TCA Fall York 2022: a report from the show

TCA fall york 2022 visiting Atlas O booth

TCA Fall York 2022 is a jumble of letters and numbers to the uninitiated. But to Classic Toy Trains and Trains.com readers, it means something specific and fun. The York Train Show hosted by the Eastern Division of the Train Collectors Association is held bi-annually in April and October on the York, Pa., Fairgrounds. The […]

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2022 Lionel Legacy SD40-2 has railroad-specific details

Lionel Legacy SD40-2 front view

The 2022 Lionel Legacy SD40-2 is no stranger to the train-maker’s catalog. The most recent release is the first since 2018. For this round, announced in 2022 Volume 1, Lionel offered four road names and five paint schemes each with a powered and non-powered option. The railroads offered were Burlington Northern; BN in a Spirit […]

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Lionel John Bull display set review

Lionel John Bull display set

The Lionel John Bull display set is a historical piece from the 2021 Volume I catalog. The company cataloged this in three versions: the “Display Set” which features the engine and one coach on two flatcars; a Camden & Amboy set with three coaches; and a “What-if?” Uncle Sam (John Bull’s cartoon U.S. counterpart) set […]

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Halloween-themed toy train photos

Scene on Halloween-themed layout

To celebrate the season, enjoy a photo gallery of Halloween-themed toy train layout photos. While Christmas is king with many toy-train collectors and operators, Halloween isn’t that far behind. Manufacturers like Lemax and Department 56 sell fall and Halloween-themed buildings, accessories, and figures that work will on layouts. If you’d like to build a Halloween […]

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Lionel Cardinal’s train set review

Lionel Cardinals train set

The Lionel 1926 Cardinals Train Set was offered in the 2021 Lionel Volume I “Big Book.” It’s a top-of-the-line Legacy outfit that features a recently cataloged 4-6-2 USRA Pacific steam locomotive, a combination car, two Pullman coaches, and an observation car. The base set gives you an 98-inch passenger train requiring O-54 curves. Lionel offers […]

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Lionel Cardinal’s train set review

Lionel Cardinals train set

The Lionel 1926 Cardinals Train Set was offered in the 2021 Lionel Volume I “Big Book.” It’s a top-of-the-line Legacy outfit that features a recently cataloged 4-6-2 USRA Pacific steam locomotive, a combination car, two Pullman coaches, and an observation car. The base set gives you an 98-inch passenger train requiring O-54 curves. Lionel offers […]

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Celebrate CTT’s 35th anniversary and the holidays

Celebrate CTT's 35th anniversary

Help celebrate CTT’s 35th Anniversary in the Nov.-Dec. 2022 issue! The cover features a specially painted set of Lionel F3s done by Len Carparelli. His business, L&L Model Train Restoration Co. celebrates a milestone anniversary of its own; we have a look at some of his work over the years. Of course, there’s also a […]

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Lionel F3 sets that never were

Lionel catalog page with train sets

Lionel F3 sets that never existed are a constant source of conversation among collectors. One area of focus is the late 1940s. Amid the ordinary items produced in vast quantities, there were some advertised that were probably never produced – but maybe they were. Lionel’s first O gauge F3 diesels came in freight sets with […]

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Lionel 1926 Cardinals Train Set review

Lionel 1926 Cardinals Train Set overall view

Lionel’s 1926 Cardinals Train Set was kind of hidden in the pages of the 2021 Lionel Volume I “Big Book” behind the re-release of the 2-10-10-2; the Mohawks and Camelbacks; the Acela sets; and the Asa Packer, New Hope & Ivyland consists. It’s a high-end Legacy outfit that features a newly cataloged 4-6-2 Pacific steam […]

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