deontevincent asked:


There are few hobbies more exciting that the collection of Lionel Trains. Lionel trains have been a trademark of quality and perfection in the model train world for many years. Collectors from all over have been adding new pieces and parts to their ongoing collections and the number of requests for catalogs is always increasing. If you are a collector and are looking for the best complete guide of all Lionel model trains, repair parts, toy trains and anything else related to the Lionel train collection, there is one guide that you simply must have.
The definitive Lionel trains collectors guide is your one stop place for everything that you ever need to know about collecting the model trains. It covers everything from the trains to the parts and where you can look for repairs and special models of the trains. It showcases some of the most popular collections of Lionel trains including the HO model and the pre-war model trains.

You can find this guide online at www.lionelmanuals.com. This catalog includes over 2000 pages of rare and exciting collections of Lionel trains and has everything that you need to replace the parts on your current collections and find new trains and parts to start another collection. This helpful guide not only highlights all of the wonderful train sets and collector items; it also includes old vintage color catalogs from years ago of the trains. If you have always been looking for the one guide that will give you all of the information that you would ever need when it comes to collecting Lionel trains, you need to check out the web site and order your guide.

Whether you are new to the collecting of trains, or if you have been doing it for years, you will be amazed at the variety of collections and train sets that are included in this guide. Not only will you be able to look through all of the different train sets that are made and manufactured, you will also be able to find rare parts and replacements for your current collection that are hard to find anywhere else. No matter how many Lionel train sets you collect, or how many new trains you would like to get, this guide can help you find the perfect pieces to make your collection complete.

Lionel trains are a wonderful train set to collect, and the value of this guide is priceless to add to your collection. It has all of the information that you will ever need to know about the train sets.



HERBERT

Clinton Carnegie asked:


If you’ve ever marveled at realistic looking rock scenery on model railroads and wondered how they were created, this article describes in detail how you too can easily achieve the same results.

These are the items you will need:

· Newspaper

· Masking tape

· Plaster of Paris or Hydrocal plaster

· Acrylic paints in burnt umber, raw umber, raw sienna, white and slate grey colors

· Art paint brush and craft sponge brush

· Assorted items for shaping plaster, such as spatulas and plastic knives

 

The first step is deciding where you want that rock face, outcropping or rocky hill will be on your railroad layout. 

Unless you’re modeling a section of the Grand Canyon, bear in mind that rock structures usually emerge from areas of foliage and greenery. And it is precisely this contrast that makes the scene look interesting and real.
 

Before you proceed any further, cover any areas on your layout near the section you’re planning to work on. Wet plaster drips and tends to get on everything no matter how careful you are. Whenever I work with plaster, I tape over my railroad tracks with painter’s masking tape and cover larger areas with cling wrap or aluminum foil. Aluminum foil is also great because, for this purpose, it’s reusable. 

 

Once you have decided on the placement of your rock scenery, make up several wads of small pieces of newspaper. On my HO scale layout I use sizes varying from 2 to 4 inches in length, in varying thicknesses.  Use a size that you think is best for your layout scale.  Larger wads will create bigger outcroppings on the rock face.

 

Using masking tape, attach the wads of newspaper to the area where the rock outcroppings will be. Cover the wads completely with the masking tape. Try to go for a layered arrangement that looks random and not man-made. Don’t worry, it will look much better and come together with a very natural look after you complete the next few steps.

 

Mix up some Plaster of Paris or Hydrocal plaster following the instructions on the packaging. Hydrocal is very lightweight but considerably more expensive than Plaster of Paris.  Plaster sets quickly so mix up smaller quantities and work with it in small batches. Be sure to thoroughly rinse out the mixing container and spatula between batches as any dried residue plaster will interfere with how the new batch sets up. 

 

Now comes the fun, albeit messy bit.

 

Using a spatula, apply plaster over the newspaper and masking tape wads. Remember to keep the texture random — smooth in some areas, craggy in others. Use a plastic knife to add more detail to the rock face with vertical or horizontal striations. Notice how the newspaper wads beneath the surface give the rock a three-dimensional look. 

 

Stand back, admire your handiwork and let the plaster dry overnight.

 

Adding color to our rock is the final step to complete scenic realism.

 

I usually choose a combination of raw sienna, raw umber, burnt umber and slate grey acrylic paints. The colors should be diluted with water to a thin wash so that we are not actually painting the rock but staining it.

 

Using a paint brush or sponge brush, apply the washes in a random series of spots of burnt umber, raw umber and raw sienna. Go easy on the darker colors as they tend to dominate and, if overused, can make your scenery look somewhat somber. Then, apply a very dilute wash of slate grey over the whole rock face and over the other colors. The grey wash unifies the other color combinations into a very realistic look.

 

Finally, very sparingly dry brush undiluted white acrylic paint in areas for highlights and to create a sun-bleached effect.     

 

As you can see, it doesn’t take exceptional artistic talent to create realistic looking rock on your model railroad layout. But use these ideas as a starting point and feel free to experiment with ideas of your own. Try different materials and coloring techniques. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you may come with.

 

And don’t forget, as scenic modelers we must constantly observe nature for an infinite supply of new ideas.



HARLAN

Ferdinand Dominic asked:


Model trains, as well as any other replica of something that exists in real life, require a scale so as to multiply the dimensions of the train that they represent. Otherwise, they would look out of proportion.
A scale is measured by two numbers, separated by a colon. The initial number of a scale tells us the equivalent of the model train. For model trains that are smaller than the trains they represent, this number is always one. The second number typifies how the 1st number would translate to the dimensions of an actual train. So, let us take for example a scale of 1:20. That implies that if something measures 1 inch on a model train, it would measure 20 inches on the real train.

HO scale trains are simply model trains that use the HO scale, which is the most common scale in nations where English is spoken.

It’s interesting to notice that HO scale trains can also be addressed H0 scale trains. The confusion started because the O scale, which is the scale HO was modeled after, was originally called 0 scale (as in the number zero). In fact, the nomenclature H0 is still used in most countries, while in the United States, Japan and Australia, those trains are addressed HO scale trains.

It’s as well important to know that the orthoepy of the “O” is “oh,” even in those countries where the terminology includes a zero. In any case HO scale trains get their name because HO scale is nearly one-half of the O scale. Hence the name “half O scale” or “HO scale.”

HO scale trains are scaled at 1:87. As mentioned above, that means that one unit on the HO scale trains corresponds to 87 units on real trains. Another, mayhap easier to fathom, way of demonstrating it, is that 3.5 millimeters (approximately one tenth of an inch) corresponds to one foot on a real train.

Because HO scale trains are so popular, there are a lot of makers, with various ranges of prices, so it is not challenging to see inexpensive HO scale trains that suit a little budget, or more costly little pieces of machinery that impress guests and beautify a room or a garden.

Lastly, like all model trains, HO scale trains require a track to move on. Tracks that are designed for HO trains are 2 railed, and powered by direct current. Owners control the speed of the train with a control that varies the voltage applied to the train. They can also change the polarity of the track, in order to make the train run in the other direction if they desire.



FRANKLIN

jamiehanson asked:


A German firm Marklin, which specialized in dollhouse accessories, rolled out the first model train, in 1891, with track system and ran with clockwork. The initial model trains, earlier to Marklin models, of the 1840’s ran on steam filling the model with water and keeping it on a heating surface. Other German toy manufacturers followed Maklin’s success, and soon became popular everywhere. Other early model train sets firm from around the world were Lima, Bing, Fleischmann and Rivarossi. Common method was using direct current. Marklin used alternate current. American Flyer used AC power on two-rail track. In 1910 electric models came into use.Electric model came in 1910. In the 1920’s the first Hornby train sets were first time used in UK and subsequently in 1955 it changed its base to China. Frank Hornby made Hornby models.It was a great piece. It was in the later part of 1930 Hornby launched Hornby Dublo 12 volt DC electric and clockwork designs when 0 gauges were out dated. Bassett-Lowke produced first table top models.The phase between1930-40 saw many new copy railways manufacturers like Trix and Bachman. Railroad was having a standard. NMRC made the standards. In 1946 the American Flyer company initiate S scale. Eventually, during Second World War, the materials for producing model train sets became short in supply and thus model trains were built on H0 scale, which was easy to handle in smaller homes. As a result, the H0 size became popular because the model railways occupied less space. In 1970 European modelers started producing model trains in N scale. This was the smallest model railroad designed. Due to its compactness, the model soon became popular and was cheaply priced. In 1972, Marklin made Z scale. But this model could not become so popular and Marklin was drawn back to its production of more popular models. Today, the model railroads and trains are not as popular as it was fifty years ago, but it still draw buyers and selling the goods of different make. Every year trade shows are made. You can buy many things for model trains. The model toy trains are still in demand and available in a wider range than before. Most ironically, Hornby has launched its ‘live steam’ 00 gauge models of Greesley A4 and Flying Scotsman which are still available in the market. Dozens of company around the world sell their model railways products through numerous catalogs, magazines and online.



LANCE

Daniel Cruse asked:


Like all hobbies, model train sets are an engrossing activity that breeds hours and hours of enjoyment.  A properly built set requires dexterity, patience and imagination.  With the products and technology available, a model engineer’s greatest barrier is his or herself.  To create the fantastic set the modeler devises takes time and money.  But the hard work is rewarded tenfold when his or hers creation comes to life.  Today, with the help of digital technologies, model trains can re-create tableaus of the Wild West, Europe in the 1940s or a fictionalized metropolis.

Model sets incorporate a slew of technology that produces complicated animations and sounds.  Cars can drive up and down city streets.  Citizens can walk around town, carrying suitcases and packages.  Instead of a modern city, a depot station and a small settlement can be built to show the historical importance of a train’s presence in the late 1800’s.  Trains come in both diesel and steam powered models to give the hobbyist a choice of setting and aesthetic.  All model train sets use a Digital Command Control or DCC system.  This is the most efficient and realistic way to operate a train and the denizens of the set.  DCC units are comprised of five parts: power supply, booster, command center, throttle and decoder.

The power supply coverts high electronic currents from an outlet into lower currents that the command center can use.  The booster takes the power pulled from the command center and sends it to the train so it can operate.  The throttle is what controls the locomotive’s power.  Yet, without a digitrax decoder the throttle is useless.  The decoder takes the signals from the throttle and applies said signals to the engine or sound or animation.  The throttle and decoder speak to one another by means of radio waves sent from the command center.  Without all five of these parts the model train is lifeless.

The digitrax decoder is perhaps the most important and complicated piece of equipment on the entire set; it comes in two unique and necessary parts.  The mobile decoder is installed into the locomotive.  It commands the motor, operating and maintaining speed.  Likewise, the decoder controls the animations, such as the lights on the train.  All digitrax decoders come pre-installed with diesel and steam engines sounds, including whistles and horns.  But with the help of computers, personalized sounds can be developed and implemented into the trains.  These sounds can also be shared over networks hosted by model train hobbyist.  Stationary decoders are attached to the actual model set, not the train.  They control the animation of people, other vehicles, building lights, rail switches and any sound not made by the train.



NATHANIEL

Clinton Carnegie asked:


Gleefully unwrapping that large package on Christmas morning and discovering a toy train set within must surely be a cherished childhood memory for many a model train enthusiast. Setting it up on the floor, with Dad’s help of course, the next couple of hours were spent watching the locomotive and its parade of coaches and wagons circle that oval of track endlessly, its purpose and destination limited only by our imaginations.

Fast forward 30 years and we decide that it would be a fun hobby to get into. But this time we would take it seriously.

We have our eye on that highly-detailed miniature steam locomotive with the multiple carriages. We scour the net for information looking for the best track to buy and read up on baseboard construction while aspiring to create scenery that can rival, in miniature, anything that man or Mother Nature could create.

Most importantly we’ve gotten approval from our other half to setup our dream layout in a part of the house that will henceforth become own little railroad sanctuary. The next step is a visit, or several, to our favorite hobby shop. We leave contented, wallets lightened and a little deeper in credit card debt.

For those of us fortunate enough to have a large loft, garage or spare room in which to pursue our grand design, we have hundreds of track layouts to choose from, with a myriad variations of each. Oh, the possibilities!

But if, like me, you live in a small 2-bedroom apartment and you do not have the luxury of a 12-foot straight run with 6-foot turns, that tiny 6′x3′ oval is not going to hold ones interest for very long.

Enter the two-tiered double loop. This is exactly what I created on my 6′3″ x 3′6″ layout in HO scale — The Sunny Model Railroad.

Consisting of two independent loops powered by separate transformers, the lower loop is an irregular oval with a short siding. The second elevated layer is a modified dog bone, switchable to a straight pass, also with a short siding. A single layered double loop would not have fit on a layout this size but this limitation turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I now have a more complex and interesting layout especially with the double levels.

I created two separate tunnels for the lower oval, one through the mountain and another at the opposite end so that the steam passenger train is visible maybe only two-thirds of the time as it winds its way around the track. To add realism I can stop the train in one of the tunnels and delay its exit to create the illusion that the train is traveling a far greater distance.

On the upper layer, a goods train passes through its own tunnel in the mountainside and then past a signal-control tower with the possibility of some simple switching on the siding.

Possibly the best part of this system is that the trains are controlled independently — all without the aid of Digital Command Control!

Because of the split-level, the center of the layout forms a meadow valley and this is where I’m constantly trying out new ideas and themes hoping to get really creative with my landscaping. As it stands, a farmer watches over his flock of sheep as they graze on marigolds. Some distance away, workmen are at work building a small cottage. Further away still, the dazzling white quartz sand of a man-made beach fronting a lake lined with tall water-grasses awaits its holiday-makers. All in all, a model railroad is a continual work in progress that one secretly hopes will never be done.

Having squeezed a fair amount of train action out of my limited space in HO scale I can’t help but think that if I had a chance to do it all over again, N scale would be my choice. Oh, the possibilities!



KERRY

Glenn Downer asked:


Model toy trains is a very enjoyable hobby to be a part of. When I was twelve years old in 1962, I got my first train set. I remember the transformer had dual controls, and was about as big as a car battery, and just about as heavy.

 It had an engine that puffed smoke out the stack, if you put special capsules into it. I had cars that carried logs, and all sorts of tunnels, signs, and everything else I managed to collect for several years.

When I went in the service in the early seventies everything disappeared, probably sold at a tag sale. But I never forgot how much fun playing with model toy trains was, and a few years after getting out of the service I bought another set.

 For anyone who has ever had a train set, you know what I am talking about. If you have never had the pleasure, you should really give it a try. It’s a very relaxing hobby, and wonderful for children if you have them. Kids are drawn to a train set, like bees to honey.

 Finding items for your model train layouts is half the fun. These items can be found at swap meets for model toy train buffs, tag sales, newspaper classifieds, and flea markets, just to name a few.

When you find something unique that will add to your model train layout, it is like finding gold, and you can’t wait to put it in it’s place in your rail yard.

 You can make your model train layouts as simple, or as detailed as you choose. Many railroaders use premade track, while others hand lay their track, complete with nailing it to the railroad ties.

 A lot of the fun with model toy trains is making the buildings and structures that will sit within your layout. This is what really brings the whole package alive, and they are relatively easy and inexpensive to build.

 They can then be painted to match the theme you are trying to obtain with your model train layouts. It could be a modern theme, a western theme, or whatever suites you.

 I have found that model train layouts, are usually a work in progress that really never ends. You always find one more thing to add, or an existing item that could use a little touch up with the brush and paint.

 But that is the true fun of model trains. Building your model trains layouts, and running and watching your model toy trains, especially if you have kids, can be a fun and rewarding hobby.

 



HUGH

Dave Stefko asked:


Recently I bought a magazine dedicated to Scale Model Trains. There inside was an article about the Milwaukee Train fest. This is the third year they have held it and 21,621 railroad fans attended. I got my answer to something I wondered about. There are fans like me out there. I remembered my Uncle and his favorite hobby, which was his train set. It was a long time ago, but what I do remember was the smoke rising from the locomotive. I can still picture the little villages, people, and the way he could control the track. One time the train would go this way and the next it would go another.

I can still hear the whistle blow and the crossing bell. Those were really fun times. I looked forward to Christmas and watching Uncle Joe play with his Model Toy Train. Another thing that amazed me was the detail of everything. In this young boys eyes it was a miniature version of the real thing. One year he had snow on the tracks and I was concerned that it would derail the trail. Looking back I’m sure he got a kick out of that. The magazine I bought goes into detail about different types of Model Toy Trains, including HO,N and large scales. You can now use digital controls. From the novice to the engineer there is a train set out there for every fan. I also noticed a lot of people that are collectors. My life today is a far cry from those innocent days, but I’d love to go back and watch that train run around that track one more time.



EMORY

Greg Howard asked:


Despite Joshua Lion Cowen’s belief in the value of his Lionel toy trains and the success that it will eventually enjoy, he most certainly would not have imagined that the popularity of his products continue to be strong today, especially given the revival in model train collecting in recent years. Lionel model trains were a pioneer in the model train and railroad business, and gained a strong foothold in the industry due to its impeccable attention to detail and quality, partly because of the large group of skilled toy train craftsmen that Cowen employed for his business. This attention to detail spawned countless Lionel trains set which were incredibly realistic and provided fans with endless hours of fun and pure joy. The popularity at its height resulted in a high percentage of Americans that owned at least one set of these toys. They were also a top choice for gifts for every occasion, from Christmas to the New Year.

An amazing fact that is not commonly known about the creator of Lionel trains is that Joshua Lionel Cowen was not originally an American. He moved to the country and settled down with his family, before falling in love with trains as well. These large locomotives were growing in popularity as a mode of transport at that time, and Cowen decided to translate his love for them into model toys which could be enjoyed by people all over the world. He also wanted Lionel trains to be a source of inspiration and learning for locomotive fans worldwide, and knew that they would become popular and sell like hot cakes due to their importance in many countries as a source of transport and a strong economic factor. Within a few years of starting his toy train business, Lionel trains quickly became successful, evidently through his move to bigger offices and the growing number of employees to cope with rising demand and popularity.

The durability of toy trains and model railways has proven itself over the last few decades. When Lionel trains first came out, they were a huge hit and many were fascinated by the detail and quality afforded to each train set. Building and setting up a railroad set with live trains were also a sight to behold, and they still are today. Despite the advent of cars and subsequently, planes, trains were also a necessary mode of transport in many countries, especially in those where financially it was more affordable to use these to transport various products within the country or across neighboring countries. Till today, trains can sometimes be more cost effective than using airborne transport, even if the cost of fuel for locomotives has risen considerably due to its increasing scarcity. With trains having an enduring presence even in the modern world, it is hard to imagine a dwindling interest in model Lionel trains.

While it is more difficult to get hold of a Lionel train model set nowadays due to decreasing production and the fact that other toy train producers are coming out with cheaper alternatives, there are still plenty of options for model train set collectors and aficionados. The Internet is definitely an option, with many fans and collectors going online to trade in their favorite sets and models, especially with Lionel prewar trains. If you look hard enough, there are bound to be bargains and a few gems to be found, with collectors all over the world. In fact, with a more specialized production of the train sets, Lionel trains have increased in value, especially for older vintage models which have become increasingly difficult to locate. There are many individuals who have grown rich as a result of their hobby and love for collecting toy trains, and Lionel trains are often a major factor in their success.



GREG

Greg Howard asked:


When Joshua Lionel Cowen started his business of building Lionel trains as model toys for children and adults all over the world, his aim was twofold. As these toy trains and each Lionel trains set were targeted primarily at young boys, his first aim was to provide a medium for both father and son everywhere to form a relationship and communicate through the time spent together building and playing with model train sets. It has always been well documented throughout history that males bond well together through common activity, and as toy trains hold a global appeal for males of all ages, it was a great way to achieve this objective. The second objective was to show people everywhere the kind of careful detail and ingenious invention that went into these post war American trains, which were a testament to the leap in innovation and invention from the country during its formative years.

During that time, trains were also one of the premier methods of travel, especially over long distances. With that came huge coverage and media interest in everything about trains. Cowen decided to leverage on that, as well as his own passion in the subject, to produce toy trains of such detail and quality that they quickly became popular with children and men of all ages, and were often a favorite choice as gifts. Lionel trains sets also became the choice for collectors and it was often that you would see individuals from that time who had amassed huge personal collections of toy trains which primarily consisted of Lionel prewar trains, which were a popular choice.

Till now, you can often find someone making a Lionel trains purchase as the continued passion in collecting of toy trains and railroad model paraphernalia remains strong, especially in the United States. This is entirely expected with the long and fabled history of the mode of transport which reached its height of strength in post war America. Despite the advancement of technology which has resulted in high tech trains that can now travel at supersonic speeds or speeds which easily overshadows their aged counterparts, there remains an affinity amongst collectors for the antique designs of both prewar and postwar Lionel trains. Part of this is due to the mystique which lends itself to the highly detailed craftsmanship that was invested in building those model toy trains, which was the result of Cowen constantly hiring skilled model locomotive builders who spent long hours making sure that the replicas were true to the original designs.

Along with the consistent number of model railroad collectors worldwide, the tradition of toy train collecting also continues to be spread down from generation to generation. The fact that these toys still hold a fascination with men of all ages and diverse backgrounds, lend them to being timeless mediums for bonding between family members. It is quite a sight to behold when a railroad set is completed and a toy train is seen chugging along the tracks with both father and son, or sometimes the entire family, smiling and cheering on their efforts. With other accessories including scenic landscapes that come with these railroad sets, it is not difficult to understand why Lionel trains remain close to the hearts of train collectors everywhere in the world.



ELWOOD