Classic Toy Trains December 2002

Building tips for two Christmas layout
Al Coleman of Maryland and Mark Edwards of Florida combine toy trains and Christmas in creative ways. Mark shows you step-by-step how to build a circular tree layout made of modules of lightweight construction foam sheets. Al shows you how to use mirrors as lakes to add an extra element to your under-tree wintertime display.

Visit a top-notch hi-rail layout
Tour Jack Fox's northern Virginia hi-rail O gauge layout full of broad curves and Appalachian-inspired scenery and learn how it was constructed.

Build elevated bridge girders
Real elevated trackwork doesn't float in the sky, so why should yours? Dick Teal of Wisconsin shows you step-by-step how to make realistic-looking elevated track supports using sheet wood and dowels as girders and supports.

How to install MTH catenary
CTT's editor Neil Besougloff installs RailKing catenary on his home layout and passes along tips and tricks for catenary on your own layout. And, as a CTT on-line exclusive, learn how to scratchbuild your own O or S gauge catenary using Märklin-brand HO components.

The green diesels Lionel should have made
Lionel orphaned its prized green Lionel Lines 2400-series passenger cars by never producing a matching locomotive. But what if Lionel had made the matching locomotive? Professional toy-train painter Len Carparelli of New Jersey travels in time to the Lionel Corp. of 1951, where he meets Lionel founder J.L. Cowen and oversees the design of the "green" no. 2022 Lionel Lines Alco FA diesels.

It started with a postwar O-27 set
Childhood dreams have become an adult reality for postwar Lionel collector Joe Grzyboski, who displays many of his prized sets in his thriving northeast Pennsylvania train store.

The origins of Flyer’s oil drum loader
Ted Hamler of New Mexico unearths the story behind American Flyer's postwar no. 779 oil drum loader accessory, today a popular Lionel accessory as well. Included are photos of the roughly crafted 1950s prototype accessory.

How to wire Lionel accessories
The latest in a series of wiring diagrams by Louis Koumoundouros of Chicago, Ill., shows you how to wire Lionel's automatic crossing gate and signal three different ways.

15 years of layouts
Concluding our yearlong 15th anniversary celebration, we wrap-up our series of photos revisiting the most memorable layouts published in CTT.