Why are my 1950s Lionel Geeps smoking? Q: I have a couple of Lionel Geeps from the 1950s. I took them out of the back and ran them for the first time in a long while the other night. All of a sudden, smoke started coming out of the cab windows. Are they junk now? […]
Fan won’t work on Lionel No. 3530 Generator Car Q: I’ve been have difficulty getting the “fan” to operate correctly on my Lionel No. 3530 Generator Car. It usually takes maximum transformer voltage, and even then the fan turns extremely slowly and stops on every full revolution. The vibrator motor has a rubber washer with […]
Q: I’d like some information about a Lionel tender numbered 234W and lettered for Lionel Lines. I can’t find any mention of this tender in Greenberg’s Guide to Lionel Trains. [Out of print–Ed.] Instead, the book shows a No. 243 engine with a tender numbered 243W. The tender is similar, but not the same. A: […]
Why do my trains slow down when I run them? Q. When I got back into the toy train hobby, I bought an MRC dual-contact transformer. Now I’m building a 13- by 16-foot layout with three track loops that are connected with switches. When I run several trains, things slow down. Should I consider buying […]
How do I store my toy trains? Q: How do I package and store my Lionel No. 2343 F3 diesel, which I run only once a year around the Christmas tree? Other than in a dry spot, what is the best way to store it? – Sean Mitchell, Corning, N.Y. A: Sean, you’re on the […]
The first German transportation agency to use hydrogen fuel cell passenger trains is opting for battery-electric trainsets for further replacement of diesel equipment, citing cost considerations. EVB (Eisenbahn und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser) began operating 14 Alstom-built hydrogen fuel-cell trains last year between Cuxhaven and Buxtehude, Germany, on behalf of regional transportation authority LNVG [see “World’s first […]
Navajo Transitional Energy Co.’s lawsuit against BNSF Railway, which seeks damages for the railway’s alleged failure to reach coal volume commitments, must head to arbitration, a federal judge ruled this week. NTEC filed suit against BNSF in December, claiming that the railroad’s preferential treatment of other mines cost it more than $150 million in revenue […]
Looking for a getaway from the busy beaches and themed parks of Florida? Check out these must-see tourist railroads, museums and displays across the Sunshine State, right out of Trains Magazine’s Tourist Trains Guidebook. Florida Tourist Railroads and Museums Central Florida Florida Railroad Museum – 12210 83rd Street E, Parrish Diesel-powered excursions traverse a 6-mile […]
The Menards Lamont Lanes Bowling Alley is a fun O scale accessory for your model railroad. Heck, you don’t even really have to have a layout to enjoy it. Any kegler might enjoy displaying it prominently on a shelf or even a basement bar! Looking for ways to improve the buildings on your layout? The […]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 2926 is scheduled to return to the Tractor Brewing Wells Park for a fundraising event on Aug. 26. The first visit was May 6 and marked the 4-8-4’s first public operation away from its restoration site [see “News photos: Santa Fe 2926 takes a short trip,” Trains […]
Ten must-see railroad engineering landmarks: While unfortunate to lose the steepest, U.S. standard-gauge climb in North Carolina’s Saluda Grade, there are thankfully many other railroad engineering landmarks across North America that continue to stand the test of time. Whether experiencing them by train, trackside or a mixture of both, here are our ten must-sees from […]
Southeast tourist railroads you must visit include museums full of regional history, logging railroads in the Allegheny Mountains, and everything in between. From Trains Magazine’s Tourist Trains Guidebook, here’s our list of tourist railroads, museums, and displays to experience across the region. Southeast Tourist Railroads and Museums Alabama Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum – 1919 […]
