Any TCA Museum News

Usually the October York meeting is minimal on announcements. Although I understand where you are coming from as WBB I believe announced the scale 44 T in the Oct meet. Maybe I am wrong?

I got there shortly before Jack Lynch from Bachmann and Williams by Bachmann gave his presentation so I missed the MTH presentation.

Jack showed an EZ App Set and loco in HO, and mentioned that the Bluetooth control boards are now available separately from Blue Rail Trains in CA.  He emphasized that EZ App does not require any additional components, you get everything right in the locomotive and you just need to download the free app to your Apple or smartphone.  Its simplicity and ease of use is that it does not require a track interface unit or any other hardware or special wiring, just download software.  Plus the software is updated free of charge and will even update the firmware in the locomotive.

Jack demonstrated the EZ app in a steam locomotive with battery power, locomotive ran without being on track and then he picked it up and held it in the air as the drivers continued to turn.

 He showed Bachmann's new N scale GG1s and passenger cars, both heavyweight and streamlined as well as HO E8 diesel and Pacific Steam locomotives.

 Their HO scale PCC trolley has been reworked so that it rides lower, it has a new chassis, and now has a flashing trolley pole with sparking sound.  It is available in many paint schemes.

In On30, he showed an excursion car available in various colors.

In O scale, Williams will be offering an EMD F59PHI locomotive in Amtrak Surfliner, Amtrak California, and Amtrak Cascades schemes officially licensed by Amtrak.  70-ton ore cars will be available in DMIR (Missabe), B&LE (Bessemer), CP Rail, and Milwaukee Road.  In the E-Z Street line, a new delivery van (believe it is based on the classic Divco milk truck) will be available in Chilly’s Ice, Pasture Pure Dairy, Daisy Fresh Diaper, and Kensington Hardware. 

The second run of the O scale 44-tonner switcher will be available in UP, Canadian National, and a new PRR road number,

Jerry Kimble gave the AtlasO presentation.  He said that production problems in the Orient are now "in the rear view mirror."  The California Zephyr cars are on the water.  The F3 and F7 locomotives are on the way.  He had a PRR F7A and F7B on display and asked all SPF's (scholarly prototype followers) to check them out closely as Atlas can still make some last minute changes.  At York, Atlas will be giving seminars on the EMD F-series diesel electric locomotives, covering them in detail and presenting a host of little known facts about them.  He said Atlas Trainman locomotives will now come with smoke and cruise control and certain models have added detail so they are almost like a hybrid Master Line/Trainman model.  In response to a question, he said the complete line of Atlas switches or turnouts will be back in stock before the end of this year.

J. Don Reese introduced the Lionel presentation, it was good to see him again.  He said he is not out of retirement but will be returning occasionally.   Ryan Kunkle, the product manager at Lionel, discussed new products.  He showed a Lion Chief steam locomotive with dramatic (IIRC he said laser printed) graphics that goes with the Made in USA boxcars.  He showed the Vision Line PRR K4 steam locomotive with long distance tender, the new SD45 diesel, and the logging disconnect cars that are based on the 3d-printed caboose body they put on one that got a very positive reaction.  So now there is a line of similarly based cars going into production.  Ryan mentioned they would be a good fit behind bangs and beeps in addition to Heisler and Shays and other traditional logging locomotives.  He showed a new Lion Scale hopper and said these cars will be available in six numbers per paint scheme and they are making them to be easily converted to 2 rail.  Finally he showed the Vision GG1 4800 ("Rivets") and mentioned its great horn sound.  The steam generator will come set for constant steam emission but can be reprogrammed to do the more prototypical occasional release of steam.  The reason Lionel did it this way is that when previous locomotives were released with occasional release as the default, some users kept adding smoke fluid because they didn't see smoke (or "steam") immediately and then Lionel got units returned as "defective" with smoke fluid all over the bottom.

Since the above is primarily based on my so-called memory, I apologize in advance for errors, omissions, and outright lies. 

Thanks, Peter

Peter

PGENTIEU good recap! You didn't miss much with Mike Wolf's [MTH] presentation. He spent much of his time showing and talking about the train controller APP and showing the different screens on his tablet. He encouraged everyone to install the APP on their phones and try it out on the MTH loop there at the museum or at the train meet. MTH is also getting an APP controlled track at various public spots so kids and those of us young at heart can get a feel of using the APP to draw more into the hobby. During the Q&A period when people asked about the APP Mike was telling items that were needed to make the APP work witch caused the comment from Jack of Williams buy Bachmann. My memory is not as good as  PGENTIEU with what he showed or said other than that.

Later in the day I did see and here one gentleman trying the APP there at the museum and after getting used to it did like it. 

The Williams flyer with former K-Line items remade by Bachmann.

http://resources.bachmanntrains.com/fallyork16/

Andrew

Thanks for the info. I'm excited to see a new loco from Williams. I'm sure it will be a hit. Not sure if I'll pick one up or the Genesis. The Ore cars should be a big hit. I've been very, very impressed with the newly tooled Williams products. The GP30, 44 ton, RS3 and others are all fantastic. I also purchased the new B&O Coal hopper recently. What a beautiful car! 

Thanks for the updates.

I was at an April meet when WBB announced the 44 tonner.