Trainz has purchased the existing inventory and rights to manufacture the famous aluminum train display shelving from Glenn Snyder Display Systems. GSDS are a self-contained extruded aluminm display shelf available in a combination HO/S gauge, O gauge, or combination O/Standard gauge/gauge-1 sizes. Trainz will warehouse and ship the shelving from its new Oakwood, Ga. facility. […]
10 more helpful tips for your layout Smooth and steady steaming It’s not surprising that postwar Lionel steam locomotives are extremely underpowered. They’re single-motor locomotives that must tow a heavy tender, so you’ll seldom get them to pull more than a dozen freight cars. Keep the wheel axles, side rods, and smoke-unit mechanism properly lubricated, […]
Classic Toy Trains Senior Editor Roger Carp and Project Roar’s John Schmid open and unbox a brand-new book called Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! This hardcover book, published by Project Roar and authored by noted toy train historian Roger Carp, showcases the importance and significance of Lionel Trains throughout the years. A Lionel train was more […]
Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 YOUR LETTERS, pg. 6 YOUR PHOTOS, pg. 8 NEWS & REVIEWS, pg. 13 Lionel SD50, LCCA boxcar, Menards cattle car, Atlas E8, and more COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS, pg. 17 Lionel’s No. 3484 Operating Boxcar QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, pg. 56 Poultry Dispatch Car repair, Marx boxcar paint scheme, and […]
From the first product releases, the Menards line of Plug & Play buildings have stood out from structures by other O gauge building makers. Interesting designs, add-on detailing, and often unique lighting features such as strobes and flashing signage add to the fun. Most of them look great simply sitting there. Powering them up, though, […]
Lionel’s Nos. 2257 and 2357 cabooses changed the line of toy trains in notable ways. The all-but-identical models, first cataloged in 1947, introduced three-rail enthusiasts to a type of caboose that looked different from what Lionel had been showcasing during the final years of the prewar period and the first two years of the postwar […]
Locomotives & rolling stock MTH, 739 Washington Blvd., Ste. 101, Elkridge, MD 21075, has FM Erie-built Diesel Locomotives as part of the Premier line. Engines will operate on O-42 curves, feature Proto-Sound 3.0, and will be available in six paint schemes (20-21852 shown). The engines will be sold as unpowered A units or as an […]
Manufacturers come and go in model railroading, and the O gauge market is no exception – 2 or 3 rail, scale or semi scale. From vast offerings to specific products, let’s find out who is producing today for the customer. If you know of a manufacturer not on this list, please contact us at editor@classictoytrains.com. […]
Are MTH Premier SD60M shells interchangable I have the MTH No. 20-2595-1 Premier Line Harley-Davidson SD60M freight set from around 2005. I ran it a few times before the circuit board fried. At the time, it was already out of warranty. I looked into having the board replaced, but it cost too much. More recently, […]
David Shaw, the friendly and knowledgeable man behind the counter and in the management chair of The Train Station in Mountain Lakes, N.J., died in August of 2024 at the age of 61. As owner and president of the business since 1986, he had overseen every aspect of its operation, notably sales and repair. But […]
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) will be celebrating their 55th anniversary at their annual convention set for July 21-26th in the historic railroad town of Scranton, Penn. The tours will include the famous Steamtown and the Electric City Trolley Museum just to mention two. Convention activities will include multiple running train layouts, seminars, […]
Many of us have memories of visits to Grandma’s house from when we were kids. Menards is offering a way to recapture those memories in O gauge form with the release of Grandma’s House (2959376). This prebuilt structure is a two-level single family home measuring 8 11/16” wide x 8 ⅜” deep x 6 ¾” […]
