The toy train hobby, like any other, has its own language. We at Classic Toy Trains try to avoid using confusing jargon wherever possible, but we know there are some terms we use that may confuse new readers. Even if you’ve enjoyed trains for years, you may still run across terms that aren’t clear, or […]
Scale: S Scale
CTT Visits a layout factory
Having a professional builder design and construct a toy train or scale model railroad may not be for everyone. But for those who want to take full advantage of 21st-century technology this may be the way to go. CTT Visits a layout factory […]
Don Williams’ O and S gauge layout
Tourists motor to Horseshoe Curve to watch the cavalcade of trains. When Don was young, the headliners were aluminum cars on the Pennsy’s Broadway Limited. Don and Karen Williams share their layout with visitors, including grandsons Jacob and Zachary. Iron horses in the Korber roundhouse watch a 3rd Rail Pennsy Atlantic 4-4-2 steam locomotive take […]
Saving an American Flyer Royal Blue engine from a landfill
While I have been a part of the toy train hobby, I have attended many train shows and met other train lovers. And I’ve come to realize that there are hundreds of us that don’t know enough about the value and rarity of different O and S gauge trains. We may not even be aware […]
Buffalo Creek & Gauley
Name: Buffalo Creek & Gauley Scale: S (1:64) Size: 25 x 44 feet Prototype: Buffalo Creek & Gauley Locale: West Virginia Period: 1957 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 32″ (visible track), 24″ (hidden track) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 11/2 percent (BC&G), 2 percent (ERC&L) Originally appeared in the December […]
Why does my American Flyer rolling stock have white residue?
Q: Can you suggest how to safely remove the white residue that builds up on the bottom of my American Flyer rolling stock? – Bruce K. Davis, Youngwood, PA A: We receive this question several times a year. For some reason this white residue problem is more common with American Flyer S gauge trains of […]
Locomotive lubrication
Q: I know that this sounds silly, but I get confused about what you are supposed to lubricate, especially the difference between the old postwar Lionel steamers and modern engines with can motors. Can you explain just what gets lubricated? – Erik via internet A: One similarity between postwar steamers and modern steam locomotives is […]
Getting power to your toy trains
Q: I live in a large space and have an 80-foot loop of Lionel O-27 track running through it. I’m having trouble getting enough power to the train. I need information on wiring methods and wire types and suggestions on how large a transformer I am going to need to get it working properly. – […]
S-Helper Service S gauge diesel starter set
S-HELPER SERVICE is one of the leaders in producing modern trains that improve upon postwar standards of detail and performance while retaining the ability to operate with vintage S gauge trains. Gone are the cast-in details that may have been pleasing back in a time when guys were building freight cars from cardboard or wood […]
Pandora & San Miguel RR
Track plan at a glance Name: Pandora & San Miguel RR Scale: Sn3 (1:64) Room size: 15 x 19 feet Prototype: Denver & Rio Grande Western and Rio Grande Southern Period: September 1938 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 120 feet Minimum radius: 30″; 28″ n peninsula Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared […]
Spiral Hill RR
Track plan at a glance Name: Spiral Hill RR Scale: S (1:64) Size: 19 x 20 feet Theme: free-lance branch line Period: 1950s Style: single-track Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Originally appeared in the 2000 issue of Great Model Railroads. See a PDF version of this track plan by […]
Denver Rio Grande & Southern RR
Track plan at a glance Name: Denver Rio Grande & Southern RR Scale: Sn3 Size: 11 x 14 feet Prototype: narrow gauge mountain railroading Period: 1930s through 1950s Style: around the walls Mainline run: 70 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the 2001 issue of Great Model […]
