S gauge American Flyer passenger cars by Lionel

passenger

With the invigoration of Lionel’s American Flyer product line and the sale of S-Helper Service to MTH Electric Trains, the S gauge market appears to be entering a new epoch that may permanently divide old school and new school S gaugers. Before we step through the looking glass into this brave new world, I wanted […]

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FasTrack on a tabletop

drawing of square track plan

Layout designer: Terry Thompson Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. FasTrack on a tabletop FasTrack on a tabletop schematic FasTrack on a tabletop components […]

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O gauge Conventional Classics Berkshire passenger set from Lionel

conclassic

The latest entry in Lionel’s popular Conventional Classics series of postwar reissues is the magnificent no. 2146WS steam passenger set. That train, originally fielded in the 1948 and 1949 catalogs, was powered by Lionel’s mightiest steam locomotive of the time – the no. 726 2-8-4 Berkshire – and included a trio of Irvington-series heavyweight passenger […]

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O gauge GP35 by Lionel

gp35

It is a well-known fact that anything painted red goes faster. Be it a Chevy pickup, a fire truck, or a diesel locomotive, the color red enhances the object’s overall performance. Hey, if you don’t believe me, look it up. It’s true! The new Lionel Legacy GP35 doesn’t need red paint to make it cool. […]

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GG1 in action

Terry Thompson took a Lionel GG1 in need of some care and brought it back for trouble-free operation. Learn how to repair and maintain the Lionel GG1 in the July 2013 issue of CTT, and enjoy this video of his renewed GG1 running on our D-146 project layout. […]

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A Lionel FasTrack modular O gauge railroad that travels

drawing of track plan

Layout designer: Michael Tylick Scale: O Layout size: 11 x 11 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the May 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. A Lionel FasTrack modular O gauge railroad that travels A Lionel FasTrack modular O gauge railroad that travels schematic A Lionel FasTrack modular O gauge […]

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ZW-L 620-watt transformer by Lionel

zwl

The most iconic power supply in model railroading is the postwar Lionel ZW. First marketed in 1948 as a 250-watt unit and in 1950 as a 275-watt product, it has been the Holy Grail for many toy train operators. The boxy middle, curved ends, and upright handles were captured in MTH’s no. 40-4000 Z-4000 400-watt […]

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Curves & climbs track plan

drawing of track plan

Layout designer: Michael Tylick Scale: O Layout size: 11 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Curves & Climbs track plan Curves & Climbs track plan schematic […]

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O Gauge Baldwin Centipede Diesel by Lionel

centipede

I don’t recall if I’ve ever proclaimed my all-time favorite diesel (real or model). If I haven’t, well, the winner is the Baldwin Centipede. It was long, imposing, and about as far away from the more delicate appearance of an Electro-Motive Division FT or F3 as you could get. The Centipede had a massive line […]

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A Rocky Mountain railroad for your rec room

track plan drawing

Layout designer: Michael Tylick Scale: O Layout size: 14 x 19 feet Track type: Atlas O Minimum curve: O-27 Originally appeared in the February 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. A Rocky Mountain railroad for your rec room A Rocky Mountain railroad for your rec room components […]

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