Introducing the all-new Trains.com Forum! Become a part of our Community! >>VISIT NOW
You might recognize my name as a restorer of Lionel trains, this having been my livelihood for more than 50 years. Some people may question my sanity in giving up “secret” painting tips that I have used for decades; I don’t mind at all. If I can make the hobby more enjoyable to my fellow […]
Lionel has released their Base3 control system, and CTT unboxes and tests the product. Editor Rene Schweitzer and Contributing Editor Bob Keller offer some tips and tricks for operation, and demonstrate the Polar Express engine on the CT&T in-house layout. Read a review from Chris Montagna about the Base3. Learn more about this system at […]
Lionel has released their Base3 control system, and CTT unboxes and tests the product. Editor Rene Schweitzer and Contributing Editor Bob Keller offer some tips and tricks for operation, and demonstrate the Polar Express engine on the CT&T in-house layout. Read a review from Chris Montagna about the Base3. Learn more about this system at control.lionel.com Find […]
Locomotives & rolling stock Pat’s Trains has announced a custom-run MTH AC6000 engine as part of the Premier line. The engine features Proto-Sound 3.0, operates on O-42 curves, and is decorated in B&O livery. Two versions will be available, cab No. 7813 (20-21933-1, shown) and cab No. 7814 (20-21934-1). Expected delivery in August. Price: $549.99. […]
Have you ever wondered how a new boxcar is designed? When the Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) product development team worked with Lionel to create the assembled-in-the-USA Krispy Kreme boxcar, the team encountered a new level of required detail. The team has always been sensitive to making sure brand logos met the companies’ design […]
“Christmas in July” is always a fitting time for Lionel Trains to release their Volume 2 catalog, and the 2024 edition continues to hold tradition. Much like the Classic Toy Trains team and contributors, I’ve decided to throw my hat into the ring with some thoughts and a fun, little wish list from Lionel’s 2024 […]
Kids of the 1950s loved Lionel’s little switch engines. The stubby proportions and whirling drive rods of these classics give them an industrious appearance as they scoot around a layout. Lionel produced them in a number of colorful and collectible variations. Did the prototypes really exist? Yes, at least in their initial releases. Lionel was […]
Joe Algozzini, perhaps the preeminent expert on Lionel trains and accessories manufactured during the post-World War II era (1945-69) has been contributing deeply researched and thoughtfully written articles to Classic Toy Trains since its second issue hit newsstands in the spring of 1988. To be honest, Joe was laying the groundwork for what became the […]
Verlyn Noring received his first train set when he was 5 years old. Today, he still admires that Marx No. 999 set, which is proudly displayed on his fireplace mantle. In 1982, Verlyn and Louise attended the LCCA convention in Dearborn, Mich. They spotted a custom painted postwar Christmas train set for sale. Like many […]
Locomotives & rolling stock E-Z Catch Train Shop has announced a custom-run MTH D&H hopper (20-95691) as part of the Premier line. The car is decorated in pink cancer awareness graphics. Estimated delivery this fall. Price: $74.99. Website: https://e-zcatch.square.site. Pat’s Trains, 142 29th St., Wheeling WV, 26003, is offering a custom-run MTH AC6000 engine in […]
The concept of an American Freedom Train arose after WWII. It was a chance for Americans to reflect on their citizenship at a time when the United States was finding new roles in world affairs. The project was funded by donations and not at government expense. The American Heritage Foundation was created in 1947 to […]
Rarely does a locomotive capture both the elements of power and beauty. As train enthusiasts we love the power aspect, but often the result is boxy, odd, or bland. The Union Pacific’s ten FEF-class steam locomotives set a standard for rugged beauty, and one in particular has had an operation life of 79 years. That […]
