Mike Wolf from MTH started the program at 2pm. He had O scale models of two of the Norfolk Southern heritage diesels (in the original Norfolk Southern and Pennsylvania paint schemes IIRC) as well as a European (I believe it was Swiss) electric locomotive. He spent some time discussing the third party electronics and app that connect to DCS to allow using smart phones as DCS controllers. An advantage is that if people have smart phones and the connecting hardware and the app, the number of controllers does not become a limiting factor. He sees this technology as a bridge that can bring young people who are already familiar with the technology into the model train hobby. While answering questions, he expressed his admiration for the original LGB and their starter sets and how he recommended them when he was a hobby shop owner. He mentioned that hobby shops liked them because they “didn’t come back” – they didn’t need to be fixed.
Jack Lynch presented for Bachmann. Bachmann presented the TCA Museum with a G-gauge Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas set and an O gauge Christmas Steam Train set to be run in the display area. It was mentioned that Bachmann gives other trains for the Museum to run on a regular basis. He explained that Bachmann does not have many new product announcements at the October York because their cycle for announcing new products begins with the New York Toy fair early in the new year. Then Williams by Bachmann announcements are usually timed to coincide with the April York meet. In October, they are generally receiving the new products that were announced in April. In HO, Bachmann is coming out with a new GG1 which they say is unprecedented in its accuracy – Jack said they spent a lot of time at the nearby Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania climbing all over and measuring GG1 4935. (Personal note – I liked the reach of the pantographs as depicted in the Bachmann catalog; like the prototype, they extend higher than most other models and reminded me of what the prototypes looked like in Greenwich Yard for the Army-Navy games. I believe Greenwich Yard must have had some of the highest catenary anywhere in the Pennsy’s electrified system.) Many of Bachmann’s HO locomotives (including the GG1) come with their DCC Sound Value package which provides great sound at a reasonable price. The boards for this system are made in the USA (Colorado) by Sound Traxx. He also showed some of their unusual “Route 66” buildings (Tee Pee Hotel, Sombrero Restaurant, etc.) which debuted in HO but are now also coming to O. As an example of the depth of the Bachmann product line across different scales, he had models of the Peter Witt streetcar (or trolley) in N, HO, O, and G (1/29) scales – the G scale model is brand new. For the mass market, they are introducing “Chuggington” trains in HO.
Paul Fischer presented for Weaver. He showed their brass model of the Boston & Maine Pacific number 3713 which is now arriving. He mentioned that the full size locomotive is at Steamtown being restored for use in excursion service. He also showed a wood-chip hopper with extended sides and wood chip load. Weaver is bringing back the troop train cars from WWII (Pullman sleeper, kitchen, and hospital cars as well as REA express car conversions) and the Pullman-Bradley passenger cars. He also had a very unusual looking Milwaukee Road ribbed side boxcar with six roof hatches that was used to move barley that had been used in the Milwaukee beer breweries to farms where it was used as animal feed. They are bringing back the Company Row Houses both built-up and as kits. The 57’ mechanical reefer cars are also coming back but will not be available with sounds. The 2014 Weaver collectors station will feature Borden's Milk woodside reefer and a compact tri-fold tool kit with an assortment of tools for model railroaders.
Jay Don Reece and Matt Ashba did most of the presentation for Lionel with Howard Hitchcock presenting a short overview. First they presented a Union Pacific “American Flag” diesel to the Museum. Then they brought out their Vision Line O scale model of Union Pacific Big Boy number 4014 which is being restored for excursion service expected to start in 2015 0r 2016. Among its features:
- steam from the whistle
- dual independent smoke units, one for each stack, each one synchronized with one of the two engines (sets of drivers) for both puffing and sound
- three speakers: two in the tender and one in the locomotive body, said to be the best sound of any locomotive yet
- a depleting coal load where the amount of coal goes down as the engine is operated. The speed with which the coal is depleted will vary according to how hard the engine is working
- as a bonus, the locomotive will come with an LCS sensor track including power supply and connecting cable to the Legacy command base
- being separately offered to go with the locomotive is rolling stock that will include sounds
Lionel showed two shells for their Norfolk Southern heritage units, the SD70ace Virginian and Central of New Jersey paint schemes and similar units in their S scale American Flyer line. They also showed a Conrail ES44ac with a metal frame but a plastic body which allows a more attractive price point than a die-cast metal body. They also showed pilot locos (no paint), weathered locos by Harry Heike, and a set of line poles (telephone/telegraph poles) for American Flyer.
They were very excited about their Lion Chief Plus (LC+) line that can be run in three environments: with the LC+ controller and DC from the LC+ power source supplied; with the LC controller while on track that is AC powered at 18 volts; or with a conventional transformer where control is through varying the track voltage. There will be twenty engines in five types made available initially in the Lion Chief Plus line, the five types will be RS-3 and GP-7 diesels, and Hudson, Pacific, and Mikado steam locomotives. The steam locomotives will have coil couplers on the tender and the diesels will have coil couplers at both ends. They encouraged people to stop by the booth to see and hear these locomotives, they said the locomotives have exceptionally smooth slow speed operation and great sound packages.
I am sure more will come out from the Fairgrounds at York but that’s a bit of a preview from the TCA Museum in Strasburg.
