An American Flyer S gauge train display construction video shot by Tom Barker; his layout appears in the July-August issue of Classic Toy Trains. The item is inspired by a vintage American Flyer train dealer display. Subscribers can click here to see video of the layout in action. […]
Tom Barker’s S gauge layout is inspired by a vintage American Flyer dealer display. It features a lot of action and fun! It appears in the July-August issue of Classic Toy Trains. Subscribers can see how he built the circular four-tier structure that’s the centerpiece of the layout here. […]
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 […]
Here’s how to install the LionChief app on your smartphone or tablet and get the most out of your Bluetooth-equipped Lionel locomotives. Years ago, there was only one way to run our toy trains, and that was with a transformer. Today, we’re fortunate to have a lot of options to control our trains, including remotes […]
Learning to install the LionChief app on your smartphone or tablet is nothing to fear. Years ago, there was only one way to run our toy trains, and that was with a transformer. Today, we’re fortunate to have a lot of options to control our trains, including remotes that come with sets and smart devices […]
Learning to install the LionChief app on your smartphone or tablet is nothing to fear. Years ago, there was only one way to run our toy trains, and that was with a transformer. Today, we’re fortunate to have a lot of options to control our trains, including remotes that come with sets and smart devices […]
The 2021 Lionel American Flyer catalog announced the production of a Legacy-equipped light 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive. It was exciting to hear the tooling for it was going to be used again; the company produced a number of models of these United States Railroad Administration-designed engines from 2006 to 2008 as well as a light 2-8-2 […]
Let’s talk about toy train starter set basics. Whether you’ve been away from the hobby for several decades or are buying a beginner outfit as a gift, you’re in for some fun! These packages have gone high-tech in the past few years but – fear not! – they still offer an easy, straightforward path to […]
Spring TCA York 2022 notes from the field. CTT Editor Hal Miller visits the April 28-30 Eastern Division of the Train Collectors Association event in York, Pa. He checks out the O, S, and Standard gauge trains and talks to some of the personalities at the show, including YouTubers Chris’s Trains & Things, Sid’s Trains, […]
How to buy a toy train is a subject I’m frequently asked about. My focus is on trains and accessories from the post-World War II era, but I venture into the prewar and modern periods, too. In the past 25 years, Atlas, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Williams, Weaver, and others have produced locomotives and rolling stock […]
The May June 2022 issue of Classic Toy Trains features Chris Raines’ layout and his YouTube channel, how to repair American Flyer’s no. 290 steam locomotive, a combination O gauge/Standard gauge layout, plus reviews of Lionel’s baby K4 steam locomotive and Menards hospital building, the latest new products, tips, and much more! Subscribers can […]
The birth of Classic Toy Trains magazine I was hired as copy editor for both CTT and Model Railroader in February of 1988, just a few months after the premier issue of CTT hit newsstands in the autumn of the previous year. To understand the origins of Classic Toy Trains, we need to turn our attention to […]
