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A few years ago Hallmark stores offered a custom produced Lionel train set in O Gauge, the Toymaker Santa Express train. In a standard LionChief set it includes an engine, tender, operating Elf chase gondola, box car and lighted caboose, transformer and oval of Fastrack. A standard Lionel set size available only in Hallmark stores. For most trainsets that Lionel offers they most often offer additional matching rail cars, normally 2 cars. This is one set that looks great, the colors bright Candy Cane red and silver paint, and sharp custom graphics begs for a couple of additional cars in matching paint scheme. Lionel/Hallmark please make some additional matching color cars!

I liked the paint scheme so much and like many on the forum have picked up a variety of interesting Hallmark ornaments. The mini Lionel trains, vehicles, and Tonka and other toys have been very popular and often have shown up on layouts featured on the OGR forum. So a few years back decided to build my own train in a similar paint scheme with old Lionel trains repainted with Tamiya model spray paint of Silver Leaf and Mica Red. Then added some flat cars with Hallmark Tonka ornament construction vehicles.

After picking up some of the latest 2021 Hallmark ornaments I decided I had to extend the Hallmark train. Searching for paint that matched the Toymaker Santa Express after testing a few colors I found a reasonable close match with Dupli-Color Automotive paint Barcelona Red Metallic and the Tamiya Silver Leaf Paint. I added some flat and gondola cars with presents, wagons with Christmas trees and sleighs. Then found an old Lionel Aquarium car removed the broken belt drive and replaced the lights with 4 of the Evans Designs LED light bulbs for variable voltage. After the repaint I added some of the Mini Lionel Train ornaments I have collected over the years. I also added a few more Tonka Ornaments to my custom trainset.

I hope that perhaps Lionel/Hallmark might consider producing some matching cars featuring Hallmark Ornaments. I think a similar Lighted Lionel Mint/Aquarium window car with paint  and graphics to match the Toymaker Santa Express train would be a big hit with some of the mini Lionel Ornament trains. Or perhaps also sell some with nothing inside so that folks could add their own selection of favorite Hallmark Ornaments.  Lets see your creations if you have created any for the Hallmark train?

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Last edited by kj356
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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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