I bought a couple of aliens for my train consist today. At the annual TCA Ozark Division train show at Lutheran South that happens every December, I spotted some lonely American Flyer bodies sitting neglected on a table. There were two steam locomotives, a gondola, a boxcar, and a caboose. I looked at the locomotives but there wasn't any way I could remotor them with parts I had available. I did buy the boxcar, and then came back for the gondola.

I spent a total of $3 for these artifacts from 1958. Not bad.

It was a small-time gig, but if it helps pay the bills, that's all that matters. I published a guide to refurbishing 1950s Lionel, Marx, and American Flyer trains over at Associated Content.

The other day I helped someone troubleshoot a Lionel 1122 switch that was buzzing and not operating. I don't have time to take pictures or anything but hopefully this brief rundown will be helpful for someone.

I hang out at several train-related sites online. The Gauge is one of my favorites, partly because I learn so much there.

One of its great teachers, who was known both by his handle, Matthyro, and his first name, Robin, died today. In some ways he was the heart and soul of The Gauge--not many have their own entire section named after them.

You owe it to yourself to take a look at what Robin could build. What you'll see isn't the work of a hobbyist. It's the work of a true artist.

I've read about The New Pretty Village, published in book form by Dover Publications in 1980, as a source of buildings for a train layout, particularly a layout featuring tin litho Marx or prewar trains. Now I've got one in my hot little hands.

Joe Rampolla is at it again. I linked to his toy train website a few months ago; today he sent me a link to a new animation project that he calls "My Secondhand Lions."

I would have liked the project even if he hadn't made reference to one of my favorite movies.

Yesterday while the wife was scooping up cheap groceries at Big Lots (also known as Odd Lots in some parts of the country), I spied some useful stuff in the toy section.

They were cheap playsets, priced at 99 cents and $1.99, sold under the "Mini Wheels" and "Superior" brand names.

Now and then I hear about people scoring bags of figures suitable for O gauge trains at dollar stores.

I finally became one. Here's what to look for.

An old trick for automating a Lionel or Marx train layout is to power accessories off an insulated rail section. Run one wire to the center rail, then run the other wire to a rail that's been insulated from the other rail and the two ajoining track sections. A passing train completes the circuit, causing the accessory to activate.

You can buy insulated straight sections. If you want a curved insulated section, or if you just want to save some money, you're better off making your own.

I hear two complaints about Lionel/American Flyer/Marx toy train layouts (besides the common complaints from uptight scale modelers, that is). One is the amount of space they take up, and the other is the noise.

Let's tackle the noise. While we're at it, we'll tackle reliability.