MTH RailKing Skyline Chili Bump-N-Go Trolley

Blue and yellow model trolley

MTH has sold a “Bump-N-Go” trolley for many years, but I could not find evidence that CTT ever reviewed one. This version (No. 30-5249) was a custom-run for Dixie Union Station, as part of the RailKing line. The blue and yellow paint is well done. The Skyline Chili logo is on the lower center side […]

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Modeling seasons on your layout

Color photo of steam engine pulling freight train through snow-covered scenery.

Back in 2010, I was part of a group of contributors to Scenery by the Seasons by Kalmbach Publishing Co. The 98-page book featured stories on modeling seasons on your layout. Among the topics covered were spring backdrops; lily pads, cattails, and pond scum; easy autumn trees; and ice and snow. Though the title is […]

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Titletown Train Show this weekend

logo of train show

The Titletown Train Show will be held May 3-4, 2025. The event will be at the KI Convention Center, 333 Main St., Green Bay, Wis. Show hours are Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features 35,000 square feet of operating display layouts, vendors, hourly door prizes, […]

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Classic Toy Trains new products for May 2025

orange and black model boxcar

Locomotives & rolling stock Mr. Muffin’s Trains, 165 E. Main St., Atlanta IN 46031, has announced a custom-run MTH Husky Stack Car as part of the Premier line (20-95790 shown). The cars feature Monon graphics and O-54 operation. Expected delivery in August 2025. Price: $109.95. Website: mrmuffinstrains.com Trainworld, 751 McDonald Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11218, is […]

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PECO launches RAIL200 competition

The logo for PECO Model Railways, which features the word PECO in large white text against a red background

PECO Model Railways has announced a new competition to honor 200 years of British railways. RAIL200 is open to modelers based in the U.K., with two simultaneous competitions focusing on different disciplines of model railroading. A press release shared with Model Railroader states: “The RAIL200 Competition aims to celebrate two centuries of railway heritage by […]

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Lionel’s 2025 Catalog Volume I celebrates the 125th anniversary

catalog page with blue, red, black, and gold locomotives

Lionel’s 2025 Catalog Volume I updates some landmark prewar and postwar locomotives individually and in incredible sets certain to delight operators and collectors. While exploring the brand-new 252-page full-color catalog as legwork for developing the upcoming edition of Greenberg’s Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains, 1901-2025, I discovered several impressive and desirable new models. Frankly, […]

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Hornby: Book of Collectable Toys

cover of book with toys on it

Frank Hornby, British businessman and inventor born in 1863, is a name known across the globe for model trains and toys alike. This book, Hornby: Book of Collectable Toys, takes a deep dive into the history of the Hornby manufacturing company and its many subsidiaries. This book isn’t just about model trains–it includes all of […]

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Menards O gauge Main Street

Front of structure

Menards continues to release an interesting variety of structures for your O gauge layout, from industrial, to whimsical, and anything else you might see in Anytown U.S.A. This latest structure, called “O gauge Main Street,” fits squarely in that Anytown category. A sticker on the clamshell box states that this is part of the Main […]

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Trainz acquires Lionel TMCC and Legacy parts

screenshot of website

Trainz has acquired all of the Lionel TMCC1 and modular Legacy conventional reverse and sound printed circuit boards (PCBs). These parts include Odyssey 1 motor drivers, Legacy motor drivers, R2LCs, R4LCs, and Railsounds 2, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 4E, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0. Trains has also acquired conventional reverse units for AC and DC motors, as […]

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