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Smart wiring for the gateman, from the January 2012 Classic Toy Trains

Dave Farquhar Toy trains November 26, 2011November 22, 2011Classic Toy Trains, lionel, lionel gateman, Peter Riddle, radio shack

This week I received an advance copy of the January 2012 Classic Toy Trains. There, on page 42, is my first magazine article in more than a decade: Smart wiring for the gateman.

I’d like to make a couple of clarifications on the article, as space constraints kept me from elaborating quite as much as I did in the original manuscript–a problem I never have online, but almost always seem to have in print. The issue isn’t due on newsstands for another couple of weeks, but I’ll go ahead and post this now.
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My latest publication tackles the Lionel gateman

Dave Farquhar Toy trains October 14, 2011Classic Toy Trains, lionel, lionel gateman, radio shack

Yesterday I saw (and edited) the final proofs for an article that will be appearing in the January 2012 issue of Classic Toy Trains, due on newsstands 6 December.

The article, “Smart wiring for the gateman,” shows some different ways to wire the venerable Lionel gateman accessory, first introduced 75 years ago.
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How to lower your train accessories into your table

Dave Farquhar Toy trains June 12, 2011Blade, Classic Toy Trains, knockoffs, lionel, lionel gateman, train table

One of the first articles I remember reading in a train magazine (I don’t remember if it was Classic Toy Trains or a competing rag) was titled “Put your accessories in pockets.” Basically, it advocated cutting holes in your table, putting a board beneath the hole, and putting the accessory in the hole to even it up with the ground level on your layout.

It’s a great idea–more on that in a minute–but it really didn’t go into much detail about how to do the cutting part.

Contract time

Dave Farquhar Personal, Toy trains January 22, 2011Classic Toy Trains, CTT, lionel, lionel gateman

I received a contract today from Classic Toy Trains, a sister publication of Model Railroader and Discover. If you haven’t heard of CTT, there’s a chance you’ve heard of one of the others. It’s an article about the venerable Lionel gateman accessory, and some tricks for improving its operation.

I don’t know yet when they plan to publish it, but when I find out, I’ll make an announcement.

Kalmbach, the owner of CTT, has a long tradition of excellence dating to the 1930s. I’m thrilled to write for them.