January 2012

January 2012

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 BASIC TRAIN TABLE

By Carl Swanson

Dream bigger and build better

MAKE A GRADE CROSSING

By Peter H. Riddle

Asphalt crossings for your railroad.

WIRE A TROLLEY STOP

By Don Miller

Add hands-off action with automatic trolley stops.

TEACH THE GATEMAN NEW TRICKS

By David Farquhar

Check out these alternate ways to wire Lionel’s venerable Gateman.

PLAN A ROOM-SIZE FIGURE-EIGHT

By Dennis Brennan

Practical tips and techniques for assembling building kits.

HOW FAST ARE YOUR TRAINS GOING?

By John Rusterholz

Calculate the speed of any toy train.

A HOBBY SHOP IN A BASEMENT!

By Roger Carp

Bob Pasztor re-created an entire postwar train store in his home.

THE POLAR EXPRESS IN CHICAGO

By Roger Carp

Christmas whimsey meets big-city action on John Smith’s layout.

1935: A TRAIN DREAM DEFERRED

By Jack Warford

1940: FLYER UNDER THE TREE

By Raymond Kruczek

TODAY: FINALLY, THE CAR I WANTED

By Buddy Schwartz

LIONEL’S ANIMATED GONDOLA

By Joe Algozzini

A postwar favorite makes a comeback. Subscribers can watch it in action here.

Departments

Editor’s Desk

A SILVER ANNIVERSARY

Questions & Answers

News & Notes

Correspondence

Photo Album

News

Tips, Tools, & Techniques

Reviews

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY ONLINE EXTRA:O GAUGE MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS DIESEL SUPER FREIGHT SET BY LIONEL

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY ONLINE: EXTRA O GAUGE KEYSTONE EXPRESS STARTER SET BY WILLIAMS BY BACHMANN

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY ONLINE EXTRA: STANDARD GAUGE FREIGHT SET BY MTH (LIONEL CORP. TINPLATE LINE)

Collectible Classics

American Flyer’s no. 647 Northern Pacific refrigerator car

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