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-->There is a great article on ChicagoTribune.com about Elaine Silets, a.k.a The Train Lady. The Train Lady owns a high-end model railroad layout design and construction company called Huff & Puff Industries. The article describes Ms. Silets $1.5 million dollar 44' x 27' O Gauge interpretation of the City of Chicago. There is a video as well.
Check out the article and video here.
Here is another interesting article about The Train Lady:
Lionel’s Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train Set has
been one of the most anticipated O-gauge train sets this year. Moreover, the fact that it is on the cover of Lionel’s current catalog establishes its significance to the company’s success. The set arrived at hobby and retail stores last month, just in
time for the holiday season.
Click on the link below to read on
Continue reading "REVIEW: Lionel's Harry Potter Hogwarts Express by Erol Gurcan" »
Over on the Model Train Journal, highrailjon posted a link to a YouTube video you'll want to check out. The video captures the construction progress of a huge 2300 sq. foot layout. The owner built a large "train house" as the train room. View the video below and check out the owner's web site here.
The New York Post's "Page Six" gossip page reports that Neil Young was entertaining friends at the popular celebrity hangout Rao's. One of Neil's friends at the table was Lionel's CEO Jerry Calebrese. Read the NY Post article here.
An Associated Press report published yesterday in the Houston Chronicle states that Lionel is having difficulty securing financing for its exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The reason for the struggle is due to the credit crunch "fueled by the subprime mortgage industry." Jerry Calebrese, CEO of Lionel is quoted in the article:
"We're not naive, an awful lot of people that would want to make a substantial equity investment in a company like ours want to have a meaningful say in what's going on and we understand that"...
"Whether that means a substantial minority or an effective majority, it doesn't matter as long as they have common vision of what we're trying to do. It matters a lot if they're short-term investors."
Based on Mr. Calabrese's comments it seems Lionel now has to turn to private equity investment as an option which could be very interesting if the investment comes from a company or individual that wants to be actively involved in the operation of the company.
Lionel is not the only company having difficulty trying to exit bankruptcy due to the credit crunch. The article states auto-parts supplier Delphi as another example.
Read the AP article here.
Over the last two days, there have been a few posts on the Coil Couplers of America website stating that MTH has cut off Lionel’s supply of locomotives, including some of the new Legacy models, from its supplier Model Korea Trading Company (aka MKT, the company named in the Coil Couplers post of the last two days) due to the court ordered stoppage of payments by Lionel.
Click on the link below to read on
Continue reading "Legal Explanation of Latest Coil Couplers Posts" »
All the OGaugeWatch JT's MegaSteam Giveaway winners have been chosen and notified by email. I want to thank JT's MegaSteam for providing the 5 bottles of smoke fluid and the Lehigh & New England BEEP. I love giving stuff away to OGaugeWatch readers so stay tuned for more give aways in the very near future.
Dave
How many times have you watched It's A Wonderful Life this Christmas season? If your answer is more times than you care to admit, Lionel and Lands' End have the perfect train set for you. The It's A Wonderful Life Train from Lionel is a special run for a Lands' End promotion celebrating the famous Christmas film. The 2 boxcars and caboose included in the starter set are adorned with images from the movie. The set lists for $299.00. View the set at LandsEnd.com here. Read the PRNewswire story about the train set and Lands' End promotion here.
JT, the maker of JT's Mega-Steam smoke fluid, was again kind enough to supply me with five 2 ounce bottles of Mega-Steam (Hot Chocolate, Candy Cane Express, Christmas Pine, X-mas Berry and Cranberry Woods scents) and a beautiful limited edition Lehigh & New England BEEP to give away to OGaugeWatch readers. 6 lucky winners will be drawn randomly on Saturday, December 16, 2007. To be eligible to win one of these items all you need to do is subscribe to OGaugeWatch.com email updates. Subscribe by clicking here. Here are the simple giveaway rules:
Click on the link below to read on
MTH has published a list of corrections for their 2008 Volume 1 catalog. View the list here.
Weaver Models released a 4 page December Sales Flyer. Select wood side refers are buy one get one for 50% off and Northeastern Cabooses are 20%. Quantities are limited and the sale ends December 31. Check out all the specials here.
I don't own MTH's Digital Command System but if you do you'll want to be ready to update your system when MTH releases the next version of the control system. MTH posted the first of a two part tutorial on how to use MTH's DCS Loader software on their website. You'll need to use the DCS Loader to upgrade your DCS components and ProtoSound 2 equipped locomotives with the updated control system. View Part 1 of the tutorial here.
According to a post by "Clyde Coil" on the Hi Rail Times blog, Lionel is very close if not already shipping the Legacy system to owners of the Legacy equipped Big Boy. Here's an excerpt from Clyde's post:
Yer all gonna have yer Legacy sets real soon. LIONEL will be reborn in 08!!!! According to our sources inside LIONEL, some sets are already "in house" but they're waiting for the rest before they let 'em go to the Big Boy owners.....
The rest of the Legacy sets are gonna be in yer stores before Christmas because they're already on their way.
Good news for Lionel and those that have been patiently waiting for Lionel's new control system.
If you're still looking for ideas for that Christmas tree layout you plan to build (better get moving!) there are a couple of threads on the O Gauge Railroad forum you'll want to check out.
Related Posts
O Gauge Track Plans
Building Your First Christmas Layout - Part 1
Building Your First Christmas Layout - Part 2
How To Build A Train Platform
Over 50 OGaugeWatch readers entered the Evan Designs Model Builder Software giveaway but unfortunately there is only one winner. And the winner is........... Peter S. I've sent Peter an email and will send him the software as soon as I get his address.
Thanks to all who entered. I will be announcing details about another OGaugeWatch giveaway featuring products from JT's Megasteam very soon so stay tuned.
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