Collector Consist

Nine Decades Later

February 16, 2023

Nine Decades Later

Comparing to hobby reports from 1933, it is interesting to see many parallels from that challenging era with our own contemporary times.

More Classic Train Sets

December 15, 2022

More Classic Train Sets

Many collectors can’t resist adding one of these classic or contemporary releases to their collections around the holidays.

From Varney to Life-Like via Penn Line?

September 15, 2022

From Varney to Life-Like via Penn Line?

In this installment, we’ll follow the transition that took place between two great hobby names: Varney and Life-Like.

Athearn U-Boats

June 25, 2022

Athearn U-Boats

The group of Athearn U-Boats added to the catalog in the early 1970s represents the largest number of new tooling to debut from the manufacturer.

Half Century of Atlas O

March 15, 2022

Half Century of Atlas O

Known for its line of HO scale track, structures, and rolling stock, Atlas surprised everyone with the introduction of O scale models.

Go West, Athearn!

December 15, 2021

Go West, Athearn!

With roots going back to 1955, Athearn’s short-lived series of Wild West figures lasted until the mid-1960s.

Collector Consist: Amtrak’s Iconic F40PH

May 6, 2021

Collector Consist: Amtrak’s Iconic F40PH

Few locomotives are as synonymous with Amtrak as the F40PH and more than a few model manufacturers have offered them over the years.

Collector Consist: “Shorty” Heavyweights with a Long History

March 15, 2021

Collector Consist: “Shorty” Heavyweights with a Long History

Most recently offered by Life-Like, the “shorty” 60-foot heavyweight coach has a long and colorful history of passing from one hobby manufacturer to the next. 

Collector Consist: Buyers Balked at a Better Boxcar

October 25, 2020

Collector Consist: Buyers Balked at a Better Boxcar

How many HO boxcar models released in the 1950s could you get away with operating today? The Kurtz Kraft effort at Pullman-Standard’s PS-1 40-foot prototype can pretty much still hold its own in comparison to contemporary models.

Collector Consist: Lionel’s Burlington Northern GP30 in HO Scale

March 13, 2020

Collector Consist: Lionel’s Burlington Northern GP30 in HO Scale

Lionel’s return to HO scale in 1976 included the release of an EMD GP30 model decorated for Burlington Northern. This model went on to live in the Bachmann catalog in later years.