Menards Corrugated Auto Carrier – CTT review

Menards Corrugated Auto Carrier end view

Menards Corrugated Auto Carrier is an O gauge model of the modern 89-foot vehicle transporter so prevalent on today’s railroads. These are the most up-to-date versions of this type of car on the market in a traditional (non-scale) size. The car is named for its roof features. The sides of the car simulate the perforated […]

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July/August 2022

July/August 2022 cover

Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 LETTERS, pg. 6 MODERN ERA NOTES, pg. 8 PHOTO ALBUM, pg. 10 NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 14 Atlas O Amtrak engine; Menards ore cars; SceniKing backdrops; plus more QUESTIONS & ANSWERS, pg. 20 S GAUGE NOW AND THEN, pg. 22 VIEWS FROM THE UNDERGROUND, pg. 23 REVIEWS, […]

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Lionel Santa Fe F3 is the stuff of legend

Lionel Santa Fe F3 with Roger Carp

The Lionel Santa Fe F3 is a colorful O gauge icon. Roger “Professor” Carp is here to share with you what many consider the greatest post-World War II locomotive, the no. 2333 Santa Fe F3 cab unit. Interestingly, prior to its production, Lionel reached out to the manufacturer, Electric Motive Division of General Motors to […]

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Overlooked Lionel postwar accessories

Overlooked Lionel postwar accessory the Lionel ZW transformer

Overlooked Lionel postwar accessories? Yes, these stalwarts are well known but aren’t always top of mind when someone is asked to list the company’s greatest gems. Click here to see the 7 Lionel accessories that usually garner the spotlight. Read on to find out what the “Rodney Dangerfields” of postwar Lionel are. ZW transformer 1948-66 The […]

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Choosing a command system

A LionChief set power supply with FasTrack terminal section

When choosing a command system, you may encounter starter sets from three current train makers: Lionel, MTH, and Williams by Bachmann. The Bachmann sets have conventionally controlled locomotives and are operated by a traditional power supply, where speed is manipulated with a dial or lever raising or lowering track power. Lionel LionChief sets feature locomotives […]

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Atlas O High Cube boxcars

Atlas O High Cube boxcar at a loading dock

This review of Atlas O High Cube boxcars is by Chris Montagna of the Chris’s Trains and Things channel on YouTube. I have two highly anticipated pieces of rolling stock from Atlas O: the Gunderson 50-foot High Cube Boxcars. Atlas announced these cars in its June 2021 catalog. Trains.com members can see a video review […]

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Atlas O Gunderson High Cube boxcars

Atlas O Gunderson High Cube boxcars

Atlas O Gunderson High-Cube boxcars hit the spot for modern modelers. These 50-footers are a staple of modern railroading. Chris Montagna of the YouTube channel Chris’s Trains and Things has a review of this highly anticipated piece of rolling stock from Atlas O. The manufacturer announced these in its June 2021 catalog. They are Premier […]

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Adding track on the cheap

Pieces of Lionel Fastrack

There is an astonishing (and confusing) variety of track available, and you may wish to “mix and match” brands. For example, you may want to use an operating section for triggering a dump car, but it isn’t available in your track brand. You can transition to tubular track, insert a traditional activation section, and transition […]

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Railroad publisher Don Heimburger passes away

Don Heimburger

Longtime model and prototype railroad publisher and author Don Heimburger passed away June 10, 2022, at his home in the Chicago area. He was 75. An avid model railroader, he started S Gaugian magazine when he was 15 years old. He worked as a newspaper reporter while earning a journalism degree from the University of […]

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