O gauge boxcab electric by K-Line by Lionel

INEXPENSIVE IS NOT BAD. Cheap is bad, but not inexpensive. Cheap means flimsy material and poor reliability. Inexpensive means “I’ll take two, instead.” Lionel seems to be steering the K-Line product line in a specific direction – and that direction appears to be smart, economical trains, rather than the high-dollar super-spectacular locomotives we came to […]

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O gauge SD70ACe by Lionel

I’M VERY PLEASED TO NOTE that if I was mildly disappointed in Lionel’s scale-detailed GP7 (see November 2008 reviews), the firm’s O gauge rendering of a pinnacle of modern locomotion, the EMD SD70ACe, has more than made up for it in the Department of Wow. The prototype has plenty of detail points to model, and […]

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Colorado & Southern Ohio Creek Extension

Name: Colorado & Southern Ohio Creek Extension Scale: On3 and On21/2 (1:48) Size: 28′-3″ x 29′-8″ plus 28′-0″ branch (Ruby-Irwin) Prototype: On3 Colorado & Southern with freelanced On2½ Elk Mountain Timber Co. Ry. Locale: Gunnison County, Colo. Period: late summer of 1942 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 100 feet Minimum radius: 37″ with easements Minimum turnout: […]

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O gauge Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 by Lionel

O gauge Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 by Lionel

LET’S CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE. This is the finest steam locomotive that Lionel has ever made. Period. End of discussion. Insert photo of me puckering up to give this steamer a big old smooch. Whew. OK, I’ve taken a deep breath. I’ve cooled down. Now, on with the rest of the review. This Lionel […]

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