10 tips for a better holiday toy train display With the holidays on the way, we at Classic Toy Trains wanted to share ways to have a better holiday toy train display. Here are 10 tips from hobbyist David Smith. 1. Traditional O-27 tubular track allows for more varied track plans in a small space. […]
The Mandy Patinkin Lionel layout collection is loaded with realistic scenes packed with details. Trains, accessories, structures, and more from the post-World War II and Modern eras of Lionel production fill every square inch of an outstanding model railroad that fills much of a 17 x 42-foot room in the Patinkin household. Visiting Mandy and […]
In this episode, Host Gerry Leone acknowledges two areas on his layout where he needs to rethink the track arrangements. He discusses possible solutions and then shows how he rerouted the track on the lower and upper decks to fit his vision. Getting to know Gerry Leone Back on Track host Gerry Leone is just […]
An easy Halloween project for your O gauge railroad is sprucing up a store-bought holiday item to add to your layout. With a few supplies, you can complete this project. It’s appropriate for all skill levels, too, so the kids can help! While browsing the Halloween section at Menards, my husband found some fun décor […]
John Callahan’s HO scale East Berkshire Branch was featured in Great Model Railroads 2023. This is John’s second New England-themed railroad with that name; the layout includes several segments salvaged from his previous version, which was published in the March 2013 Model Railroader. For another look at John’s layout, watch his video on YouTube. You […]
The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection and his O gauge layout have fascinated Trains.com and Classic Toy Trains readers for years. Let’s use the photograph snapped long ago by Rebecca Saliture to explore what the “Chairman of the Board” owned and ran. The Frank Sinatra Lionel collection After World War II, Sinatra visited the Lionel showroom […]
In this episode, Host Gerry Leone departs from work directly on the layout itself. Instead, he shares his techniques for customizing an HO scale Walthers grain elevator kit into much larger structure for a specific space. Getting to know Gerry Leone Back on Track host Gerry Leone is just as clever as he is comedic! […]
MR&T Jenks Blue diesel locomotives: The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader’s staff layout, has been around for more than 45 years. Similar to many full-size railroads, the freelanced MR&T changed paint schemes on its diesel locomotives over the years. The railroad’s third – and current – paint scheme is Jenks Blue, which was introduced […]
Make a lake, part 4 – In this episode of the Back on Track mini-series, hosted by Gerry Leone on his HO scale Bona Vista model railroad, you’ll see how to apply the finishing touches and details on the water effects, painted backdrop, and adjacent shoreline scenery. All of this and more, as Gerry works […]
Editor Hal Miller previews the July August 2022 issue of Classic Toy Trains! We’ll visit a large club layout in Nassau, N.Y., learn about Lionel’s no. 9141 Burlington Northern gondolas, solve a mystery behind a Marx set, and visit an S gauge layout owned by Tom Barker. Plus, the latest new products, and reviews of […]
Make a lake, part 3 – It’s all water under the bridge for this episode of the Back on Track mini-series, hosted by Gerry Leone on his HO scale Bona Vista RR. With the lakebed colors applied, Gerry shows how to add water effects, as well as a few special details a keen-eyed visitor might […]
Enjoy these two vintage N scale track plans, taken from the 1969 Kalmbach Media book N Scale Model Railroad Track Plans. These two layouts were in a chapter called “Permanent Railroads.” Download the PDF containing both track plans. The Dapperling Railroad This line serves Cassville, Browntown, a mine, and a logging operation. During the […]
