Denver Union Terminal

Denver Union Terminal

Name: Denver Union Terminal Layout designer: Frank Czubryt Scale: O (1:48) Size: 24 x 32 feet Prototype: freelance Locale: Denver to Palmer Lake, Colo. Period: 1980s to present Style: walk-in Mainline run: 96 feet Minimum radius: 48” Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1 percent Originally appeared in the Great Model Railroads 2008. Click on […]

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Readers’ Choice Railroad Track Plan Template

CTT-R0311_template

Our preferred method of transferring a track plan to a flat tabletop uses a computer to download and print out the full-scale template of the Readers’ Choice Railroad so we can easily tell how track, accessories, and some scenery elements work on our 4 x 8-foot perimeter. Download the template here. […]

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How do I determine the value of my toy trains?

The first maxim in train collecting is that a train is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it. That said, price guides give some guidelines on current values for trains. In general, the Train Collectors Association has established several categories of condition that help in determining a train’s value: Mint or New […]

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Lionel’s postwar freight-car numbers

Freight-car-numbering

The Lionel Corp. used a four-digit number to identify its postwar rolling stock. In some cases cars also carried a one, two, or three-digit suffix. Though many times cars with the same number exhibit slight differences, or variations, Lionel usually assigned a new number if a car received major changes. While Lionel’s numbering appears haphazard, […]

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The case of the disappearing train

CTT-I1108_ASYMBOLS

Layout designer: Peter H. Riddle Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel O gauge tubular Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the February 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Track plan Schematic Parts list Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. […]

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Mid-sized layout with a compact yard

CTT-I0208_APLAN

Layout designer: Kent Johnson and Dana Kawala Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 10 feet Track type: Atlas O Minimum curve: O-45 Originally appeared in the February 2008 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Plan a point-to-point layout

CTT-G0909_APLAN

Layout designer: John Penca Scale: O Layout size: 17 x 29 feet Track type: Atlas O Minimum curve: O-54 Originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Plan for the “classic operator”

CTT-C0708_APLAN

Layout designer: John Rusterholz Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Running & switching on a FasTrack loop

CTT-I1009_APLAN

Layout designer: Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-60 Originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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