Finding older Lionel and American Flyer cars in good shape at a bargain price can be a challenge, because over the years, collectors have scooped up many of the really clean pieces. That’s no reason to despair, though – many of those grimy $5 and $10 cars you find at shows and shops are actually […]
For better or worse, the wheels of O and large scale trains seem to attract more grease and grime than those of HO and N scale pieces. Perhaps it’s the size of the trains, perhaps the shape of the wheels, or perhaps it’s carbon that gets deposited during operation, but either way they get filthy […]
When it comes to replacing a broken traction tire on a steam locomotive, it helps to have a sense of humor. That and a third hand. I don’t have a third hand to lend you, but I can offer you the tips below to get a leg up on this friction-fraught task. Traction tires have […]
Fig. 1: Pry off the original smoke unit cover with a screwdriver to gain access to the inside. Fig. 2: Remove the heater coil and smoke unit lining, both of which will be replaced in the conversion. Fig. 3: After scrapping and cleaning out all the pellet residue, make sure the air hole is not […]
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NO ONE LIKES it, but we all must do it: clean our track. We can clean our track by hand with an abrasive pad or a cloth soaked with appropriate cleaning fluid (careful in the tunnels), or we take the easy way out and let our locomotives do the work, pulling or pushing a track-cleaning […]
THE CTT WHIMSEY Department is always looking for new products, and this cute little American-made “Duchess” 2-4-0 fits the bill. Indiana-based Hartland Locomotive Works has been quietly laboring to build a good reputation in the large scale market. Its goal seems to be to produce well made, fun to operate trains made in the United […]
THE TPC3000 FROM IC Controls offers operators a 1-2-3 combination that’s going to shake things up for fans of Lionel’s TrainMaster system: compatibility with MTH ProtoSound-equipped locomotives, the ability to utilize more than 135 watts of transformer power, and refined control of locomotives in conventional mode. The TPC3000 (Track Power Controller) is not a transformer […]
ONE OF THE MOST often asked questions in the hobby is “Do we really need another New York Central Hudson?” And our answer? Sure! The prototype J-class engines had a clean, well-balanced appearance that suggested speed, even without streamlined shrouding. A J-class Hudson at the front of the 20th Century Limited symbolized grace and style […]
YOU CAN TELL that the holidays are upon you when you see Coca-Cola’s charming polar bear ads on television. These have become perennial favorites and have sparked a merchandise line ranging from snow globes to clothing. K-Line has done an exceptional job melding together the popular characters and the firm’s handcar. The handcar itself is […]
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC Daylight 4-8-4 locomotive is one of railroading’s most easily recognized steam locomotives. Its black boiler, silver nose with over-and-under headlights, and gaily colored streamlined sides make it a hard engine not to notice. The concept for the new Daylight passenger train was born in the middle of the Great Depression. Southern Pacific […]
THIS IS JUST what toy train folks have wanted for some time: a locomotive packing some offensive firepower. Trust me, the snowplow gives this engine a whole different personality from your run-of-the-mill light steamer. At last we have a locomotive that just begs to have Lincoln Log obstacles built across the track, herds of large […]
