Atlas has released the C44-9W locomotive as part of the Premier line. Chris Montagna sent us videos of this engine in action on his layout. Read a review from Editor Rene Schweitzer. […]
Atlas O Premier C44-9W locomotive
Tag: O Scale
Trains.com Insider Interview | Jack Sommerfeld, Owner of Sommerfeld’s Trains & Hobbies
Listen in, as Trains.com draws knowledge and hobby insights from established retailer Jack Sommerfeld, owner/operator of Sommerfeld’s Trains & Hobbies in Butler, Wisconsin. Join staff writer Lucas Iverson as he chats with one of the top toy train dealers in the U.S., regarding the success and philosophy of his 40-year-old family-run business; his observations about […]
An interview with Jack Sommerfeld of Sommerfeld’s Trains & Hobbies
If you ever find yourself in the Milwaukee area, you may want to take a quick drive north to Butler, Wis., and visit Sommerfeld’s Trains & Hobbies. Don’t let its small size fool you — this brick-and-mortar store is a one-stop shop for a vast range of O gauge products. Owner Jack Sommerfeld, Chief Repair […]
News & Products for the week of July 7th 2025
News & Products for the week of July 7th 2025 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of July 7th, […]
Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Mid-2025 Interview with Howard Hitchcock, CEO of Lionel
Rene Schweitzer: I’m excited to be sitting in Howard Hitchcock’s office at Lionel Trains’ headquarters. Thank you for meeting me today. Howard Hitchcock: Welcome! I’m glad you were able to make it. RS: You’re nearly halfway through your 125th anniversary celebration. How is it going? What have you heard from your customers? HH: It’s going […]
Lionel’s postwar No. 97 Coal Elevator
I found this manuscript from the late John Grams in our manuscript files. There was no date on the envelope but it’s likely from the early 1990s. The article discusses 12 Lionel products that, while great inventions, were fraught with problems or didn’t work exactly as advertised. He included the following disclaimer: Lionel trains were […]
The history of Model Railroad Heaven in Rochester, New York
We are working on a new special issue! Classic Toy Trains’ next special interest publication features 14 layouts you can visit across the United States, from the The Choo Choo Barn, the Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Illinois Railway Museum, and much more. Plus, find a handy reference map and […]
Classic Toy Trains new products for July 2025
Locomotives & rolling stock The Train Loft, 4007-B Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27104, is selling a custom-run MTH Boxcar as part of the RailKing line. The car features holiday Cheerwine graphics and O-27 operation (30-71259). Expected delivery in October 2025. Price: $69.96. Website: trainloft.com Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ […]
Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Lionel CEO Howard Hitchcock interview
In this Trains.com exclusive, Lionel LLC CEO Howard Hitchcock fields interview questions from Classic Toy Trains Editor Rene Schweitzer at Lionel’s headquarters in Concord, North Carolina. Howard and Rene discuss the brand’s 125th anniversary, new products, NASCAR die-cast products, custom-run products, the future of the American Flyer line, and much more! You don’t want to miss […]
Are rail clamps a direct upgrade over joiners?
If you’ve ever experimented with garden railroading, one of the first hurdles you’ll probably encounter is getting reliable connectivity between track sections when using track power. Especially in outdoor settings, weather and terrain are going to present inevitable challenges to maintaining track performance. Track installation techniques and track hardware are the most obvious factors to […]
Lionel Collectors Club of America founder celebrates 90th birthday
Jim Gates, founder of the Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA), celebrated his 90th birthday on June 25. Jim began working on the real railroad as a senior in high school in 1953. He worked after school on the Milwaukee Road coal train that ran from Perry to Madrid, Iowa. He finished school at 3:15 […]
Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! wins several book awards
Roger Carp’s book, Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains! A Photo History of an American Icon, has won several awards. The title won Gold for Best Coffee Table Book from the National Indie Excellence Book Awards; Silver for Best History from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA); Silver for Best Coffee Table Book from IBPA, Silver for […]
