December 2013

December 2013

By Angela Cotey | October 19, 2020

| Last updated on November 3, 2020

In the pages of CLASSIC TOY TRAINS magazine you’ll find information about building, operating, and enhancing toy train layouts; track plans, repair and maintenance tips, profiles of collectible postwar and prewar trains, and more.

RENEW

DIGITAL EDITIONS

GIVE A GIFT

BUY THIS ISSUE

Features

INNOVATION AND REALISM RIDE THREE RAILS ON THIS REALISTIC PIKE

By Roger Carp

Ideas galore are found on Jay Cain’s creative 12 x 30-foot O gauge layout.

LIONEL’S BEST OPERATING CARS

By John A. Grams

Two experts discuss Lionel’s best operating cars of the postwar era.

BUILD A PORTABLE HOLIDAY LAYOUT

By David Smith

This folding 4 x 6-foot O gauge railroad is perfect under the tree.

BUILDING GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL’S TOY TRAIN LAYOUT

By Roger Farkash

The man behind the Big Apple’s holiday train layout tells how it was done.

A HOLIDAY VISIT WITH THE QUEEN

By Roger Carp

Becky Chestney, a frequent contributor to the www.ClassicToyTrains.com Forum, shares her holiday layouts.

FROM STARTER SET TO 5 X 8-FOOT LAYOUT – WE SHOW YOU HOW!

By Kent Johnson

Follow along as we expand a train set oval into a full-featured O gauge layout.

PREWAR LIONEL BLUE COMET SET: ONE TRAIN, 75 YEARS OF MEMORIES

By Mike Seibert

A family’s love of a Lionel Blue Comet outfit spanned decades of Christmases.

AMERICAN FLYER AT ITS FINEST

By George Hoffer

An appreciation of the landmark S gauge line offered 60 years ago.

Departments

Editor’s Desk

TOY TRAINS & TRADITIONS

Letters

Photo Album

News

Questions & Answers

Collectible Classics

Marx no. 25335 steam freight set

Views from the Underground

Weekend Workshop

HOW I MADE A TEMPORARY WINTER SCENE FOR THIS MONTH’S COVER

Reviews

O GAUGE PREWAR-STYLE FREIGHT SET BY LIONEL (MTH)

O GAUGE RAILKING DIESEL FREIGHT SET BY MTH

Email Newsletter