How to replace the battery in an older MTH engine

locomotive with shell off, battery packs

The age of miniscule computer chips has delivered sweet sounds to modern toy train locomotives. But such systems can add a sour note when they start acting “funny.” MTH’s original ProtoSound and ProtoSound 2.0 systems can create great anxiety when the systems backfire. The culprit is often a component that’s hardly hi-tech. It’s the battery. […]

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Design a toy train layout

Toy trains on track

Design a toy train layout — O, S, or Standard/Wide gauge — it requires above all making one fundamental decision. Each operator must decide what sort of look he or she wants the layout to have. To be specific, each modeler has to figure out the extent to which the layout, regardless of size or […]

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MTH RailKing Pennsylvania Railroad L-1 2-8-2

Model steam engine on track

The Pennsylvania Railroad was a coal-hauling road if there ever was one. Lists of heavy trains were pulled by a major fleet of standardized freight locomotives. There were 475 of the 2-8-2 L-1 class erected and were a mainstay of the coal and general freight fleet for decades on the railroad. In 2014, MTH added […]

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Locomotives We Love: MTH Premier Santa Fe No. 2926

O scale model steam locomotive

What toy train locomotive means the most to you? It’s a locomotive that’s not a childhood treasure, let alone having been part of my O-gauge collection for only 8 months now. And while being on my general radar for some time, it wasn’t a particular model I prioritized in searching for. Perhaps it was ultimately […]

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Elementary school toy train layout

kids putting together sections of track

Students at Seaview Elementary School in Linwood, New Jersey are getting into the holiday spirit this year—using toy trains. The school, along with assistance from one of the community’s families, the McBrides and their daughter Alice, is coming together to design and create a “winter wonderland” themed train layout. The project will display a winter […]

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Greg Hurd’s Central Division of Glacier Gorge RR in S gauge

A toy train layout trackplan

Greg Hurd’s Central Division of Glacier Gorge RR Gauge: SDimensions: 14 x 31 feetTrack and switches: Gilbert American Flyer, GarGraves, K-Line (diameters range from 40 to 62 inches)Motive power: American Models, Gilbert American Flyer, Lionel American Flyer, Rex Engineering, S-Helper ServiceRolling stock: Ace Trains, Ambroid, American Models, Gilbert American Flyer, JC Models, Kinsman, Lionel American […]

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Steve Metken’s O gauge layout

A toy train layout trackplan

Dimensions: 9 x 17½ feetTrack: Lionel tubular (diameters range from 31 to 72 inches)Switches: K-Line, LionelMotive power: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel (postwar, modern), MTH Electric, Trains, WilliamsRolling stock: K-Line, Lionel (post-war, modern), MTHControls: Lionel postwar type-ZW transformers (3)Accessories: American Flyer, Colber, Lionel, MTHStructures: Lionel, Menards, MTH     See the layout in action on Trains.com […]

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How to price and sell your large scale collection

model flatcar with $40 cash on top; model boxcar behind it with price tag

“How much is this worth?” is a simple enough question. I wish it had an easy answer. There is no Kelley Blue Book value for large scale trains like there is for vehicles. There are also variables that will affect the value: condition, modifications to the model, and your motivations for selling. First, you need […]

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Meet the Train Dads

man standing next to train layout

A group of five young men, who had been on Facebook O gauge groups and other online groups, decided to form their own group called the “Train Dads.” As you can guess from the name, the group is made up of hobbyists of a younger generation, and who are proud fathers to amazing kids. This […]

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Upgrade your tower lights

tower light partially disassembled

Have you thought about how to upgrade your tower lights? An engine facility doesn’t look complete without small details around the buildings, tracks, and equipment. One detail that isn’t difficult to add to this scene is yard lights. Most of these are “plug and play” details. Lionel’s option looks pretty much identical to how it […]

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MTH and Atlas announce shared tooling deal

orange and black steam locomotive with passenger cars from MTH

MTH Electric Trains and the Atlas Model Railroad Company announced a shared asset deal that will allow each company to use select models from the other company’s O scale tools and molds. The first of these shared assets will be passenger car tooling that can complement locomotives being produced by the other company. The program […]

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HO scale locomotives with smoke units

Color photo of HO scale steam locomotive on scenic base with black background.

To our younger readers, HO scale locomotives with smoke units may seem like a recent development. In reality, the feature dates back to the end of World War II when American Flyer began producing 1:87.1 steam locomotives with smoke. Since that time, companies have continued to offer HO locomotives with smoke units. Admittedly, some manufacturers […]

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