Bob’s Train Box: Episode 59

Bob Keller holding an O gauge locomotive

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Bob’s Train Box returns with new O and S gauge models and ancillary toy train products! In this episode, host Bob Keller highlights the new Williams by Bachmann Chuggington diesel, 1:48 scale offerings from Menards, a full array of books and special publications, […]

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New products from the October 2015 issue

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS THE LCCA WAY: The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) has announced a limited-edition Christmas car made by Lionel. The commemorative O gauge model is a no. 6464-style boxcar with die-cast metal trucks and couplers and festive Christmas 2015 decorations. Only 550 cars will be produced. The car costs $69.99 plus $10 shipping […]

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New toy train products from the September 2015 issue

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FOR THAT COAL HAULING LAYOUT: The MTH RailKing Imperial no. 30-1641-1 Pennsylvania RR L1 2-8-2 Mikado is in stores now. The locomotive features O-31 operation and has a die-cast metal shell and tender, directional lighting, firebox glow, can-style motor, smoke unit, tender-mounted coil coupler, and the ProtoSound 3.0 sound and command system for $449.95. For […]

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New toy train products for the July 2015 issue

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HIGH-HOOD HEAVYWEIGHT: MTH Electric Trains has expanded its RailKing motive roster with an O gauge EMD SD9 painted and lettered for the Chessie System (Baltimore & Ohio). The no. 30-20196-1 diesel locomotive is capable of O-32 operation and features a metal frame and die-cast metal trucks and couplers, two can-style motors, an operating smoke unit, […]

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Menards Plumbing Supply structure

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Price: $79.99 (no. 2791902) Features: Assembled wood structure, interior illumination (power supply not included), plumbing-related details on exterior Order online at www.menards.com or visit your local Menards store during the holiday season I was a bit surprised when I received my latest box from Menards – having seen the firm’s preassembled wood barn and a […]

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O gauge assembled wood dairy barn from Menards

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Price: $69.95 (No. 2791992) Features: O gauge-compatible, wood construction, fully assembled and decorated, exterior lights.  Order online now at www.menards.com, or visit your local Menards closer to Christmas. When Menards, a regional home improvement chain, stuck a corporate toe in the water of selling seasonal train sets, it was great. When they began selling custom-run […]

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New products for September 2014

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 SWOON FOR MAROON: Lehigh Valley F3s return to the MTH Premier line with the no. 20-20401 F3 A-B-A set. The O gauge outfit features can-style motors, coil couplers, directional lighting, a smoke unit, and ProtoSound 3.0. The set will operate on O-31 curves. The current MTH catalog also lists the nos. 20402-1 Great Northern, 20403-1 […]

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New products for July 2014

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HERITAGE IN TWO SIZES: MTH Electric Trains’ salute to the Norfolk Southern Heritage paint schemes is well under way, with examples of several road names available in both the RailKing and Premier product lines. Shown on the left is the no. 30-20136-1 RailKing Illinois Terminal SD70ACe. On the right is the no. 20-20273-1 Premier Wabash […]

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New products for February 2014

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TAKE YOUR PASSENGERS TO THE SHED: Bridge Boss offers a line of train shed kits designed to service a variety of train scales. One version measures 48 x 24 x 24 inches for Large scale, Standard gauge, or O gauge trains. The other shed version is 24 x 16 x 16 inches for O, S, […]

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New products for November 2013

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TASTY FIXINS: The Long Island Toy Train Locomotive Engineers (LITTLE) is serving up another custom-run Lionel freight car decorated for Entenmann’s bakery. The O gauge car features Entenmann’s graphics and comes in a blue and white trimmed box. The car will be limited to the number ordered, and orders must be placed by January 10, […]

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Assembled O gauge wood tavern from Menards

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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 Menards steam freight set

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Though this train set from Menards arrived too late to get it into a pre-Christmas issue, I’m still tickled to review it because I believe it is a first for Classic Toy Trains: This may be the first chain store exclusive set we’ve ever reviewed. While sets of that nature were common in the 1950s […]

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