Tune up your modern-style starter set for the holidays

polar_expresslead

Lionel no. 31960 The Polar Express and other holiday train sets that come with trains, track, and a transformer are ideal for creating a display under the Christmas tree. Jim Forbes Around my house, all the holiday decorations that adorn our walls are clearly the result of my wife’s dedicated efforts. Wisely, she doesn’t trust […]

Read More…

Seven easy tips for smooth-running trains

toy train crossing bridge on layout

Locomotives and rolling stock are pretty durable in the O and S gauge hobby, but even the best performers in your fleet will benefit from regular inspection, cleaning, and oiling. Here are seven of our most essential maintenance basics. Most of these tips are one-evening projects, and some take even less time. Give them a […]

Read More…

Troubleshooting vintage O gauge locomotives

Troubleshooting vintage O gauge locomotives

Troubleshooting vintage O gauge locomotives isn’t difficult. There are some common issues to look for when they won’t run, and most are fairly easy to fix. It happens to all of us sooner or later. You place your favorite vintage locomotive on the track, power up the transformer, and the darn thing just sits there, […]

Read More…

Build a layout that highlights 1950 Lionel

CTTM0518_trackplan

Collectors concentrating on the outfits, locomotives, and accessories offered by Lionel during a single year in the post-World War II era will find inspiration in the compact O gauge layout developed by Robert Banks. He has designed an 11 x 11-foot three-rail display capable of letting three trains operate simultaneously. Build a layout that highlights […]

Read More…

10 Proven Lionel FasTrack Plans

10 Proven Lionel FasTrack Plans

Nearly all of us have dreamt of building a large toy train layout. The stark reality is that many of us lack the real estate, resources, or time for such an endeavor. But there’s no reason to be disappointed. This free guide from the experts at Classic Toy Trains includes a salute to the small layout, with […]

Read More…

Plasticville and Postwar 2017

Caboose on a postwar layout

Name: Rebecca Chestney Forum User Name: pennytrains Railroad Name: Plasticville Location: 4 by 6 in my bedroom : ) Scale: O and S Theme: 1950’s America Description: More stop-motion and chaos on my postwar layout. […]

Read More…

Plasticville and Postwar 2017

Caboose on a postwar layout

Name: Rebecca Chestney Forum User Name: pennytrains Railroad Name: Plasticville Location: 4 by 6 in my bedroom : ) Scale: O and S Theme: 1950’s America Description: More stop-motion and chaos on my postwar layout. […]

Read More…

Running trains on a postwar style Lionel layout

Postwar style toy train layout

Name:    Terry Johnson Forum User Name:    tibet99 Railroad Name:    Lionel Postwar Layout Location:    Michigan Scale:    1/48 Theme:    Classic Lionel postwar trains Description:    I have a decent high rail layout but got the urge recently to run my Lionel postwar trains. I dug out my Kalmbach book “Classic Lionel Display Layouts You Can Build” by Roger […]

Read More…