Spirit of America Bookstore

American  Railroads
Scale Model & Toy Trains Page

American Railroads Pages on page one (top): railroad links railroad museums Class I railroads Class II railroads shortline railroads light rail & supertrains on page two (top): Computer & Board Games U.S. Railroad History Railroad Pioneers Narrow-Gauge RRs Historic RR Lines on page three (top): transcontinental railroads railroad moguls railroad recordings Railroad Film Festival Pages

model railroad links manufacturers retailers groups reading material & videos about scales & gauges garden railroads large scale / live steam Lego Trains [est. 1966] Lionel Corp. [est. 1900] Thomas the Tank Engine image gallery

L i n k s
online index of model railroad magazines from 1933 [est. 1997]
The Great Train Expo - national traveling show
monthly Great Midwest Train Show in Wheaton, IL
TrainFest Model Railroad Show [Nov 2015 = #45] near Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Al's 'Model Railroad Layouts and Scenery' weblog
Model Railroad Industry Hall of Fame [est. 1985]
Pilentum Television - The World of Model Trains {YouTube channel est. 8/2011}
Miniature World of Trains [est. 2013], 2801 Wade Hampton Blvd. in Greenville / Taylors, South Carolina
The World's Greatest Hobby, Inc. [est. 2001] non-profit educational program is based in Elmhurst, Ilinois

Miniatur Wunderland GmbH - the largest model railway in the world [open 8/2001] in Hamburg, Germany
official website • entry at Wikipedia • watch 11/2011 official video tour [4:54] at YouTube

Railroads On Parade model RR tourist attraction [est. 2010, lost lease 2014] in Pottersville, NY
official website • Facebook • builder Dunham Studios [est. 1987] • watch 11/2014 auction promo [12:15] at YouTube

Model Railroad Manufacturers
Hobby Manufacturers Assn. [merger 2005] / Model Railroad Division

Bachmann Industries, Inc. model trains [est. 1833] in Philadelphia, PA, now owned by Chinese
official company website • company entry at Wikipedia
Bachmann / Plasticville™ scale model structures
Bachmann / Spectrum™ premium scale models
Bachmann / Thomas the Tank Engine™ HO- & G-scale models
Bachmann / Williams O-scale models
Bachmann Trains channel [est. 3/2009] on YouTube

Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH aka Märklin [est. 1859] of Germany
their first windup toy train was in 1891; launched zero/O-gauge circa 1900, HO-scale in 1935, Z-scale in 1972.
official company website • company entry at Wikipedia

Athearn, Inc. 'trains in miniature' [est. 1946] in Carson, CA
Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc. [est. 1949] in Hillside, NJ
Banta Model Works - P&S Building & Structure Co. of Vermont
Bar Mills Scale Model Works [est. 2005] in N, HO, S & O scales in Buxton, Maine
Boulder Valley Models - On30-scale railroad model kits [est. 2002], based in Baltimore, MD
Foothill Model Works {On3) of Willitts, CA
Horizon Hobby Model Trains of Champaign, Illinois
Kadee® - The Coupler People
Life-Like Trains {div. of Walthers since 2005}
M.T.H. Electric Trains [est. 1980] in Columbia, MD  •  watch promo video [6:51]
Overland Models, Inc. - brass models [est. 1976]
Republic Locomotive Works N/Nn3 Scale [est. 2000] in Washington State

Sierra Scale Model Supplies [est. 2003] in Tampa, Florida
Sierra West Scale Models [est. 1993] of Plano, Texas
Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. model trains [est. 1932]

Athearn® scale model trains category at Amazon
Atlas® scale model trains category at Amazon
Bachmann® scale model trains category at Amazon
Hornby® OO-scale model trains category at Amazon
Intermountain Railway® scale model trains category at Amazon
K-line® scale model trains category at Amazon
Lionel® O- & S-scale model trains category at Amazon
L.G.B.® G-scale model trains category at Amazon
M.T.H. Electric Trains® O-scale model trains category at Amazon
Precision Craft Models® scale model trains category at Amazon
Roundhouse® scale model trains category at Amazon
U.S.A. Trains® G-scale model trains category at Amazon
Walthers® scale model trains category at Amazon
Woodland Scenics® O- & HO- & N-scale model trains category at Amazon

Model Railroad Retailers
Lionel's official list of Authorized Dealers  
Model Retailer Magazine [est. 1975]
Central Coast Trains [est. 1995], 7600 El Camino Real in Atascadero, California
Internet Trains 'model train superstore' [est. 1999] in Brea, California
The Western Depot [est. 1977], 1650 Sierra Avenue in Yuba City, California
  
Highlands Station, LLC [est. 2007] in Lakewood, Colorado
InterMountain Railway Co. of Longmont, Colorado
Brass Trains [] in Ocala, Florida
H & R Trains in Pinellas Park, Florida
Trainz - buyer & seller of toy trains [est. 1998] in Buford, Georgia
Lombard Hobbies [est. 1978], 524 E. St. Charles Place in Lombard, IL
  A-Trains mail-order [est. 1986] based in Greenwood (Indianapolis), Indiana
Hobby Works® - two locations in Maryland
  Schrader's Railroad Catalog mail-order [est. 1978] based in Fairview, MI
  Historic Rail & Roads mail-order [est. ?], 640 Taft Street NE in Minneapolis, MN
Balls of Brass railroad models [1977-2009] in Montana

  The Train Station [est. 1974] in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey
Silver State Trains {online only} based in Henderson (Las Vegas), Nevada
Toy Train Depot, 1991 No. White Sands Blvd. in Alamogordo, NM
  The Train Room, 2515 Utah Street NE in Albuquerque, NM  
Trains West [1992-2013] in Albuquerque, NM
  Train Store & More LLC 2500 Sudderth Drive in Ruidoso, NM    = closed ??
Blue Ridge Hobbies Model Railroading Supplies & More [est. 2005], 2327 No. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville, South Carolina
Pufferbelly's toy train traders [est. 1998] of Waco, Texas
  Mario's Trains, 3343 Valley Pike in Winchester, Virginia
  Eastside Trains [est. 1983], 217 Central Way in Kirkland, WA
The Inside Gateway model train store [est. 1990], 14128 NE Woodinville-Duvall Road in Woodinville, WA
Backwoods Miniatures of U.K. {sellers of U.K. & U.S. rolling stock}

Model Railroad Groups
National Model Railroad Assn. [est. 1935]
N.M.R.A. Directory of World Wide Model Railroading Websites
Pacific Coast Region, N.M.R.A.
Train Life social network [est. 2005] based in Provo, Utah
Plasticville Collectors Association [est. 1999] is based in Iowa

Arizona Model Railroading Society [est. 1984] in Glendale, AZ
San Diego Model Railroad Museum [est. 1939] in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
Wichita Toy Train Club & Museum [est. 1985] in Wichita, KS
Twin City Model Railroad Museum [est. 1954] in Saint Paul, MN
Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum [est. ??, moved 2015] in Gulfport, MS
Sheboygan [WI] Society of Scale Model Railroad Engineers, Ltd. [est. 1977]

Canadian Toy Train Association [broke away from TTOS 12/2012] is based in Burnaby, British Columbia

Toy Train Operating Society [est. 1966] is based in Southern California
T.T.O.S holds its annual convention in different cities in August (2016 is 50th Anniversary Convention)
T.T.O.S. Buckeye Division [] of Ohio
T.T.O.S. Canadian Division [] {website parked}
T.T.O.S. Golden State Division [] {website parked} is based in Cupertino, CA
T.T.O.S. New Mexico Division [est. 1986] is based in Albuquerque, NM
T.T.O.S. Pacific Northwest Division [est. 1970] is based in the Portland, Oregon area
T.T.O.S. Sacramento Valley Division [est. 1985?] of California
T.T.O.S. San Joaquin Valley Division [] of California {website parked}
T.T.O.S. Silver State Division [] of Nevada {website parked}
T.T.O.S. Southern Pacific Division [est. 1974] is based in Orange County, CA
T.T.O.S. Southwestern Division [est. 1966] is based in Los Angeles County, CA
T.T.O.S. Wolverine Division [est. 1966] is based in Michigan
The other T.T.O.S. divisions, having no web presence, are named: Bay Counties, Central California, Empire & Eastern,
Florida, Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Curve, Independence, National Capital, Niagara Frontier & Sooner.

                          
The Train Collectors Association [est. 1954] is based in Strasburg, PA
e-Train, the online magazine [est. 2002] of the Train Collectors Association
T.C.A.'s National Toy Train Museum [est. 1977] in Strasburg, PA
Train Collectors Association Desert Division [est. 1970] covers AZ, NM & West TX
  Train Collectors Association Lakes and Pines Division [est. 1969] in MN, ND, SD & WI
  Train Collectors Association New England Division [est. 1958]

Reading  Material  &  Videos
browse books on model railroads at Amazon
Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette {for modelers}
Maine 2-Foot Quarterly Magazine
O-Gauge Railroading Magazine [est. 12/1975]
O-Gauge Railroading Magazine's YouTube channel [est. 4/2009]

Model Railroader Magazine subscribe at Amazon 12 issues/year for $42.95 subscribe on Kindle at Amazon 12 issues/year for $3.58/month magazine website	Railroad Model Craftsman Magazine subscribe at Amazon 12 issues/year for $34.95 magazine website	Classic Toy Trains Magazine subscribe at Amazon 9 issues/year for $39.95 subscribe on Kindle at Amazon 12 issues/year for $3.33/month magazine website	O-Scale Trains Magazine [bi-monthly est. 2002] subscribe directly: 6 issues/year for $39, 2 years for $74 magazine website
Model Railroad News Magazine subscribe at Amazon 12 issues/year for $34.95 magazine website	Australian Model Railway Magazine subscribe at Amazon 6 issues/year for $114.07 {USA price} magazine website	Model Railroading Magazine ceased publication in August 2006 magazine website gone back issues no longer available	Model Railroad Hobbyist Magazine [est. 2008] access to current & prior issues may be online only (very confusing website) subscribe to M.R.H. Running Extra [est. 11/2018] 12 issues/year for $19.99 magazine website

browse books on railroads at Amazon

	"Up Clear Creek On The Narrow Gauge: Modeling The Colorado & Southern" [1990] by Harry W. Brunk a series of 54 articles from Narrow Guage & Short Line Gazette reporting on construction of the author's HOn3 scale model railroad, the Union Central and Northern, which was based on the Clear Creek District of the 3-foot gauge Colorado & Southern Railroad that ran from Golden, Colorado, to just beyond Silver Plume Benchmark Publns 11x8½ hardcover [1990] out of print/used sequel "More Up Clear Creek On The Narrow Gauge" [2010] by Harry W. Brunk less 'how to' book and more history and motivation; 88 further articles from bi-monthly Narrow Guage & Short Line Gazette Benchmark Publns 11½x8½ hardcover [2010] out of print/used
	"The Model Railway Manual: A Step-by-Step Guide To Building A Layout" [1994] by C.J. Freezer Haynes Publng 11x8¼ hardcover [1/95] out of print/used Haynes Publng hardcover [11/94] out of print/used
	"Playing With Trains: A Passion Beyond Scale" [2004] by {Grand Prix racer} Sam Posey Kindle Edition from Random House [12/2007] for $1.99 {sic} Random House 8x5¼ pb [11/2005] for $12.53 Random House 8½x6 hardcover [9/2004] out of print/70+ used
	"The Golden Age of Toy Trains" [2012] Directed by Tom McComas & Joseph Stachler featuring mostly Lionel equipment, but also American Flyer and Marx and Kusan T.M. Books & Video color DVD [10/2012] for $13.95
	"The Wonderful World of Model Trains: A Beginner's Guide To Building Your Own Model Railways and Creating Stunning Sceneries & Layouts" [2012] by David B. Brokaw 127-page Kindle Edition from Amazon Digital Services [5/2012] for $4.97 126-page CreateSpace 8x5 pb [3/2014] for $9.97 CreateSpace 8x5 pb [3/2014] third party/new-used
	"L.O.K. L.G.B." book [2013] by Aldo Farneti & Paolo Zanin, Photographs by Photo by Roberto Turci {no idea what 'L.O.K.' signifies}; book is in English & German, with over 500 HD photographs on 544 pages, featuring every locomotive produced by L.G.B. from 1968 to Summer 2013 Edizioni Antilia, Italy 9½x12x2" {7¼ pounds!} hardcover [2013] for $69.99 official book site "L.O.K. L.G.B. Update" supplement [2014] Summer 2013 to Summer 2014 "L.O.K. L.G.B. Update" supplement [2015] Summer 2014 to Summer 2015
	"Tinplate Legends In Action - 5 DVD Boxed Set" [2013] Directed by Tom McComas; covers all major manufacturers, like American Flyer, Bing, Boucher, Carlisle & Finch, Dorfan, Ives, Lionel, Märklin, Marx, and more T.M. Books & Video widescreen color DVD [9/2013] 5 disks for $44.99

http://www.amazon.com/101-Classic-Toy-Trains-Postwar/dp/0871164108/
http://www.amazon.com/Collectors-Guide-Classic-Gauge-Trains/dp/0896894576/
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Railroading-Railroaders-How-To-Guides/dp/0890247927/
http://www.amazon.com/Plasticville-Illustrated-Price-Guide-Littletown/dp/B008BVMPJY/
http://www.amazon.com/Scale-Railroading-Getting-Railroaders-How-/dp/0890247730/
http://www.amazon.com/Toy-Train-Memories-John-Grams/dp/0871161982/
http://www.amazon.com/Ways-Better-Looking-Layout-Modeling-Painting/dp/0890248192/

About  Scales  &  Gauges

             
'rail transport modelling scales' entry at Wikipedia

Lionel Trains was launched in 1900; other toymakers soon saw a need to standardize toy railroad scale and gauge so that smaller companies could produce equipment and accessories that were widely compatible. The 1909 industry standards defined scales zero thru six; zero soon became O-scale, the other numeric scales withered away during the Great Depression. The first 'tabletop' railways appeared as early as 1922, mostly 'half-O' scale, marketed for enthusiasts with smaller homes; the equipment was also cheaper and easier to manufacture. The similar 'naught-naught' or double-O scale debuted at the Leipzig Fair in 1935, including products from Märklin. HO-gauge took off in the United States, partly helped by excellent track from Atlas; OO-gauge became popular in the U.K. from manufacturer Hornby (brand name 'Dublo') and in Germany from manufacturer Märklin. The public perception of 'toy trains' and 'electric trains' usually produces images of HO-scale and O-scale home layouts and-or Lionel trains in a circle underneath the Christmas tree. The public is also aware of kiddie rides at the zoo and elsewhere (rideable 10" and 12" and 15" gauge). (The other scales and gauges tabled below exist, but are unfamiliar to the general public; obscure and obsolete scales are not included in this table.)

scale	proportion	scale foot	gauge	uses
prototype	1:1	12 inches/foot	varies	real life
grand scale	varies	varies	10"/12"/15"	outdoor kiddie rides
live steam 7.5	varies	varies	7½" ¹	outdoor, rideable
live steam 5	varies	varies	5"	outdoor, rideable
live steam 3.5	varies	varies	3½" (89mm)	outdoor, rideable
16mm scale	1:19.05	16mm/foot	32mm for 2-ft ng 45mm for 2'9¾" ng	outdoor/garden, often live steam, mostly in Britain
F-scale	1:20.32	15mm/foot	G-gauge 45mm	outdoor/garden (3-foot-gauge prototypes)
G-scale	1:22.2 ²	13.55mm/foot	G-gauge 45mm	outdoor/garden (1-meter-gauge prototypes)
H-scale	1:24	½-inch/foot	G-gauge 45mm	outdoor/garden (3½-foot-gauge prototypes)
1-scale	1:32	3/8-inch/foot	G-gauge 45mm	outdoor/garden layouts
O-scale	1:48	¼-inch/foot (6.5mm/foot)	30mm (1.181")	indoor home layouts
On3-scale	1:48	¼-inch/foot (6.5mm/foot)	19.05mm	indoor home layouts (3-foot-gauge prototypes)
On30-scale	1:48	¼-inch/foot (6.5mm/foot)	16.5mm / 0.65" {HO track}	indoor home layouts (30-inch-gauge prototypes)
O27-scale	1:64	3/16-inch/foot	30mm (1.181")	indoor home layouts ³
S-scale	1:64	3/16-inch/foot	22.42mm	indoor home layouts
OO-scale	1:76	4mm/foot	16.5mm / 0.65"	indoor home layouts
HO-scale	1:87	3.5mm or near 1/8-inch/foot 4	16.5mm / 0.65"	indoor home layouts
HOn3-scale	1:87	3.5mm or near 1/8-inch/foot 4	10.5mm / 0.413"	indoor home layouts
N-scale	1:160	1.905mm/foot	9mm	indoor home layouts
Z-scale	1:220	1.385mm/foot	6.5mm	indoor home layouts
L-scale	n/a	varies	varies	term used for railways built from Lego™ components
V-scale	n/a	n/a	n/a	term used for railways that exist as virtual (software) worlds

Note 1: There is a popular commercial variant of 7¼" gauge; however, most public live steam clubs have 5" and 7½" track. Note 2: The official but inaccurate standard is 1:22.5. Note 3: Smaller equipment on special O-gauge track; sold by Gilbert, American Flyer, Marx, and Lionel. Note 4: Manufacturers use the 1:87 standard; some modellers contruct buildings and such using available 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch craft material.

Large  Scale / Garden  Model  Railroading
Just about all 'garden' railroads run on 45mm-gauge (1.772 inches) track, which is called 'G-gauge'; the locomotives and equipment are produced
in multiple scales to run on that universal track gauge. 'Gauge 1' is 1:32 scale to model standard-gauge trains; 'G Scale' is 1:22.5 scale to model
European trains of 1,000mm gauge; 'H-Scale' is 1:24 scale to model 3½-foot narrow gauge trains; 'F- or Fine-Scale' is 1:20.32 scale to model
U.S. 3-foot narrow-gauge trains; 'SE-Scale' is 1:13.7 (7/8" to the foot) scale to model U.S. 2-foot narrow gauge trains.
'G Scale' entry at Wikipedia

Large Scale Resource Pages
G Scale Junction - retail & online sales, 570 Hebron Road in Heath, Ohio
G-Scale Model Train Forum & Online Community [est. 2000] based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Large Scale Central forums, chat & online community [est. 2000] based in Massachusetts
The Large Scale Trains Page by George Schreyer

Lone Pine & Grizzly Flats G-scale garden railroad in Corona, CA
Dave Bodnar's D&L Garden Railway website {with lousy navigation} of Pittsburgh, PA

Tucson [AZ] Garden Railway Society [est. 1994]
Gold Coast Garden Railroad Society [] in Ventura, CA
Bay Area [CA] Garden Railway Society [est. 1988]
Denver [CO] Garden Railway Society [est. 1979]
Georgia Garden Railway Society [est. 1991]
Las Vegas [NV] Garden Railway Society []
New Mexico Garden RailRoaders
Greater Cincinnati [OH] Garden Railway Society [est. 1990] based in Covington, KY
Tulsa [OK] Garden Railroad Club [est. 1997]
Pittsburgh [PA] Garden Railway Society [est. 1994]
Houston Area G-Gaugers Model Railroad Club [est. 1987] in Hockley, Texas
Houston [TX] Small Scale Live Steamers []
  Rosenberg [TX] Railroad Museum garden railroad [built by H.A.G.G. from 2012]
Puget Sound [WA] Garden Railway Society [est. 1989]
Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers [est. 1977] of U.K.

Garden Railways Magazine [est. 1984] published by Kalmbach
Garden Railways Magazine YouTube channel [est. 3/2012] - 24 uploads 8/2015
"How To Build A Basic Garden Railroad" video [4/2012] at Youtube • part 1 [9:52] • part 2 [9:07]

Garden Trains YouTube channel [est. 11/2006] - 60+ videos uploaded

Big Train World retail & online sales in The Netherlands

USA Trains – 'largest selection of G-scale rolling stock in the world' in NE Massachusetts
U.S.A. Trains® G-scale model trains category at Amazon

L.G.B.® (Lehmann Gross Bahn) model railroad products [est. 1968] now owned by Märklin
official company website • company entry at Wikipedia
L.G.B.® G-scale model trains category at Amazon

National Garden Railway Conventions {sanctioned by who?}
2012 Chicago Convention [Aug 2012 = #28] in St. Charles, Illinois
2013 Cincinnati [OH] Convention [June 2013= #29]
2014 Florida Convention [May 2014= #30] in Tampa, FL
2015 Denver Convention [Aug 2015 = #31] in Colorado
2016 San Francisco Bay Area Convention [July 2016 = #32] in Santa Clara, CA
2017 Tulsa Convention [July 2017 = #33] in Oklahoma
2018 Atlanta [GA] Convention [June 2018 will be #34]

National Garden Railway Show in U.K.
East Coast Large Scale Train Show [each Spring since 1997] in York, PA

Garden Railways Magazine (USA) [est. 1984] subscribe at Amazon 6 issues/year for $32.95 magazine website entry at Wikipedia

Garden Rail Magazine (U.K.) no info found from search on Amazon & Wikipedia; publishes monthly (also digital) magazine website

GartenBahn Profi Magazine [est. 1/2003?] published in Germany German-language magazine website

Steam In The Garden Magazine (USA) [est. 1981] magazine website

Live Steam and Outdoor Railroading Magazine (USA) [est. 1967] subscribe at Amazon 6 issues/year for $39.95 magazine website

	"Garden Railways" [1949] by R.E. 'Ray' Tustin 110-page T.E.E. U.K. facsimile pb [10/92] out of print/scarce 110-page Marshall U.K. hardcover [1949] out of print/scarce
	"The Garden Railway Manual: A Step-by-Step Guide To Building and Operating An Outdoor Model Railway" [1995] by C.J. Freezer Haynes Publng 11/8½ hardcover [12/95] out of print/used
	"Getting Started In Garden Railroading: Build The Railroad of Your Dreams . . . In Your Own Backyard!" [2001] by Allan W. Miller Kindle Edition from Krause Publns [2/2011] for $10.99 Krause Publns 10¾x8¼ pb [6/2001] out of print/used
	"Garden Railroading: Getting Started In The Hobby" [2002] by Kent Johnson Kalmbach/Garden Railway Books 10¾x8¼ pb [3/2002] out of print/many used
	"Garden Railroad Spectacular" [2003] 54-minute documentary film from Railroad Productions of miniature outdoor 'garden' railways, one of which is live steam; directed by Les Jarrett DVD/Blu-ray not available • Amazon Instant Video [2003] rental $1.99, purchase $4.95
	"Practical Garden Railways" [2006] by Peter Jones Kindle Edition from Crowood Press [8/2013] for $12.49 Crowood Press UK 10x7¾ hardcover [12/2006] for $28.00
	"The Art of Garden Railways: Reaching For Realism (Garden Rail Special #3)" [5/2010] by Ian Stock Atlantic Publrs 11½x8¼ pb [5/2010] import/new-used Atlantic Publrs pb [5/2010] import/new-used
	"Building Structures For Your Garden Railway" [2010] by Jack Verducci Kalmbach/Garden Railway Books 10½x8 pb [7/2010] for $13.56
	"Making Model Buildings For Garden Railways" [2011] by Peter Jones, with Kes Jones Crowood Press UK 10x8 hardcover [12/2011] for $23.86
	"Garden Railway Basics" [2013] by Kevin Strong Kalmbach/Garden Railway Books 10¼x8 pb [5/2013] for $16.19

Live Steam Model Railroading
'Large Scale' live steam-powered model railroad locomotives big enough for humans to ride on are very popular in the U.S.A, in the U.K.. and in Australia. The most popular track gauges are 3½‑inch, 5‑inch, 7¼‑inch, and 7½‑inch; the 'Grand Scale' amusement park train rides are usually 10-inch, 12-inch, or 15-inch gauge. Owners and builders tend to closely-matching the scale of the equipment with the gauge of the track. Coal- and oil-fired locomotives carry more prestige, but internal-combustion and electric motors power many larger-scale model locomotives that represent steam-era engines; models of diesel and electric locomotives usually have matching power sources.
'Live Steam' entry at Wikipedia

Discover Live Steam [est. 1998]
International Brotherhood of Live Steamers [est. 1932]

listing of public & private live steam railroads (by S.C.L.S., needs an update)
listing of U.S.A. public & private live steam railroads on the Discover Livesteam website

This ever-growing page needed reducing, so this section was cut to its own page in Summer 2020.

Spirit of America Bookstore's Live Steam Miniature Trains Page
top of page • links • reading material & videos • live steamer groups - by state • image gallery

LEGO  Trains  [since 1966]
The LEGO® logo is a trademark & registered copyright of the LEGO Group; the Lego Trains theme became a sub-theme of Lego City in 2006.
Lego Trains entry at Wikipedia
Lego City entry at Wikipedia
browse the Lego Trains Shop at Amazon
watch "The Evolution of Lego Trains, 1966-2018" video [5/2018 upload; 7:32] online at YouTube

        
Brick Model Railroader [est. 12/2016] official website
Brick Train Awards [est. 2020] at Brick Model Railroader

The Brothers Brick • world's number 1 source for LEGO news, reviews ...   

Brick Universe LEGO® Fan Expo events [since 2015] in multiple cities each year
Big Kid Brix custom-printed LEGO® mini-figures [est. 2016] is based in Indiana USA

	Lego Idea Book #7777: Trains [1981] 83-page LEGO® 13x9 pb [1981] out of print/SOLD OUT !
	"Getting Started With Lego Trains" [2004] by Jacob H. McKee No Starch Press 10x8 pb [12/2003] out of print/used
	Brick Journal Magazine #24 - June 2013 issue 'All Aboard The Lego Trains!' article by Joe Meno - and more 80-page single issue magazine [6/2013] for $23.99
	"LEGO City: Mystery On The Lego Express" [2014] by Trey King & Sean Wang 24-page Kindle Edition from LEGO City/Scholastic [8/2014] for $1.99 24-page LEGO City/Scholastic 8x8 pb [8/2014] for $1.20 {sic} 24-page LEGO City/Turtleback library 8¼x8¼ hardcover [8/2014] for $14.80
	"The LEGO Trains Book" [4-8 years; 2017] by Holger Matthes Kindle Edition from No Starch Press/Penguin Random House [10/2017] for $14.99 No Starch Press 9½x9½ hardcover [10/2017] for $19.00

                       
Lionel  Corp.  [since 1900]
Lionel Corp. entry at Wikipedia
Lionel®, LLC of Concord, NC official website
The Lionel® Store [est. 1999] based in Concord, NC

search on keywords 'Lionel+Trains' {3,300+ items} at Amazon
browse Lionel Trains® Store {2,200+ items} at Amazon

This ever-growing page needed reducing, so this section was also cut to its own page in Summer 2020.

Spirit of America Bookstore's Lionel Trains Page
top of page • history of toy trains • trains & accessories • other products • reading material • movies & TV, other media •
Joshua Lionel Cowen • company history • image gallery • links

Spirit of America Bookstore's
"Thomas the Tank Engine" Books & Toys & TV Pages
The adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine™ began in 1945 with a series of books in Britain; the books canon now totals 42 volumes, with many more books
that are designed for K-school & older children; the TV series has broadcast 419 episodes on B.B.C. & P.B.S. (from 1984 to 2015), plus there are over eighty
feature film & direct-to-video releases. Thomas toy train merchandise includes simple wood toy trains, Trackmaster Thomas plastic trains,
Thomas 'Take-n-Play' diecast metal trains, and HO-scale electric trains.

on page 1: top of page  •  synopsis & history  •  the books  •  the authors  •  business entities  •  other media  •  toy trains  •  links

on page 2: top of page  •  movies & videos  •  principal characters  •  image gallery

on page 3: top of page  •  non-series TV  •  TV series

Bachmann / Thomas the Tank Engine™ HO-scale & G-scale models
Bachmann® / Thomas™ scale model trains category at Amazon

Image  Gallery

here on the American Railroads / Scale Model & Toy Trains Page at Spirit of America Bookstore

top of page • model railroad links • reading material • about scales & gauges •

garden RRs • large scale / live steam • image gallery

Spirit of America Bookstore's American Railroads Pages

on page one:  top of page • links • museums • Class I railroads • Class II railroads • shortline railroads

on page two:  top of page • games • RR history • narrow-gauge RRs • historic RR lines

on page three:  top of page • transcontinental railroads • railroad moguls • railroad recordings

Spirit of America Bookstore's 'Railroads in Fiction' Pages
Spirit of America Bookstore's Railroads in Fiction - Books For Young Railfans Page

Spirit of America Bookstore's 'Non-Fiction Books About Railroads' Pages

Spirit of America Bookstore's Railroad Equipment Pages
Spirit of America Bookstore's Geared Steam Locomotives Page
Spirit of America Bookstore's Private Railcars U.S.A. Page

Spirit of America Bookstore's Railroad Film Festival Pages

America's Shortline Railroads Page

Spirit of America Bookstore's Nostalgic Toys, Dolls, and Games Page

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