Classic Lionel orange and blue on a high-rail layout

The Silver Rail Club's home based layout

Name: Peter Martens Forum User Name: Peter_J_M Railroad Name: Lionel Lines Location: The Silver Rail Club’s home based layout Scale: O gauge Theme: Classic Lionel colors on the high-rail! Description: Classic orange and blue colors make up these highly collectible train sets! Released individually during the 80’s and 90’s, each freight consist made up an […]

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Classic Lionel orange and blue on a high-rail layout

The Silver Rail Club's home based layout

Name: Peter Martens Forum User Name: Peter_J_M Railroad Name: Lionel Lines Location: The Silver Rail Club’s home based layout Scale: O gauge Theme: Classic Lionel colors on the high-rail! Description: Classic orange and blue colors make up these highly collectible train sets! Released individually during the 80’s and 90’s, each freight consist made up an […]

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Lionel O gauge “B6” 0-4-0

Lionel O gauge “B6” 0-4-0

Stepping into the “wayback” machine, Lionel’s 0-4-0 steam switcher is a model of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s B6-class 0-6-0. Just before World War II, Lionel made several variations of its B6 switcher, two of which – Nos. 1662 and 1663 – used 0-4-0 instead of 0-6-0 wheel arrangements. The model was in and out of the […]

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How to maintain Lionel toy train operating cars

The operating mechanism of a Lionel milk car without the shell and several callouts together with an inset photo showing the assembled milk car, stand, and milk cans. Inset text: Lionel’s postwar operating milk car added fun and excitement to the simplest loop of track. CTT expert Ray L. Plummer offers some tips to keep this and other operarting cars rolling into the future.; Can inserted with bottom toward camera; Cans roll down chute; Line from power pickup roller; Worker “ejects” cans; Cans ejected on this side

The Lionel operating milk car’s chute is made so that the milk barrels can only be put in the correct way. However, once inside the chute, the barrels can become jammed if the car tips over. Here are some tips for keeping this car in service. Classic Toy Trains file A version of this article […]

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Methods to wiring your toy train layout

MTH’s Digital Command System transmits signals through the track system, unlike Lionel’s TrainMaster and Legacy systems, which transmit through the air.

It isn’t an exaggeration to observe that the CTT staff is frequently asked basic questions such as “How do I connect my power and lockon to the track?” However, we get even more questions related to adding operational capability beyond running one train in a circle – taking a step beyond the starter outfit. Aside […]

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Lionel curtails operations

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Lionel’s message to customers posted on its Facebook page as of March 27. Lionel via Facebook CONCORD, N.C. — Lionel, the famed toy train manufacturer, is closing its corporate headquarters and has employees working remotely. In an email sent to customers and read by Classic Toy Trains, Lionel CEO Howard Hitchcock writes that the company […]

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Truck’s Toy Trains: Episode 9 Lionel Flatcar Loads

Classic Toy Trains Senior Editor Roger Carp rejoins show host John Truckenbrod to inspect Lionel Corporation flatcar loads, namely Allis-Chalmers bulldozers and earth scrapers. For even more coverage of this topic, be sure to read the May 2020 issue of CTT! […]

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