Classic Toy Trains

CLASSIC TOY TRAINS BRINGS YOU O AND S GAUGE FOR THE OPERATOR AND COLLECTOR. SEE THE NEWEST TRAINS FROM LIONEL, MTH, ATLAS O AND OTHERS; LEARN ABOUT TRACK PLANNING, WIRING AND LAYOUT CONSTRUCTION; IDENTIFY AND REPAIR OLD LIONEL AND AMERICAN FLYER TRAINS; AND VISIT THE MOST INSPIRING TOY TRAIN LAYOUTS EVER BUILT.

Lots of fun per square foot • The enduring appeal of compact layouts

YOUR MAGAZINE TEAM

Classic Toy Trains

No plungers for Bossy

CLEANING A BIG LAYOUT

Passenger or freight? • You might surprise yourself with the answer

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?

PHOTO ALBUM YOUR PICTURES

News & products

Who’s in command? • New ways to run trains

Lionel diesel is too quiet • Fixing the horn on a postwar Geep

American Flyer Gulf tank car • Lionel’s no. 9100 helped revive S gauge in 1979

TRAIN RIGHT OUT OF HISTORY! • American Flyer’s Frontiersman set sold with executive style

A COLORFUL LIONEL SET from J.C. PENNEY • This uncataloged freight train was offered in 1973

THREE-RAIL JOYS OF REALISM • Capturing the feel of the Northern Pacific in 50 square feet

LIONEL’S COAL ELEVATOR • Handling black diamonds with the colorful no. 97

GETS A NEW HOME • It also receives a brand-new name

HOW TO ADD A SMALL SIGN BUSINESS • A structure and fencing are all you need

Plus! How to make an extension ladder

FAMILIAR WITH THE LIONEL D-189 DISPLAY? • When readers of Classic Toy Trains start thinking about compact layouts they can observe and study, the topic of displays always comes to mind. Both American Flyer and Lionel designed some terrific plans for railroads offering loads of fun and excitement in relatively few square feet. They built displays for commercial accounts and occasionally presented the plans in catalogs and promotional pieces.

Our family saluted THE BALTIMORE COLTS OF 1959 • American Flyer, Lionel, and football made the perfect display

Still electrifying after all these years • Lionel’s LionChief 2.0 GG1 is a modern-day classic

All aboard Amtrak! • Menards’ modern station is just right for a compact railroad

How to make a handy covered hopper • You may already have all the materials you need