PLUS Modeling a Mountain State coal hauler C&O and NYC’s jointly owned Nicholas, Fayette & Greenbrier From demolition to discovery Modeling an unknown part of a known prototype The “accidental” mushroom layout The rewards were well worth the extra effort Virginia & Truckee in the transition era A proto-freelanced HO track plan A compact […]
In the October 2000 issue of Classic Toy Trains, photographer William Zuback and I photographed performer Mandy Patinkin’s layout. We spent a couple of days with he and his family. Joining us was Rich Roman, whose highly successful layout building firm, East Coast Enterprises, was responsible for much of the design and look of Mandy’s […]
This large scale indoor club layout started life as a custom build of a local large-scale collector. The 8-by-11-foot board had been unused for at least a decade and I immediately knew where this display would be best displayed — at the 7.5” gauge, 1.5” scale live-steam train club that I belong to. Many […]
The January 2022 issue of Classic Toy Trains features advice on modelling winter from Dennis Brennan, a master of scenery and photography. You’ll also learn at least five other design and construction techniques from him that could improve your display! Plus there are multiple layout visits – including one in S gauge – filled with […]
Vintage toy trains in winter holiday scenes bring feelings of nostalgia. Relive the nostalgia with this selection of both current and vintage holiday-themed photos in O and Standard gauge scales. If you have a photo you’d like considered for a future gallery, contact editor@classictoytrains.com […]
Get a look at the Lionel Area 51 set (no. 2123160)! Chris Raines of RBP Trains on YouTube reviews this spooky and fun O gauge train outfit. First is a close look at the GE “ET44” Tier 4 Bluetooth-controlled locomotive and the array of cars. Then Chris takes it for a spin on his great […]
Richard Doolittle and his wife, Mary Kay, enjoy sharing their Christmas-themed O gauge layout. You can see the article about it in the December 2021 issue of CTT. […]
The layouts most recently showcased here have reflected the hobby activities of two of the top performers of the second half of the 20th century, each of whom has a reputation for greatness spanning the earth. In fact, if beings far out in the solar system have a toe to tap, they probably are doing […]
The November 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains features a Lionel collection that contains such gems as the no. 2296W Canadian Pacific outfit and some of the finest examples of the rarest sets in the postwar era. You’ll also visit an O gauge homage to the Reading Lines in Pennsylvania, and an S gauge layout […]
In this episode, host Gerry Leone gets back to the backdrop. Namely, he’s working to disguise those unpreventable seams that appear between sections of hardboard panels. Gerry shares his techniques for getting the job done in a satisfactory way, but without the painstaking efforts of a professional drywall installer! […]
It’s hard to keep with Gerry’s rapid pace of construction. Fortunately, he slowed down for a quick recap of what he’s accomplished with the cameras turned off. Then, it’s back to solving benchwork problems! […]
Host Gerry Leone continues to plan and build out a switching area for his all-new Bona Vista HO scale model railroad. This time, Gerry shares how he uses actual model structures and track remnants to visualize and plot his plans, and then adjust them to suit layout realities. […]
