Lionel No. 6407 flatcar with missile

Lionel 6407 flatcar with missile and removable Mercury capsule

The Lionel No. 6407 flatcar with missile and removable Mercury capsule was cataloged for one year only, in 1963. It was offered as both a separate-sale item (priced at $4.95) and a component of two O-27 outfits: the Nos. 11341 Space Prober diesel freight set and 11385 Space Conqueror diesel freight set. Author John W. […]

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Lionel postwar No. 3562 barrel cars and blister packs

John Truckenbrod and Roger Carp with a small set of red wooden barrels.

Transcripted from the CTT video series Truck’s Toy Trains. Trains.com members can watch it here.  The Lionel Corp. released its first operating barrel car in 1954, which was two years after it brought out the No. 362 barrel loader. Contents of the box included the car and an insert that held a box of barrels […]

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Lionel No. 2190W Santa Fe passenger train set

Lionel Santa Fe passenger train

A Lionel Santa Fe passenger train outfit from 1952 is widely regarded as one of the best the company ever made. During the holiday season that year, the train maker introduced set No. 2190W, also known as the Super Speedliner, at the top of its O gauge lineup. That magnificent four-car passenger consist featured the […]

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Wayne Garver’s 8 x 13 vintage style track plan

homage_toy_trains

O gauge enthusiast Wayne Garver has developed an 8 x 13-foot layout, where his different trains and accessories impress viewers. His plan may work well for you. Wayne Garver Download a PDF of his track plan here. Note: This track plan does not include a component list. However, the author has comments about how he […]

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Have layout, will travel – portable model train layouts

A man sits next to a nearly finished train layout outside.

Like several other model railroaders, I lost my “right” to more layout right-of-way within our house several decades ago. Nevertheless, building a layout is perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the hobby for me. Despite having two operating model railroads in the house, I still wanted to build more. At train shows I noticed many […]

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Lionel No. 3562-1 operating barrel car

Lionel’s no. 3562-1 barrel loader car

3562-1 Operating Barrel Car (cataloged 1954): $190 (excellent) $65 (good) The No. 3562-1, the first of Lionel’s four operating barrel cars, helped make 1954 one of the most significant years in the company’s history. The trains offered then contributed to a line that stood out by promising innovation and complexity. To understand where the 3562-1 […]

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American Flyer No. 971 lumber unloading car

American Flyer No. 971 lumber unloading car

American Flyer No. 971 lumber unloading car So much of the joy that we hobbyists associate with toy trains comes from our love of illusion. Like children watching a magician, we suspend all belief and forget that electricity is responsible for moving our O or S gauge trains. Time after time we want to believe […]

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Grape hyacinth

small plant with purple flowers on garden railway

Common name: Grape hyacinth 
Latin name: Muscari sp. 
Plant type: Perennial 
Plant size: 5-8″ high and spreading 
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, full sun to part shade Late summer/early autumn is the time to pick up some bulbs to plant for spring blooming. Originating from the Mediterranean region, grape […]

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Lionel set No. 2219W The Thunderbird

Color illustration of Lionel no. 2219W model railroad set in 1954 catalog

Lionel’s The Thunderbird toy train set features a Lackawanna locomotive and a Pennsylvania caboose. It’s obviously a toy train — with colorful cars that help it contribute to the pinnacle of Lionel’s post-World War II production. Lionel’s 1954 catalog that rosters The Thunderbird also features steam and diesel locomotives, freight and passenger cars, and operating […]

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American Flyer No. 636 depressed-center flatcar with reel

American Flyer No. 636 depressed-center flatcar with reel

American Flyer No. 636 depressed-center flatcar with reel Even before World War II, the A.C. Gilbert Co. had experimented with loads for its flatcars. Of importance were the models with a small civilian or military vehicle, which could be unloaded via remote control. These models returned after the war. Lionel decided against competing with Gilbert […]

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Lionel No. 2211WS train set

Lionel No. 2211WS train set

Thousands of different O and S gauge sets – cataloged and promotional – were developed between 1945 and 1969. Think of the one you received for your birthday or a holiday. Maybe you can say with pride it was Lionel’s No. 2211WS. An awesome responsibility From the time Lionel offered just one outfit for the […]

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