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CALGARY, Alberta — The CPKC Holiday Train raised more than Ca$2 million and collected more than 175,000 pounds of food for food banks during its 2025 operating season, which concluded Dec. 21. “Year after year, the CPKC Holiday Train proves that generosity and community spirit know no bounds,” CPKC CEO Keith Creel said in a […]
Lionel’s No. 7-12124 Battery-Powered Harry Potter Train Set is the perfect way to introduce youngsters to the wonderful hobby of toy trains. How do I know this? Because I used this exciting and entertaining passenger set to introduce my two young grandsons (ages 6 and 4 years) to operating electric trains. Believe me when I […]
With its Bicentennial year just around the corner, Bachmann Industries is still kicking as the world’s largest distributor in the model railroad industry and hobby. Marketing and Licensing Manager Matt Stern and Product Development Manager Tyler Haney joined Model Railroader Editor Eric White and Trains.com Assistant Digital Editor Lucas Iverson to discuss more about the […]
FILLMORE, Calif. – Sierra Northern Railway’s Ventura Division hosted a Dec. 6 toy drive in partnership with Operation Toy Train on its line from Piru to Ventura, Calif., operating a train between Ventura and Santa Paula and using trucks from Fillmore to Piru. A specially decorated train consisting of a genset locomotive, open-air car, and […]
HARTLAND, Wis. — The former Milwaukee Road main line across Wisconsin has been welcoming the return of CPKC’s Holiday Train for the 2025 season. The tour across the Badger State began on the evening of Dec. 9, with public whistle stops in Sturtevant and Caledonia, Wis., before overnighting in Milwaukee’s Muskego Yard. The train was […]
What do I collect? I collect original prewar trains in Standard and Wide Gauge, i.e. 2 1/8”. Lionel created the gauge in 1906, and called their trains the “Standard of the World.” Soon, Standard gauge caught on as a label, possibly to differentiate from other gauges at the time. When the Ives Toy Co. modified […]
CHICAGO — For the first time in six years, the Operation North Pole train for seriously and terminally ill children and their families is set to operate on Metra on Dec. 20, with Metra and Operation North Pole encouraging area residents to come view the train to show support for those on board. The train […]
Milwaukee and model railroading share deep, historic ties. Model Railroader Magazine, Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., and the National Model Railroad Association all had their humble beginnings in the beer city. This rich heritage has fostered a healthy and diverse group of model railroad clubs throughout Southeast Wisconsin that are still active today. Finding these clubs […]
In the December 2006 issue of Classic Toy Trains, then-Editor Neil Besougloff presented his design for a “three times around the tree” layout. It has since become a favorite with many readers and has inspired several holiday layouts. We’re presenting Neil’s original plan, featuring Lionel O-42 tubular track curves, a tunnel, and a 45-degree crossing. […]
NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad will launch their Holiday Lights Trains this Friday, Nov. 28. The colorfully lit trains will operate through New Year’s and will display special holiday-themed safety messages at selected stations. This year, Metro-North is adding a diesel-powered train for the first time, bringing the holiday […]
Menards has released an accessory that just about any layout, big or small, could use: concrete blocks. Each package contains 100 pieces of scaled blocks measuring 1¾” x ¾” x ¾”. A standard size block measures a nominal 8” x 8” x 16”, with an actual size of 15⅝” x 7⅝” x 7⅝”. At 1:48 […]
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The CSX Santa Train distributed more than 15,000 toys, 6,000 train safety books, and 5,700 backpacks filled with gifts, gloves, and hats on Saturday (Nov. 22) as part of part of its 83rd trip on a 110-mile route through Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. “The CSX Santa Train embodies the best of what […]
