Winter 2024

The Winter 2024 cover of Classic Trains magazine, which features a locomotive with a striped red and white front end moving towards the camera in a snowy winter location

Welcome – Still has the connections Head End – A potpourri of railroad history, then and now Mileposts – Commentary by Kevin P. Keefe True Color – Katy green-and-yellow Short Rails – Illinois Central in Wisconsin The Way It Was – Tales from railfans and railroaders Classics Today – Preserved NYC steam Looking Back – […]

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Winter 2024

The Winter 2024 cover of Classic Toy Trains magazine

Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 YOUR LETTERS, pg. 6 YOUR PHOTOS, pg. 8 NEWS & REVIEWS, pg. 13 Lionel Base3, MTH FP45, Atlas GP38-2, LCCA boxcar, and more COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS, pg. 17 Wyandotte Toys windup train set QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, pg. 66 Lionel F3s won’t run; 022 switches are sluggish, and more […]

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March 2025

The March 2025 cover of Trains magazine, which features a train crossing a bridge over a body of water

In every issue News, p. 4 VIA Rail Canada’s equipment request includes dome cars; Trains.com forums return Bill Stephens, p. 8 UP-short line deal aims to improve service John Hankey, p. 10 Why 2025? Railroading’s bicentennial is surprisingly complex Great Railfan Roads, p. 44 Follow California 99 for busy Central Valley railroad action Brian Solomon, […]

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March 2025

The March 2025 cover of Model Railroader magazine

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 What is the ‘play value’ in model railroading? NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 16 MR&T paint scheme history STEP BY STEP, pg. 19 Do-it-yourself photo backdrops ON OPERATION, pg. 60 […]

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February 2025

The February 2025 cover of Trains magazine, which features a black steam locomotive leading a train of black and red freight cars

In every issue News, p. 4 G&W’s CEO says the rail industry needs to innovate; Amtrak launches Floridian Bill Stephens, p. 8 What will happen if railroads can’t grow? John Hankey, p. 10 When disaster strikes, are railroads obligated to help the communities they serve? Brian Solomon, p. 48 Changing trains is an opportunity for […]

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February 2025

The February 2025 cover of Model Railroader which features two locomotives on elevated trestle bridges

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Making accurate models from reality NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 18 Where to find HO scale double-shelf couplers RAILWAY POST OFFICE, pg. 22 Letters from our readers STEP BY STEP, […]

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January 2025

The January 2025 cover of Trains magazine, which features a black and orange locomotive moving towards the photographer

In every issue News, p. 6 CSX and Norfolk Southern hit hard by Hurricane Helene Bill Stephens, p. 10  Railroads should use steam to polish their images John Hankey, p. 12  The enduring connection between Christmas and trains Great Railfan Roads, p. 44 Rail action on both banks of the upper Mississippi River Brian Solomon, […]

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January 2025

The January 2025 cover of Model Railroader magazine

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Welcome to the hobby! NEWS AND REVIEWS, pg. 10 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 18 Identifying buffer cars STEP BY STEP, pg. 24 How to model an industry-specific vehicle ON OPERATION, pg. 68 Super-sized operating […]

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Fall 2024

The Fall 2024 cover of Classic Trains magazine, which features a yellow locomotive and a red locomotive running alongside one another against a blue background

Welcome – The intermodal revolution Head End – A potpourri of railroad history, then and now Fast Mail – Letters from readers on our Summer 2024 issue Mileposts – Commentary by Kevin P. Keefe True Color – Contrasts at LaGrange Sequence – Milwaukee Road mail train Short Rails – East Jordan & Southern Classics Today […]

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Fall 2024

The Fall 2024 cover of Classic Toy Trains magazine, which features a red and yellow toy train locomotive passing over a bridge on a toy train layout

Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 YOUR LETTERS, pg. 6 YOUR PHOTOS, pg. 8 NEWS & REVIEWS, pg. 13 Lionel SD50, LCCA boxcar, Menards cattle car, Atlas E8, and more COLLECTIBLE CLASSICS, pg. 17 Lionel’s No. 3484 Operating Boxcar QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, pg. 56 Poultry Dispatch Car repair, Marx boxcar paint scheme, and […]

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December 2024

The December 2024 cover of Trains magazine, which features a red and yellow locomotive moving towards the photographer in a forested setting with lush greenery on both sides of the train

In every issue News, p. 4 InnoTrans brings together the rail world’s new products Bill Stephens, p. 8 Amtrak flexes legal muscles vs. its host railroads John Hankey, p. 10 First day: You never know how things will turn out Great Railfan Roads, p. 44 Across the Canadian prairies Brian Solomon, p. 48 Cool train […]

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