CTT Readers’ Choice RR

CTT-R0211_APLAN

Layout designer: Kent Johnson and Bob Keller Scale: O Layout size: 4 x 8 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the February, March, May, and July 2011 issues of Classic Toy Trains. Readers’ Choice Railroad Track Plan Template Readers’ Choice Railroad Schematics Readers’ Choice Parts List     […]

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A small, simple, and amazingly sensible plan

CTT-I0506_APLAN

Layout designer: Kent Johnson, for the May 2006 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 9 feet Track type: Lionel tubular track Minimum curve: O-31   See a PDF version of this track plan by clicking here. See a PDF version of the schematics by clicking here.   […]

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Tri-level O gauge track plan

CTT-C0311_APLAN3

Layout designer: Ray Stuber Scale: O Layout size: 6 x 10 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the March 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Benchwork Track plan Lower level schematics Lower level parts list Main level schematics […]

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Two trains, one main line, no crashes

CTT-D0511_PLAN

Layout designer: Don Miller Scale: O Layout size: 8 x 15 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the May 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Two trains, one main line, no crashes track plan Two trains, one main line components […]

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All about the Cascade & Timber Trail Ry.

The goal of this six-part layout construction series is to provide new hobbyists with a 4 x 8-foot permanent O gauge layout using contemporary tracklaying, wiring, and scenery-making techniques. Since a toy train set can be a wonderful entry point for new hobbyists, the origins of this logging-themed layout stem from a current Lionel starter […]

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Review: Lionel O gauge Trackmobile car mover

PR0711_Lionel-Trackmobile

Not long ago, businesses that received or generated moderate levels of rail traffic called the local railroad for switching duties. Others had their own switcher. Other firms with less, though steady traffic had another recourse for motive power: the Trackmobile.First developed in the late 1940s, the Trackmobile was a dream come true for firms with […]

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Readers’ Choice Railroad Track Plan Template

CTT-R0311_template

Our preferred method of transferring a track plan to a flat tabletop uses a computer to download and print out the full-scale template of the Readers’ Choice Railroad so we can easily tell how track, accessories, and some scenery elements work on our 4 x 8-foot perimeter. Download the template here. […]

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Lionel’s postwar freight-car numbers

Freight-car-numbering

The Lionel Corp. used a four-digit number to identify its postwar rolling stock. In some cases cars also carried a one, two, or three-digit suffix. Though many times cars with the same number exhibit slight differences, or variations, Lionel usually assigned a new number if a car received major changes. While Lionel’s numbering appears haphazard, […]

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The case of the disappearing train

CTT-I1108_ASYMBOLS

Layout designer: Peter H. Riddle Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 12 feet Track type: Lionel O gauge tubular Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the February 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Track plan Schematic Parts list Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. […]

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Plan for the “classic operator”

CTT-C0708_APLAN

Layout designer: John Rusterholz Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel O Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Running & switching on a FasTrack loop

CTT-I1009_APLAN

Layout designer: Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 12 x 16 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-60 Originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the link to download a PDF of this track plan. Track plan Schematic Parts list […]

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Lionel 2353 Santa Fe diesels were a Greatest Find

Lionel 2353 Santa Fe diesels on a Southwestern layout

Lionel 2353 Santa Fe diesels and two streamlined passenger cars purchased through a Dutch website caused Daniel Biessels gave up HO scale modeling for O gauge and  focus on postwar and modern-era models. Then he built a layout set in the Rocky Mountains that he calls the Glenwood Springs & Colorado RR. The arid scenery […]

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