Chances are good that if you’re building a model railroad, you’ll want to include a bridge. After all, who doesn’t love a good bridge? I can’t speak for anyone else, but when I think of San Francisco, I think Golden Gate. When I think of Duluth, Minn., I think of the Aerial Lift Bridge (well […]
In a move that promises to reshape the landscape of transportation-themed attractions, Firecrown, a leading publisher of transportation and enthusiast titles, has acquired the railroad assets from EnterTRAINment Junction. The company plans to relocate the beloved train exhibits to Chattanooga, Tennessee, as part of an ambitious new transportation museum. Firecrown is also the parent company […]
Q: I have a question regarding using lichen to simulate vegetation on a layout. My basement is clean but unfinished, so the wood floor joists overhead and the concrete walls are all visible. The basement isn’t particularly humid, but it isn’t climate controlled either. There are the occasional spiders and cobwebs, as is normal in […]
I purchased a Lionel FreightSounds UTLX 30K tank car (No. 6-85081) from my local Lionel dealer in 2019. I loved the look of this modern rolling stock, but was disappointed in its muffled sound effects. A short time later, I purchased a FreightSounds PS-1 boxcar (No. 1926620) from Charles Ro and was happy with the […]
Classic Toy Trains‘ Editor Rene Schweitzer and Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson unbox and demonstrate the new DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WTIU) from MTH. This long-awaited digital command system is an all-in-one system that is easy to set up and use. Learn the pros, cons, and watch a short demo of the unit! Read more […]
Classic Toy Trains‘ Editor Rene Schweitzer and Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson unbox and demonstrate the new DCS Wi-Fi Interface Unit (WTIU) from MTH. This long-awaited digital command system is an all-in-one system that is easy to set up and use. Learn the pros, cons, and watch a short demo of the unit! […]
Classic Toy Trains‘ Editor Rene Schweitzer and Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson unbox and demonstrate a battery-operated O gauge starter set from Lionel. This Thomas & Friends set comes with Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, accessories, plastic track, and a remote control. Learn what you’ll need to get this set up and running in no time. Read […]
Lionel Thomas & Friends battery operated starter set Classic Toy Trains‘ Editor Rene Schweitzer and Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson unbox and demonstrate a battery-operated O gauge starter set from Lionel. This Thomas & Friends set comes with Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, accessories, plastic track, and a remote control. Learn what you’ll need to get this […]
Q: My light blue-gray walls look fine to the naked eye, but not so good in photos. Are there some tried and true formulas for the major paint brands that are a reliable “sky blue” for model railroad backgrounds? — David Provost A: Model railroaders have long asked “What color is sky blue?” when painting […]
The year was 1933, and the Great Depression was in full swing. Lionel was touting the new “Chugger” sound mechanism in its locomotives and still cataloging the landmark Nos. 396E Blue Comet and 411E State passenger sets. On the back page of the consumer catalog, Lionel introduced something new and unlike anything it had offered […]
Since the television launch of Thomas the Tank Engine in the 1980s, this anthropomorphised steam locomotive has become a worldwide phenomenon. It likely would be difficult to find a child who doesn’t recognize Thomas’ round face and expressive eyes. Lionel is no stranger to Thomas products; they started selling the O gauge version in 1993. […]
Garden railroading is a popular subsection of the model railroading hobby, and for good reason. One of the most limiting factors for building a functional track or train station is available space. Many people don’t have one or more entire rooms to spare for a model railroad layout. Garden railroading, however, takes that layout and […]
