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Magazine: Classic Toy Trains
Schweitzer named new editor for Classic Toy Trains
Rene Schweitzer has been promoted to editor of Classic Toy Trains magazine. Rene has been with Kalmbach for nearly 28 years, and has worked for a number of brands, most recently CTT, Model Railroader, Classic Trains, and Books. Rene started her career working for CTT in 1995, and returned to the brand in 2014 as […]
Lionel Husky-Stack Cars
Lionel Husky Stack-Cars are now available. For the modern-day modeler, a hole in the market for the better part of the last decade would be the availability of scale intermodal cars. Atlas’s Gunderson well cars are next to impossible to find on the secondhand market, and previous releases by Lionel lacked details. Many were not […]
Locomotives We Love: Lionel Santa Fe Alco diesel
Lionel Santa Fe Alco diesel Q: What toy train locomotive means the most to you? A: The locomotive that means the most to me is the Lionel Santa Fe Alco diesel. Yes, that’s right, Lionel only called it an “Alco diesel” with no designation of Alco model. It’s decorated in the attractive Santa Fe “Bluebonnet” […]
Preview September and October 2023 CTT content
We’re always adding new content to our website. Here are some recent items you may have missed. A look at Menards 2023 Halloween village items Halloween village items are on the shelves at Menards. What might work for your layout this year? The return of the MTH RS11 Chris Montagna reviews the return of the […]
The return of the MTH RS11
The return of the MTH RS11: Making its first return to the MTH Premier Line since 2019, the Alco RS11 brings with it the grit and grind that we’ve come to love from Alco locomotives. From the unique angles on the frame to the cranking engine effects, this model will quickly become a favorite road […]
New ownership for the Choo Choo Barn
New ownership for the Choo Choo Barn Gary Russell of Stevens, Pa. purchased the Choo Choo Barn’s model train layout along with the adjoining Strasburg Train Shop in late April. Russell plans to increase the shop’s online presence, and expand the selection of large-scale trains in the shop. He also plans to upgrade the electronics on […]
A look at Menards 2023 Halloween village items
Have you seen the Menards 2023 Halloween village items yet? My husband and I have been waiting for them to show up on shelves, and this past weekend, they finally were out. There are a number of pieces you might like to add to your layout, and figures too. Without delay, here’s a look at […]
Lionel Union Pacific 4-12-2
The 9000 class steam locomotive was developed by Alco and built between 1926 and 1930. As if the twelve connected drive wheels weren’t unique enough, the 9000 class featured a third cylinder under the boiler which operated a second drive axle. This inner cylinder used Gresley gearing since the cylinder did not feature valve gear. […]
METCA Division custom-run models
The Metropolitan Division of the Train Collectors Association (METCA) recently announced the following custom-run models from Atlas O, Lionel, and MTH Electric Trains. Here’s a rundown of the O gauge models the group is offering. Visit the News & Reviews section of the Classic Toy Trains website for the latest headlines in toy trains. Atlas […]
Great Toy Train Locomotives
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Why do toy trains have track with three rails?
Why do toy trains have track with three rails? Q: Why are so many toy trains manufactured to use three rails? It seems to me that regardless of whether a train uses AC or DC, two rails are all that would ever be needed to deliver electricity to the locomotive. HO does just fine on […]
