What do I collect? I collect S gauge Gilbert American Flyer, as it’s the scale and brand with which I entered the model railroading hobby. I have always enjoyed S gauge, as the size is nice and Gilbert American Flyer enjoys a great history and loyal, albeit somewhat small, following. When did I start collecting? […]
MILWAUKEE — America’s largest operating model railroad show is set for 2025. In a press release sent to Firecrown Media Inc., the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) announced Milwaukee’s Trainfest will return to the Baird Center Nov. 1-2, 2025. This marks the second-consecutive year the event will be held at the downtown venue. The NMRA, […]
Frank Kotnik was introduced to toy trains as a child. Someone gave his father a secondhand Lionel set and accessories from the early 1950s. When Frank was three, around 1963, his dad surprised him with a simple tabletop layout. The engine captivated the young tot, sparking a lifetime interest in the hobby. Frank is a […]
Lionel’s 2024 Catalog Volume II honors the past and present with some superb sets and locomotives operators and even collectors are sure to like. I discovered a number of impressive and desirable new models when I finally found the time to devote an entire evening to exploring the second and shorter catalog from 2024. By […]
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 […]
Visiting a railroad town can take you on a journey through not only the town itself, but also its railroading’s past, present, and even future. Whether you’re just passing through or have an opportunity to stay for an extended getaway, consider these 10 must-visit historic railroad towns that’ll range from the OG of railroad towns […]
Mr. Muffin’s Trains of Atlanta, Ind., is a family-owned business that literally takes a family to keep the retail company going and growing — both in-store and online. Stephen and Liz Nelson (Mr. and Mrs. Muffins themselves) give us the scoop in this Q&A interview with Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson. Watch the insightful video […]
A quiet revolution changed the toy train industry in the 1930s. Firms aimed to introduce more realistic products. Advances in the die-casting of metals and the compression-molding of plastics shaped that trend. The A.C. Gilbert Co. began to develop scale and semi-scale engines and rolling stock while pushing for greater animation in its accessories. The […]
A new year means a new set of product announcements by Lionel. Technically, it started in late 2024 with the VisionLine O scale J1e Hudson to serve as a headliner for the 125th year. It’s now 2025, and the annual Volume 1 “Big Book” catalog arrived on January 15 to officially kick off the Quasquicentennial. […]
Metal railroad heralds in cereal boxes offered boys and girls during the 1950s one more way to show their fascination with trains, whether full-size or miniature replicas. Kids, eager to discover the premiums packed inside boxes of their favorite breakfast food, had no hesitation about begging their parents to buy box after box of Sugar […]
Enjoy an exclusive, guided tour of the Entertrainment Junction large scale (1:24) layout, touted as the world’s largest indoor train display. From real running water to towering mountains, you’ll get to see all of the amazing features – and trains – that put this Ohio attraction on the map! Watch the video, and then read more […]
CALGARY, Alberta — The Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train program raised more than Ca$1.75 million and collected more than 130,000 pounds of food for local food banks during its four-week run in the United States and Canada, the railroad said on Monday, Dec. 23. Additionally, the CPKC Holiday Express, which continues a program launched […]
