian Roger Carp, showcases the importance and significance of Lionel Trains throughout the years. A Lionel train was more […]
We’ve all been there before. Seated at the drafting desk, or perhaps the workbench, depending on how your layout room or workshop is set up, notebook open, pen in hand, writing out a list of desired traits for your soon-to-begin model railroad, maybe sketching possible track plans in the margins. A tale as old as […]
Last month we took a look at modeling urban scenery. This time around, we’ll step back from the big city and focus on rural scenery. I spent my formative years in the Red River Valley of the North, which was dotted with small towns up and down the Minnesota and North Dakota sides of the […]
Facts and features Name: Grand Street & Three Rivers RRScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: Layout: 27′-6″ x 62′-0″, Room: 31′-6″ x 66′-0″Prototype: New York Central and Pennsylvania RRLocale: Chicago/New York CityEra: mid-1940sStyle: walk-inMainline run: 900 feetMinimum radius: 30″Minimum turnout: No. 8Maximum grade: 3.5%Benchwork: box gridHeight: 39″ (main line), 51″ (El), 52″ (viaduct loop), and 56″ (upper cement […]
Few, if any railroads, duplicated what the Wabash Railroad did in 1930 and ’31 when it ordered 50 big locomotives from the Baldwin Locomotive Co., split half and half between the tried-and-true 4-8-2 wheel Mountain type and the still relatively new 4-8-4 Northern. It was a remarkable decision, given the slight differences between the […]
Also in this issue: Showroom out west Rare Lionel photos from 1940 take us inside First decade at the Gilbert Hall of Science The company thrilled New York City in the 1940s Tribute to a forgotten showroom display Where Lionel ran accessories in 1945 Lionel builds a hub for the Midwest The Chicago showroom handled […]
Hidden in the back of the Lionel 2023 Volume 2 catalog — behind large Legacy steam and diesels locomotives, plus a few heavyweight passenger cars — was the small yet proven Alco S2 switcher. The S2 was one of Alco’s most reliable and successful locomotives. Powered by a turbocharged inline 6 cylinder engine, it pumped […]
Price: $60 (without logs), $75 (with logs) Manufacturer KR Models Ltd. No. 100 — 17865 106A Ave. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5S 1V8 krmodels.net Era: Early 1900s to 1950s Comments: Loaded and empty skeleton log cars are now available in HO scale from KR Models Ltd. The ready-to-run model features injection-molded plastic construction, metal wheelsets, and […]
There are many reasons you might need to bring a locomotive back to life. Here are some tips for resurrecting unused locomotives. Disassembly The first thing you’ll need to do is to get inside the locomotive shell. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have an exploded-view diagram of your model. If not, you can check the […]
Contrary to popular belief, modeling an urban scene doesn’t require a bunch of space. Want proof? Check out the Winston-Salem Southbound, our 2018 project layout, shown in the photo above. The 2’-9” x 8’-2” HO scale shelf layout depicted the railroad’s Tar Branch in Winston-Salem, N.C. It featured more than a half-dozen rail-served industries, as […]
