Assembled O gauge wood tavern from Menards

menardstavern

I always like receiving a big box from regional hardware chain Menards. You never know what toy train goodness it will contain. Popping the strapping tape on this one surprised me. This is a two-story commercial building with the first floor occupied by a tavern and a second floor that could be either apartments or […]

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O gauge armored train by Lionel (MTH)

armoredtrain

Armored trains have quite a history, dating back as far as the American Civil War. Trains offered speed and flexibility for the movement of troops and supplies and could serve as artillery platforms. Of course, once that advantage was realized, opponents sought ways to interdict the movement through placement of mines, destruction of bridges and […]

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Frank Knautz’s realistic O gauge layout

Frank Knautz’s compact 11 x 11-foot O gauge railroad features realistic city scenes and landscaping that recreate events from the lives of his parents, blending elements of the past and present to create a realistic layout on which to run his vintage trains. […]

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Lou Palumbo’s O gauge layout

    In addition to writing “Views from the Underground,” a popular column in CTT, Lou Palumbo owns the Underground Railroad Shoppe in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Inside the shop dwells a 16 x 28-foot O gauge layout packed with trains, structures, and fun! The layout is open for public display between Thanksgiving and the end […]

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S gauge SD70ACe diesel by American Flyer (Lionel)

AFdiesel

In the September 2013 issue, I offered a critique of Lionel’s well-executed American Flyer passenger cars done in the postwar style. Although the cars were nicely made, their design followed the limited detailing of an older day, and so might not be up to par with a scale-detailed model railroader. This time we’ll examine an […]

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New products for September 2013

CTT-PN0913_1192

A LONG TRAIN FOR A LONG JOURNEY: Atlas continues the California Zephyr series with two new cars: a streamlined dining car (Silver Banquet shown) and a 16-section sleeping car (Silver Aspen). Each O gauge car features scale detailing, interior detailing and LED lighting, and window treatments. Both cars are available undecorated, or in Amtrak, Burlington […]

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Layout visit: Kent Johnson’s O scale Canadian Pacific

Kent Johnson's O scale Canadian Pacific

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader and Classic Toy Trains staff member Kent Johnson has a fabulous 3-rail O scale layout in his basement depicting the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Kent applies the same weathering and realism to his toy-train layout that one would to a scale railroad, […]

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Jeff Silk’s Mount Marlborough RR

    In the September 2013 issue, explore Jeff Silk’s stunning 26 x 50-foot O gauge Mount Marlborough RR. This layout takes you across the Golden State through landscapes inspired by the Silk family’s favorite destinations. This video is courtesy of TM Books & Video. […]

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