O Gauge LionChief 2.0 GG1

Lionchief side view

From a “back-in-the-day” perspective, I think the most exotic locomotive Lionel fielded during the postwar era was the GG1 electric. Before you counter with the scale Hudson, F3, or even the GP7, I would suggest that for many years in the late 1940s and ’50s any kid could go down to the local depot and […]

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News & Products for the week of March 25, 2021

Miniature vintage gas station with car parked out by the pump

O scale structures Bellevue service station. 1:43.5 scale. Laser-cut cardboard kit. Includes pumps and choice of fuel brand (Agip, Antar, Avia, Azur, BP, Elan, Elf, Esso, Fina, Ozo, Shell, and Total. Other brands available upon request). Vehicle shown not included. Measures 10.62” x 7.87” x 9.84”. $114.37. Price may vary based on exchange rate. Minifer, […]

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Atlas buys select M.T.H product tooling

Atlas logo

Atlas Model Railroad Company Inc. has purchased a selection of the tooling for M.T.H. Electric Trains’ Premier O scale locomotive and rolling stock lines, as well as some of M.T.H.’s RailKing accessories. According to a release from Atlas, the acquired car-manufacturing molds include the 4-Bay Hopper, Coalporter Hopper, PS2CD High Side Hopper, 40′ PS1 Box […]

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Lionel’s LionChief Plus 2.0 GG1

Lionel’s LionChief Plus 2.0 GG1 electric locomotive

The LionChief 2.0 GG1 gives kids of all ages a distinctive icon of American railroading for their layout, be it a 4 x 8 or something filling a basement or attic. With modern electronics, this classic is ready to please a new generation! Watch the video to see more. […]

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News & Products for the week of March 18, 2021

Three bay hopper

O gauge freight cars 70-ton three-bay hopper. New paint schemes. Seaboard Coast Line (black and white); Baltimore & Ohio (Chesapeake & Ohio patchout); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (black, white, and red); Cambria & Indiana (black and white); Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (black and white); and Southern Ry. (brown and white). Two road numbers per scheme; […]

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Welcome to the new home of Classic Toy Trains!

Man gesturing before a gray-white graphic background.

Welcome to Trains.com, the new home for Classic Toy Trains Magazine online and for all the content we publish on toy trains. In this video, Trains.com Executive Producer David Popp talks about how to log-in to the new Trains.com website so you can get the most out of a Classic Toy Trains subscription AND what […]

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Taking it easy in O gauge

Fred Laubie’s O gauge Buckeye Central RR

This 35 x 56-foot layout features postwar and modern Lionel power pulling impressive trains made up of Atlas O, Golden Gate Depot, Lionel, and MTH cars. It’s constructed with GarGraves track and Ross Custom Switches controlled by Circuitron and NJ International machines. Scenic highlights include a number of bridges and tunnels, a roundhouse, yard, coal […]

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10 tips for using MTH Trains’ RealTrax

RealTrax switch with bottom cover removed

Here are a few tips and tricks when working with MTH RealTrax:   The two ground rails are not tied together. This is true for other track systems using non-metallic ties, including those from Atlas O and GarGraves. If you add a switch, you need to add a lockon and make sure it’s on the […]

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