With some assistance from his daughter Taylor, host John “Truck” Truckenbrod launches into a conversation about collecting postwar-era Lionel Trains (1945-1969)! This series begins with John addressing what makes his hobby fun, how he’s honed his collecting focus, and the steps you can take to prepare for your first acquisition. […]
Era: 1946 - 1970
Materials list for HO scale 35-foot Fruehauf trailer resin kit
Mont Switzer’s finished HO scale tandem van is shown above with his GMC “Cannonball” semi-tractor. The article “Decorate and detail a 1950s tandem van” by Mont Switzer appeared in the January 2019 Model Railroader. The materials list for the project is listed below. List of materials A-Line 50119 trailer dress up kit, spoke wheels Athearn […]
Truck’s Toy Trains: Episode 1 Truck’s Train Shop
In this all-new MRVP series, you’ll get to explore the many intricacies found in John “Truck” Truckenbrod’s extensive collection of vintage toy trains. Truck’s collection is housed in a setting that replicates a hobby shop from a bygone era, so you’ll get to browse shelves, counters, and display cases packed with boxed Lionel Trains (1945-1969) […]
Truck’s Toy Trains: Episode 1 Truck’s Train Shop
In this all-new MRVP series, you’ll get to explore the many intricacies found in John “Truck” Truckenbrod’s extensive collection of vintage toy trains. Truck’s collection is housed in a setting that replicates a hobby shop from a bygone era, so you’ll get to browse shelves, counters, and display cases packed with boxed Lionel Trains (1945-1969) […]
End details that add realism to heavyweight passenger cars
Passenger car end details were pretty standard and most followed the pattern used on sleeping cars built by the Pullman Co. The car in the photo is Crystal Point, a Pullman 3-compartment, 2-drawing-room, observation lounge assigned to the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha in 1947. A number of details are visible that appear on most cars […]
Belt Railway C424s
Alco built a total of 190 Century 424 road-switchers during 1963–67. Nearly half went to Canada, and a quarter to Mexico. Of the 53 built for U.S. customers, 6 were for the Belt Railway of Chicago, which used them until 1999. Harold A. Edmonson photo […]
Waiting at Chicago Union Statio
A Milwaukee Road trainman peers down the dimly lighted platforms of Chicago Union Station for any late-arriving passengers as the Arrow prepares to depart the Windy City for Iowa points in 1964. John Gruber photo […]
Rush hour on the Erie
Pacifics of three different classes are poised to depart the Erie’s Jersey City passenger terminal with outbound commuter trains at 5:27 p.m. on June 26, 1951. Ed Theisinger photo […]
Santa Fe reefers in Arizona
Four F7s ease a train of refrigerator cars around one of the many curves on the original line between Supai and Welch, Ariz., in a 1950s publicity photo. The road’s 1960 line change between Williams Junction and Crookton avoided this tough stretch. Santa Fe photo […]
Taxi stand at NOUPT
An usher at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal carries luggage and whistles for a cab at the depot’s taxi stand in the mid-1950s, when NOUPT was new. James G. La Vake photo […]
Mountains on the prairie
Illinois Central 4-8-2s pass at speed on the double track near Gilman in September 1954. Engine 2539 is southbound, 2418 northbound; both are on freight. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
Evening at CUT’s roundhouse
New York Central 4-8-2 3008 looks across the turntable at the Cincinnati Union Terminal roundhouse one evening in September 1954. Philip R. Hastings photo […]
