Build a better layout

Build a better layout

A decade ago, Dick Christianson, the founding editor of Classic Toy Trains, and I began work on what became the O gauge Lionel Lines/Santa Fe layout. With help from CTT staff members, who dutifully ventured to Dick’s suburban basement every Tuesday night, we spent countless hours planning, thinking, changing our minds, and making false starts […]

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Making signs for your garden railroad

Although signs are everywhere in everyday life, they’re typically absent from many backyard railroad scenes. If one wants a particular sign, then one has to make it himself or have it made commercially. Fortunately, in this day of desktop printing and digital technology, the palette we have available is constantly broadening. Even old standbys, like […]

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Trains on Location

In this free, 40-page download, we explore some of the most complex railroad locations in the United States. With multiple tracks, rough terrain, and dense traffic, these spots make for some great train-watching locations. Download this free guide to read about: Horseshoe Curve, Conrail’s mountainous railroad with multiple track tunnels and steep grades The Chicago […]

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Winter on the Rails

In the depths of winter, train-watching can take on a whole new dimension, while railroad operations become more complicated. In this five-part series, we take you from the freezing temperatures of Alaska, to the Canadian tundra, to Wisconsin’s snowy terrain, with stories of how railroaders and rail fans have braved the elements. This free download […]

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Winter Rail Memories

Celebrate the winter season with Classic Trains’ compilation of Winter Rail Memories, featuring four articles and stunning images showcasing some of our favorite snow-filled stories. In Long Way Home for Christmas, author David Ingles recounts his trip home from college in 1965, when he ventured on a rail odyssey from central Illinois, to Dearborn, Mich., […]

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