In the late 1950s, Nashvillearea toy manufacturer Kusan was making products that might be the epitome of the term “toy train.” Geared toward the entry level of the market, these items were colorful and affordable. The company’s “K” Series boxcars were produced between 1956 and ’60. They could be produced rapidly in the Franklin, Tenn., […]
Introduction to MTH’s O gauge SD24 When I found out that the next locomotive for us to test and review was an MTH O gauge SD24 road diesel, my response was pretty much “Huh?” I needed to track down my old Diesel Spotter’s Guide for sure! I was familiar with SD7s and SD9s, but the […]
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 MTH continues, next York, special run cars QUESTIONS & ANSWERS, pg. 18 VIEWS FROM THE UNDERGROUND, pg. 21 S GAUGE THEN NOW AND THEN, pg. 24 WEEKEND WORKSHOP, pg. 40 […]
Facts & features Name: Ken Cook’s O gauge “Casey” Line Dimensions: 14 x 26 feet Track and switches: Lionel FasTrack, tubular (diameters range from 27 to 72 inches) Motive power: Lionel (postwar) Rolling stock: Ambroid, Lionel (postwar), Scale-Craft Models, Zimmer Controls: Lionel type-ZW transformers (2) Accessories: Lionel (prewar, postwar), Marx, Ross Custom Switches Structures: Downtown […]
Enjoy this look at Dave Baule’s S gauge layout. The traditional looking pike occupies a modest footprint and is chock full of Plasticville buildings, vintage American Flyer accessories, and trains from a variety of eras. The display is featured in the special publication “Toy train layouts for small spaces,” available in fall 2021. […]
In the September 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains, prolific author and modeler Stan Trzoniec shows how to observe real railroads and add details from them to our layouts to increase realism. We’ll also visit two O gauge layouts. The first is built by a northerner and models the Southern Ry.; the other uses traditional […]
O gauge locomotives General Electric 44-ton diesel locomotive. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black and gray); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (zebra stripe scheme); Erie Lackawanna (black and yellow); Maine Central (green and yellow); Napa Valley Wine Train (green, white, and black); and U.S. Steel (red, green, and yellow). One road number per scheme. Die-cast metal […]
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O gauge locomotives Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern (Cascade Green and black, Chicago & North Western (Falcon Service scheme), CSX (gray, blue, and yellow), Milwaukee Road (orange and black with billboard lettering), Pan Am Rys. (dark blue and white), and Wisconsin & Southern (40th Anniversary scheme, one road number). Two numbers per scheme […]
Neil Young’s O gauge railroad To begin, Neil created his layout, which covered approximately 1,000 square feet on his ranch in northern California, to run through an assortment of natural landscapes outside his home. That’s right – the unforgettable three-rail display was built not inside an immense train room but instead filled in space among […]
Bought or inherited a load of tubular track? CTT editor Hal Miller shows his method of cleaning it up and getting it ready for trains to run properly on. This technique will help get rid of dirt and light rust, and help modelers avoid a few pitfalls that could be detrimental to operation. […]
On this episode of Bob’s Train Box, Bob and CTT editor Hal Miller get an up-close and personal look at MTH Trains’ recently released Premier line SD24 (even more info on it here). Then Bob examines some Greenberg guides that are fun to read and helpful when it comes to collecting trains and accessories. Finally, […]
