Classic Toy Trains May/June 2022

◼ I’VE BEEN PART OF THE HOBBY BUSINESS for about 25 years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the old heads lament, “It’s dying. We can’t get young people interested.” One could be forgiven for thinking this might be most true about the toy train part of model railroading. After all, this is one of the oldest segments of the hobby and it would stand to reason it’s just getting grayer, right? About a year ago I started noticing something on YouTube: younger – 15-to 35-year-old – people enjoying toy trains. Not only were they having a good time with them, but they were connecting with an audience. One that’s growing. One I saw and reached out to was Chris Raines. Since I’m a fan of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, his…

◼ MY SON, DANIEL, recently came to visit with his fiancé, Leila Kalmbach, and they brought me a miniature locomotive Leila’s father, Bill, had found in a shed he was remodeling. Bill suspected the engine of unknown origin had been hidden in the wall of the shed for at least 50 years. Knowing I collect O gauge trains, they brought it to me to see what I could discover. I knew right away Bill had unearthed a post-war Lionel O gauge diesel. My next task was to see if I could bring it back to life. After taking the engine apart and cleaning off the shell, I found a no. 2028 Pennsylvania RR brown GP7 road diesel under the dirt. The original gold graphics on the shell were barely visible. I cleaned,…

◼ I RECENTLY WAS TALKING WITH A FRIEND from my days in the Air Force about trains. Let me make it clear that in the decades I’ve known him, he never expressed any particular interest in railroads – real or miniature. Now, however, he has a grandson! The little boy in question was 6, soon approaching 7, and was expressing a great desire to have a toy train layout. Grandpa thought he might use some space in his basement to build a “train set” for the child. He had done some basic research on brands and track types, and even had a rough vision in mind of two 4 x 8s arranged in an L shape. The $64 question was, “What is the purpose of the layout?” My friend wasn’t asking for a…

DONALD KLOSE’S O GAUGE LAYOUT No reason to blame any of the residents of the city on Donald Klose’s truly spectacular O gauge railroad, known as the Bellevue & Schenectady, for dropping whatever they were doing to scurry down to the main line. Not when kids and grown-ups alike have an opportunity to glimpse for the first time the magnificent streamlined 4-6-4 Hudson decked out in jade green and given the honor of pulling the inaugural Electric City Express. Don, who lives in Schenectady, recalls how General Electric once dominated its economy and the New York Central ruled the rails. Look for more of Don’s masterpiece in an upcoming issue of Classic Toy Trains. BOB SCHNEIDER’S O GAUGE MODEL RAILROAD Granted that really everyone who owns an O or S gauge layout enjoys…

LIONEL NORFOLK & WESTERN CLASS A 2-6-6-4 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE. This newly tooled O gauge VisionLine model ($2,099.99) is available in multiple road numbers with different details to match the changes from the first engine to the 1218’s final excursions. Features include four-digit addressing using the new Base3 and Cab3; stereophonic Legacy RailSounds from three speakers in the locomotive and tender; stack, whistle, and safety valve smoke; force coupler; and kinematic drawbar. Visit Lionel.com CONOWINGO MODELS’ MOLLY’S TROLLEY SHELTER. The laser-cut O scale wood structure kit, based on a prototype at the Seashore Trolley Musuem in Kennebunkport, Maine, measures approximately 2½" x 4" and is priced at $45. To order, visit Conowingomodels.com LIONEL BASE3 CONTROL SYSTEM. The Base3 will operate all Lionel engines from LionChief through Legacy with a single remote. The system…

BOB’S TRAIN BOX Check out recent episodes that feature a walk through the latest Lionel catalog, influential railroad books, ideas for flatcar loads, and mini reviews of buildings and other products for your model railroad. PROFESSOR CARP The “toy train teacher” looks at a variety of vintage and collectible accessories and rolling stock. One of the recent subjects is Lionel’s no. 397 coal loader. Learn its history and see how this terrific “lineside industry” can be repaired and maintaine PRODUCT NEWS & REVIEWS Get even more video and information on the products you love! Some recently featured items are Lionel’s Legacy SW8 locomotive (watch it run) and Menards’ Valley Motors building.…