Spring 2025

The Spring 2025 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. 12 Firecrown buys EnterTRAINment Junction, MTH WTIU, Menards Grandma’s House, and more COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS, pg. 52 American Flyer’s No. 807 Boxcar QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, pg. 58 Crossing gates don’t work, K-Line steamer stalls, and more […]

Read More…

June 2025

The June 2025 cover of Trains magazine

In every issue News, p. 4 Amtrak CEO Gardner ousted, and the carrier sidelines its Horizon car fleet Bill Stephens, p. 10 CPKC keeps fingers crossed as trade tensions flair History with Hankey, p. 12 Railroads, logistics, and winning the Civil War Brian Solomon, p. 46 Visiting a pair of railroad-themed bed & breakfasts Preservation, […]

Read More…

June 2025

The June 2025 cover of Model Railroader

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 This is a hobby for making things NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news RAILWAY POST OFFICE, pg. 16 Letters from our readers ASK MR, pg. 18 Loads for a fertilizer blend plant STEP BY […]

Read More…

New publication salutes Montana Rail Link

Cover of Montana Rail Link sip

Thirty-seven years ago, Montana businessman Dennis Washington entered into a 60-year lease with Burlington Northern for nearly 1,000 miles of ex-Northern Pacific Railway trackage and launched the Montana Rail Link. The newly created Class II regional stretched from Spokane, Wash., across southern Montana to Huntley, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it community not far from Billings, Mont. The railroad […]

Read More…

May 2025

The May 2025 cover of Trains magazine

In every issue News, p. 4 Canadian high speed rail moves forward Bill Stephens, p. 10 CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs’ mission: better employee relations History with Hankey, p. 12 Cataloging connections Brian Solomon, p. 44 How to make the most of an extended trip Preservation, p. 52 Alaska Railroad’s gold spike is returning to the […]

Read More…

May 2025

The May 2025 cover of Model Railroader magazine

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 What’s your scale? NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 17 Selecting the right wire size STEP BY STEP, pg. 24 Quick and easy car card racks ON OPERATION, pg. 53 Checkbox […]

Read More…

April 2025

The April 2025 cover of Trains magazine

In every issue News, p. 4 California drops zero-emission locomotive rule Bill Stephens, p. 8  BNSF’s double-tracking persistence pays off History with Hankey, p. 10 A railroad-themed float at a president’s inauguration Great Railfan Roads, p. 42 Route 66 is the country’s greatest railfan road Brian Solomon, p. 50 United Kingdom celebrates two centuries of […]

Read More…

April 2025

The April 2025 cover of Model Railroader

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 What about all of the people? NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 16 Tips for modeling station signs RAILWAY POST OFFICE, pg. 21 Letters from our readers STEP BY STEP, pg. […]

Read More…

Winter 2024

The Winter 2024 cover of Classic Trains magazine, which features a locomotive with a striped red and white front end moving towards the camera in a snowy winter location

Welcome – Still has the connections Head End – A potpourri of railroad history, then and now Mileposts – Commentary by Kevin P. Keefe True Color – Katy green-and-yellow Short Rails – Illinois Central in Wisconsin The Way It Was – Tales from railfans and railroaders Classics Today – Preserved NYC steam Looking Back – […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…

March 2025

The March 2025 cover of Trains magazine, which features a train crossing a bridge over a body of water

In every issue News, p. 4 VIA Rail Canada’s equipment request includes dome cars; Trains.com forums return Bill Stephens, p. 8 UP-short line deal aims to improve service John Hankey, p. 10 Why 2025? Railroading’s bicentennial is surprisingly complex Great Railfan Roads, p. 44 Follow California 99 for busy Central Valley railroad action Brian Solomon, […]

Read More…

March 2025

The March 2025 cover of Model Railroader magazine

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 What is the ‘play value’ in model railroading? NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 16 MR&T paint scheme history STEP BY STEP, pg. 19 Do-it-yourself photo backdrops ON OPERATION, pg. 60 […]

Read More…