Nashville’s REA terminal

Railway Express Agency Nashville terminal

Baggage-express cars are spotted at Railway Express Agency’s Nashville terminal in 1962. Several of REA’s distinctive delivery trucks can be seen on the other side of the building. Railway Express Agency photo […]

Read More…

Meet the modeler: John Vorhes

Model train next to a station

How did you get started in the hobby? My love of trains started when I was six years old, watching steam engines on a branch line of the Union Pacific in the late 40’s. I recall being swept away with the sounds and power of the Consolidation (2-8-0) locomotives that stopped in my Dad’s hometown. […]

Read More…

O gauge realism is Herb Lindsay’s legacy

O gauge railroad yard with trains.

O gauge realism is Herb Lindsay’s legacy. One of the landmark layouts featured in Classic Toy Trains over the years has been the O gauge model railroad designed and built by the late hobbyist and his talented wife and fellow modeler, Dagmar Lindsay. How articles about Herb’s realistic tribute to railroading in central Pennsylvania during […]

Read More…

Kitbash a large-scale bunkhouse

Model boxcar scene

  I like to spend my Saturday mornings going to garage sales. Occasionally I find something I can use for my large-scale railroad.  At one sale, I found a damaged Christmas Workshop sold by USA Trains. I paid the dollar asking price and brought my prize home. I had recently kitbashed a yardmaster’s office from […]

Read More…

Santa Fe’s new and old bridges

Santa Fe Railroad

During 1942–44, the Santa Fe replaced its 1890 through-truss bridge over the Colorado River with a higher-level deck-truss span. Sets of FT diesels pose with west- and eastbound freights during the short time that both bridges were in service. Santa Fe photo […]

Read More…

Bob’s Train Box Episode 77: 2021 in review

2021 in review with Bob and Hal

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 […]

Read More…

Bob’s Train Box Episode 77: 2021 in review

2021 in review with Bob and Hal

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 […]

Read More…

Bridge replacement on the Katy

20151123

A crane lowers into place the next-to-last plate girder of a new bridge that will replace a wood trestle on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas. The BETHLEHEM lettering on the plate girder indicates the maker of the steel. MKT photo […]

Read More…

Chicago’s old Monroe Street Union Station

20180102

Before the current Chicago Union Station was opened in 1925, trains of the PRR, CB&Q, and Milwaukee Road used a terminal, Monroe Street Union Station, at roughly the same riverfront location. In this 1919 view, CB&Q Lounging Car No. 201 is on the rear of a Burlington train ready to depart south while Milwaukee 4-6-2 […]

Read More…

Meet the Modeler: Peter Atonna

A scene on Peter Atonna’s layout

    Hi-rail O gauge modeler Peter Atonna’s work last graced the cover of Classic Toy Trains in October 2017, but his relationship with the magazine goes back at least two layouts to the May 1997 issue. His current one, the detail-packed Seligman & Paulden Lines, showcases the best of long passenger and freight trains […]

Read More…