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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 28 years fixing things for a living, and one lesson stuck with me: the right tool makes the job easier. An N scale train set with DCC is exactly that-the right tool for running realistic model railroad operations when you don't have a spare barn to work with. My basement is full of O gauge, …

I spent 28 years fixing trains for the CTA, and if there's one thing that experience taught me, it's this: you don't need fancy equipment to do good work. You need the right materials, the right technique, and enough sense not to skip the boring steps that actually matter. N scale scenery works the …

I spent 28 years wrenching on CTA cars at the Skokie Shops, so when I tell you that understanding your rolling stock matters, I'm not just blowing smoke. Whether you're moving passengers on the L or coal on a model railroad, the fundamentals stay the same: know your equipment, respect the standards, …

I spent 28 years fixing CTA rail cars at the Skokie Shops, and if there's one thing that career taught me, it's how to spot quality machinery and how to sniff out junk. My dad ran Lionel trains around our Christmas tree in Cicero when I was a kid, and I've been buying, running, and fixing model loco …

Look, I spent 28 years fixing things at the CTA's Skokie Shops. I know what it's like to stare at a pile of parts and wonder where to even start. Building your first HO scale structure kit can feel the same way, except nobody's going to fire you if you glue something backwards. Here's what I wish s …