OK, time for a show of hands. How many of you enjoy ballasting? That’s what I expected. Ballasting isn’t an aspect of the hobby most modelers enjoy. However, I’ve ballasted parts or all of several Model Railroader project layouts over the years, and I’ve come to enjoy adding those tiny granules to layouts. When I […]
The Menards Rocket Launching Tower is out and I have to say, it’s a lot of fun. Commencing countdown, engines on.” The words from the David Bowie song Space Oddity got stuck in my head when I saw this accessory. It harkens back to late 1960s Lionel when the race was on to put satellites […]
The history of the “Heritage Fleet” column is an interesting one. This regular feature in Model Railroader magazine between March of 1987 and March of 1990, helped toy train enthusiasts and scale modelers discover classic miniature locomotives, cars, and more designed and sold in the first 50 or so years of the 20th century. In […]
You can use old transformers with modern O and S gauge locomotives and keep the former from gathering dust under the bed. Many of us still have A.C. power packs from Lionel, American Flyer, and other manufacturers. They are still viable for good reason: durability and plenty of wattage. In addition to supplying juice to […]
Classic Toy Trains’ O and S gauge building flats round-up showcases manufacturers producing low-profile structures. These building flats mimic a full-size building but are generally only an inch or two deep. They may fit against a backdrop, or, if large enough, may actually be the backdrop. Modelers can use these at the edge of a […]
Name: Dave Tori’s S gauge layout Dimensions: 13 x 21 feet Track: Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer (diameters range from 36 to 54 inches) Switches: Gilbert American Flyer Motive power: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, Pennsylvania Heritage Models, S-Helper Service Rolling stock: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, S-Helper Service Controls: American […]
News & Products from the 2023 Railroad Hobby Show With the 2023 Railroad Hobby Show wrapping up, we thought it would be a perfect week to showcase the multiple new products released throughout the show. Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more […]
As modelers we take pride in our work, especially our layouts, whether they be a shelf layout, or a sprawling rail empire. One thing that we may not spend enough time doing, however, is taking care of said layout, especially cleaning it. We may run a track cleaning car around the mainline a few times […]
In this video, we revisit Dave Tori’s fantastic S gauge layout. It’s entertaining and calls to mind the American Flyer store displays of the past with lots of colorful trains, plenty of action, and many operating accessories. You can see it in the March-April 2023 issue of Classic Toy Trains. […]
In this video, we revisit Dave Tori’s fantastic S gauge layout. It’s entertaining and calls to mind the American Flyer store displays of the past with lots of colorful trains, plenty of action, and many operating accessories. You can see it in the March-April 2023 issue of Classic Toy Trains. […]
Winter is my favorite season, especially for watching trains. The snow gives everything in the background and foreground a pure, white canvas. Snow in the air gives photographs depth. Iced-over bodies of water give an awesome effect. It seems like snow scenes are quite rare when it comes to HO and N scale layouts, and […]
You’ve seen amazing model railroads of all scales highlighted in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. Now Trains.com Unlimited members can see them in action! Join layout builders, owners, and operators on exclusive, up-close, guided walking tours of the sights and sounds that promise to thrill and inspire. […]
