First Ever TCA Show To Be Held In Brooklyn, N.Y. on 11/3/07

The Metropolitan Division of the Train Collectors Association will be holding the first ever TCA show in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007.  The show starts at 8:00 AM for TCA members, 9:30 AM for all others and will be held at Marine Park, 2331 Gerritsen Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11229.  Click here for more details.

Thanks for the tip Bob.

Photos of Massive LeNature's Collection

Remember the story of the Lionel collection amassed by LeNature's CEO using company funds?  Well, the new owner of that collection, Grzyboski's Trains, posted some photos of the huge collection packed in a large amount of shipping containers as it was being prepared for transport.  Check out the photos here.

Related Posts:

CEO Used Company Funds To Buy $1M Worth Of Trains
Corrupt CEO's Trains Sold

"Toy Trains On Tracks" DVD

Those of you who subscribe to O Gauge Railroading Magazine may remember the Black Diamond Railway when it was featured as the cover story for the October/November 2006 issue.  Well, Rich Battista, the owner of the Black Diamond Railway, has just released a DVD featuring trains in action on his beautiful layout.  The DVD also features construction techniques used to build the layout.  The previews look great and for a price of $19.95 plus shipping you get 73 minutes of video in wide screen format.  View the previews and read more about the DVD here.

Thanks for the tip John.

Lionel's Hogwarts Express

If you're kicking around the idea of buying a Lionel Hogwarts Express set, check out these great photos from OGR Magazine Forum participant Rail_Spike here.  I'm not into Harry Potter or European trains but this set is nice.

Lionel's Jerry Calebrese Speaking In Montclair, NJ

Lionel's CEO, Jerry Calebrese, has scheduled a speaking engagement with the Adult School of Montclair, NJ on Tuesday, November 6. There is a $15 registration fee.  See the Lionel website for more details. 

Bachmann To Buy Williams?

Rumors about Bachmann Industies purchasing Williams Electric Trains have been circulating around the web over the last few days.  Bachmann produces model trains and accessories for almost all scales of model railroading and is known for it's reasonably priced products.   An administrator on the Bachmann trains on-line forum denied that a deal had been finalized but did state that Bachmann is in talks with Williams.  Read the statement here.  This is an interesting play for Bachmann but seems to make sense since Williams is also known for its reasonably priced products.

Thanks for the tip David.   

9/23/07 UPDATE:   No official word from Bachmann yet but a supposed copy of the letter Jerry Williams, owner of Williams Trains, sent to model train dealers has been posted on several on-line model railroad forums including Bachmann's.  The letter states that Mr. Williams retirement is the reason for the sale and that the settlement date will be on or about September 30, 2007.  Read the text of the letter here.

Williams Union Pacific Hertiage Series

On the back cover of my latest issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine, there is an ad for Williams Electric trains' version of the Union Pacific Heritage Series locomotive.   Williams is now the third company to offer models of the these specially painted SD70ACe Union Pacific locomotives.   Nothing like competition.  Williams is asking $229.95 for their model, which is considerably less than the MTH and Lionel version.  Of course you don't get a digital control system or complex sound system with the Williams but for those who don't want to shell out $400+ for one of these models they are a great alternative.   See the Williams website for more details.   

Atlas O September '07 Announcements

Atlas O announced several new paint schemes for their Atlas O line including:

GP-9 Locomotive
SW Series Locomotives
40' 1937 AAR Single Door Box Cars
40' Rebuilt Wood Reefer

Also, the Atlas O 55 Ton Coal Hopper gets a new body style and Atlas' Industrial Rail line gets two new products, a Refrigerator Car and a flat car loaded with a 1939 Mercury Club Coupe.

Be sure to visit the Atlas O website for more details.

Miller Engineering Announces New Signs

Miller Engineering, makers of cool electroluminescent signs for HO and O Gauge, has announced a number of new products that will debut at the TCA's York train meet this fall.  One new item, a Drive In Sign, is being made to celebrate Miller Engineering's 10th anniversary and will be limited to a 500 item production run.   There is also a Heinz Ketchup sign which is a replica of the sign sitting atop the Del Monte Foods building in Pittsburgh.  A Theater Marquee and a replica of the Illinois Central sign that sat atop the Central station in Chicago round out the new product offerings.  See the Miller Engineering website for more details and pricing.