Spring 2025

The Spring 2025 issue of Classic Toy Trains

Bringing it all home to New England

Finally, there was time to build my layout

Last hurrah of the Lionel Corp.

The No. 9034 Lionel Leisure hopper revealed a secret

Truth behind American Flyer's "cutaway engines"

Why the A.C. Gilbert Co. created these unique models

Buyer's guide to O and S gauge figures

Populate your layout with a variety of people

Fun with O gauge in life's second half

Steve and Barbara Tapper love their layout

Orange ... gray ... or both?

True story of Lionel’s No. 197 Rotating Radar Antenna

How to lubricate modern steam locomotives

Add oil to wheels, gearboxes, and more in just a few steps

Lionel No. 11435 Big Boy

Big steamer is dwarfed by the goodness of other hobbyists

New details about Lionel's No. 3530 Operating Generator Car

Postwar experts keep learning more about this classic

Build a portable, multi-level layout

Th is compact line is lightweight, movable, and fun to operate

Five fun features

A compact O gauge layout with multi-train operation

One and done for Marx trains

Short-lived venture into the world of trading stamps

EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4

YOUR LETTERS, pg. 6

YOUR PHOTOS, pg. 8

NEWS & REVIEWS, pg. 12

Firecrown buys EnterTRAINment Junction, MTH WTIU, Menards Grandma’s House, and more

COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS, pg. 52

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, pg. 58

AD INDEX, pg. 63

TIPS & TRICKS, pg. 66