Lionel’s postwar freight-car numbers

Freight-car-numbering

The Lionel Corp. used a four-digit number to identify its postwar rolling stock. In some cases cars also carried a one, two, or three-digit suffix. Though many times cars with the same number exhibit slight differences, or variations, Lionel usually assigned a new number if a car received major changes. While Lionel’s numbering appears haphazard, […]

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Video Bachmann HO three truck Climax

The Bachmann Spectrum three-truck Climax geared locomotive includes a SoundTraxx Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder. Watch us run the HO scale model on the Model Railroader club train layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. You can also read a complete review of this locomotive model. […]

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American Flyer track plan

CI1203_APLAN

Layout designer: Jim Zare Scale: S Layout size: 5 x 10 feet Track type: American Flyer S gauge Minimum curve: 20-inch radius Originally appeared in the December 2003 issue of Classic Toy Trains. See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking here. […]

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An S gauge experience

CH1100-B

Layout designer: Jay Reese Scale: S Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: American Flyer S gauge Minimum curve: 20-inch radius Originally appeared in the November 2000 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Second place winner of Classic Toy Trains magazine’s first layout planning contest: Plans for a 12 x 16-foot room. Click on this […]

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Build a lightweight S gauge layout

CTT-G0106_ASGAUGE

Layout designer: Don Thompson and Mike Ferraro, S-Helper Service Co. Story and photos: V. S. Roseman Scale: S Layout size: 5 x 9 feet Track type: S-Helper Service S-Trax Minimum curve: S-40 Originally appeared in the January and February 2006 issues of Classic Toy Trains. Build a lightweight O gauge layout Build a lightweight O […]

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The case of the disappearing train

CTT-I1108_ASYMBOLS

Layout designer: Peter H. Riddle Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel O gauge tubular Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the February 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Track plan Schematic Parts list Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. […]

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Mid-sized layout with a compact yard

CTT-I0208_APLAN

Layout designer: Kent Johnson and Dana Kawala Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 10 feet Track type: Atlas O Minimum curve: O-45 Originally appeared in the February 2008 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Plan a point-to-point layout

CTT-G0909_APLAN

Layout designer: John Penca Scale: O Layout size: 17 x 29 feet Track type: Atlas O Minimum curve: O-54 Originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Plan for the “classic operator”

CTT-C0708_APLAN

Layout designer: John Rusterholz Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Running & switching on a FasTrack loop

CTT-I1009_APLAN

Layout designer: Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-60 Originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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