February 2003

February 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

TWO TIMES A RAILROAD

By Roger Carp , Lee Vande Visse

S gauger Richard Arsenault built complementary hi-rail layouts.

12 DESIGN TIPS

By Steven Seidel

Advice to build a better layout using sectional track.

READER SHOWCASE

Get a photo of your layout into CLASSIC TOY TRAINS through this new regular feature.

LIONEL’S “BIGGEST” ACCESSORY

By Roland E. LaVoie

The no. 1045 operating watchman towers above its contemporaries.

JACK’S LAYOUT ADVENTURE

By Roger Carp

Jack Hornor’s traditional-style O gauge layout is quiet enough for a living room.

NEW SMOKE FROM AN OLD ENGINE

By Ray L. Plummer

How to convert a postwar Lionel locomotive from pellets to liquid smoke.

THE NEXT LEVEL OF COLLECTING

By Roger Carp

How does a veteran postwar collector keep interested? By chasing Lionel sets.

BUILD AN O GAUGE TRACK-CLEANING CAR

By Peter Corrigan

Here’s an easy way to build your own track cleaner from an existing car.

BUILD A STANDARD GAUGE TRACK CLEANER

By Egon DeZubay

A wooden frame, Standard gauge trucks, and a cleaning pad are all you need for brighter track.

FLYER’S MULTI-PURPOSE CAR

By Joe Deger

Three different loads made the most of this postwar concept.

HOW TO WIRE A CROSSING GATE

By Louis Koumoundouros

Wiring Lionel’s crossing gate three different ways.

Departments

Editor’s Desk

Correspondence

News & Notes

Product News

Lionel “Desert Storm” diesel and AEC caboose, Bassett-Lowke 4-6-2 Princess Elizabeth reproduction, custom Weaver Pennsylvania boxcars

Questions & Answers

Talkin’ Toy Trains

Layout scenery can hide unattractive sights

Product Reviews

Lionel Standard gauge, Commodore Vanderbilt set, MTH B&O 2-8-8-2, Marx Army engine, MTH subway set, MTH 0-4-0T Docksider

Lionel Standard gauge Commodore Vanderbilt set

MTH Premier line Y3-class 2-8-8-2

Marx Thor Army unit

MTH Premier line R-32 subway set

MTH RailKing New York Central 0-4-0T switcher

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