Jeff Silk’s Mount Marlborough RR

    In the September 2013 issue, explore Jeff Silk’s stunning 26 x 50-foot O gauge Mount Marlborough RR. This layout takes you across the Golden State through landscapes inspired by the Silk family’s favorite destinations. This video is courtesy of TM Books & Video. […]

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A FasTrack scheme with a surprising secret

schematic of track plan

Layout designer: Peter Riddle Scale: O Layout size: 6 1/2 x 11 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the September 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. A FasTrack scheme with a surprising secret A FasTrack scheme with a surprising secret schematic A FasTrack scheme with a surprising secret components […]

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O gauge United Aircraft TurboTrain by MTH

CTT-PR0913_50A

The 1960s were dark days for railroading in general, and passenger railroading in particular. Government regulation, unwise union contracts, mismanagement by railroad owners, and the transition from a manufacturing economy to an information economy were wreaking havoc in the transportation world. In spite of the fact that customers had largely fled the passenger train in […]

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S gauge American Flyer passenger cars by Lionel

passenger

With the invigoration of Lionel’s American Flyer product line and the sale of S-Helper Service to MTH Electric Trains, the S gauge market appears to be entering a new epoch that may permanently divide old school and new school S gaugers. Before we step through the looking glass into this brave new world, I wanted […]

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Atlas Model Railroad O scale Budd short dome car

AtlasModelRailroadOscaleBuddshortdomecar

Atlas Model Railroad O scale Budd short dome car Mention Vista-Dome and most modelers immediately think of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s Zephyr fleet. Of these trains, the California Zephyr was the most famous, with five Vista Domes in its regular all stainless-steel consist. Three railroads participated in the CZ’s daily service between Chicago and […]

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FasTrack on a tabletop

drawing of square track plan

Layout designer: Terry Thompson Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. FasTrack on a tabletop FasTrack on a tabletop schematic FasTrack on a tabletop components […]

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O gauge Conventional Classics Berkshire passenger set from Lionel

conclassic

The latest entry in Lionel’s popular Conventional Classics series of postwar reissues is the magnificent no. 2146WS steam passenger set. That train, originally fielded in the 1948 and 1949 catalogs, was powered by Lionel’s mightiest steam locomotive of the time – the no. 726 2-8-4 Berkshire – and included a trio of Irvington-series heavyweight passenger […]

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O gauge GP35 by Lionel

gp35

It is a well-known fact that anything painted red goes faster. Be it a Chevy pickup, a fire truck, or a diesel locomotive, the color red enhances the object’s overall performance. Hey, if you don’t believe me, look it up. It’s true! The new Lionel Legacy GP35 doesn’t need red paint to make it cool. […]

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GG1 in action

Terry Thompson took a Lionel GG1 in need of some care and brought it back for trouble-free operation. Learn how to repair and maintain the Lionel GG1 in the July 2013 issue of CTT, and enjoy this video of his renewed GG1 running on our D-146 project layout. […]

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