Lionel Legacy U28C diesel locomotive

side view of camouflage locomotive

Lionel has reissued the U28C diesel locomotive for the first time since 2012. The model was announced in the 2024 Volume 1 catalog. This six-axle unit was not that common on prototype railroads, and its unique appearance will allow it to stand out on your layout.  The prototype was produced by General Electric between February […]

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Repair Marx plastic rolling stock

four pieces of Marx rolling stock

Although our family had a wind-up Marx set when I was very young, my real interest in Marx trains began when I received a Marx Allstate set for Christmas about 1961 when I was 10. My father bought it at the Sears surplus store on North Main St. in High Point, N.C. for, I think, […]

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Menards Sooty’s Mine Shaft

front of mine shaft structure

Menards continues to add to their line of industrial structures. A little more than a year ago, they introduced Sooty’s Coal Tipple, and have now added an O gauge Sooty’s Mine Shaft to the lineup. Shaft mining is a method of excavation that accesses an ore deposit from the top down. The term “shaft” refers […]

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Lionel City of Miami train set

yellow and green model train on track

The City of Miami was a vibrant orange and palm green streamliner of the Illinois Central Railroad. Operating between 1940 and 1971, the train provided service from Chicago to Miami, and was powered by a single EMD E6 diesel locomotive. The first jaw-dropping feature of Lionel’s latest rendition of the set isn’t the locomotive  itself, […]

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Wesley E. Swartz’s O gauge track plan contest submission

My submission to the contest has five basic features: A double reversing loop Multiple loops for simultaneous operation of several trains Interconnections between the multiple loops Two levels of track A ramp connecting the two levels of track Classic Toy Trains and the Lionel Collectors Club of America congratulate Wes Swartz as the second-place winner […]

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Steve and Barbara Tapper’s O gauge layout track plan

Name: Steve and Barbara Tapper’s O gauge layoutDimensions: 8 x 16 feetTrack: Lionel, MTH (diameters range from 27 to 42 inches)Switches: MTHMotive power: K-Line, Lionel, MTH, WilliamsRolling stock: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, Menards, MTH, Weaver, WilliamsControls: MTH Nos. Z-750 (3), Z-4000 (2) transformers with Lionel TrainMaster Command Control and MTH Digital Command SystemAccessories: K-Line, Lemax, […]

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Brian and Riley Inch’s O gauge layout track plan

A toy train layout track plan

Name: Brian and Riley Inch’s O gauge layoutDimensions: 10 x 16 feetTrack: GarGraves (diameters range from 36 to 72 inches)Switches: Ross Custom Switches with Tortoise machinesMotive power: Lionel, MTHRolling stock: Atlas O, Lionel, MTH, WeaverControls: Lionel type-ZW transformer with Lionel Legacy and MTH Digital Command SystemAccessories: Gilbert American Flyer, K-Line, Lionel, Z-Stuff for TrainsStructures: Crescent […]

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Winter 2024

The Winter 2024 cover of Classic Toy Trains magazine

Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 YOUR LETTERS, pg. 6 YOUR PHOTOS, pg. 8 NEWS & REVIEWS, pg. 13 Lionel Base3, MTH FP45, Atlas GP38-2, LCCA boxcar, and more COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS, pg. 17 Wyandotte Toys windup train set QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, pg. 66 Lionel F3s won’t run; 022 switches are sluggish, and more […]

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American Flyer postwar Baldwin switchers

green and yellow model locomotive

Founded in l830, the Philadelphia-based Baldwin Locomotive Works grew into the world’s largest steam locomotive builder. Baldwin locomotives ruled the rails of countries large and small in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.  Baldwin’s legendary boss, Samuel Valcain, was intrigued with the diesel by l920, and BLW produced its first demonstrator in l925. In […]

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Classic Toy Trains new products for March 2025

model of red flatcar with two trailers on top

Locomotives & rolling stock METCA offers an MTH custom-run 4-Bay Hopper as part of the RailKing line. The cars feature O-27 operation and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey graphics (30-75762 shown).  Expected delivery in March 2025. Price: $64.95. Order from metca.org Public Delivery Track is selling a custom-run MTH RS1 locomotive as part of the RailKing […]

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Lionel Disney D23 Mickey and Friends caboose

side of Disney caboose

Lionel sent a sample of their Disney D23 caboose (No. 2401565) for review. D23 is the Official Disney Fan Club and got its name from their fan/exposition events. Sort of like a Comic-Con International for Disney fans. This caboose is a familiar design. It’s a 5Nc porthole center cupola caboose, the prototype most commonly found […]

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