About Vintage Model Steam Trains and Locomotives

Steam locomotives were the backbone of railroading until the early 1950s, and electric model steam trains made by Lionel, Marx and others have always been popular with collectors. Like the real thing, model steam locomotives are usually categorized by their wheel configuration (e.g. 2-6-6-6) in addition to the railroad name.

Another type of model steam train is called live steam. This refers to larger gauge steam-powered model engines which are generally run outside (aka garden railroading), and can sometimes even be ridden on. Live steam, however, requires a lot more money and space than smaller electric models!


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An Interview With Brass Model Train Collector Dan Glasure

We’ve been operating Dan’s Train Depot, which is the parent company of BrassTrains.com, for about 11 years now. We … [more]

An Interview With National Model Railroad Association Library Director Brent Lambert

The NMRA library’s original purpose was to focus on model railroading, but over time we’ve also received donations … [more]



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Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Model Steam Trains email

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Live Steam Train Southern Pacific 4 3/4 Gauge 0-6-0 $2,025 Ends Friday 18 bids 70 watchers
Lionel Hudson Steam Engine #773 Tender #2426w From1950.$1,525 Ends Tuesday 16 bids 55 watchers
Roundhouse Eng. Live Steam Gauge 1 Britomart "katie" Buy it Now$1,000.00 Ends in 2 hours 12 bids 25 watchers
Brass Ho New Haven (nh) Class I-5, 4-6-4 Steam By Psc$700.00 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 26 watchers
Mth 20-3048-1 Pennsylvania 4-4-6-4 Q2 Steam Loco Ln/bo$580.00 Ends Tuesday 13 bids 35 watchers
Mth 20-3344-1 Orient Express 2-3-1 Pacific Steam Loc L$553.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 23 watchers
Brass Ho D&rgw Class L-95, 2-8-8-2 Steam By Key$516.00 Ends in 28 mins 8 bids 36 watchers
Lionel Train Pennsylvania T1 4-4-4-4 Steam Locomotive$510.21 Ends Wednesday 14 bids 39 watchers
Brass Ho C&o Class J-2, 4-8-2 Steam By Challenger$500.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 17 watchers
M.t.h. J1e 14k Gold Plated Steam Locomotive$500.00 Ends Monday 2 bids 4 watchers
Brass Ho Chesapeake & Ohio (c&o) K-2, 2-8-2 Steam $480.05 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 18 watchers
Lgb Train 20471 - Brunin/ballenberg Rack Steam- Nib$480.00 Ends Friday 9 bids 36 watchers
Mth #20-3048-1 Pennsylvania 4-4-6-4 Q2 Steam Engine Buy it Now$479.99 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 25 watchers
Mth Erie Road # 5014 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex Steam Engine Nib$475.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 19 watchers
Mth Trains Chesapeake Ohio Allegheny Steam Engine Boxed$457.90 Ends in 11 hours 15 bids 74 watchers
Mth Tinplate 10-1112-1 Standard Gauge 400e Steam Engine$435.00 Ends in 11 hours 8 bids 25 watchers
Lionel 28024 Commodore Vanderbilt 4-6-4 Steam Loco Ln$416.00 Ends Wednesday 9 bids 27 watchers
Mth 20-3044-1 Up 4-8-4 Steam Engine W/ps 2.0 Ln/box$414.99 Ends Wednesday 17 bids 44 watchers
Mth Trains Southern Pacific Cab Forward Steam Engine Ob$411.67 Ends Friday 16 bids 23 watchers
Lionel Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-6 Allegheny Steam Loco$408.33 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 21 watchers
Mth Premier 20-3029-1 Southern Pacific Gs4 Steam Engine$405.01 Ends in 11 hours 6 bids 19 watchers
37084 Marklin Ho Steam Loco Cl 10 Db Hard Limited - New Buy it Now$405.00 Ends Wednesday 10 bids 27 watchers
Lionel 38029 Up 4-12-2 Steam Locomotive Ln/box$404.99 Ends Sunday 5 bids 12 watchers
Mth Tinplate 10-1092-1 Standard Gauge 392e Steam Engine$381.00 Ends in 11 hours 9 bids 23 watchers
Mth Premier 20-3126-1 Pennsylvania K-4s Steam Engine$356.00 Ends in 11 hours 8 bids 34 watchers
Lionel 28028 Virginian 2-6-6-6 Allegheny Steam Loco Ln$346.00 Ends Tuesday 16 bids 44 watchers
Lionel 38060 Jlc Up H-7 2-8-8-2 Steam Locomotive&tende$338.33 Ends Sunday 3 bids 12 watchers
Mth 20-3054-1 Gn 2-8-8-2 Steam Engine W/ps 2.0 Ex+/box$338.00 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 46 watchers
Mth #20-3069-1 Erie 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex Steam Engine 5016 Buy it Now$338.00 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 13 watchers
N Scale Brass Pennsylvannia Prr 2-10-2 Steam Locomotive$334.99 Ends Sunday 3 bids 27 watchers
Mth Premier 20-3023-1 West Virginia Shay Steam Engine$330.00 Ends in 11 hours 8 bids 38 watchers
Lionel 18005 New York Central 700e Hudson Steam Engine$328.00 Ends in 11 hours 13 bids 68 watchers
Precision Scale Brass Streamlined 4-6-4 Steam Engine Ho$325.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 19 watchers
Std Gauge 400e Blue Comet Steam Engine - Mint In Box$305.55 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 12 watchers
Brass Ho Union Pacifc (up) 4-8-2 Steam By Overland$300.00 Ends in 20 mins 13 bids 19 watchers
Lionel Prewar #226e Huge 2-6-4 Hudson Steam Engine Ex$300.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 11 watchers
Mth 30-1168-1 Prr M1a Steam Loco & Tender W/ps2 Ex+/bo$291.00 Ends in 10 hours 12 bids 17 watchers
Ho Brass Steam Engine$275.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 11 watchers
Mth 20-3028-1 Cnj 4-6-2 Blue Comet Steam Loco 3-rail$265.00 Ends Wednesday 10 bids 29 watchers
Stuart Live Steam Vertical Marine Engine Runs Great Nr$260.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 46 watchers
Mth 20-3125-1 Sp Ac-6 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward Steam Loco L$260.00 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 26 watchers
Mth 20-3036-1 N&w 2-6-6-4 Class A Steam Locomotive Mt$257.51 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 31 watchers
Original Bassett Lowke Live Steam Mogul Boxed Incl Accs$255.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids 10 watchers
Vintage Lionel 726 Steam Locomotive With 2671w Tender$243.05 Ends in 22 hours 9 bids 39 watchers
Mth Premier 20-3042-1 Chesapeake Ohio M-1 Steam Engine$230.17 Ends in 11 hours 5 bids 17 watchers
Mth Premier 20-3024-1 Norfolk & Western J Steam Engine$225.04 Ends in 11 hours 5 bids 16 watchers
Marklin Oga #e70/12920 Steam Engine ** Very Good Plus$225.00 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid 25 watchers
Mth 20-3045-1 Nyc Dreyfuss Hudson Steam Loco Ln/box$222.50 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 29 watchers
Mth Norfolk & Western J Steam Locomotive W/proto 2.0!!!$220.00 Ends in 6 hours 1 bid 20 watchers
Weaver 1999 T1 4-4-4-4 Duplex Steam Loco Ln/box$215.00 Ends in 12 hours 5 bids 51 watchers
Mth 30-1239-1 Union Pacific Fef Northern Steam Engine$211.06 Ends in 11 hours 8 bids 16 watchers
Lionel 28064 Up 4-6-6-4 Challenger Steam Loco Mt/box$207.50 Ends Sunday 4 bids 16 watchers
Mth 30-1107-0 Up 4-6-6-4 Challenger Steam Loco 3-rail$205.05 Ends Tuesday 11 bids 16 watchers
Stuart Live Steam Horizontal Mill Engine Runs Great Nr$205.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 18 watchers
Lionel 385e Steam Locomotive & Tender Ex-/box$205.00 Ends in 10 hours 11 bids 41 watchers
Buddy L Steam Locomotive And Tender T-reproductions$204.50 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 26 watchers
Lgb 20790 Steam Locomotive Mint Condition$202.50 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 50 watchers
Lionel 665 Steam Engine And Tender$202.50 Ends Thursday 4 bids 20 watchers
Mth 20-3023-1 Wvp&p 4-truck Shay Steam Loco W/ps Ln/bo$202.50 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 30 watchers

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