December 2002

December 2002

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.

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Features

BUILD A HOLIDAY LAYOUT FROM STYROFOAM SHEETS

By Mark Edwards

This clever ring-shaped layout can be built entirely from plastic foam with just a few hours of work.

LAYOUT LOOK-BACK

The final installment of our look back at layouts published in the first 15 years of CLASSIC TOY TRAINS magazine focuses on Christmas.

PUT MTH CATENARY ON YOUR LAYOUT

By Neil Besougloff

MTH’s catenary set offers flexibility right out of the box.

BUILDING HOLIDAY SPIRIT

By Bob Keller

You can build a Christmas layout just like the Coleman family.

MAKE AN ELEVATED BRIDGE LINE

By Dick Teal

Simple wood components create the look of girder bridges.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

By John A. Grams

Your photos of toy trains around the tree.

VISIT A PRO-BUILT LAYOUT

By Paul J. Dolkos

Today, Jack Fox is “old enough to play” with his custom-built O gauge layout.

THE BEST DIESELS LIONEL NEVER MADE

By Len Carparelli

Green Alco diesels lead this “newly minted” postwar set.

DREAM COLLECTION

By Roger Carp

Joe Grzyboski has the postwar trains everyone wants.

DEVELOPING FLYER’S OIL DRUM LOADER

By Ted E. Hamler

A mysterious and prolific outsider created one of American Flyer’s most enduring accessories.

HOW TO WIRE A CROSSING GATE AND SIGNAL

By Louis Koumoundouros

How to wire Lionel’s crossing gate and signal three different ways.

Departments

Editor’s Desk

Correspondence

News & Notes

Point of View

Product News

K-Line’s American Freedom Train, Kramer Products animated workers, S gauge Frisco cars

Questions & Answers

Talkin’ Toy Trains

Product Reviews

Lionel New York Central SD80MAC

Academy Models 1:48 scale tanks

MTH RailKing Alco RS-27 diesel

JFP’s Fun Stuff reproduction Dorfan electric locomotive

K-Line Pennsylvania steam starter set

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