December 2003

December 2003

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

SANTA’S WORKSHOP

The latest painting from toy train artist Angela Trotta Thomas.

BUILD THIS MONTH’S COVER LAYOUT

By Jim Riccioli

The first installment of a four-part series on turning your O gauge starter set into a 4- by 8-foot layout.

WHO LET THE LOGS OUT?

By Joe Algozzini , Roger Carp

Your guide to Lionel’s postwar operating log and barrel cars.

AMERICAN FLYER TRACK PLAN

By Jim Zare

Trains and Plasticville buildings on a 5- by 10-foot layout.

HOW TO REPAIR ROLLERS

By Ray L. Plummer

Replacement tips for prewar, postwar, and early modern-era trains.

LAYOUT IN A FLURRY

By Roger Carp

Visit an O gauge winter wonderland.

8 TIPS FOR SHOWING OFF

By Steven Seidel

How to successfully entertain visitors in your train room.

WINDY CITY LAYOUT

By Roger Carp

Visit a Christmas toy train layout at Chicago’s famed downtown Navy Pier.

BETTER TRACK BALLASTING

By Ray Stuber

Three ingredients – masking tape, paint, and ballast – for realism.

FRESH START FOR A CORRODED STEAMER

By Mike Hilbert

A postwar steamer corroded by battery acid gets a second life.

PLASTICVILLE MEETS DEPARTMENT 56

By Chris P. Matthy

Tips on painting Plasticville structures to match Department 56 buildings.

Departments

Editor’s Desk

Correspondence

News & Notes

Product News

Walthers gas station, S-Helper Service Christmas car, Texas beer refrigerator car, TrainScapes Christmas-tree layout base, Pride Lines clowns, K-Line caboose

Questions & Answers

Reader Showcase

Product Reviews

MTH Aerotrain, Lionel traditional-sized Berkshire, K-Line Iraqi Freedom set, Atlas O Dash 8 wide cab, Pride Lines station and terrace, Atlas O SD35

MTH RailKing New York Cental Aerotrain

K-Line Operation Iraqi Freedom starter set

Lionel Berkshire 2-8-4

Atlas O General Electric Dash 8-40BW

Pride Lines prewar-style mini-terrace

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