Lionel’s 1950 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive was the workhorse of the post-World War II Lionel O gauge line. 800 x 600 wallpaper1024 x 768 wallpaper1600 x 1200 wallpaper […]
Lionel’s 1950 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive
Scale: O Scale
Lionel’s Super Speedliner
Lionel’s Super Speedliner, the first streamlined outfit, included everything that made the Lionel trains of the 1950s great – a wide array of add-on details, Magne-Traction, a horn, and more. Plus it wore the Santa Fe’s unforgettable red-and-silver paint scheme. 800 x 600 wallpaper1024 x 768 wallpaper1600 x 1200 wallpaper […]
Toy train insurance
If you live in a house, condominium, mobile home, or anywhere else, including a rental property, you have – or should have – homeowner’s insurance. Further, you may assume that your policy covers your collectible toy trains.But homeowner’s insurance wasn’t developed to cover losses pertaining to collectibles. Too often, policyholders learn the hard way that […]
FasTrack Formulas
The data found in this table, compiled by CTT reader Steven Bergerson, is a useful layout design tool in creating unique track plans. It was first published in the October 2009 issue, in the Tips, Tools, & Techniques column. FasTrack Formulas […]
Atlas O heavyweight passenger cars
AS THE PAGES OF CLASSIC TOY TRAINS HAVE DOCUMENTED, Atlas O’s Trainman line is that company’s range of affordable trains with O scale dimensions. What this means is that you have a scale-sized model, but some of the details may be a compromise (such as cast-in grab irons instead of add-on grab irons on a […]
Atlas O new through plate girder bridge
IN A VERY BROAD GENERALIZATION, I’d have to say that everyone has installed some sort of girder bridge on their layout. Whether it was a store-bought job or just some thin wood trimmed and modified to look like steel plate, the girder bridge is as ubiquitous on an O gauge layout, as say, a water […]
Atlas O 60-foot heavyweight passenger cars
Atlas O 60-foot heavyweight passenger cars Price: $84.95 ManufacturerAtlas O378 Florence Ave.Hillside, NJ 07205www.atlaso.com Era: 1910s to 1960s Comments: Modeled after relatively short cars, these new O scale heavyweight cars from Atlas O’s Trainman line can handle tight-radius curves without compromising prototype fidelity. The scale 60-foot cars are available in baggage, coach, combine (pictured), and […]
Tricky toy train terms
The toy train hobby, like any other, has its own language. We at Classic Toy Trains try to avoid using confusing jargon wherever possible, but we know there are some terms we use that may confuse new readers. Even if you’ve enjoyed trains for years, you may still run across terms that aren’t clear, or […]
HHP-8 passenger set by Lionel
THE LIONEL HHP-8 STARTER SET IS A STRIKING, TOTALLY-OUTSIDE-THE-BOX CONCEPT. Taking a step or three away from the typical 4-4-2-powered starter set, the HHP-8 set features a unique locomotive and some interesting passenger cars. This is a modern outfit (most sets are based on railroad equipment from the 1940s or ’50s) that looks pretty sharp […]
Santa Fe Flyer set by Williams by Bachmann
WHETHER YOU ARE AN ADULT OR A CHILD, I’D SPECULATE THAT YOU GOT INTO MODEL RAILROADING WITH A STARTER SET.No matter the scale, that first starter set can make or break your interest in the hobby. A well-constructed set with interesting components can snag you and make you want more. By contrast, a poorly made […]
CTT Visits a layout factory
Having a professional builder design and construct a toy train or scale model railroad may not be for everyone. But for those who want to take full advantage of 21st-century technology this may be the way to go. CTT Visits a layout factory […]
Bob Porge’s O gauge layout
Bob Porges has a rudimentary case of nostalgia backwards. Bob’s layout isn’t a reflection of the toy trains of his childhood – rather, it is a reflection of his life. In virtually every corner of his O gauge layout, you’ll find vignettes of Bob’s childhood, his family, his career, and even his financial portfolio, all […]
