John Damanskas’ O gauge layout features locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories from Lionel Trains and MTH. The layout also features stunning scenery with mountains, trees, and bridges. […]
Magazine: Classic Toy Trains
Lionelville copes with the COVID-19 virus
Name: Joe Muscanere Location: Texas Scale: O Theme: Classic 1950’s Description: Lionelville copes with the COVID-19 Virus in March 2020 with passenger and freight still delivering the goods. Soon, the national crisis will be a thing of the past. MORAL: RUN YOUR TOY TRAINS AND YOU WILL FEEL MUCH BETTER! […]
Fun in small spaces
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Tips for better Lionel Fastrack
Charles Angelo Irace Lionel’s FasTrack system sectional track features a built-in molded plastic roadbed. It looks good right out of the box, but there are a few things I like to do to make it look even better. I start by bluing the center rail (above left photo) with Birchwood Casey Super Blue, using the […]
Classic Lionel orange and blue on a high-rail layout
Name: Peter Martens Forum User Name: Peter_J_M Railroad Name: Lionel Lines Location: The Silver Rail Club’s home based layout Scale: O gauge Theme: Classic Lionel colors on the high-rail! Description: Classic orange and blue colors make up these highly collectible train sets! Released individually during the 80’s and 90’s, each freight consist made up an […]
Tips for better GarGraves track
Charles Angelo Irace GarGraves Phantom Line flexible track is manufactured with the middle rail chemically treated to a deep black color. The wood ties are also more realistic than the stamped-metal ones found on traditional track, but I like to paint the GarGraves ties to better resemble the creosote-treated ones found on real railroads. In […]
MTH Tinplate Traditions Standard gauge 4-4-4
Forget your prewar Standard gauge electric-outline locomotives. I don’t care how large or flashy or colorful those slab-sided toasters are, they can’t hold a candle to the King Salami of big trains – the No. 400E 4-4-4. The size, look, and color of this model set a standard in its day for power and authority. […]
S-Helper Service S gauge diesel freight starter set
Anyone who thinks that S gauge starts and ends with American Flyer should take a look at the S-Helper Service line. For years the crew at S-Helper Service has been in the vanguard of manufacturers rising above postwar levels of detail, regardless of train gauge. Out are the cast-in handrails and roofwalks; in are add-on […]
Lionel O gauge track gang car
In popularity, the postwar Lionel gang car is exceeded by only the trolley car in terms of Auto-Pilot fun on the tinplate rails. Lionel’s release of the 1950s favorite lives up to its reputation. Both the gang car and trolley operate on the same concept. The car runs in one direction until it hits an […]
MTH Premier line O gauge BB3 Long Island
MTH brings us a B-class switcher. As Al Staufer noted in his book Pennsy Power, few electrified railways could dedicate electric locomotives simply to the task of switching cars. But the Pennsylvania Railroad, with its vast network of yards and terminals under wire, could. In 1926, the Pennsy’s Altoona, Pa., shops began producing these little […]
MTH Premier line O gauge EMD F7 A-B-A set
Cab units are a staple of O gauge model railroading. They are crowd pleasers and are updated every few years with new features or improvements. A corollary of that statement is the increased expectations on the part of hobbyists. The greater the level of detail you see, the more you expect. The better the low-end […]
More ballasting tips for tubular track
It’s been written about a lot before, but here are some more ballasting tips for tubular track. It can make your right-of-way look more realistic, but the bottom line is have fun and don’t stress about it. Don’t overdo It is pretty common to completely fill in the area between two tracks with a bed […]
