The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection and his O gauge layout have fascinated Trains.com and Classic Toy Trains readers for years. Let’s use the photograph snapped long ago by Rebecca Saliture to explore what the “Chairman of the Board” owned and ran. The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection After World War II, Sinatra visited the Lionel showroom […]
Small O and S gauge layouts are how the hobby began. To demonstrate the wonders of layouts designed to fit into small spaces, let’s travel back to when most current enthusiasts were youngsters. This most likely means we’re talking about the 25 years immediately following World War II. These men and women can trace their […]
Tom Barker’s S gauge layout is inspired by a vintage American Flyer dealer display. It features a lot of action and fun! It appears in the July-August issue of Classic Toy Trains. Subscribers can see how he built the circular four-tier structure that’s the centerpiece of the layout here. […]
Facts & features Name: Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers’ O gauge layout Dimensions: 35 x 80 feet Track: GarGraves flextrack (maximum diameter is 120 inches) Switch: Curtis Hi-Rail, Ross Custom Switches Motive power: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel (postwar and modern), MTH, Weaver, Williams Rolling stock: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel (postwar and modern), MTH, Weaver, Williams Accessories: […]
Facts & features Name: Chris Raines’ O gauge layout Dimensions: 12 x 27 feet Track and switch: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 60 to 72 inches) Motive power: Lionel (prewar, postwar, modern), MTH Rolling stock: Lionel, MTH, Williams Accessories: Lionel, MTH Controls: Lionel type-ZW, MTH no. Z-4000 (2) transformers with Lionel Legacy and MTH Digital […]
Facts & features Name: Richard Shutt’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 21 x 24 feet Track: GarGraves (diameters range from 42 to 72 inches) Switches: Ross Custom Switches Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern), MTH Rolling stock: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel (prewar, postwar, modern), Marx, Menards, MTH, Ready- Made Toys Accessories: Lionel (prewar, postwar, modern) Controls: Lionel […]
Facts & features Name: Herb Lindsay’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 25 x 26 feet Motive power: Atlas O, Lionel, Weaver Rolling stock: Weaver, Wm. K. Walthers Controls: Lionel’s TrainMaster Command Control Structures: Scratchbuilt Download a PDF of this track plan! […]
In the October 2000 issue of Classic Toy Trains, photographer William Zuback and I photographed performer Mandy Patinkin’s layout. We spent a couple of days with he and his family. Joining us was Rich Roman, whose highly successful layout building firm, East Coast Enterprises, was responsible for much of the design and look of Mandy’s […]
Vintage toy trains in winter holiday scenes bring feelings of nostalgia. Relive the nostalgia with this selection of both current and vintage holiday-themed photos in O and Standard gauge scales. If you have a photo you’d like considered for a future gallery, contact editor@classictoytrains.com […]
Facts & features Name: Richard and Mary Kay Doolittle’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 51/2 x 201/2 feet Track and switch: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 42″ to 54″) Motive power: Lionel (postwar, modern) Rolling stock: Lionel (postwar, modern), MTH Controls: Lionel no. 22983 180- watt PowerHouse power supply with Legacy command control Accessories: Department 56, […]
Facts & features Name: Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 30 x 54 feet Track and switch: GarGraves, Lionel (diameters range from 72 to 120 inches) Motive power: American Flyer, Atlas O, Ives, K-Line, Lionel (all eras), Marx, MTH, Weaver, Williams Rolling stock: Atlas O, Ives, K-Line, Kusan, Lionel (all eras), Marx, MTH, […]
Facts & features Name: Len Smith’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 24 x 27 feet Track and switches: Atlas O (diameters range from 54 to 99 inches) Motive power: Atlas O, Lionel, MTH Rolling stock: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Weaver Controls: Lionel types KW and ZW, MTH no. Z-4000 (2) transformers with MTH Digital Command […]
