Atlas O announces models from MTH tooling

Sample page from Atlas O catalog

Atlas O in June released a new catalog offering products made from recently acquired MTH Trains tooling. The company acquired the majority of MTH’s Premier line of locomotives and rolling stock molds in spring 2021. The latest product announcements are titled the Atlas O Premier Catalog. In it are the first two offerings, a GE […]

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Fall TCA York meet is on

Outside of York, PA fairgrounds building

After cancelling the last three York, Pa. meets, the Train Collectors Association Eastern Division is preparing to host a grand re-opening show Oct. 21-23 at the York Fairgrounds. The organization’s board has decided “to return to the pre-pandemic format of a three-day show; beginning at Noon on Thursday through Saturday,” according to its Summer 2021 […]

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The story of smoke: trial and error at Lionel

Cover of 1947 Lionel consumer catalog

The year 1946, when both the A.C. Gilbert Co. and the Lionel Corp. brought out their first full lines of electric trains for the postwar era, saw both heralding new locomotives equipped with a mechanism capable of producing smoke. Another milestone in the quest to market more realistic miniatures had been achieved. Truth be told, […]

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Amtrak and abducted M&Ms?

Hal Miller next to some Menards structures

CTT editor Hal Miller takes a look at some recent accessory offerings from Menard’s, including the no. 2784523 O scale Amtrak station, and the 2796130 M&Ms UFO scene. Both have a lot of features that give them a ton of play value! […]

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Bob’s Train Box episode 70

Hal Miller and Bob Keller next to a layout

On this episode of Bob’s Train Box, Bob takes a look at a Lionel steam locomotive that he acquired, sold, and bought again. We’ve all been there, right? Then, he and CTT editor Hal Miller have a look at some structures for small and odd spaces on your layout. Then they both have a look […]

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Bob’s Train Box episode 70

Hal Miller and Bob Keller next to a layout

On this episode of Bob’s Train Box, Bob takes a look at a Lionel steam locomotive that he acquired, sold, and bought again. We’ve all been there, right? Then, he and CTT editor Hal Miller have a look at some structures for small and odd spaces on your layout. Then they both have a look […]

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Member video: Following Southern Pacific’s Sunset Limited

Peter Atonna layout track view

Name: Peter Atonna Railroad Name: Seligman & Paulden Lines 
Location: Arizona 
Scale: O Theme: Railroad running through Arizona serving its big and little towns Description: The Sunset Limited was the Southern Pacific’s premier streamlined passenger train passing through Douglas, Ariz. on its way from Los Angeles to New Orleans. This is my tribute to it from spending youthful days at the […]

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Lionel’s Vision Line GS is just spectacular

CTT Lionel Vision line GS

Lionel’s 2020 Vol. 1 catalog celebrated the firm’s 120th anniversary, and what a catalog it was. For me, the most distinctive offering wasn’t a single locomotive, but a single style of locomotive: The Southern Pacific’s venerable GS (General Service or Golden State) line of 4-8-4 Northern steam engines. I don’t believe any manufacturer (in any […]

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