What was your first train set (or locomotive)? My first train set was the Lionel 1434W Burlington GP diesel with three passenger cars from 1955 or 1956. Being a passenger set, it had limited play value for me. I also had a no. 52 fire car. My trains are primarily from this era (i.e. prewar, […]
O scale structures Margie’s Macchiatos Coffee Shop. Injection-molded plastic kit with snap-together main parts, second floor bay window, and waterslide decals with various nameplates. Measures 9-3/4” x 5-1/4” x 8. $72.50. Fourth quarter 2021. Atlas O Hillside Structure line. Atlas O, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com Steve’s Music Store. Injection-molded plastic kit with snap-together main parts, inset front door, […]
Toy train smoke hijinx (and a minor train wreck) abound as Hal Miller and Rene Schweitzer try a variety of the scents in JT’s Mega Steam fluid line. The smoke fluids are now available from the Kalmbach Hobbystore. Rene and Hal discover with their tests that there’s a world of smells beyond coal and diesel […]
Host John Truckenbrod and Classic Toy Trains’ Roger Carp share collector insights regarding the various iterations of barrel cars the Lionel Corp. produced, along with a look at the packaging for the barrels themselves. Then they check out the variety of products that were sold by dealers in clear plastic packaging – the more customers […]
O gauge freight cars Gunderson 50-foot high-cube boxcar. Arkansas-Oklahoma (Mineral Red), Canadian Pacific (Mineral Red with NKCR reporting marks), GATX (blue with large lettering and heritage logo in one road number and blue with small lettering; both with LRS reporting marks), International Bridge & Terminal (green with Boise Cascade logo), Southern Ry. of British Columbia […]
Although Lionel has come out with a multitude of fantastic products over the years, one of the most amazing and important accessories that the popular manufacturer ever created was by far the Automatic Gateman. The Automatic Gateman is a structure that features a gateman emerging from his trackside shed to warn motorists of passing trains. […]
When it comes to buying used track, should you or shouldn’t you? While buying new track means a more pristine look, it also means more money. However, if you have the time, a more cost-efficient method is buying used track, since you can always clean it up to look like new. It only takes a […]
Facts & features Name: John Staschak’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 12½ x 25 feet Track: GarGraves, Ross Custom Switches (diameters range from 31 to 96 inches) Switches: GarGraves with Tortoise and Z-Stuff for Trains machines Motive power: Atlas O, Lionel, MTH, 3rd Rail, Weaver Rolling stock: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, Model Crafters, MTH, Ralph’s Trains, […]
In the late 1950s, Nashvillearea toy manufacturer Kusan was making products that might be the epitome of the term “toy train.” Geared toward the entry level of the market, these items were colorful and affordable. The company’s “K” Series boxcars were produced between 1956 and ’60. They could be produced rapidly in the Franklin, Tenn., […]
Introduction to MTH’s O gauge SD24 When I found out that the next locomotive for us to test and review was an MTH O gauge SD24 road diesel, my response was pretty much “Huh?” I needed to track down my old Diesel Spotter’s Guide for sure! I was familiar with SD7s and SD9s, but the […]
Also in this issue: EDITOR’S DESK, pg. 4 LETTERS, pg. 6 MODERN ERA NOTES, pg. 8 PHOTO ALBUM, pg. 10 NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 14 MTH continues, next York, special run cars QUESTIONS & ANSWERS, pg. 18 VIEWS FROM THE UNDERGROUND, pg. 21 S GAUGE THEN NOW AND THEN, pg. 24 WEEKEND WORKSHOP, pg. 40 […]
Facts & features Name: Ken Cook’s O gauge “Casey” Line Dimensions: 14 x 26 feet Track and switches: Lionel FasTrack, tubular (diameters range from 27 to 72 inches) Motive power: Lionel (postwar) Rolling stock: Ambroid, Lionel (postwar), Scale-Craft Models, Zimmer Controls: Lionel type-ZW transformers (2) Accessories: Lionel (prewar, postwar), Marx, Ross Custom Switches Structures: Downtown […]
