Classic Toy Trains May 2020

So much has made it possible for Classic Toy Trains to become the premier toy train publication. The first thing that comes to mind is the out-standing articles written by experts in the hobby. The next is the creativity provided by our designers, illustrators, photographers, and production supervisors. Along-side these contributions have always been the support and assistance offered by loyal advertisers of every sort. No one on the editorial team can minimize the contributions received from the greatest readers any magazine could ask for. Since the inaugural issue hit newsstands in 1987, you’ve shared opinions and ideas, directed us to superb layouts and collections, and submitted stories and photos. So we’re requesting your help again. Writing for Editor Hal Miller and Editorial Assistant Rene Schweitzer, I’m asking you to consider making three…

My 15-year old son, Max, recently completed a small 3-rail layout for his grandfather. The goal was to build an O-27 layout that would showcase the simple Lionel and Marx trains and accessories my father had received as a child in the postwar era that we still use and run, every year, on our family’s Christmas layouts. It was also intended to loosely depict the progression of taking your newly received O-27 starter set and simple accessories and turning them into more of a finished, permanent “railroad.” Space and time were limited, as Max wanted to present the layout at Christmas. I suggested he use as the base for the layout an unused air-hockey table in my parents’ basement. The layout’s dimensions could then be sized to allow the board to reside…

OK, I’ll admit it. I own some S gauge trains. In True Confidential fashion, I can further confess that they belonged to my grandfather. Alas, those trains had stopped working long before I found them in his attic. Further, the pieces that remained were stored poorly for three decades before they made it to me. TRUE CONFESSION 1 Then a funny thing happened at a train show. My wife bought an American Flyer Royal Blue locomotive for herself. Of course, an engine needs something to pull, so she picked up a few freight cars with the goal of making that the official Christmas tree train. After a few holidays of running the Royal Blue, I began to think there might be some truth to, “S: The perfect scale.” Still, I resisted, until I saw an…

BEACHES MUSEUM’S O GAUGE DISPLAY The story of how Henry Flagler developed the Florida East Coast Ry. and its impact on the growth of the Sunshine State comes to life on the O gauge display built by the Toy Train Collectors Club based in Jacksonville, Fla. Bob Burch, a member of the group, submitted this photo by Moody McCall. Visitors, including attendees of the 2020 national convention of the Train Collectors Association, are always welcome to see the layout in the Beaches Museum in Jacksonville Beach. DAVE NUSSDORFER’S O GAUGE LAYOUT The Canadian, queen of the streamlined passenger trains run by the Canadian Pacific during the postwar era, accelerates on its journey west in this pleasing scene on Dave Nussdorfer’s 26 x 27-foot Canadian Western RR. Dave makes his home in Okemos, Mich.,…

THAT INDUSTRIAL LOOK: Empirerail has added large-window O scale factories to its product line. The hand-painted, 3-dimensional wood facades are made for background use. Priced at $75 each. They measure 12 x 20 inches. Fronts and depths can vary depending upon the customer’s needs. Visit empirerail.co or call 860-887-5799. S SCALE TRUCKIN’: Coming this spring from Die Cast Promotions is a 1:64 die-cast metal red (also available in white) 2018 Freightliner Cascadia high-roof sleeper paired with a 53-foot utility trailer. Features include an opening hood with engine detail, poseable front wheels, detailed cab interior, pivoting fifth wheel, and detailed undercarriage. The trailer features functioning landing gear and side skirts. Coming this fall is a Peterbilt Model 379 with 63-inch mid-roof sleeper and 53-foot utility trailer in Pac-Man Transport livery. Visit Firstgearonline.com. SPECIAL…

EACH ISSUE WE'LL CONTACT A RETAILER TO SEE WHAT’S SELLING IN THEIR STORE. THIS ISSUE WE TALKED TO KEN BIANCO, SR., OF TRAINWORLD IN BROOKLYN, N.Y. HERE’S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY: WHAT’S SELLING THAT’S IN STOCK NOW: • MTH Electric Trains O Scale Premier G.E. 44-Ton Phase 3 Diesel Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0• Williams GE 70-Ton Switcher w/True Blast Plus "Rutland is selling especially well."• Lionel Promontory Summit 150th Anniversary Set• Lionel Union Pacific ES44AC no. 119 (built to order)• Lionel Union Pacific ES44AC Jupiter no. 60 (built to order)• Lionel New York Central Legacy scale J3a Hudson 4-6-4 Steam Locomotive no. 5429 w/streamlined tender (built to order)• Lionel Pennsylvania RR no. 6434 J1A (built to order) “ES44 fantasy schemes in general are selling well. People just want something different.” GETTING ORDERS AND ATTENTION: Lionel…