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Atlas O’s Industrial Rail trolley set
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Customize your Bachmann K-27 with these modifications
Dave Goodson Note: These modifications are optional. They do not change the runability or performance of the locomotive. Modification #1: Front couplerThe couplers that come installed with some of these locomotives are short-shank units. The front coupler, if the jaw is open, has about a 1″ throw, side-to-side. With the jaw closed, it is about […]
Lionel O gauge Postwar Celebration
While the reissue of Lionel’s no. 2551W outfit as a Postwar Celebration Series set did not include the no. 110 trestle set or any Super O track sections to assemble into the “Hairpin-Turn” configuration, this millennium version of that classic from 1960 is every bit as “super” as its predecessor. The Great Northern EP-5 electric-profile […]
O gauge trolley set by Atlas O
During the original incarnation of the Industrial Rail line, one of the nicest products offered was that trolley car (see my review in the May 2001 issue). It was an authentic-looking, traditional-sized (O-27) model that ran quietly, had the popular bumper-activated reverse unit for point-to-point operation, and was offered in three paint schemes. Industrial Rail […]
Running multiple trains with a ZW
Q: I know there are four variable voltage controls on my Lionel 275-watt ZW transformer, but how many trains can I effectively run at the same time? – D. O. A: The number of trains you can run with a ZW depends on the locomotives and what they’re pulling. Large steamers and dual-motored diesels use […]
Tom Danneman’s ideas for restyling BNSF
When Editor Wrinn mentioned his idea for an upcoming editorial (“BNSF, CSX, Please Buy a Vowel,”page 4, February 2008), I was in total agreement. I mentioned to him that since we were going ahead and renaming BNSF to Great Western, why don’t I fix their paint scheme while I’m at it. Jim thought that an […]
No juice
Q: I have a Lionel no. 1033, 90-watt transformer that works fine. However, after abut 10 minutes of operation, any locomotive begins to slow considerably, eventually stopping altogether. The engine is okay, and I’ve used other transformers with it. Any idea what’s wrong? – S.B. A: The symptions you described lead me to believe your […]
News & Products for the week of December 27, 2007
HO scale locomotivesElectro-Motive Division F7A diesel locomotives. Western Pacific. Five-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels, screw-mounted chassis, and operating headlights and Mars lights. A-A set without sound $279.98, with dual-mode sound decoder $419.98. April 2008. Ready-to-run. Genesis. Athearn Trains HO scale freight carsEvans 50-foot double-plug-door boxcar. Wisconsin & Southern Strides Against Cancer. RP-25 contour metal […]
PDF: Build a 1:20.3 scale doctor’s buggy
Download the PDF of this project here. Click on the icon to download this PDF project. Note: This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the […]
Tag Gorton’s Live Steam Workshop book
Tag Gorton’s Live Steam WorkshopPublished by Atlantic PublishersAvailable in the US from:Carstens PublicationsAttn: John Earley108 Phil Hardin RoadNewton NJ 078608¼” x 11½”, softbound, 82 pagesISBN: 1-902827-15-5Price: £11.95Web site: www.atlanticpublishers.com In this book, Tag Gorton takes us on a good-natured ramble into the world of cosmetically fixing up commercial live-steam models. The title is actually a […]
Where are the parts?
Q: Could you please tell me how I can find parts for my Lionel trains, which were made from 1949-1965? I am trying to restore them for my son. Is there a place to order parts? Is it from Lionel? How do I go about contacting them? – J.S. A: Most parts are still available. […]
Your Favorite Railroad Books
I thought of “Portrait of the Rails” by Don Ball, Jr. immediately when reading Jim Wrinn’s editorial about favorite railroad books. As a child I spent hours gazing at the photos it contained of steam trains billowing smoke and funny looking streamliners while my dad would tell me stories about the trains of the 40’s […]
