As we got ready for the fall Eastern Division TCA meet this week, the weather was unusually warm and it was very hot in the Orange Hall. If you think non-flavored smoke fluid smells good, you would have loved it. It cooled off by the time the show opened on Thursday at noon.
The fall 2016 OGR Forum Grandstand Meeting was held on a very overcast afternoon with rain threatening, so I expected we would be back in the grandstands, but thankfully we were in the Gold Hall. I didn’t see Ed pick the lock, but I am betting we didn’t rent the place. This location is regularly used for golf cart storage and occasionally sees a broom, like when Ronald Reagan was president.
For those of you that have read one of these reports before, you will recall we customarily have a three stooges episode with these guys trying to get the portable public address system they bring up and running by 2:00pm. It’s quite a show. This time by the time I got in the hall, they had everything all set up and working. With the obvious absence of a fourth or fifth grader, I have no idea how that was accomplished. The room was absolutely full and folks were waiting patiently and quietly for the meeting to start. I mentioned to Mrs Muffin that we might be in the wrong place and she suggested that they must be giving something away. Just then, we were handed raffle tickets by a woman that looked really out of place as she was reasonably on top of it. Maybe Ed has hired an assistant. Good plan. All of the chairs were taken and I would estimate attendance at nearly 150. I had to wait until Mrs Muffin found us some chairs and set them up.
The meeting started right at 2:00pm (Ed must have gotten a new watch) and Ed introduced Rich and Rich introduced Ed. Usually it’s Ed then Rich then Jim then Alan then Rich then Ed. This was refreshingly simple.
First up was Rich Melvin from OGR. Rich shared with the group that the new Great Layout Adventures Volume 13 is now available and their new table book "Tower City Trains" showcasing the layout of Bill Bramlage with 80 pages in large-format with full color pictures.
Rich also stated that he has been asked several times at the show if OGR is for sale and he wanted to announce that as he and Jim reach 70 and Ed is right behind, they are beginning to look at the available options to sell OGR in 2017.
During the meeting, they raffled off a couple of copies of the Tower City Trains book, with Bill Bramlage in attendance and handling the honors, and a couple of copies of the new Great Layout Adventures video. Thanks guys!
Korber Models—Rich Redmond / Liz Nelson
Rich shared with the group that he has sold the assets of Korber Model to Liz and Steve Nelson of MrMuffin’sTrains and that the Muffins have commenced moving the business operation from Cincinnati to Atlanta, Indiana.
Liz thanked Rich for his excellent stewardship of the Korber Models brand and all of the new products and product improvements he has made. She went on to say that The Muffins are building a model railroading destination in Atlanta, Indiana, starting with MrMuffin’sTrains and then adding businesses such as Korber Models that give them the opportunity to serve the hobby and create work for developmentally challenged young people.
Jim Esler – Scenic Express
Jim addressed the group next and thanked the group for their business plus wanted to remind the members that if they have scenery questions, he is here to help, give him a call.
Atlas-- Jerry Kimble
Jerry was next and reported that the Trainman RS3’s with smoke and cruise control on the TMCC version have arrived at Atlas and are now shipping to dealers.
The Atlas F prototypes are in the booth including the plated Santa Fe’s and once they are approved by Atlas, will be in production. He still expects delivery by Christmas.
The CA Zephyr sets are on the water and they also expect to be shipping them to dealers by Christmas
The Troop Cars made from the purchased Weaver tooling should also make it by Christmas
The Atlas Masterline F7’s will have a new smoke unit manufactured by Atlas and this smoke unit will be available for separate sale.
Mianne/Foley—Tim Foley
Tim shared with the group that they had moved their booth to a larger location in the Orange Hall and they were demonstrating their power lift gate bench work section. They also were displaying the multi-level capabilities of their bench work system. They have added roll away carts for under the layout and a transformer table. Their bench work system is customizable down to 6” increments. Learn more about their products at mainnebenchwork.com
Miller Engineering—Chris Miller
Chris shared with the group that Bill Bramlage’s layout included over 300 of the Miller Engineering signs and how much he liked the Tower City Trains book. He feels the book is a good source of inspiration for those in or interested in the hobby.
In July, they released their Dawg House sign which has been very popular, and the re-issue of the Domino Sugar sign. This fall they released Esso and Mobile gas station signs and their Lucky Lugnuts sign.
Larry Harrington – WBB
Larry addressed the group next to share that Jerry Williams was inducted into the Model Railroading Hall of fame this past summer at the NMRA convention in Indianapolis.
In their booth they are showing their new GE 44 Toners in Union Pacific and Canadian National livery, plus another road number in Pennsylvania. They also announced an EMD F59PHI in Amtrak. In On30 product line, the new 2-6-0 and open-sided excursion cars.
The LCCA - Al Kolis, President
The LCCA is a sponsor on the Forum and Al took a few minutes to bring the group up to speed on the LCCA’s mission, which is to promote running Lionel trains and to promote the hobby. He also shared that he has been meeting with the leadership of the TCA, LOTS and the NMRA to talk about how the groups can work together to continue to promote the hobby. They were announcing that any member of any of the nationally organized train organizations, like TCA, LOTS, NMRA, etc., were welcome to attend the LCCA National Convention next summer in Tacoma, Washington.
The LCCA is also interested in partnering and supporting other activities with local groups that promote the hobby such as the 3rd annual LCCA Halloween Party at MrMuffin’sTrains on October 29th and the Lionel Open House in North Carolina.
Ross Custom Switches—Steve Brenneisen
Steve was next and reported that Ross has had a consistent 5 years in sales. He has been working with Lionel on enhancements to the Lionel Turntable Application to simplify its installation and setup.
RR In a Box—Al Johnson
Al Johnson, from Railroad in a Box, and his assistant, addressed the group and demonstrated their foam-core based 3.5 foot by 5.5 foot modular layout bench work that can be quickly assembled and ready for track. This offering is designed to be easily assembled by kids for their first layout.
MTH—Andy Edleman
They delivered two new catalogs at York, including a new Lionel Tin-plate catalog.
The 2017 Volume 1 catalog features two new contests – one for designing an ES44 and caboose paint scheme to be used for a new diesel set to celebrate the Blue Comet Award winners and one for recognizing the best kit bash of MTH Railtown building by both an amateur and a professional. See the inside front cover of the new catalog for details.
The Premier version of their WiFi application is now in Beta and they expect to have it available before the end of fall, 2016, which is, he reminds us, December 21, 2016.
This new release will require an upgrade of the TIU, so more details to follow.
Lionel LLC—Mike Reagan
Mike reported that Lionel has assembly up in North Carolina from the acquired Weaver US tooling for the announced LionScale products. He also discussed the re-engineered truck and coupler assembly that will use a new bolster that will allow the cars to ride lower on the trucks. This new assembly makes conversion to 2-Rail very easy.
Mike described the new disconnect cars as “cute” and that they will be continuing to develop these cars. The cataloged items were the first of several styles to be developed.
The new T-1 was in the booth as well as the new “Rivets” GG-1.
Lionel’s 2nd Annual National Lionel Train Day will be Saturday, Dec 3rd
In closing, my apologies for any errors or omissions on my part. Please post corrections or additions as replies to this thread. My thanks to the OGR team for once again putting this meeting together for us and making sure that the meeting ran long enough that the rain had quit by the time we got out.
I also thought the refreshments were a nice touch.
