Come on, time to get into the spirit!

I just uploaded a quick Youtube video to start to pull us into the holiday spirit. This is my latest acquisition, a 1911. I put a few 10 series cars on it to see how well it will pull. It's really a fantastic little engine, way better than I could have imagined.

The Flying Yankee looks like a snake winding around my layout. I would love to see some more youtubes of layouts. I'll post some pics as well in the next few days.

Marc

Lionel On The Today Show

It isn't standard gauge. But it is nice to see Lionel at Rockefeller Center!

Marc
PS I can't guarantee NBC's link will last forever. They usually last a month or two so watch it while you can!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Another Shot of the 9E

NETTE Auction

Just came from day 1 of the New England Toy Train Exchange Auction. Truly, the tinplate was spectacular. It's always funny, you can talk about Blue Comets all day but when you see an original in pristine condition with nearly like new boxes it really is like a work of art.

Ok, I'll get the pics rolling....

The New Lionel Catalog is Excellent

The new Lionel catalog is excellent. I am referring to the catalog at http://www.lionel.com/ (the new Signature catalog). Why is it so good?

It has probably one of the best interfaces for perusing or looking at the catalog on the web. Period. The Adobe Flash technology is not sophisticated from an interface perspective however it is extremely clean, easy to use and consistent. I have to say I loved it.

I also really liked the design of this catalog. It was by far the strongest design statement Lionel has made in decades. It gave me a feeling that the catalog or the items in the catalog were really "larger than life". Items that are steeped in legend and that haven't seen the light of day until Lionel reproduces them in their factories. I know, I sound a little gaudy. But the catalog works very well. It is simple yet makes a bold statement. I really liked looking at every page.

Product choice: I know, it is O gauge. It looks like Lionel is parceling up their customers quite a bit like MTH has. K-Line, Signature Series, Ready to Run, Vision Line, Classics Line, etc.. I have to say, the Vision Line products are really cutting edge. The LCD Billboard and Grand Central are devastating. I'd like to have a little better idea of what the finished Grand Central product looks like; it appeals to me greatly however a $1400 investment is sort of daunting in this financial environment.

The motive power is definitely impressive although the prices and curves may appeal to a smaller audience, I'm actually not sure. The Santa Fe 2-10-10-2 loco is just jaw dropping. I'm actually incredibly anxious to see one in action.

Since there isn't any tinplate in this catalog I don't want to wax on too long about how great this catalog is. I really like the fact that Lionel seems to have captured the spirit of their past and created a very unique O gauge vision for the future. I like the fact they aren't reproducing everything under the sun; they focused on a couple of O gauge post war classics and will do those well. Coupling this catalog with the Lionel/MTH announcements I have to say I think Lionel is really turning a corner. I wish the economy was better; unfortunately right now trains are a luxury item many, many, many folks can't afford. I think now is an ideal time for Lionel and MTH to examine the lower cost market segments and continue their spirit of cooperation. I also am really glad to see the whole Lionel team and Jerry Calabrese lining up this wonderful catalog. Welcome back!

Marc

New MTH/Lionel Website

Josh over at the Prewar Times has been doing a great job of covering the phantom MTH/Lionel website that was supposed to go on line today or tomorrow. I'm kind of hoping that the information that leaked out about a Jan. 6th debut wasn't an arbitrary date picked out by a web developer or marketing person. Typically MTH focuses their catalogs and product launches around an event, usually York, PA.

This is one of the very few catalogs I am really anxious to see. For obvious reasons, this should be one of the most exciting toy train catalogs of the last 10 years. The fact that MTH and/or Lionel has a catalog ready, approved with product and price is very encouraging. It says volumes about both companies ability to plan and launch.

It's kind of funny, if we look at the history of Lionel, this kind of sharing is almost in their DNA. After Ives was split between Flyer and Lionel in 1928, Lionel put out Ives products. Some of Ives most memorable products came out under Lionel's stewardship. Lionel still puts out American Flyer S gauge product that is excellent.

Again, throughout Lionel's entire history of the 20th Century at one point in time or another they've had to align with their largest competitors to maintain or grow the market. Someday maybe we'll be privvy to how the current deal with MTH was struck, I'm sure it is probably just as interesting as the Ives receivership or the eventual downfall of the American Flyer train line. As I recall neither Flyer nor Ives had the legal animus that MTH and Lionel had for the last decade or so. I can only say (as a customer) what a relief it is to see an end to the legal wrangling.

More important, the new trains that this brings to market could be, should be and hopefully will rival some of the tinplate from the classic era of the 1930's. What I am hoping this is NOT is a licensing deal that lets MTH just stick brass tags on the sides of 408E's that say "Lionel" instead of MTH and do no more. I hope it's a license to be creative and to appeal to a segment of the market that may not have participated MTH's products or direction.

Hopefully this will also create a blue print for other great things to happen. I've been watching Buddy L fairly closely for the last 5 years at auction, on eBay and in train shows. All of the Buddy L repros still carry hefty price tags and the originals are still going for top dollar. What if the Dorfan crane had TMCC or DCS? Have you seen the amazing cranes and accessories Buddy L created for their trains and toys? I'm not expanding this concept too much, I think cooperation yields results. Buddy L, Dorfan, Boucher and others are still some of the most intriguing products that have yet to be produced. Imagine some of the prewar greats with modern electronics or with just plain old reliable castings!

I'll leave most of the coverage of the catalog debut to Josh over at Prewar Times. I think this is big news for the toy train community and I will be checking my computer and Blackberry with high hopes and expectations for the next great chapter in Tinplate.

Marc

PS the pic is of an angry little 33 that's been hanging around my train room floor too long. It's going to get a layout to stretch it's squat little legs on prettttttyyyyy soon.

PSS Ok, I got off on a mild tangent with the Buddy L stuff. My mind has way too much train stuff in it. My point was that I am hoping both companies use their creative license and really put out some memorable product. Not having this new website ready is really driving me nuts.

Some thoughts on the MTH/Lionel Nnnouncement

I read some of the comments below (on the blog) and on some of the forums with great interest. I really do hope both companies get some serious mileage out of this. My thoughts are the following:

1) We needn't look any further than the current pickle the auto industry is in to know that innovation (among other things) needs to be one of the key factors in building new consumer products.

2) The innovation needs to reflect some kind of consumer reality.

3) Lionel and MTH are no longer operating in a vacuum.

4) Their real competition is other hobbies and computers/video games. Has been for quite some time.

It's good to see these two companies cooperating for the betterment of their customers and their market. I hope they are rewarded handsomely.

Marc

Seismic Events

Well, the Lionel/MTH Story is breaking on the internet and I think everyone should be excited/ecstatic about it. Why? Well, it indicates a cessation of hostilities between the two companies; they can get innovating vs. litigating. That's a great thing, not just a good thing. More money should go to R&D, less to legal fees and court costs.

Second and just as important; it means standard gauge and prewar trains are still on the minds of both companies. It's funny, I've had several manufacturers at shows tell me that there is no new news in prewar toy trains. All of the new and exciting stuff is in the amazing high rail gear coming out coupled with the electronics that has become pervasive in the hobby. Yet here we are, two of the largest train manufacturers in our country doing something great and teaming up to make products from yesteryear. And it is likely they will be great products as well.

There is news in great prewar trains and they will continue to get even better in 2009 and 2010. Over 100 years past their introduction and the innovation hasn't stopped. Here's the whole press release:


From Jerry Calabrese:

Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:02 pm (PST)
From Jerry Calabrese:
Yesterday, an electric charge rippled through the model train boards when someone managed to find a draft of a press release on the M.T.H. web site that was not otherwise available to the public, and post it on OGR. And while the timing was off by a week or so, the facts are correct.
Since the news leaked yesterday afternoon that Lionel is going to license M.T.H. to use its name on historical tinplate Standard and O Gauge model trains and accessories, a lot of questions have been raised, and I've heard everything from, "Wow, great for the hobby," to "Wow, say it ain't so." I understand that the idea of Lionel and M.T.H. working cooperatively, so soon after settling our long and bitter lawsuit, is a shock to a lot of people, especially those who became so personally invested in that conflict.

I can only say that the model train hobby isn't about lawsuits or personal enmity, it's about exciting products, the fellowship of enjoying them, and ultimately, it's about making sure that our hobby is stable and strong. I'm sure I can speak for Mike Wolf, when I say that the best way to repair the damage that was done to our hobby as a result of those hostilities is for our two companies to do exactly that.

Before anyone starts singing Kumbaya, or wondering what happens on the color spectrum when you mix Orange, Blue and Purple, I'd like to issue a reality check and answer some of those questions that were raised:

Lionel and M.T.H. are two, entirely separate companies with entirely different business models and destinies. We fiercely compete, and will continue to fiercely compete, in the core, O gauge segment of the model railroad hobby, especially in the arena of high end engines and Operating Systems. However, our interests do not conflict, to any great extent, in other gauges and markets. Both companies are equally committed to making great trains and, where we do compete, both companies are equally committed to convincing hobbyists that they do so better than the other. And none of that will change.

The agreement between Lionel and M.T.H. is a conventional and straightforward, multi year license, in which Lionel will be paid a royalty on each tinplate train that is sold. As an acknowledged and acclaimed maker of tinplate trains and accessories, M.T.H. will now be able to do so using the historical and authentic Lionel and American Flyer badging that made them historical and authentic in the first place. While M.T.H. will be solely responsible for manufacturing the new line, Lionel will work with M.T.H. to select the trains that will be made over the next few years, and will do whatever it can to help make them the success they deserve to be.

Yesterday, before the thread that broke the news was taken down, in response to a post that expressed strong negative feelings, someone quoted the great, old Nick Lowe song, 'What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding?' I can only add that we live on a very small planet and we participate in an even smaller hobby. And while I don't anticipate that M.T.H. and Lionel will begin exchanging Valentine's Day cards, it's not too much to work on items one and three.
Below you'll find the press release, as it was intended to be released next week.
Happy New Year.

Jerry Calabrese


LIONEL LICENSES M.T.H. FOR TINPLATE

Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:06 pm (PST)
LIONEL LICENSES M.T.H. FOR TINPLATE
New York City, NY, Dec. 31, 2008 -- Lionel Electric Trains announced today that it has entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with M.T.H. Electric Trains, in which the Columbia, MD, model train maker will create a new line of tinplate Lionel Standard and O gauge products. The license will also include tinplate Standard and O gauge offerings for American Flyer, which has been part of Lionel since its acquisition in 1967.

Using its extensive collection of tinplate tooling, M.T.H. plans to issue new versions of Lionel and American Flyer classic tinplate trains and accessories that were originally released between 1900 and 1942. These products will be packaged in all-new boxes with iconic Lionel and American Flyer advertising images and logos from the prewar tinplate era. Promotion of new tinplate Lionel and American Flyer products will begin in early 2009, with full-color catalogs. A Web site, dedicated to the new product line, will also offer product videos, sound clips and other information not available in print catalogs.

"I'm very pleased that M.T.H. and Lionel will be working together on this new Lionel and American Flyer tinplate line," said Jerry Calabrese, Lionel CEO. Calabrese went on to say, "In times as difficult and challenging as these, I hope it's reassuring to all model train fans that both our companies will be joining forces to write a productive new chapter in our hobby's history. There is no better way to express our mutual belief and commitment to the future of model railroading than for Lionel and M.T.H. to collaborate on something as imaginative and exciting as these new Tinplate products.

"This collaboration builds on what we've accomplished with our Tinplate Traditions line over the past three decades," noted M.T.H. President Mike Wolf. "It is no secret to those who know me that Lionel's history has inspired me since my youth." Wolf went on to say, "By working together, our two companies will be able to offer products that even more faithfully evoke the beauty and artistry of the toys that Lionel and American Flyer turned out in the prewar years, as well as make those trains available to a wider audience.

Wolf added, "Putting aside the differences our firms have had over the years, Jerry and I have always recognized how much synergy exists between Lionel and M.T.H. Together we sat down and worked out this agreement with the express goal of expanding on both firms' longstanding commitments to grow our hobby."

Based in New York City, Lionel has been making model trains and accessories since 1900. It is one of the world's leading model train companies, and among the most widely recognized brands in America.

Based in Columbia, Maryland, M.T.H. Electric Trains is a seasoned model train manufacturer with a long history of innovation. In little more than a quarter century, M.T.H. has created an appealing multi-gauge product line.

Olson Display Unboxing

Milage may vary. Not the favorite thing new car buyers like to read. Lionel may have wanted to put this on prewar tunnels as well. Not because any petrol was expended in making a new tunnel (none that I know of at least).

I've had a few of these tunnels in my time. I've sold all of them (4 in total) and I have one sitting where my new layout will be right now. The point is something I've always noticed but never actually verbalized until Brian Olson and I were speaking on the phone. He had said that he goes to great, great pains to get his tunnels exactly right. To get the colors exactly accurate with their prewar counterparts, to get the dimensions, the feel, the trees.... Everything right.

Except that Lionel had a substantial number of skilled and unskilled workers building these tunnels (915, 123 and so on) prior to World War II. And each tunnel is handcrafted. Some people took great care and pride and attempted to recreate landscapes and the tunnel using prewar tools and supplies. Others were just doing their job, making a tunnel was what they did; they came to work, threw together some paint, put on a house and trees and moved on to the next item. Some tunnels were works of art, others were just works.

Hence my initial statement "milage may vary". Milage varies widely among prewar tunnels, some look great and others don't.

I bought this Olson Display on eBay. I like the 123 and I am going to put it somewhere on the O gauge part of my new layout. I'll probably get something a bit more signficant for the standard gauge stuff and I will let everyone see it and check it out when it becomes available.

I wanted to get a feel for what Mr. Olson is producing. Right off the bat, the impression is good.
I like the Olson logo/boilerplate on the outside. The box is sturdy and professional and the design on the outside does generate a little excitement and is consistent with prewar marketing. It works....





The box is well packed. There is no tape amidst the bubblewrap, it is carefully wound around the display. The bubblewrap is secure and yet there is no tape (it may damage the item). I wish other manufacturers figured out how to do this!












The tunnel itself is impressive and matches the original fairly closely. The Olson tunnel has the benefit of newer materials and hindsight engineering. I really didn't want to launch this into an official "review". So here are the pictures of the actual tunnel; you decide how much you like it for yourself. I could be wrong but I think if all of Olson Displays product is consistent with this, they'll have some winners on their hands. The attention to prewar detail is outstanding and is probably better quality than most prewar tunnels. It will most likely last much longer as well, especially using newer paint technology.

I only have one wish for the future and that's to get my hands on some additional tunnels and mountains for standard gauge. I also would really like to see some metal tunnels using prewar paint.

Enough of my chatter, check out the tunnel below! Keep up the great work Brian, this is outstanding work.

Marc













































PS I need to apologize for the insane spacing. It is either this template or blogger, plain and simple. When I load this many pictures into a post blogger seems to go nuts. It's frustrating because I have to sit here for an hour and try to get the layout right. How long have we been doing page layout with computers? Right....

More On The No. 6

Work is progressing - but now a break for York.

Jim

More Station Goodness....

Here's a page out of the world of Ives, Flyer and Lionel. Yep, they all look familiar and they are variations on a theme.

Marc

PS I confess. I am a station nut. I probably have somewhere between 12 and 20 stations. More than could ever fit on my budding layout. Champagne wishes and caviar dreams. I'll still settle for a free dinner at Red Lobster....

Department Store Toy Trains

This did my heart good on Black Friday...to see the return of toy trains to what once was the great John Wanamaker Department Store in downtown Philadelphia. When I was a child, this store had an entire floor devoted to toys, and of course, they had a huge operating layout at the holidays. In recent years, the store was sold and downsized, and for the last several years, under the Lord And Taylor moniker it was basically a woman's apparel and accessories outlet. What was once a great nine or ten full floors of department store now is down to just three selling floors. Recently, Macy's took over the store portion of the great building, and they've broadened the lines as much as space will permit. It's just a pleasure to see trains for sale again in a downtown department store.

Jim

A quick walk in NYC

I was walking down the street in NYC (near West 4th and Bleecker. It was getting late and I was just hanging around walking around after dinner. We started walking down Bleecker and I saw....

Prewar Lionel trains in a store window! Could it be?!?! I'd seen postwar Lionel trains in the Bloomingdales window one year and I thought I was going to pass out. Real prewar Lionel in a shop in NYC?

The place was called "Second Childhood". The address is 28 Bleecker Street. I remembered it; my sister had told me about it when she lived not far from there. She said the gentleman that owned it was great to speak to and he had "my kind" of toys.

So I took a few shots with my camera phone. Before you think I don't know how to use a camera please remeber that camera phones are generally worthless and are epecially worthless at night. Thus I have to apologize for the lousy quality in advance. By the way, if you opt for one of these camera phones, ask how easy it is to get the damn pictures off before you buy it.

I'm going to go into the store (when there aren't bars on the windows) and I'll take a better camera.

M

JLC's Blog?

An interesting looking blog...too bad it hasn't been updated in over a year:

http://joshualionelcowen.blogspot.com/

hat tip: Paul Olekson on the TCA Yahoogroups mailing list

Jim

Lionel Excitement

The new Lionel catalog marks the return of standard gauge production to their catalog after an absence of several years . I agree with Marc that the standard gauge summer trolley and trailer looks like a winner and that it's priced right. I've already placed my order. Let's hope that sales are brisk and that this will be just the first of many new standard gauge offerings from Lionel.

I also ordered the 0 gauge Harry Potter set. Although I really like British outline locomotives, I was planning to pass on this set after I saw the prototype at York in April. This is because the display model had a plastic locomotive shell. I asked a Lionel rep about this and he told me that production would be as per the prototype - with a plastic locomotive. However, he must have been misinformed because the catalog clearly states that the locomotive is "die-cast metal." Hooray! This set is also priced right at $300 and it should be a BIG seller for Lionel. I'm happy to be adding a 4-6-0 loco to my stable of British outline locomotives.

Jim

Why you should like the new Lionel catalog...

I was all ready to not like the new Lionel Vol 2, 2007 catalog. For the last couple of years since they introduced (and discontinued) the Standard Gauge Vanderbilt and Hiawatha, Lionel has catered almost exclusively to "low hanging fruit" Postwar reproduction sales.

Their attempts at prewar reproductions in the last several catalogs were singular, meaning that there was only one attempt per catalog and when the item was bought by collectors and even extensive runners, it wasn't exactly "collection" quality. Regardless, the Lionel name was on it and there was a tenuous wave in the direction of collectors and operators that like trains as toys and not as exact reproductions or scale models.

Change is in the wind and someone at Lionel listened to their customers.

I just looked over the entire Lionel catalog. Not just the tinplate parts that I will like but all of the parts including the Postwar reproductions as well as the new O gauge innovations and the new TMCC operating system that Lionel recently introduced.

First let's concentrate on the prewar products.

I do really like the fact that Lionel has actually created a brand called "Prewar Celebration Series". This is a very good sign for a collector such as myself and I believe for all collectors, regardless of whether they collect tinplate, scale, prewar or otherwise. It gives Lionel a bit of license to go back to the rich tradition of products it had prior to World War II.

I was initially skeptical of the attempt at the Flying Yankee. As a matter of fact, on the tinplate forums I poo poo'ed it completely. What changed my mind about this catalog is that we aren't seeing tinplate products as a one off or a special; there are multiple products listed in the catalog. The 262 set is the second run Lionel will be taking at this wonderful little prewar engine and if history is an indicator, Lionel will likely learn from its' mistakes early on and not re-create them in the second rendition or interpretation of the set.

The Yankee is a great product when it is part of a set of products. It's a yawner on its' own but it is a barn stormer in a catalog with other sets. When we look at Yankee pictures of the past in catalogs, it is rarely rendered by itself. It is always on a page with 2 or 3 other sets that hit similar price points. Typical JL Cowen marketing and hopefully the direction Lionel is heading now under the new/current management. Check out (below) how Flyer responded to the Lionel catalog in the 30's. Same tactic, slightly different trains.

The point is that these little sets are part of a trend, not a "let me dip my toe in the water and if I don't sell 10 million sets I am running home and crying to Momma".

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it is highly likely I am going to purchase both sets. I want to reward Lionel for good behavior and frankly I think that we all should vote with our dollars and sense (no, that isn't a typo).

The 101 Trolley actually put me over the edge with this catalog. I already liked the catalog for a couple of other reasons I will outline later. I really appreciated and was heartened to see standard gauge back in the Lionel catalog. And this was a good product to pick; it is rare in its' original form and it is a gorgeous little trolley set. The price is completely reasonable and well worth it. Again, barring any unforeseen financial catastrophe the chances of me purchasing this product are near 100%.

They (Lionel) hit an exact focal point that collectors and operators look for in recent toy purchases: rarity, availability, manufacture (ie: playability) and price. This has a Lionel L on the side thus it is an authentic Lionel standard gauge trolley and the price point isn't so outrageous that I can't let the kids or guests try it out without blanching or grimacing (I can let everyone use it and not have to worry).

This is a big deal because it is 3 products that Lionel is introducing that aren't in the Lionel postwar cookbook as of late. One is an anamoly, three is a trend. It means that there is more than one manufacturer now producing prewar tinplate. That's good for us, all of us. The more track that gets sold, the more sets that get put out, the more Christmas trees that get trains around them the better off we all are in the hobby.

Now hold on, don't think I am going to proclaim my undying affection for Lionel in just one catalog. They're doing the right thing and that makes me happy as a customer and as a collector. I like seeing tinplate in other collections sometimes more than I like it in my own; human beings are infinitely creative and I guarantee that much of the enjoyment comes from other people having fun with their trains (and getting to watch, hear and see them). Lionel producing tinplate means that there will be more tinplate out there and that's good for everybody including other manufacturers!

Now the rest of the catalog. I liked it. And from those of you that know me or read me, you know that doesn't come lightly. I like postwar trains, I just don't collect them. This was a fine catalog that had some very nice innovations within the postwar train world. I found the sets and price points that they hit especially nice. I also liked the fact that Lionel introduced some products at lower prices. I do think they went a bit overboard with the Christmas stuff but I thought the Calliope car was a nice touch. Most kids have no idea of what a Calliope is; I wonder how it (the car) will sound?

I was glad to see the Polar Express back again as well as the elf handcar. I do wish Lionel would produce a tinplate version of the Polar Express; it would make that set a bit more special. Plastic tends to knock the wind out of even the nicest sets. Maybe some lithography? I also liked the halloween set, I think it will probably be viewed as the Girls set was by Postwar collectors. Poo poo'ed by current collectors and coveted 50 years from now.

The Hogwarts set looks nice. I've seen several flavors of it from European manufacturers. It isn't all metal which basically takes most of the excitement away for me.

The postwar stuff is also quite good. Again, better price points and some decent innovation with the roadnames and combinations (I like the handcars for instance) make this catalog stand out a bit.

The only real criticism I have is that I think the NASCAR and UPS licensing are out of place on Lionel products. The branding is inconsistent with Lionel and I am not sure what demographic they are appealing to. There's the usual Santa Fe/F3/GG1 sets and offerings. Those will probably be in Lionel catalogs until the end of time. I did like the offering of the inexpensive Hudson, I thought that the price is right and the engine tooling is quite nice; it would like great on a high rail layout or chugging around any postwar layout anywhere.

So let's recap: good catalog overall, getting much better tinplate offerings, overall offerings are positive. The new version of TMCC and the controller is rolling out and the venerable ZW is still available. Recommending the purchase/pre-order of the standard gauge trolley and if you are an O gauge collector, both tinpplate sets offered should stand out. Nice job Lionel, keep riding the trend. Please continue to advance the branding "Prewar Celebration Series", you've given collectors and operators something to celebrate.

Marc

Lenny Dean RIP

I just saw (on Prewar Times) that Lenny Dean has passed away at 81 years young. I met and had dinner with Lenny Dean in 1996 (11 years ago) at Toy Fair in NYC.

He's one of those people that just never seemed "old". He was always smiling, thinking and excited about what was coming next. As I recall, we had dinner at a nice restaraunt just a block from Grand Central. The guy was a character, you could ask him anything about Lionel and he always had some experience or some kind of anecdote about the trains that shaped the industry.

The thing about Lenny was that he was the living embodiment or ideal ambassador of what Lionel had and toy trains in general have come to symbolize: invention, sharing, brotherhood and the ability to share and learn at the same time. No small task for any human being.

I don't say this about many people but I will say this about Lenny Dean: the world is a little less happy without a man like him in it.

Lionel has put up a little picture of Lenny through the years on their website. I'd highly recommend you take a minute and pay your respect and solemn admiration to Lionel's favorite son.

Marc

Joe's kicking butt!

Joe is s really kicking some serious scratch built gluteus maximus!

He's shrank down most of the most famous 2 7/8 gauge items to standard gauge size. Check out how beautifully these things scaled down. He told me that much of his work involves trial and error.

The payoff is obvious. The 2 7/8 next to the standard gauge version says it all. Hopefully somone like MTH will catch the idea and pay Joe for some consulting on this gear. He's on to something, no doubt about it. This is just one of those plain old smart ideas.

There's some irony, I was reading a Lionel catalog yesterday and it was discussing Railsounds 5.0. It was saying how the new Hiawatha can have multiple levels of sounds (louder chuffs, quieter whistle, etc.); every sound is adjustable. Practically everything is adjustable.

While quite interesting and entertaining for a couple of minutes, I'd rather have any of these trains in my collection versus the entire feature set of a new sound system. It's almost like the movie "Field of Dreams". "Make great trains and they will come." Concentrate on making innovative trains with an eye on the past and future. All of these toys had prototypes. Some are closer to the prototypes than others. Regardless, Joe has put some great ideas into metal. He's made me a little jealous because I want to be able to do the same thing. The first thing that should tell anyone is that he's on to something.

That moldy coal room in my 110 year old house may be getting some nuetrocrete soon....

M

What A Bridge! What A Book!

Man, if you're a fan of the Hellgate Bridge, both the prototype and the tinplate reproduction, (and who isn't?,) then this book is for you. Published in 2006 by the Long Island-Sunrise Trail Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, this immensely enjoyable book is packed with great photos and construction details of the Hellgate as well as a comprehensive history of the NYCR, "Long Island's Other Railroad," the railroad that built it.

How special is this book? The publisher's note gives you an idea: "The photographs selected for this volume are meant to supplement and clarify the text more than to simply provide 'pretty pictures.' A couscous effort was made to choose photos that have not been seen previously, even though some of them are less than perfect exposures."

Here's an excerpt to wet your appetite: "Erection of the great arch produced quite a spectacle for people on either shore and those on passing vessels in the river. Utilizing a large derrick some 150 feet in the air, two or three sections of the arch were put in place each week. By February 1915 the backstays behind the two towers were in place, and over the next seven months the two halves of the arch gradually neared each other. Finally, on October 1, 1915 the two sides met with only one-quarter inch of variation. Such a triumph of engineering was unheard of when the milestone Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1883."

Believe me, this is a must-have book for Hellgate Bridge fans!

Jim

Terrific New SG Switches Are On The Way!

Just before leaving for York I got an email from Steve at Ross Custom Switches asking me if I would test a prototype standard gauge switch that he is developing. He wants his design to allow any and all standard gauge locos and rolling stock to be able to negotiate the switches without problems.

This photograph shows why many of the vintage "large gear" locomotives such as the Lionel #42 have problems with turnouts. Note the way the large drive gear dips down below the railhead. If there is not sufficient clearance between movable rails and check rails and at the frog, these vintage locomotives with hit, hop and jump over switch components. Steve's new design has this covered. All of my big gear locos and rolling stock with large wheel treads cleared the prototype without problems. Hooray! Terrific!

Jim