Where do I find paint for toy train projects? Q: I am looking to restore some of my trains. How do I get started? Where do I find the paint for the job? – Ray Fiorini, Endicott, N.Y. A. Ray, if you have a handy pile of CTT back issues or access to the online […]
CB&Q 9377, a Baldwin VO1000 built in 1944, switches at the road’s brand-new freight house near Chicago in 1958. Burlington Route photo […]
On our layouts, ballast is strictly a scenic element. We use the material, whether it’s crushed real rocks, dyed walnut shells, or other material, to simulate the rocks used on full-size railroads. But prototype ballast is far from cosmetic. Among the uses for ballast on the prototype are to prevent track from shifting up and […]
Although small, couplers play a big role in smooth, reliable operation. If couplers function properly and are installed per the manufacturer’s instructions, you should have few, if any, problems. In this guide to HO scale couplers, we’ll explore some of the different offerings on the market today. The evolution of HO scale couplers When […]
Q: I have a Walthers gas plant kit (item 933-3104) and gas storage tank kit (item 933-2907). I want to use these to model a coal-gas plant. Do you have any drawings or pictures of such a plant that I can model using these kits? – Thomas Lauritsen A: To help you model a coal-gas […]
Boston & Albany’s J2 Hudsons provided subtle variety to the greater New York Central System. From the moment the New York Central absorbed the Boston & Albany Railroad via lease in 1900, you can imagine the company’s executive team vowing to hang on to as much independence as possible. The B&A was a […]
The Milwaukee Road Hiawatha fleet stands out among mid-century passenger operators. Of all the major U.S. railroads that fielded impressive fleets of passenger trains between the end of World War I in 1918 and the arrival of Amtrak in 1971, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific — more commonly known as the […]
The MTH Premier Hudson is a modern incarnation of arguably the most iconic steam locomotive ever made in O scale. The classic 4-6-4 wheel arrangement, originally offered in by Lionel in 1937, can be seen on artwork from decades ago and carried on today by the works of artists like Angela Trotta Thomas. Due to […]
An interlocking tower and station are nestled between the tracks where the Monon crosses the two tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Limedale, Ind., in May 1944. A Monon local freight is switching the station and interchange tracks in the distance. Linn H. Westcott photo […]
The Lionel The Chessie Legacy Greenbrier is big. It’s colorful. It’s a steam engine. Should steamers be colorful? Like it or not, fantasy paint schemes on them seem to be an attractive alternative to the prototypical (mostly) black models. This one was featured in 2022’s Volume 2 catalog. A look back at previous offerings indicates […]
Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale | Jack Burgess, a dedicated model railroad enthusiast, has masterfully recreated the Yosemite Valley Railroad, an iconic prototype railroad that operated in central California until 1947. Over the course of 31 years, Jack poured his heart into crafting an intricate and historically significant model railroad, capturing the […]
Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley Railroad in HO scale | Jack Burgess, a dedicated model railroad enthusiast, has masterfully recreated the Yosemite Valley Railroad, an iconic prototype railroad that operated in central California until 1947. Over the course of 31 years, Jack poured his heart into crafting an intricate and historically significant model railroad, capturing the […]
