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Four layout building videos

Get tips and tricks for building your layout in these how-to videos from the CTT staff - great for beginners or anyone looking to refresh their skills. Start here and explore the related links for more!

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Editor Carl Swanson previews the July 2013 issue

Editor Carl Swanson (with some special guests) previews the July 2013 issue of CTT, on newsstands June 4. View »

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Bob's Train Box: Episode 48

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O gauge Conventional Classics Berkshire passenger set from Lionel

The latest entry in Lionel’s popular Conventional Classics series of postwar reissues is the magnificent no. 2146WS steam passenger set. That train, originally fielded in the 1948 and 1949 catalogs, was powered by Lionel’s mightiest steam locomotive More »

Gene Phillip's Greatest Find

In 1961, when Lionel first produced the #6445 Fort Knox Gold Bullion Car, it had a coin slot in the top so it could be used as a bank. In 1979, when the car was reproduced as #9320, Lionel also created the #9319 Silver Bullion Car for the 25th annive More » |

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Lionel Factory Layouts

Lionel's Display Department produced exciting layouts every year to showcase the latest additions to their product line and sold these layouts to retailers, who used the layouts to demonstrate the fun of Lionel trains. Walt Downer's collection of bea More » |

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A whimsical layout loved by kids of all ages

When visitors scope out Jeff's extravaganza in a garage, they conclude that this is less a toy train layout than a series of movie sets. Subscribers can read the complete story by downloading the PDF. More »

Restore an acid-damaged locomotive body

The author believes that nearly anything can be repaired if you deem it worth your time and expense. Download the PDF article to find out how to fix that treasured locomotive from 50 years ago. More »

Four steps to adapting a track plan

In this article, which originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains, CTT's Kent Johnson demonstrates how to adapt a track plan from one type of t More »

GG1 in action

CTT Digital FAQs

Lionel's Legacy Command Control System

EVERYONE AT CLASSIC TOY TRAINS RUNS TRAINS DIFFERENTLY, and consequently our expectations for Lionel's new Legacy control system differed. Kent Johnson is Mr. Hi-Tech, al More »

Lionel Trains: The Golden Years 1950-54

Lionel Trains: The Golden Years, 55-59

Relive what hobbyists praise as the most realistic, most colorful, and most imaginative years of Lionel’s distinguished history.
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Lionel Trains: The Golden Years, 1950-54

New stories of Lionel’s innovative O gauge trains and accessories, plus favorites from the pages of Classic Toy Trains, special issues, and subscriber-only website exclusives.
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Wiring Your Toy Train Layout, 2nd Edition

Wiring is fundamental to toy train operation, and this updated classic covers how to set up conventional wiring using today’s technology.
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Scenery Techniques for Toy Trains

For toy train operators looking to add scenery and dimension to their layouts, this book offers simple solutions.
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