The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection

The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection

  The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection and his O gauge layout have fascinated Trains.com and Classic Toy Trains readers for years. Let’s use the photograph snapped long ago by Rebecca Saliture to explore what the “Chairman of the Board” owned and ran. The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection After World War II, Sinatra visited the Lionel showroom […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania RR S2 class 6-8-6 turbine announced

Model of large steam locomotive with white background

S2 class 6-8-6 turbine Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: With dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder, $874.99 Era: 1944 to 1949 Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com 6-8-6 turbine steam locomotive features: Dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder Brass boiler, cab, and tender body Die-cast metal chassis Built-in capacitor pack Factory-installed engineer and fireman figures […]

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HO scale 70-ton four-bay hopper from ScaleTrains

Drawing of brown hopper train car with white background

70-ton four-bay hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $21.99 Era: 1926 to 1960s (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Cast stirrup steps, end ladders, grab irons, underbody, and brake system Molded interior detail with rivets and side wall bracing Separately applied brake wheel Solid-bearing trucks 33” metal wheels with […]

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East Coast Circuits jersey barriers

Road scene with work crew behind jersey barriers

Jersey barriers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Twelve-pack, $20 Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Features: Orange and white versions Figures, construction equipment, and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, […]

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East Coast Circuits HO scale traffic barrels announced

Road scene with construction workers behind orange traffic barrels

Traffic barrels Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Standard version (12-pack) and lighted version (six-pack), $20 each Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Features: Lighted version works on 9-12V AC or DC power Figures and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad […]

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N scale American Car & Foundry PD3500 Flexi Flo hopper

Drawing of 14 covered hoppers

American Car & Foundry PD3500 Flexi Flo hopper Scale: N (1:160) Price: Single car, $44.95; two-pack, $89.90; three-pack, $134.85; and six-pack, $269.70 Era: 1964 to 2010s (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features Early and late body styles 125-ton Barber S-2 […]

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LGB Santa Fe F7 locomotive review

LGB F7 Santa Fe large scale

These LGB Santa Fe F7 locomotives are nice looking and good runners, too. The powered A unit (no. 21576) has many separately applied details and cab doors that can be opened. Both trucks are driven by Bühler motors with ball bearings and the wheels have traction tires. The locomotive has a built-in mfx/DCC decoder with […]

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Rapido 3,800 cubic-foot capacity cylindrical covered hopper

Drawing of 11 different cylindrical hoppers

3,800 cubic-foot capacity cylindrical covered hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $54.95; six-pack, $329.70 Era: 1965 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Features Round-hatch or trough-hatch design as appropriate Dofasco S-2 100-ton trucks 6- or 11-side panel body […]

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Model Train Association Lionel 6464 boxcar hunt

Lionel MTA 6464 timken boxcars

The Model Train Association Lionel 6464 boxcars are the subject of many collectors’ searches. Interest in the near-scale postwar series never flags. Newcomers to the hobby continue to discover the 29 cataloged entries and start tracking down examples. Longtime hobbyists hunt hard-to-find variations. Among the sought after are the Train Collectors Association models sold as […]

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Bachmann HO scale transfer caboose

Red transfer caboose

Transfer caboose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: To be announced Era: Varies depending on paint scheme Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Features: New and existing tooling E-Z Mate Mark II couplers Blackened metal RP-25 contour wheels Release date: 2023 Paint scheme: CSX (gray, blue, and yellow), Missouri Pacific (red […]

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Bachmann 52’-6” drop-end gondola

Red gondola freight car

52′-6″ drop-end gondola Scale: N (1:160) Price: To be announced Era: Varies depending on paint scheme Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com Features: Positionable drop-end gates E-Z Mate Mark II couplers Blackened metal RP-25 contoured wheels Release date: 2023 Paint scheme: Great Northern (Vermillion Red), New York Central (black), […]

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Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway freight trains remembered

Diesel locomotives with freight train among trees

Spokane, Portland and Seattle freight trains remembered: All through August 2022, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the grit, panache, and charm that was the Spokane, Portland and Seattle. As part of the celebration, please enjoy this freight train photo gallery as the perfect accompaniment. Each month since October 2019, Classic Trains editors have showcase one “Fallen Flag” railroad — […]

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