Brian and Riley Inch’s O gauge layout

blue model train on layout

Brian and Riley Inch built a 10 x 16 layout using GarGraves track with Ross Custom Switches with Tortoise machines. This small layout features a marina, a small town, and a farm scene. Does the name Brian Inch sound familiar? He owns Model Rail Scenes custom layout services.   Read more about this layout in […]

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Brian and Riley Inch’s O gauge layout

blue model train on layout

Brian and Riley Inch built a 10 x 16 layout using GarGraves track with Ross Custom Switches with Tortoise machines. This small layout features a marina, a small town, and a farm scene. Does the name Brian Inch sound familiar? He owns Model Rail Scenes custom layout services.   Read more about this layout in […]

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Can I use my handheld remote with the MTH WTIU?

Devices on top of a command base unit.

As I previously stated in the unboxing video with Classic Toy Trains Editor Rene Schweitzer, there’s going to be plenty to unpack on MTH’s DCS Wi-Fi Track Interface Unit (WTIU). One such curiosity for myself and many others regarding this latest edition to the Digital Command System family is “the remote of your choosing.” Which […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Interview with Stephen Nelson, Owner of Mr. Muffin’s Trains

Trains.com staff writer Lucas Iverson chats with Stephen and Liz Nelson, owners/operators of Mr. Muffin’s Trains in Atlanta, Ind. Throughout this remote-video interview, you’ll glean behind-the-scenes insights into the past, present, and future of the growing online operation with an intriguing brick-and-mortar location too! You can also read the transcript of this insightful interview with […]

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Atlas O Premier VIA Rail F40PH-2

silver, yellow, and green model locomotive on track

It is a crazy and wonderful O gauge market where a hobby shop can have Atlas O make a custom-run of an MTH locomotive in a contemporary Canadian livery! Well done to all involved in making this happen! Interesting origins After American railroads gave up on passenger traffic and a national passenger network run by […]

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Classic Toy Trains new products for February 2025

green model locomotive

Locomotives & rolling stock E-Z Catch, 5 Tysen St., Staten Island, NY 10301, is selling a custom-run MTH Alco RS1 locomotive as part of the RailKing line (30-21283). The engine features Proto-Sound 3.0 and O-31 operation. Expected delivery in April 2025. Price: $409.85. Website: e-zcatch.com Metropolitan Division of the TCA (METCA) offers a custom-run MTH […]

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An American railway in France

A scale train on an outdoor train layout with a trackside figure and structure

I dabbled a great deal in narrow gauge modeling over the years, but found U.S. main line Class I railroads more to my taste. I like the operation potential of main lines, with many categories of trains from the peddler to the fast freight, the suburban local to the limiteds. A friend (Chris Ludlow, an […]

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Add an industrial siding to your layout

siding on toy train layout

Whenever children visit my O gauge layout, the operating accessories attract their attention more than any other feature. To accommodate them, I locate the controls for these toys nearby in the molding around the edge of the table, rather than on a central control panel. I have several industrial sidings, all close to viewers. Each […]

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MTH DCS Wi-Fi Track Interface Unit (WTIU)

black unit with three ports on the side

With the recent arrival of MTH’s long-awaited WTIU, the era of “absentee operating” systems in 3-rail model railroading has officially come to an end. The Base3 system from Lionel arrived a few months ago for Lionel operators, and now the Digital Command System offers Proto-Sound 2.0 and 3.0 operators access to full functionality of their […]

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Classic Toy Trains new products for January 2025

boxcar on layout

Locomotives & rolling stock E-Z Catch, 5 Tysen St., Staten Island, NY 10301, is selling a custom-run MTH C30-7 as part of the RailKing line (30-21271-1). The engine features Proto-Sound 3.0 and requires O-31 curves for operation. Expected delivery in February 2025. Price: $429.95. Website: e-zcatch.com The New Jersey Hi-Railers are offering a custom-run MTH […]

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MTH DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WTIU)

man and woman in a workshop

Classic Toy Trains‘ Editor Rene Schweitzer and Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson unbox and demonstrate the new DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WTIU) from MTH. This long-awaited digital command system is an all-in-one system that is easy to set up and use. Learn the pros, cons, and watch a short demo of the unit! Read more […]

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MTH DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WTIU)

man and woman in a workshop

Classic Toy Trains‘ Editor Rene Schweitzer and Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson unbox and demonstrate the new DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WTIU) from MTH. This long-awaited digital command system is an all-in-one system that is easy to set up and use. Learn the pros, cons, and watch a short demo of the unit!   […]

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