I bought a set of Williams tinplate cars that duplicated scarce Lionel products from the 1930s in an online auction (photo above). I planned to run them on my period layout and was pleased to find the cars to be in like-new condition when they arrived. However, when I placed them behind my Lionel No. […]
At a glance Name: Gary Wronkiewicz’s S gauge layout Dimensions: 10 x 16 feet Track: GarGraves flextrack (diameters range from 40 to 80 inches) Switches: Gilbert American Flyer Motive power: Gilbert American Flyer, S-Helper Service Rolling stock: Gilbert American Flyer Controls: Gilbert American Flyer No. 12B transformer Accessories: Gilbert American Flyer, Marx Structures: Atlas O, Plasticville U.S.A., Wm. K. Walthers Figures: Barclay, Ertl See more […]
Just as EMD needed to develop the SD50 to compete with GE’s Dash 7, Lionel developed new tooling to add to their lineup. The SD50, announced in the Lionel 2023 Volume 2 was advertised as a new product and all new tooling. Ryan Kunkle of Lionel verified that this product was not made from former-MTH […]
Lionel brought out its first No. 6464 near-scale boxcars in 1953. The models it developed were strongly influenced by what Athearn, a manufacturer of O scale trains, had already been doing, especially with a Rock Island prototype. Little wonder that toy train enthusiasts of every age praised the four new 6464 boxcars. Experienced O gauge […]
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This article was originally published in the December 1990 issue of Classic Toy Trains. John Grams was a longtime contributor and author of CTT’s Q&A column. He also wrote a number of toy train/hobby books. He died in 2011. How do you think this article holds up today? Leave a comment about the “characters” you’ve […]
Lionel’s postwar 44-ton diesels may be the most overlooked O gauge locomotives of the era. Collectors focus, instead, on the firm’s models of F3 cab units by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and the Train Master road diesels made by Fairbanks-Morse. Operators also like those powerful diesels as well as the big and small […]
Just before the spring TCA York Show in April, Lionel started delivering some of the diesels from the 2023 Volume II catalog. One of those diesels was the GP30, the gritty workhorse from EMD. This Legacy-equipped model is packed with features and pumps out some serious sound, all in a frame that can safely navigate […]
We’re always adding new content to our website. Here’s some recent items you may have missed. Buyer’s guide to structures The one that got away Coming soon! Handicap accessability for toy train layouts Bob Keller writes about a locomotive he loves: Lionel’s No. 41 Army Switcher […]
Locomotives & rolling stock MTH has a series of Christmas items as part of their RailKing line. Available items include an O gauge Railing Alco PA A unit diesel (30-21253, $399.95, shown), an ES44AC Imperial diesel engine (30-21238, $399.95), a 4-car double-door plugged boxcar set (30-70131, $349.95), and much more. Delivery expected in October 2024. […]
I grew up around cars; my dad managed a tire/repair shop until his retirement. So when Bachmann offered to send a couple of their new E-Z Street vehicles for review, the answer was an easy yes. These vehicles are part of the former K-Line “Super Streets” line, renamed by Williams by Bachmann as E-Z Street. […]
I’ve attended numerous shows during my tenure at Kalmbach, from the local Trainfest show to garden railway conventions, but had never made it to the TCA Eastern Division York show. Finally, I attended my first one April 17-20. It was a whirlwind of activities, meeting contributors and vendors, and getting ideas for stories and layout […]
