Articles About Collecting
These articles cover a wide range of topics, written by a number of TCA members with a clear interest and competence in the collecting aspect of the toy train hobby.
Visitors may refine their pursuit of specific information by using the Search This Site function at the left, or by viewing the Popular Subjects dropdown above for topics of special interest, which are frequently updated.
* Issue Dates are original, or last update
- 53rd National TCA Convention Banquet Car by Ron Stowell. Summer 2007
- 6464 Looking at the prototypes in this series by Jim Heron. July 2002
- 6464-735--The Paraprosdokian By Bob Mintz Updated. Fall 2012
- 6464 PROTOTYPES--ONE OF A KIND
AND NONE OF A KIND
by Bob Mintz. May 2003 - 6565-THE NEXT GENERATION by Bob Mintz. Spring 2010
- AMERICAN FLYER 1930 CATALOG ARTWORK By Otis B. Drinkwater. Winter 2012
- AMERICAN FLYER FACTORY ARTIST'S RENDITION By Otis B. Drinkwater. Winter 2012
- American Flyer's First Self Made Accessories? 107 AND 208 Semaphores c. 1915-1916 by Leon Sweet. Winter 2011
- American Flyer Bicycle Toys By Leon Sweet. Summer 2011
- AMERICAN FLYER CASH REGISTER #580 By Leon Sweet. Summer 2010
- "American Flyer Does Not Experiment on the Public" By Leon Sweet. Winter 2012
- American Flyer Macy's Speed Special By Leon Sweet. Summer 2012
- American Flyer Oddity by Leon Sweet. Spring 2010
- American Flyer Prewar 6.5 Inch Freight Cars Circa 1919 By Leon Sweet. Fall 2011
- American Flyer Prewar Accessories Series - Article 1 Special Art Tunnel #85 by Leon Sweet. Summer 2010
- American Flyer Prewar Accessories Series Article 2 - Mack's Junction Water Tower by Leon Sweet. Fall 2010
- American Flyer Prewar Accssories Series - Old Glory Flag Pole by Leon Sweet. Winter 2011
- American Flyer Prewar Accessories Series - Article 4 100 Station and Later Variations by Leon Sweet. Fall 2011
- American Flyer Prewar Accessories Series - Article 5 No. 231 Coaling Station by Leon Sweet. Fall 2011
- American Flyer Prewar Accessories series - Article 6, Union Station By Leon Sweet. Winter 2012
- American Flyer Prewar Accessories Series - Article 7, American Flyer 2184 Bungalow. By Leon Sweet. Summer 2012
- American Flyer Prewar Set 7025 By Leon Sweet. Summer 2011
- American Flyer Set 1228 - As Found in an Unusual Sized Box by Leon Sweet. Summer 2010
- American Flyer Tank Car Sample by Leon Sweet. Spring 2010
- American Flyer Two-Tone Green 3115 by Leon Sweet. Winter 2011
- AMERICAN FLYER TYPEWRITER VARIATIONS by Leon Sweet. Fall 2010
- American Flyer Prewar Uncataloged Engine and Uncataloged Set by Leon Sweet. Spring 2013
- American Flyer Unusual 401 Engine & Tender Combination c. 1939 by Leon Sweet. Summer 2010
- American Flyer Unusual 3190 R/C Steam Engine by Leon Sweet. Summer 2011
- AMERICAN FLYER’S CONNECTION TO A TRUE AMERICAN FLYER – CHARLES LINDBERGH by Leon Sweet. Spring 2010
- An Alco Update, by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- An Artful Regret, the Lionel Artrains- by Dennis Leon Clad. March 2002
- The American Flyer Automobile Car by Robert S. Butler. Feb 2004
- April Fools on the Collector---6464 Archives; Once again, for the first time ever a repeat performance for the third time By Bob Mintz. Spring 2005
- Best $50 Investment I Ever Made Bob Mintz owns stock in Lionel. The company is out of business and the certificates are worthless.....Or are they? October 2002
- Boxcar Bonanza - "it can be fun and very challenging to collect Modern Era boxcars". by Mike Stella. Oct 2003
- The British are Coming! The British are Coming!!! by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- BUDD - RDCs by Bill Meyer, Bob Mintz and Dr. Joseph Lechner. Winter 2012
- Built By Lionel. A rare unreported variation of the Red #600 MKT by Mike Stella. September 2002
- Cast Iron Variants by Jerry Loman. Summer 2007
- Central Operating Lines Club Cars - from 1981 thru 2004. By Rich Giannino (GG1) (photos by Bob Mintz) Winter 2004
- Christmas Enablers by Bill Fuller. Dec 2002
- The Circuitous Route of A Lionel Polaris Binnacle By Gordon Wilson. Summer 2010
- Collectible Club Cars by Al Schwartz. Spring 2010
- COLLECTIBLE CLUB CARS-Part 2 by “Fireman” Al Schwartz. Fall 2010
- Collecting Early MPC Lionel by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- A Collector's Personalized Look at the Lionel ALCO 1500hp F Series…with a special Thank You to eBay! By Mike Stella. May2004
- Coupon Cars by William Myer. March 2002
- Counterpoint: Comments on "A Prewar Prototype or one of a kind: The 200 Series Cattle car, Boxcar, Caboose, and Dump car. Summer 2010
- Customizers Add to the Wealth of Ore Cars - third party vendor variations. by Joel Fugazzotto. Winter2005
- "Derailed"-Catalogued but never produced by Ed Howanice. Winter 2013
- Description of My Three Mile Island Boxcar By Bill Greco. Winter 2011
- Did you know? Part IV. by Jim Herron. Feb2003
- Display Shelves - all kinds of display shelves filled with all kinds of trains, by Mike Stella May2004
- "DUMPED" in a Rainbow of Colors By Mike Stella. Winter 2008
- EAST, WEST, AND BACK TO THE MIDWEST By Leon Sweet. Spring 2010
- "eBay helps to plug the holes and more" - "rare" trains can be found if you can pay the price. By Mike Stella. May2004
- Electric Freight Units of the Milwaukee Road by Mike Stella. Spring 2008
- Factory Errors - "Collecting factory errors.....by Shannon Sikora. Sept 2003
- Finding the American Flyer Chicago Factory Locations By Leon Sweet. Spring 2010
- The First Lionel Dealer Advance Catalog? by Leo Schoeck. Feb2004
- The Flap over Flaps by Bob Mintz. April 2003
- Flyer Pictures -- Information Requested!!! by "Otis B. Drinkwater" Fall 2011
- The 45 Gateman, Re-examining the
Most Popular Accessory
by Bradley Kaplan. May 2002 - 431 Diner What is the story behind this rare stanadard Gauge Piece? by Bradley Kaplan
- 436 Power Station Smoke Stacks Lean to the Left. by Joel Fugazzotto. Dec 2003
- Getting Myself into a PICKLE (car, that is) by Mike Stella. Winter 2008
- Going Going Gondolas Part 1 Examining Lionel Post War Gondollas by Mike Stella. July 2002
- Going Going Gondolas Part 2 Examining Lionel Post War Gondollas by Mike Stella. August 2002
- Going Going Gondolas Part 3 The 3rd part in this Series. Examining Lionel Post War Gondolas by Mike Stella. September 2002
- Going Going Gondolas Part 4 The 4th part part in this comprehensive Series. by Mike Stella. October 2002
- Good Golly Missed Trolley! by Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- Hafner Variations Found on eBay by Jerry Loman. Summer 2007
- Hallmark Christmas Ornaments By Lionel by Jim Herron. Dec 2002
- The Handcarchief - discover some interesting Lionel Handcars. by Bob Mintz. Winter 2013
- Hello Trolley! by Bob Mintz - Do you collect Lionel Trolleys? Do you have every trolley they've made? How about the Rice-A-Roni Trolley? May 2002
- Hey Kids,…what time is it??? Why, it's how'd he do “dat” time!!! -by Bob Mintz. Check out some Lionel clocks. Fall 2012
- How Does Your #436 Power Station Stack Up? by Joel Fugazzotto. Sept 2003
- How Many Lionel #600 MKT Switchers Do You Have? More "Rare" Postwar those "Guides" Ignore by Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- How modern is the "Modern Era"? by Mike Stella. Dec 2003
- Hudson Products by Gordon Wilson, Photos by Paul Wassermann, MD Spring 2009
- Hudson Products Pt 2. by Gordon Wilson, More on this unique set. June 2002
- I Like Collecting Lionel Cataloged Sets By Mike Stella. Spring 2008
- Info Wanted on Uncataloged Prewar 7000 Series Sets by Leon Sweet. Fall 2010
- I Play with "O" Gauge by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- Illinois Central Monday Morning Rail by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- Imperial Limited Line by Jerry Loman. Summer 2007
- In Answer to the “6464 Thousand Thousand Dollar Dollar Question Question” by Bob Mintz (6464 Boxcar Chart). Spring 2013
- Is That Car Really A Variation? - some tips for the collector on evaluating "variations". By Jon Bonds. Nov 2003
- Is This the Most Expensive "Pipe Car" Ever? By Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- It's Fun to“Collect” Trains - you never know where or when that special "find" will show up. By Mike Stella. Nov 2003
- It's Not All Lionel "O" Gauge By Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- Joshua Lionel Cowen's Little Factory - modeling railroads within railroads. By Mike Stella. May 2004
- Keeping Your Collection Vat and Happy - Updates to Lionel Vat Cars 2010 through 2012 By Joel Fugazzotto. Summer 2012
- K-Line Katalogue by M. Stella. May2003
- Let's Start a Fight! A Postwar War! - Amercian Flyer vs. Lionel. by Mike Stella. Feb2004
- Libby's Is More Than Canned Food by Paul Wassermann. April 2002
- Lionel Control Towers By Bill Meyer and Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- Lionel 6-1663 Lake Shore Amtrak Set By Brent Johnson. Spring 2005
- Lionel 801 cabooses numbered 4390 By Doug Gordon. Winter 2004
- Lionel 822 prewar O-gauge cabooses - by Doug Gordon. Spring 2006
- The Lionel Blue Boys By Bob Mintz. Winter 2011
- Lionel®'s Monopoly®--Go Directly to York; Do Not Pass The Fairgrounds; Do Not Spend less than $200… by Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- Lionel's new Missle Launch Set or Lock and Load in Lionelville by Brady Burdge. Feb 2003
- Lionel New York Toy Fair Boxcars; 1973 to 2004 Article and photos by Robert I. Mintz and Frank Samaritano. Fall 2004
- Lionel New York Toy Fair Boxcars — 1973 to 2006 article and photos by Robert I. Mintz and Frank Samaritano. Spring 2006
- Lionel Replacement Bulbs—who made them? by Bob Mintz. Winter 2013
- Lionel’s Textbook of Model Railroading - by Joseph H. Lechner. Sept 2003
- Lionel’s Textbook of Model Railroading (Part II) -a look at Lionel's 1957 catalog by Joseph H. Lechner. Oct 2003
- Lionel’s Textbook of Model Railroading (Part III)--Scenes from a Dream Layout by Joseph H. Lechner. Nov 2003
- Lionel’s Textbook of Model Railroading Part 4: Building the Dream Layout - Some final observations on the 1957 Dream Layout. by Joseph H. Lechner. Dec 2003
- Lionel Visitor's Center Cars Bob Mintz teaches us about this interesting series of cars to collect. Summer 2011
- “Live Long and Prosper”- Lionel's Romulans, Vulcans and Klingons - switchers and other motorized units. by Bob Mintz. Winter 2013
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch!!! by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- Love Those 60-Year-Old Strombecker Kits by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- The Madison Hardware Cars by Bob Mintz. Winter 2011
- Maintenance
of Way in the 21st Century--Ballast Tampers and Beyond
...gang cars, fire cars, burro cranes, step vans, snow plows, speeders and more. By Bob Mintz. Spring 2013 - Manufacturer's Salute: Right of Way by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- Metamorphosis of Motorized Units- Change of Plans— by Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- Mickey Has a Black Nose! by Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- Mintz's Mint in the Box Mint Cars. by Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- Miss "Sophie" Trolley By Jerry Loman. Spring 2009
- More 6464…The Never Ending 6464 Series - by Dr. Paul Wassermann, Shannon Sikora and Bob Mintz . Sept 2003
- More on Collecting those Early MPC Sets by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- More “Ore!” Lionel® Adds to Its Roster of Catalogued and Uncatalogued Ore Cars By Joel Fugazzotto. Spring 2013
- A Most Unusual MARX Sand (Coal) Loader - by Dr. Paul Wassermann. Spring 2006
- The MPC Collector. Variation Explanation or Possible Creation? - Lionel's MKT Stock Car #9707 by Mike Stella. Feb 2004
- MTA -- Are these the most difficult Club Cars to find? by Mike Stella. Feb 2004
- Multiple Units …Multiple Units …Multiple Units… by Bob Mintz - a look at Lionel Commuter Cars. Summer2005
- Museum Cars TCA convention cars. by Gordon Wilson. March 2002
- Mutt and Jeff -- the Flip Side By Leon Sweet. Summer 2010
- My Boat Car is Bigger than Your Boat Car By EWI Michael Stella, USN. Summer 2007
- My Favorite Catalog- by Peter Atonna. The 1948 Lionel catalog is Peter's choice as the all time best. Sept 2003
- My Favorite Locomotive by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- My Greatest Find By Mike Stella. Spring 2008
- My Last Alco or "The Rock Island Line is a Mighty Fine Line" By Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- My Three Madisons - by Paul Olekson. Just when you think your're out, they pull you back in. Sept 2003
- Mystery Decaled American Flyer 1201 Engine By Leon Sweet. Fall 2010
- The Name is Tank, Thomas Tank By Bob Mintz. Fall 2012
- Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers by William Meyer, Richie Williams & Al Schwartz. March 2002
- Nation Wide Lines Article By Leon Sweet, Photos By Leon Sweet and Henry Koshollek. Summer 2012
- NEWBERRYPORT-by Clem Clement. Jan 2003
- NOMA STATION 2010 - by Don Fries. Summer 2010
- Not a "BIG BOY" But a Very "Little Brat" by Mike Stella. Winter 2008
- "Not Exactly" - 6464 Picture vs. Production by Bob Mintz. Spring 2012
- O Gauge Hood's Milk Cars - by John Mateyko. Spring 2006
- Oh no!!! Not another @#$%^&* # 6464 Variation!!! by Bob Mintz. Just when you thought you had them all! Spring 2010
- The Olive Drab Garden By Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- One Car, exponential variations! A case of not so "fuzzy" math. - the Lionel Missile Car by Mike Stella. Feb 2004
- One 'EL of a Great "Idear" - the M.T.H. Subway Cars by Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- ONE OF A KIND TIMES THREE - Three Customized GG1s. by Bill Meyer. Jan 2003
- Peculiar Orbs by Shannon Sikora. April 2003
- Percy, Percy Me,…Ah…, Things Ain't What They Used to Be by Bob Mintz. Fall 2012
- A Personal Guide to Collecting Postwar 6464 Boxcars, By Mike Stella Winter 2008
- THE POOR MAN'S WEED SPRAYER SET by Bob Mintz. Jan 2003
- A Postwar Variation You Never Heard of Before... Until Now! By Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- "Praise the Lord, I Saw the Light" by M. Stella. July 2003
- A Prewar Prototype or one of a kind: The 200 Series Cattle car, Boxcar, Caboose, and Dump car by Al Dicara. Spring 2010
- QVC-RIP-PDQ by Bob Mintz. April 2003
- Rare Ore Finds by Joel Fugazzotto. Spring 2011
- The Rarest Lionel Boxcar of All??? By Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- The Real Santa Claus by Louis Hertz. Dec 2002
- Ready Made Toys - "a new company having a significant history with toy trains." by Bob Mintz. Oct 2003
- Rebirth of 2037 By Graeme Eldred. Fall 2010
- Re-Reading Lou Hertz and Some Amazing Predictions:Twin motor toy locomotives, and the camera cell phone in 1914! by Paul Stimmler. Fall 2011
- The Rio Grand is REAL GRAND! By Mike Stella. Spring 2008
- SIGN IN PLEASE by M. Stella. May 2003
- Something Novel, Unusual, and Extraordinary - variations of Lionel's Pinkerton gondola car. by Shannon Sikora. Nov 2003
- So that's where they all went! - some interesting facts about Lionel's Export Sets. by Dave McEntarfer. Feb 2004
- “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” by Bob Mintz. Spring 2010
- Switch and Sway; All the Way; with the Santa Fe by Mike Stella. Fall 2008
- A Tale of Two "Cities" By Mike Stella. Summer 2007
- Ten Things I Have That You Don't!!! By Mike Stella. Spring 2008
- There's "Ore" in Them Thar Hills--Lionel's O and O-27 Ore Cars By Joel Fugazzotto
- These Ain't Lionel but 3-Rail from "Around the World"... and More by Mike Stella. Winter 2008
- "Things found at Train Meets not held in Pennsylvania!" by Mike Stella. Feb 2004
- Those Wonderful TCA TURBINES from the Postwar Era By Mike Stella. Winter 2008
- “Three-Of-A-Kind”—Lionel’s 16536 Chessie System C&O SP-Type Caboose by Stuart Rankin. Oct 2003
- A Tinplate Reproduction, But Who Made It. An interesting York find. Who made this reproduction 439 panel. by Bradley Kaplan.
- Too Many Fish in the Sea - an
updated Article on Aquarium Cars.
by Bob Mintz. Spring 2013 - Trainmaster USA-A Guide to Lionel® Licensed Products by Eastwood Memorabilia® and Corgi Classics® by Bob Mintz. Winter 2013
- A Trip to Gimbels, The Jersey
Central Virginian, & Other
Things Story
by Paul Olekson. Winter 2004 - Turbine Power on "Lionel Lines" By Mike Stella. Spring 2008
- Turning Out Toy Trains By the Carload By Leon Sweet. Summer 2011
- THE ULTIMATE LIONEL LINES SETS - If you love those orange and blue trains, you'll enjoy this article. by Bob Mintz. Fall 2012
- Under the Hood of the Black Ike - "the ACE Trains A4 Pacifics have arrived" by John S Halajko. Nov 2003
- Underrated Collectibles- Today's TCA Convention Cars By Jim Marski Fall 2012
- Unusual Variation – No. 337 Illinois Central Car By Dave McEntarfer. Nov 2003
- Variation Illumination
or shedding some light on a Lionel favorite.
by Mike Stella. May 2003 - V-V-Vat’s All F-F-Folks! Lionel’s 0 & 0-27 Vat Cars By Jon Bonds. Nov 2003
- "Vat" City by Joel Fugazzotto. Spring 2013
- Wellspring Employee Christmas Cars by Stuart Rankin. Feb2003
- What's wrong with this picture? by Bob Mintz. Feb 2003
- Which came first, the wild fowl or the embryo? by Bob Mintz. March 2002
- William Weary By Bob Mintz. Summer 2011
- Window Display and Animated Window Display Cars By Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- WONDER OR BLUNDER? By Bob Mintz. Spring 2008
- The World’s Fastest Growing Hobby? by Bob Mintz. July2003
- Yard Sale Treasure by Bob Grassi. Fall 2004
- You may already be a Winner! by Dr. Joseph Lechner. April 2003
- Your Left, Your Left, Your Left, Right, Left by Mike Stella. Winter 2008
