Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x 16 feet

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Layout designer: Ray Stuber Scale: O Layout size: 7 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the November 2012 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x 16 feet track plan Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x 16 feet schematics Workin’ the Wabash in 7 x […]

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Lionel O gauge Union Pacific 4-12-2 steam locomotive

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The Union Pacific was known for the large steam power it used to speed freight across the wide-open west. Perhaps the line’s most eccentric design was the 4-12-2. That was a heavy locomotive designed to pull heavy freights at higher speeds over the vast, fruited plains. Alco constructed 88 of the 782,000-pound giants for the […]

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Up-and-over O gauge plan

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Layout designer: John Rusterholz Scale: O Layout size: 4 x 8 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the September 2012 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Up-and-over O gauge plan Up-and-over O gauge plan schematic Up-and-over O gauge plan components […]

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Lionel O gauge Baldwin RF-16 diesel set

PR1012_Lionel-shark-diesel

Let me start out by saying that I’m a fan of the Baldwin RF-16. I even own two sets by Williams (yes, both New York Central). The sharp, jutting nose reminds me of the days when airliners had three rudders and autos had fins. Even 59 years after the last was built, I think they […]

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Lionel operating freight station

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Like many manufacturers, when Lionel had made prototypes of potential products, whether they went forward to production or not, they often held the single samples in an archive stored away for possible use in the future. Sometimes the market wasn’t right when they were proposed, or the technology wasn’t there to do it right. But […]

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O GAUGE K4S 4-6-2 PACIFIC BY LIONEL

PR0712_Lionel-Pennsy-headshot

One of the most visible locomotives of the 20th century was the Pennsylvania RR K4s-class 4-6-2 Pacific. Emblazoned on everything from calendars, product ads, and railroad travel literature, the locomotive was a true face of railroading during its day. Perhaps only the New York Central’s Dreyfuss Hudson could make a claim of being as visible […]

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