Bob’s Train Box Episode 79 Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Bob’s Train Box Episode 79! Bob Keller and CTT editor Hal Miller check out the latest O gauge holiday boxcar from Atlas O. They also look at buildings from Menards including the Halls of Handsome Barbershop, Cripple Creek Tractor Repair, and Sacred Heart Hospital. The […]
Train Topic: Beginners
Hosting a virtual operating session
Hosting a virtual operating session is change. During a thoughtful dinner conversation, a friend quipped: “Count on two things. People always complain about the way things are and they always complain about change.” But our hobby numbers remarkably resourceful people who do change. When COVID-19 protocols had people hunkering down, operating sessions began to reappear, […]
How to update your LionChief Universal Remote
Can’t get your new LionChief Universal Remote to pair with a locomotive? If the batteries are good, the device’s firmware might be the problem – it could be old and incompatible with your equipment, or just have bugs. Upgrading it might help establish a connection and get your trains rolling. The hand-held units […]
Bob’s Train Box Episode 77: 2021 in review
It’s 2021 in review as Bob and Hal look back at the big toy train news and products from The past 12 months, including the breakup (mostly) and sale of pieces of MTH Trains and how it has been a net gain for the company and the hobby. They also discuss structure and rolling stock […]
Bob’s Train Box Episode 77: 2021 in review
It’s 2021 in review as Bob and Hal look back at the big toy train news and products from The past 12 months, including the breakup (mostly) and sale of pieces of MTH Trains and how it has been a net gain for the company and the hobby. They also discuss structure and rolling stock […]
Alco C415 failure — Diesels that didn’t
Alco C415 failure was not what the famed locomotive maker had in mind in the 1960s. At the time, Alco saw a need to revamp its switcher offerings and came up with the offset centercab configuration C415, which launched as a demonstrator in 1966. The arrangement separated the prime mover from the radiator on different […]
7 Operating session tips
Seven operating session tips will help model railroaders step back from, or maybe step into, their layout by sharing the experience with others. For starters, operation gives a model railroad purpose. A layout compares with a theater’s stage, its props the scenery and rolling stock. In an operating session, this stage springs to life, re-creating […]
Bob’s Train Box Episode 76
We’re celebrating the happy holidays on Bob’s Train Box 76! In this installment, Bob Keller and guest Hal Miller look at new Menards buildings including the Ray’s Wrecker building flat. They also examine the O gauge Lionel Super Chief LionChief set. In addition Bob relates a story and a reminder about those oddball train gifts […]
Bob’s Train Box Episode 76
We’re celebrating the happy holidays on Bob’s Train Box 76! In this installment, Bob Keller and guest Hal Miller look at new Menards buildings including the Ray’s Wrecker building flat. They also examine the O gauge Lionel Super Chief LionChief set. In addition Bob relates a story and a reminder about those oddball train gifts […]
Visit an amazing 4′ x 8′ O gauge layout featuring Lionel, MTH, and K-Line trains
John Cunius is truly the “Chairman of the Board” when it comes to his O gauge layout. The display, in a corner of his train room, puts the “fun” in “functional.” It has shelves underneath that hold his collection of locomotives, cars, and other equipment. See this and many other space-saving designs in Classic Toy […]
Visit an amazing 4′ x 8′ O gauge layout featuring Lionel, MTH, and K-Line trains
John Cunius is truly the “Chairman of the Board” when it comes to his O gauge layout. The display, in a corner of his train room, puts the “fun” in “functional.” It has shelves underneath that hold his collection of locomotives, cars, and other equipment. See this and many other space-saving designs in Classic Toy […]
Review: Lionel Super Chief LionChief Santa Fe toy train set
Introducing the Lionel Super Chief LionChief set The Lionel Super Chief LionChief toy train set is a good-looking small passenger train set in a road name I really like. Lionel’s no. 84719 Santa Fe Super Chief LionChief set has been in the catalog since 2018, and there are good reasons the train maker keeps […]