7 great Lionel locomotives and 4 duds

Lionel 408E locomotive.

7 great Lionel locomotives and 4 duds – this list recognizes what we consider to be the Lionel Corporation’s crowning achievements in locomotive manufacturing 1900-1969. Admittedly, it’s subjective, based on experience owning, operating, and repairing Lionel locomotives. We both value solid construction and reliable operation, so those were key factors in awarding our trophies. Our […]

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The Lionel no. 3429 helicopter car

Lionel's no. 3429 helicopter car

The Lionel no. 3429 helicopter car was the company’s answer to get more kids to buy its products in the late 1950s. It was an attempt to get away from a product line the public regarded as old-fashioned. The company’s creative minds decided to make items Lionel could link the trains to popular military and […]

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Garden railroad MI Jack Crane

Model gantry crane on a garden railroad

A garden railroad MI Jack Crane: Something unique, something different, that’s what I needed to endure the long winter of the Midwest when outdoor railroading comes to a dead stop! A building project. If you are thinking about railroading in the period 2020, you must recognize the dramatic change to containerized shipping. What better way […]

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Kitbash a large-scale bunkhouse

Model boxcar scene

  I like to spend my Saturday mornings going to garage sales. Occasionally I find something I can use for my large-scale railroad.  At one sale, I found a damaged Christmas Workshop sold by USA Trains. I paid the dollar asking price and brought my prize home. I had recently kitbashed a yardmaster’s office from […]

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Collectible Lionel 6464 boxcars, including Santa Fe, Rock Island, and B&O versions

Collectible Lionel 6400 boxcar 6464-400 Baltimore & Ohio Timesaver, Cataloged 1956-57 and 1969

Here are some more photos of collectible Lionel 6464 postwar boxcars! Lionel 6464 boxcars help Lionel Corp. mark 1953 as a turning point. Yes, a year after blazing a new trail with classic streamlined passenger cars, the engineering and sales teams at Lionel fielded near-scale models of a modern flatcar, a triple-dome tank car, and […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Modeling clear and muddy rivers, Episode 17

David is pouring two-part resin in to the river basin on the State Line Route project railroad

David shares two options for modeling rivers on the State Line Route. He demonstrates how to make a muddy river using two-part resin and tints, and a clear river using one-part resin. Lastly, he adds waves, ripples, and other details to complete the water scene. […]

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A collectible Lionel Milwaukee Road freight set

Collectible Lionel Milwaukee Road Freight set

Here’s the story behind this magnificent O gauge no. 810/2273W Lionel Milwaukee Road freight set. It was one of the finest outfits cataloged by the company for 1956. Click here for a history of the Milwaukee Road. The brand-new no. 2378P and 2378C F3 A-B locomotive combination headed the train. The powered A and unpowered […]

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Lionel 6464 boxcars, including New Haven and Bangor & Aroostook versions

6464-900 New York Central, Cataloged 1960-66

Enjoy photos of Lionel’s 6464 postwar boxcars! Lionel 6464 boxcars help Lionel Corp. mark 1953 as a turning point. Yes, a year after blazing a new trail with classic streamlined passenger cars, the engineering and sales teams at Lionel fielded near-scale models of a modern flatcar, a triple-dome tank car, and a porthole caboose. Perhaps […]

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State Line Route in N scale: Modeling rock walls, Episode 16

Using drybrushing techniques to add color to rubber rock castings

David is ready to work on the largest industry on our State Line Route project railroad – the rock quarry! He demonstrates how to use rubber rock castings to make the quarry walls. Then he shows to add realistic color to them using craft paints and drybrushing techniques. […]

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