Bob's Trains, Toys & Travel

06/04/2026

Lionel Trains Inc. LTI train sets for the O27 Traditional Line in 1988.
Three of these sets are D.C. Direct Current: Freight Flyer, Rail Blazer and Cannonball Express all featured DC only motors and power packs imported from Hong Kong to save costs. But the trains were indeed made in the USA. The three A.C. Alternating Current sets were the Iron Horse Freight, Nickel Plate Special and Silver Spike. All of those sets also had the D.C. can motor(s) but with added rectifier boards and electronic E-units installed to simulate the Postwar type of F-N-R operation cycles. Which is your favorite?
Or did you have one of these train sets back in the late 1980s? :-)

06/04/2026

Lionel 1983 catalog pages: How to build a RR empire! :-)

06/04/2026

Lionel trains from the mid 1970s
Back when Lionel trains were made by MPC / Fundemensions which were owned by General Mills. These were some of the top of the line train sets. All included O27 tubular track and a transformer. For those who say that MPC made little to nothing new, look below! We have the U-36B, GP-20 and Baby Madison cars, all were brand new for Lionel made by MPC! The GP-20 was made by a plug placed into the mold for the GP-7 creating a low-nose diesel which was declared the GP-20. The U36B and Baby Madison cars were brand new molds created by MPC / Fundemensions. It was, in some ways, a simpler time. TV sets still had rabbit ears, video games had not took over from toys and Lionel was still made in the USA! :-)

06/04/2026

Western Maryland Railway eastbound AJ-2, led by GP40 number 3795 and three N&W units, are departing the east end of Deal, Pennsylvania, and starting the downgrade trip to Cumberland, Maryland, in July, 1973.
Bill Hopkins photo
Become a WMRHS member for just $30 a year! Visit our website to join the WMRHS today:
http://www.westernmarylandrhs.com/join.php

Western Maryland Railway eastbound AJ-2, led by GP40 number 3795 and three N&W units, are departing the east end of Deal, Pennsylvania, and starting the downgrade trip to Cumberland, Maryland, in July, 1973.

Bill Hopkins photo

Become a WMRHS member for just $30 a year! Visit our website to join the WMRHS today:
http://www.westernmarylandrhs.com/join.php

06/04/2026

Title: Lionel Trains, The Leader in Model Railroading from Super "O"... to "O27"... to HO
Summary: A Lionel advertisement, which appeared in the November 1959 issue of an unknown magazine. The advertisement was published on page 11 and features the following pieces of rolling stock: No. 3512 Operating Fireman-and-Ladder Car, the No. 3435 Operating Aquarium Car, and the No. 3419 Operating Helicopter Launching Car. Also included in the advertisement is the No. 470 IRBM Missile Launching Platform with Exploding Target Car.

Title: Lionel Trains, The Leader in Model Railroading from Super "O"... to "O27"... to HO

Summary: A Lionel advertisement, which appeared in the November 1959 issue of an unknown magazine. The advertisement was published on page 11 and features the following pieces of rolling stock: No. 3512 Operating Fireman-and-Ladder Car, the No. 3435 Operating Aquarium Car, and the No. 3419 Operating Helicopter Launching Car. Also included in the advertisement is the No. 470 IRBM Missile Launching Platform with Exploding Target Car.

Image enlarged from original scan # L2021.1.36

06/04/2026

BACK HOME AGAIN: New York Central 48 returns to the Hoosier State and adds seats to our Tri-State Steam Excursion and Fox Lake Limited trips on Father's Day Weekend!
Built in 1949 for the New York Central’s "Pacemaker," a Chicago–New York service marketed as low-cost luxury, this car was also found on the Indianapolis-Chicago passenger train "James Whitcomb Riley," named after a famous Indiana author and poet, making it a regular visitor in Northern and Central Indiana. In these images, 48 has just rolled into Elkhart on the Pacemaker and is trailing the Riley behind steam in 1950.
After years of private use and vandalism, the car has been renovated by Great Scenic Railway Journeys and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and features a mix of new table seating, individual observation lounge chairs, and a newly installed stainless steel kitchen. On our June trips, this car will also feature an executive chef and once again ride the rails of the New York Central Railroad

06/04/2026

If you love trains and Pennsylvania history, this guide to the state’s top railroad-themed attractions is for you.
From scenic excursion railroads and railroad museums to historic sites and other railfan favorites, Pennsylvania offers no shortage of destinations tied to its rich railroading heritage. Here’s a guide to some of the top railroad-themed attractions across the Keystone State.

06/04/2026

The Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad's "Pioneer" Zephyr began daily operation in 1934 and retired from service in 1960, when it became a permanent museum attraction at the Museum of Science and Industry

06/04/2026

The Chicago Transit Authority recently donated four pieces of historic equipment to the Illinois Railway Museum.

06/04/2026

his coming Father's Day, we're celebrating the dads who helped create lifelong train memories.
Share your favorite photo of Dad in the comments below, and we may feature it on our social channels on Father's Day! Whether he's running trains, building layouts, or simply sharing the hobby, we'd love to celebrate him with the Lionel community.

This coming Father's Day, we're celebrating the dads who helped create lifelong train memories.

Share your favorite photo of Dad in the comments below, and we may feature it on our social channels on Father's Day! Whether he's running trains, building layouts, or simply sharing the hobby, we'd love to celebrate him with the Lionel community.