The year 1952 was a spectacular one for Lionel operating toy train accessories. An enduring favorite to come out of it was the no. 362 barrel loader. Professor Carp gives the history of the item and discusses changes and variations, while Classic Toy Trains Editor Hal Miller looks at how it operates. You can get […]
O scale structures The Printing House. Laser-cut cardboard low-relief kit. Includes blank sign and detailed instructions. Measure 9.84” x 3.14” x 8.26”. $172.11. Price may vary based on exchange rate. Minifer, minifer.fr/en […]
Thrift stores can hold a wealth of treasures for hobbyists, if you know where to look. I have suggestions of which departments to look for items for your layout. I suggest going into a store with an open mind. For just a few dollars and a maybe a bit of paint, you might find something […]
John’s layout appears in the September 2021 issue of Classic Toy Trains. It features tremendous trackwork and wonderful scenery (see the plan here), in addition to some spectacular modern trains. Watch and hear freight and passenger consists work their way around it. […]
Frank Sinatra’s O gauge railroad included many collectible pieces as well as everyday items. They were all colorful and fun to the legendary singer and his family. As noted in the November 2015 Classic Toy Trains, members of the Sinatra family believe he was introduced to the hobby by visiting the home of big-band leader […]
Robert Weaver, who established Quality Craft/Weaver Model Trains with his wife, Shirley, in 1965 and over the next half-century manufactured plastic and brass O gauge two- and three-rail locomotives and rolling stock, died on August 7, 2021, at the age of 93. The Weavers launched their business in Northumberland, Pa., and eventually came to specialize […]
Menards Santa Fe O gauge locomotive program is underway. Asking some 200 people to take a chance on this new product is bold. To request they test it on their layouts and report what the maker got right — and more importantly, wrong — takes even more guts. It is something I’ve never heard of […]
On this episode of Bob’s Train Box, Bob and CTT editor Hal Miller have a look at Menards’ new O gauge Santa Fe F3 locomotive and find a lot to like about it when they run it on a layout! Bob also examines the visual advantage of controlling trains using apps on tablets and smartphones […]
What was your first train set (or locomotive)? My first train set was the Lionel 1434W Burlington GP diesel with three passenger cars from 1955 or 1956. Being a passenger set, it had limited play value for me. I also had a no. 52 fire car. My trains are primarily from this era (i.e. prewar, […]
O scale structures Margie’s Macchiatos Coffee Shop. Injection-molded plastic kit with snap-together main parts, second floor bay window, and waterslide decals with various nameplates. Measures 9-3/4” x 5-1/4” x 8. $72.50. Fourth quarter 2021. Atlas O Hillside Structure line. Atlas O, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com Steve’s Music Store. Injection-molded plastic kit with snap-together main parts, inset front door, […]
Toy train smoke hijinx (and a minor train wreck) abound as Hal Miller and Rene Schweitzer try a variety of the scents in JT’s Mega Steam fluid line. The smoke fluids are now available from the Kalmbach Hobbystore. Rene and Hal discover with their tests that there’s a world of smells beyond coal and diesel […]
Host John Truckenbrod and Classic Toy Trains’ Roger Carp share collector insights regarding the various iterations of barrel cars the Lionel Corp. produced, along with a look at the packaging for the barrels themselves. Then they check out the variety of products that were sold by dealers in clear plastic packaging – the more customers […]
