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Big Train Operator Magazine 



Official Publication of the Big Train Operator Club 

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Past Issues

 

 

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In issue 159...

A special tribute to Joe Hylva

The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour Show

EnterTRAINment Junction

An Update on the 2016 Convention in La Porte, IN

TrainFest2015

Seashore Trolley Museum

A trip on the Silver Splendor by Dave Wierowski

A sneak peek at the plans for the BTOC 40th Anniversary celebration

 

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In issue 158...

This issue includes the 2016 BTO Club calendar.

Complete information on 2016 LaPorte Convention

A special, limited-edition set celebrating the La Porte/2016 Convention. 

BTO Club Board of Directors Election Results

BTO Club Monthly Drawing Winners

and much more...

 

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In issue 157...

Complete photo report of the 2015 North Conway, NH, convention

BTOC Board of Directors candidates

Enter your photo for the 2016 BTOC calendar

First details of the 2016 La Porte, IN, convention.

BTOC Monthly Drawing Winners

Election ballot... Make sure you vote!

2016 BTOC Derrick Maintenace Way Car Order Form

and much more...

 

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In issue 156...

Complete photo report of the 2015 North Conway, NH, convention.

BTOC Board of Directors candidates.

Still time to enter your photo for the 2016 BTOC calendar, but do it now! Deadline is October 15, 2015.

First details of the 2016 La Porte, IN, convention.

BTOC Monthly Drawing Winners.

And More...

 

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In issue 155...

Cruisin’ to North Conway Convention

Morton Arboretum “Seasons” Train Display

Harry Potter/holiday layout 

North Conway Convention Goody Bag Car 

Graystone Manor Train Display 

The Misquamicut Shore Line

And More...

 

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In issue 154...

BTOC 2015 Calendar!

Cruisin’ to North Conway Convention Update

First pictures of the 2015 Convention Car

The Emerald Heights Garden Railway

The “Domes” train show in Milwaukee

And More...

 

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In issue 153...

Complete 2014 Hershey Convention Coverage

Last call for 2015 calendar entries

Pre-order your 2015 convention t-shirt

Announcing the 2015 BTO Club Car

And More...

 

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In issue 152...

The Milwaukee Road from West to East:
An October Rail Odyssey

ATT&NW Railroad:
THE ULTIMATE GARDEN RAILROAD!

The S&F Short Snort Line: Grandma's Trains

Narrow-Gauge Steam in Germany, Part I

Announcing the 2015 BTOC calendar contest

And More...

 

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In issue 151...

Hershey Convention Schedule

St. Dominic’s Church picnic

A holiday tradition at Morton Arboretum

Announcing the 2014 Convention Car

Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens

And More...

 

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In issue 150...

2014 BTO Club Calendar Enclosed!

From Atlantic to Pacific by VIA Rail Canada 

BTO COVER PHOTO CONTEST!

Announcing the 2014 BTO Club S4 Diesel

Updated 2014 Hershey Meet Information

BTO Club BOD Election Results

And More...

 

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In issue 149...

2013 Santa Fe Convention Review in Pictures

Hershey Convention Update and Schedule

BTO Club Board of Directors Candidates

A New Design in Portable Displays
This unique display was front and center at the Tampa Convention

Announcing the BTO COVER PHOTO CONTEST!

And More...

 

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In issue 148...

Three Midwest Holiday Shows!

A special report on the East Coast Large Scale Train Show 

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Central Terminal

The Circus Comes to Town

Announcing the 2014 BTOC calendar contest

Call for Candidates

And More...

 

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In issue 147...

Remembering Wolfgang Richter

Santa Fe Convention Update 

The Harz Narrow Gauge Railways

A Large-Scale Celebration

Recreating a 1868 steam engine

Introducing the 2013 BTO Club Car

And More...

 

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In issue 146...

The rebuilding of Tom and Anita Brown’s Lake Genevere & Bamboo railroad.

The BTOC 2013 35th Anniversary Calendar. 

Last stop for a CB&Q caboose.

Grill’n Daze and the Central CT G Gaugers.

FREE convention car! Register now.

Latest convention news.

And More...

 

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In issue 145...

2012 Tampa Convention Review in Pictures

Santa Fe Convention Update and Schedule 

Hungarian Railway Museum 

A New Design in Portable Displays

The First Look at the 2013 Santa Fe Convention 2-car Set

2013 35th Anniversary Calendar

And More...

 

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In issue 144...

Centre Hall Depot: Part 2 by Wayne Clickner

Two holiday displays 

Complete details on the 2013 convention 

Special 2012 BTOC Holiday Engine

And More...

 

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In issue 143...

Centre Hall Depot: Part 1 by Wayne Clickner

Switzerland in Miniature 

Taltree Garden Railroad 

The Lloyd Railroad Revisited

Trackside 2011 by John Wagner

And More...

 

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In issue 142

2012 BTO Club calendar

The Diablo Pacific Short Line National Train Day display by Bruce Jahn 

A report on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad by Kathy Nassif 

Complete details on the BTOC 2012 Convention in Tampa, FL


NYour first opportunity to order the 2012 BTO Club car

And More...

 

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In issue 140

2010 National Garden Railway Convention: A report by Kathy Nassif 

LGB Tour: Highlights of the tour through the alps of Switzerland and Italy 

Holiday Display: the LGBMRRC of Chicago’s annual display at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL 

A Toaster Train: One-of-a-kind! 


National Railroad Museum: The other winner from Green Bay, WI

And More...

 

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In issue 139...


Complete report on the 2011 Boston convention

Erie Zoo outdoor railroad opening

Garden railroad tour: Hot Springs Village, AR

The 2011 BTO Convention Trolley

And More...

 

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In issue 138...


The 2011 BTOC calendar...

Special Report on the 2011 Boston Convention...

Franklin Park Conservatory...

Announcing the 2011 BTO Club car...

The Domes’ train display in Milwaukee, WI

And More...

 

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In issue 137...


Complete report of the 2010 Convention

A look at “Give KIds The World” train layout

A preview of the BTOC convention in Boston

And More...

 

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In issue 136...


Miniature Wonderland

More Calendar Entries

Two Holiday Exhibits

End of the Line - LGB Insolvency Auction

Call for entries... 2011 BTOC calendar contest

And More...

  BTO 135

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In issue 135...


2010 CONVENTION DETAILS

GARDEN LAYOUTS ON TOUR

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN ATLANTIC CITY

RAILS OF WALES TOUR

2009 NATIONAL GARDEN RR CONVENTION

And More...

 

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In issue 134...


2010 BTO Club Calendar

Adventure Tour Australia

A Special Holiday Display

2010 Convention Car Order Form

And More...

  BTO 133 Cover

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In issue 133...


Convention Report in Pictures

Train Day Open House

BTOC 2009 Calendar Layout

Board of Directors Candidates

And More...

  BTO 132

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In Issue 132...


Bill Gagne's Rock Island Railroad in 7 1/4 gauge

BTO Club 2009 Calendar Layouts

Lego Land Garden Railroad display

Out & About: Union Station, Springfield, IL

And More...

 

 

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In Issue 131...


BTO Club 2009 Convention Preview

BTO Club 2008 Calendar Layouts: Part 2

A report on the 2008 National Garden Railway Convention

The Spectacular Holiday display at the Chicago Botanical Gardens

And More...

 

  Big Train Operator #130

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In Issue 130...


A preview of the 2009 BTOC Convention

BTO Club 2009 Calendar

Kathy Nassif’s report on the Laupahoehoe Train Museum in Hawaii

National Train Day Celebration

And More...

 

  Big Train Operator Cover

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In Issue 129...


Complete coverage of the BTO Club
30th Anniversary Celebration


Western New York Garden Railway Society layout

Announcement of special "Silent Auction"

Specifications for submitting entries in the BTOC 2009 Calendar contest

And More...

 

 

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In issue 128...


2008 BTO Calendar layouts: Part 1

Pittsburgh Garden Railway Society

South Africa Train Tour

Steam Trains at Walt Disney World

A Report on the ECLSTS

Call for photos for the 2009 BTO Calendar

Dave Snow’s report on the demographics of the BTO Club

And More...

 

  Big Train Operator Number 127

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In issue 127


"Nip and Oh" Railroad. 

30th Anniversary Celebration Preview

Brigadoon Light Repair Depot

Back to Where It All Began

BTO Club 30th Anniversary Train Set

Call for entries for the Al Lentz Award

"Steamin' to Strasburg" 30th Anniversary Celebration Registration Form.

And More...

 

  Big Train Operator Number 126

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In issue 126


Visit Kelso Railroad Depot

A tour of the Southern Pacific Repair Shops

2008 BTO Club Calendar

BTO Club 30th Anniversary Train Set

BTO Club Board of Directors election results

"Steamin' to Strasburg" 30th Anniversary Celebration Registration Form.

And More...

 

  Big Train Operator Number 125

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In issue 125... (click below for more)

Visit The Kankakee & Susquehanna Railroad. 

A trip to the Museum of Transportation outside of St. Louis, MO.

2007 Garden Railway Convention report

A Holiday Train exhibit at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens.

The Mesa Grande Railroad-something new in modular design.

BTO Club Board of Directors Election Ballot.

"Steamin' to Strasburg" 30th Anniversary Celebration Registration Form.

 

 

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In Issue 124... (click below for more)

"Steamin' to Strasburg" 30th Anniversary Celebration announcement!

East Coast Large Scale Train Show report

Announcing... the 2007 BTO Club Cars

A Ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage
Railroad


Heart of America Garden Railroad Show

Fox River Trolley Museum

Call for BTO Club Board of Directors Candidates

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 123

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In Issue 123... (click below for more)

Club T-shirts and Badges Available

Report from the Nuremberg Toy Fair

Bachmann 3-truck Shay

Reefer Madness

The Home of Magnus

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 122

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In Issue 122... (click below for more)

Dave Snow Rides the White Pass

Manufacturer Centerfold - Accucraft

On Tour with Larry

Saint Louis Union Station

2007 BTO Club Calendar

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 121

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In Issue 121... (click below for more)

BTO Club Christmas Car

G-News - LGB Files for Insolvency

Manufacturer Centerfold - USA Trains

A Side Trip to Berlin

Locomotive with a Flat Tire

A Back Yard Caboose

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 120

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In issue 120... (click below for more)

G-News

Manufacturer Centerfold

A Small Switching Layout

The Ridge Road Layout & Races

LGB's CSL Trolley

Lost Roads - The Hanover Branch RR

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 119

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In issue 119... (click below for more)

BTO Club News 

G-News

Manufacturer Centerfold

The L&P Railroad

The Lloyd Railway

Garden Railroad Construction

The Huckleberry Railroad

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 118

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In issue 118... (click below for more)

Six Trees Garden Railroad 

Collector: Unusual Coke Cars

Hartland Interurbans

RhB Freight Cars

Illinois Railway Museum

Greefield Village & the Torch Lake Mason Bogie

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 117

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In issue 117... (click below for more)

Chicago Traction 

Collector: LGB's 4041 Hoppers

2005 BTO Club Car

Railroad Architecture

2006 Calendar Photo Contest

And More...

  Big Train Operator issue 116

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In issue 116... (click below for more)

Review of RhB freight cars by Kiss and LGB

Build an Automated Switching Layout

Collector: The Primus Line

Lou Goes to Steam School

Eureka & Palisades Loco #4

Lost Roads: "The Narrow Gauge"

And More...

 





I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train. - Oscar Wilde


 



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