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I've been running O gauge trains since my dad first set up that Lionel loop around the Christmas tree in our Cicero living room back in 1972. After 28 years of fixing things at the CTA's Skokie Shops, I've learned that the difference between something that works and something that looks right often …

I spent 35 years working the real iron for Burlington Northern Santa Fe before retiring, and I can tell you that the vintage O gauge trains value question gets asked at every train meet I attend. Guys walk up to tables with shoeboxes full of their dad's old Lionels, hoping they're sitting on a goldm …

I've been an electrician for over a decade, and I'll tell you something funny: I probably learned more about AC power from my O gauge layout than from my first year of trade school. There's nothing like watching a $400 locomotive act possessed to make you really, truly understand waveform compatibil …

I've built four O gauge layouts in the past seven years, two for myself and two for friends who got stuck staring at plywood for too long. And here's what I've learned: the choice between 3-rail and 2-rail isn't about which system is "better." It's about which system fits your space, your patience l …

I've been modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad since 1989, and every December I watch the same scene unfold: someone buys an O-gauge train set, tears open the box on Christmas morning, and then realizes the oval won't fit between the tree stand and the couch. The magic dissolves into frustration, and …

I spent forty years building houses before I picked up model railroading, and I'll tell you something that applies to both: the foundation matters more than the paint color. Too many beginners grab a starter set, dump it on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, and wonder why their brand-new locomotive keeps dera …