O gauge 0-6-0 by Atlas O

The locomotive designs created for American railroads during the First World War are familiar to readers of Classic Toy Trains. The designs combined some of the best concepts in modern locomotion and parlayed them into some impressive products that continued to evolve until the final years of steam power. Atlas O has set a high […]

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Bachmann 80 ton 3 truck shay

Bachmann 80 ton 3 truck shay

Bachmann 80 ton 3 truck shay This model is very detailed. The intricate connecting rods are entertaining to watch. Just like the real-world prototype, it handles the roughest track with ease. The model has directional lights and when running, a red glow from the firebox. A good buy available in DC or DCC. […]

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O gauge Brass C&O 4-8-4 by 3rd Rail

THE CHESAPEAKE & OHIO’S Greenbrier J-class 4-8-4 locomotives are among the most handsome power of the late steam era. Created to pull modern, air-conditioned trains on tight schedules through rough terrain, these monsters emerged from the Lima shops in 1935 and performed flawlessly. The C&O was so pleased, that the line ordered two more in […]

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O gauge F2/F3 Diesel by Atlas O

THERE IS NO MORE ICONIC locomotive in the world of model railroading than the Electro-Motive F3 diesel – the unquestioned monarch of the steam-to-diesel transition era. In the late 1940s, Lionel’s F3s rocked the O gauge world, and over the decades the range of F3s made for the O gauge world has gotten only better. […]

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O gauge Premier line K4s locomotive by MTH

THIS PREMIER LINE model is a scale version of one of the world’s most easily identified streamlined locomotives – the “Torpedo” version of the Pennsylvania RR’s K4s 4-6-2 Pacific. The Torpedo was one of the Pennsy’s finest locomotives. With a streamlined nose, the body designed to lift the wind up and around the train, lessening […]

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Locomotive lubrication

Q: I know that this sounds silly, but I get confused about what you are supposed to lubricate, especially the difference between the old postwar Lionel steamers and modern engines with can motors. Can you explain just what gets lubricated? – Erik via internet A: One similarity between postwar steamers and modern steam locomotives is […]

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Mojave & Death Valley RR

Track plan at a glance Name: Mojave & Death Valley RR Scale: On2 1/2 (1:48) Size: 10 x 12 feet Prototype: Death Valley RR Era: 1915 Mainline run: 44 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnouts: Peco medium Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of Model Railroader. See a PDF version of […]

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Atlas O’s O gauge SD40

Conrail limited (edition, that is)O gauge SD40 by Atlas OThe SD40 hails from the early years of dieselization’s second generation of motive power. Cataloged from 1966 through 1972, the 3,000-horsepower locomotive utilized a common frame shared by the Electro-Motive Division’s SD38, SD39, SDP40, and SD45. More than 880 were built, and the model spawned a […]

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