For historical interest and family fun, it’s hard to beat the tourist train. These unique vehicles offer a welcome respite from frenetic vacation venues, as visitors can relax and experience the pleasures of a bygone era. This comprehensive guide to North American tourist train sites features everything from dinner trains and steam excursions to urban trolleys and fascinating museums. Full-page reviews cover more than 175 popular excursion trains and railroad museums. Each revie (more…)

The “big top” was once the greatest show on earth, not to mention America’s most popular form of entertainment. Beginning in the 1870s, specially built trains transported the circus to eager crowds in every corner of the United States. Now the magic of those circus trains is captured in this delightful book depicting their unusual construction and operation. Readers will witness animals being loaded and unloaded from trains and the special coaches that housed circus personnel. F (more…)

Review

“Lorett Treese has energetically gathered a wide sampling of history and culture, giving an entertaining glimpse into railroading’s past.” — Dan Cupper, author of “Crossroads of Commerce” and “Rockville Bridge”

Divides the state into regions and explores the major railroads, recounts the lore, profiles the individuals involved, and identifies places one can go to experience the relics of rail culture. These are regional histories of the great r (more…)

Review

“This guide is full of the techniques that will help you and your kids build . . . just about anything.” — Power To Learn, March 2006″We were so pumped . . . All aspects of Lego building are covered, using principles found in other walks of life.” — Uncrate.com, June 2006…mixes the levels of information to allow the book to reach to a broad audience. — Brick Journal, October 2005(http://www.legofan.org/brickjournal/)All of this information is organized in easy-to-foll (more…)

LIONEL ACCESSORIES AT WORK

(more…)

Review

The more settled farming community of rural Vermont is the scene of Nancy Means Wright’s THE GREAT CIRCUS TRAIN ROBBERY. Zoe is still trying to get into her older brother’s Northern Spy Club, but her assignment of observing the man next door is more boring than mysterious. Then her best friend, Spencer, reports that one of the cars of his prized antique circus train has been stolen, and Zoe is on the case at once. More complications ensue as Zoe and Spencer get involved (more…)

The model railroad empire of MTH Electric Trains continues to steam ahead and revolutionize the O gauge electric train market with its innovative product lines, helping to make O gauge the fastest growing segment in model railroading. This is the first operator’s handbook devoted to MTH’s unique features and characteristics, including the new MTH Digital Control System. Model railroaders can easily construct a complete MTH railroad with the detailed step-by-step instructions (more…)

This is one in a series of “Penguin Children’s 60s” titles.

(more…)

Review

Model Railway Express (UK), December 2007 “This is definitely a ‘must’ for the train collector with transatlantic interest.”

From Lionel’s first printed pamphlet in 1902 to the full-color fantasies of the 1950s and beyond, Classic Toy Trains revisits the collectible toy trains of Carlisle & Finch, American Flyer, Ives, Hafner, Lionel and others. Filled with over 200 images of rare toy trains, accessories, layouts and catalog artwork, this nostalg (more…)