Lionel’s postwar 44-ton diesels may be the most overlooked O gauge locomotives of the era. Collectors focus, instead, on the firm’s models of F3 cab units by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and the Train Master road diesels made by Fairbanks-Morse. Operators also like those powerful diesels as well as the big and small […]
Meet Mike Burgett What was your first train set (or locomotive)? A Lionel 0-27 scale Rio Grande steam engine, a Great Northern hopper, a Burlington Northern gondola, and one oval loop of track at about age 6. I got my first HO scale train, a Athearn “Blue Box” B&O F7A, at about age 8. After that […]
Just before the spring TCA York Show in April, Lionel started delivering some of the diesels from the 2023 Volume II catalog. One of those diesels was the GP30, the gritty workhorse from EMD. This Legacy-equipped model is packed with features and pumps out some serious sound, all in a frame that can safely navigate […]
We’re always adding new content to our website. Here’s some recent items you may have missed. Buyer’s guide to structures The one that got away Coming soon! Handicap accessability for toy train layouts Bob Keller writes about a locomotive he loves: Lionel’s No. 41 Army Switcher […]
Locomotives & rolling stock MTH has a series of Christmas items as part of their RailKing line. Available items include an O gauge Railing Alco PA A unit diesel (30-21253, $399.95, shown), an ES44AC Imperial diesel engine (30-21238, $399.95), a 4-car double-door plugged boxcar set (30-70131, $349.95), and much more. Delivery expected in October 2024. […]
I grew up around cars; my dad managed a tire/repair shop until his retirement. So when Bachmann offered to send a couple of their new E-Z Street vehicles for review, the answer was an easy yes. These vehicles are part of the former K-Line “Super Streets” line, renamed by Williams by Bachmann as E-Z Street. […]
Through our Trains.com website and the pages of Model Railroader magazine, you get a pretty good idea of what some of the hobby’s well-known names are working on. But not everything they do becomes an article for the website or magazine. In “What are you working on?” I surveyed some of our regular contributors to […]
I’ve attended numerous shows during my tenure at Kalmbach, from the local Trainfest show to garden railway conventions, but had never made it to the TCA Eastern Division York show. Finally, I attended my first one April 17-20. It was a whirlwind of activities, meeting contributors and vendors, and getting ideas for stories and layout […]
Model Railroader After Hours | April 25, 2024. After Hours is an informal livestream hosted by Trains.com staff members… after the “work” of the day is done, there’s aways something else fun! When David Popp needs to get away for the day, Cody Grivno returns to host this matinee edition in the MR Workshop. Our […]
Back on the sidetrack, David resumes construction of the drivers, plus the horses and mules used to pull the various wagons and carts he’ll place into his On30 layout scenes. Initial efforts in this episode involve the basic material prep and assembly of all the white metal parts and pieces in the selected kits. By […]
Even the smallest layout needs at least a few structures on it. We’ve compiled a list of manufacturers offering products in O and S scale. We’ve noted each manufacturer’s contact information, what type of structures, the material(s), and if the kits are lighted. Please contact the manufacturer directly if you have questions about their products. […]
While working the recent TCA Eastern Division York show, Roger Carp and I heard three rumors about the magazine. We’d like to share the questions–and answers–here. Classic Toy Trains is no longer printing issues Yes, we are still printing issues on a quarterly schedule. We also offer digital issues. If you’re a print subscriber, nothing […]
