dave’s decision: whether to weather€¦ · dave’s decision: whether to weather volume 37, no....

The Lion Roars June, 2008

PUBLISHED BY THE LIONEL® COLLECTORS CLUB OF AMERICA IN FEBRUARY, APRIL, JUNE, OCTOBER, DECEMBER

Dave’s Decision: Whether to Weather

Volume 37, No. 5 June, 2008


Order Form for “Susie Q” and ONR CarsOnce submitted, LCCA will consider this a firm, non-refundable order. Deadline for ordering: June 30, 2008.

Note: UPS cannot deliver to a post office box. A street address is required.

Name: ____________________________________________________________________ LCCA No.: ________________Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________City: _____________________________________________________________ State: ____ Zip + 4: __________________Phone: (______) ______________________ e-mail: __________________________________________________________

[ ] Check this box if any part of your address is new.

2008 LCCA Convention Car[ ] “Susie Q” & ONR PS-2 covered hoppers 1 set $129.90, 2 sets $259.80 $__________ (S&H&I included)Extended S&H&I outside cont. U.S. $__________ $19 per set Illinois residents only, apply 7% sales tax $__________ $9.09 per set

Total: (in U.S. funds) $__________

This form may be photocopied. Mail it with your check enclosed to the best toy train club on the planet:LCCA Business Office • Dept TLR/2008CC • P.O. Box 479 • LaSalle, IL 61301-0479

For additional information, visit our website: www.lionelcollectors.org

Thislimited-editionproductionrunwillincludethesequalityfeatures:• producedbyLionel®exclusivelyforLCCA• die-cast,fullysprungtruckswithrotatingrollerbearingcaps; trucksideframesarepaintedtomatchthecars• roofhatchesactuallyopenandclose• crispgraphicswithSUSIEQandONRdécor• added-on(notmolded-in)laddersandbrakewheels• detailedundercarriage• discreteLCCA2008Conventiondesignationontheunderside.

TheLionelCollectorsClubofAmericaoffersthesetwodistinctivecarsofthenortheastregion—“SusieQ”andOntarioNorthlandRR—tomembersasthe2008Conventioncar.Limit:twosetspermember.

TheSusquehannacarwillincludetheclassicrenderingofthe“SusieQ”characterneverbeforepresentedonahoppercar.ThispairwillappealtoSusieQandCanadianmodelrailroaders,nichecollectorsseekingrollingstockofnortheasternregionalrailroads,andcollectorsofLCCAConventioncars.

Do the Math:[ ] Payment Plan A: My check for the full amount is enclosed made payable to “LCCA” with “TLR/2008CC” written on the memo line.[ ] Payment Plan B: Bill my credit card for the full amount. There will be absolutely no refunds of any payments if you subsequently decide not to complete this purchase.

No.: _______________________________________ Expiration: ____________ [ ] Disc [ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa Code: ________________

The 3 digits at the signature panel on back of your card

Sig: _____________________________________________________________ By my signature, I authorize LCCA to charge my account for the amount shown according to the terms and conditions cited herein.

LAST

CHANCE TO

ORDER

D

eadline Imminent


The Lion Roars (USPS0011-994) and (ISSNNo. 1079-0993) is publishedbimonthly exceptAugust by theLionelCollectorsClub ofAmerica, 1622FourthSt., Peru, IL61354-3527.Subscription rate of $15per year is paidthroughmembershipdues.PeriodicalpostagepaidatPeru,IL61354-9998andadditional mailing offices. POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoThe Lion Roars,1622FourthSt.Peru,IL61354-3527.TheLCCAisanIllinois not-for-profit corporation. Lionel is a registered trademarkandisusedwiththepermissionofLionelL.L.C.CopiesofLionelcopyrightedmaterialshavebeenusedinthispublicationwiththepermissionofLionelL.L.C.

The LCCA is not affiliated with Lionel or Lionel L.L.C. Opinions and com-ments made in by-lined columns in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Board of Directors or the views of officers and appointed officials; nor do they indicate a club endorsement of any products mentioned.

Lionel® Collectors Club of America

Contacting the LCCA Business OfficeMembers can contact the Business Office for routine services throughtheclub’swebsiteatwww.lionelcollectors.org,[email protected],byfaxat815-223-0791,orbymailat:LCCA Business Office, P.O. Box 479, LaSalle, IL 61301-0479.

The Lion Roars Contents

Directors JerryCalkins11300LittleRidgeCourtCheyenne,[email protected]

JohnEllingson4100VictoriaStreetMinnetonka,[email protected]

EricFogg13360 Ashleaf DriveDes Moines, IA [email protected]

Salvatore(Sal)Gambino,Jr.4135KnorrStreetPhiladelphia,[email protected]

JohnnyOurso2400N.ConestogaAvenueTucson,[email protected]

Copyright©2008theLionelCollectorsClubofAmerica.Allrightsreserved.Nopartof thispublicationmaybereproducedor transmitted inanyformor by anymeans, electronic ormechanical, including photocopying andrecordingforanypurpose.

People to ContactBusiness Office -Theirroleislimitedtoroutineservices.Secretary -Inquiriesaboutmembershiplapsesandadministrativesupport.Membership Chair -JoiningLCCAandmembershipquestions.Immediate Past President -Complaintagainstanothermember.

Business office services are limited to providing or processing changesofaddress,changesofphonenumber,“makegood”copiesofThe Lion Roars,applicationsformembership,replacementmembershipcards,reinstatements,deathnotices,Conventionregistration,andordersforclubcollectibles.

Officers Richard (Dick) H. Johnson, President8750E.KemperRoadCincinnati, OH 45249-2506 [email protected]

LouisJ.Caponi,Immed. PastPresident610AndrewRoadSpringfield, PA 19064-3816 [email protected]

AlKolis,President-elect4315 Saint Andrews Drive Howell, MI 48843-7469 [email protected]

John R. (Bob) Carter, Secretary2205 Westridge DrivePlano,[email protected]

Dennis DeVito, Treasurer 570 Brookside AvenueAlgonquin,IL60102-6824847-658-8776

AppointeesLarry A. BlackIT Manager244FarmbrookCircleFrankfort,[email protected]

GregR.ElderEditor, eTrack 320RobinCourtNewton,[email protected]

SusanEllingsonConvention Registration Liaison4100VictoriaStreetMinnetonka,[email protected]

Barry FindleyChair, Constitution CommitteeChair, Finance Committee3414OldCantrellRoadLittleRock,[email protected]

JohnA.FisherConvention Manager1730JamesRoadSt.Paul,[email protected]

EricFoggConvention Manager13360 Ashleaf DriveDes Moines, IA [email protected]

Mike H. MottlerEditor, TLR and LCCA Website22 Water Oak DriveConway,[email protected]

CraigTribuziEditor, Interchange Track7504 Zurich DrivePlano,[email protected]

AlbertF.OttenChairman Emeritus

William F. ButtonEditor Emeritus, Interchange Track

ConventionRegistrationForm......................................GIFC

2008ConventionCars......................................................IFC

ConventionUpdate...............................................................2

MyWeatheredWorldofTrains............................................4

A Set without a Set Box ...................................................... 9

ALifeWithTrains..............................................................10

TheTrainRoom.................................................................12

ToyTrunkRailroad............................................................15

2008ConventionTours......................................................16

Lionel Trains in a Restored Depot ..................................... 19

LCCA Product Development Shop .................................... 20

Trains Down Under ............................................................ 21

LionelNews&Views........................................................24

TheTinplateCannonball....................................................29

Secretary’s Report of Board Meeting ................................. 32

A Lionel Puzzlement ....................................................... IBC

2008 Convention Schedule .............................................OBC

Convention Hotel Reservation Form ............................ GIBC

ON THE COVERGrease, grime, rust, dirt, and corrosion are as distinctive as the decor schemes of the trains

on David Connolly’s layout

Photograph by David Connolly

LCCA Website: www.lionelcollectors.org


Convention Update

by Eric Fogg RM 12768& John Fisher RM 6541

Conventions = FunIfLCCAisallabouthavingfun,thennothingcould

be more fun than our annual Convention! During the past tenyears,theclubhasprovidedattendeeswithfunandcollectiblemementoesofeachConventionexperience.Theywereoftenafreebiewith“thepriceofadmission”whileatothertimesthey’vebeenattractivelypriced.Toclarifythisformembers,wecreatedthe10-yeartimespanchartshownbelow.It’sawork-in-progress,soifyounoticesomethingwe’vemissed,letusknow.

Alwaysproducedinlimitedquantity,theseitemshavebecomeverycollectible.Somuchsothatsoonyou’llbeable

totrackthemthroughaspecialsectioninthe Interchange TrackandonlineateTrack.Theintriguingquestion:Whatsurprises can you expect in Buffalo?

“Shuffle Off” TimeBy the time you read this it’ll be close to “Shuffle Off

to Buffalo” time! We have another great week – and some surprises – planned for you in beautiful western New York State. But let us be in charge of surprises. Your job is to comeprepared.Please, don’t leave home without your passport.

California Dreamin’StartplanningnowforanothergreatConventionin

Sacramento,July20-25,2009.Itwillbethefarthestwestwe’veevergone,andalotof“LeftCoast”membersarelookingforwardtobeingpartofanLCCAConventionrightintheirownbackyard.

YoucangetmoredetailsattheannualmeetinginBuffalo. A representative from Sacramento will be at the ConventiononthatFridaytoansweryourquestions.

Year and City Convention Car On-Site Item Registration Gift Special Purchase Banquet Gift Attendance Gift Sponsor Centerpieces3 Trading Cards President Awards Notes

1998 PRR Pick-Up 3-Each base is anPhiladelphia REA Baggage Cart outline of the state

1999Ft. Worth

2000Dearborn

2001 Lexington

2002 Postwar Catalog 1-Gift from Lionel toPittsburgh Covers CSC tour registrants

2003 Prewar Catalog

Las Vegas Covers

2004 Blue Classic PostwarMilwaukee Mesh Bag Toy Trains Accessories

2005 Denver Marriott PostwarSt. Louis Tech Cntr Motorized Units

2006 Crowne Plaza 2-Sold only onDenver Hotel UP Steam Train

2007 Adam’s MarkChicago Hotel

2008 ? ? ? ? ? ?Buffalo

1

2


KEY TO CHARTYear & City - Date and location of the LCCA Annual Convention

Convention Car - ThiscarisdesignedbyLCCAandproducedbyLionelLLCasacommemorativeoftheConventioncity.ItisofferedforsaleinadvanceofeachConventiontoallmembers.

Convention On-site Item - Anitem(notalwaysrollingstock)madeinlimitednumbers(maximum250)availableforsaletomembersonlyattheConvention.

Registration Gift - ThisfreebieincentiveencouragesmemberstoregisterearlyfortheConvention.Theitem(notalwaysrollingstock)ismadeinlimitednumbers(maximum400)andofferedonly to the first 400 registrants when they appear at the Convention.

Banquet Gift - Acarmadeinextremelylimitednumbers(approximately60)asafreegifttoonememberseatedateverytableatthebanquet.Thiscarcanonlybewonbylottery;itcan’tbepre-bought.

Special Item(s) - Item(s)madeinlimitedquantitiesandofferedforseparatesaleintheLCCASTOREduringtheConvention.

Attendance Gift - Alimited-editionitemgiftedtoConventionattendeesatthesite.

Sponsor - Theprovideroftheattendancegift.ThisgiftispresentedataConventiontopromotenextyear’sConvention.

Table Centerpieces - Thesehand-madethematiccenterpiecesareplacedoneachtableoftheConventionbanquet.Producedfrom2001-07,eachdesignhashighlightedthelocaleoftheConvention.Thesearemadeinlimitedquantities(maximum100)byclubmembers Lou and Grace Buchspics based on the original concept by Joe Holbrook created for the 1988 Convention in Lexington.

Collector Series Cards - Created by Past President Bill Schmeelk asatake-offonbaseballtradingcards,differentstacksof12cardsofONEtoytrainimagewererandomlygiventoattendeesoftheGetAcquaintedPartyattheConventionasamixer.Memberstradedcardswithothersinordertocollectall12differentimagesforafullsetofcards.Series1to4weredistributedfrom2002-05andareverycollectible.

Presidential Award Cars - Madeinverylimitedquantities(usually12orless)andpresentedbythePresidenttomembers(and sometimes to non-members) in recognition of their significant servicetoLCCA.

Year and City Convention Car On-Site Item Registration Gift Special Purchase Banquet Gift Attendance Gift Sponsor Centerpieces3 Trading Cards President Awards Notes

1998 PRR Pick-Up 3-Each base is anPhiladelphia REA Baggage Cart outline of the state

1999Ft. Worth

2000Dearborn

2001 Lexington

2002 Postwar Catalog 1-Gift from Lionel toPittsburgh Covers CSC tour registrants

2003 Prewar Catalog

Las Vegas Covers

2004 Blue Classic PostwarMilwaukee Mesh Bag Toy Trains Accessories

2005 Denver Marriott PostwarSt. Louis Tech Cntr Motorized Units

2006 Crowne Plaza 2-Sold only onDenver Hotel UP Steam Train

2007 Adam’s MarkChicago Hotel

2008 ? ? ? ? ? ?Buffalo

1

2

Phot

ogra

phs

prov

ided

by

club

mem

bers

/col

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Editor’s Note: David’s home layout is distinctive for several reasons – its many scratch-built buildings, scenic details on the layout, realistically weathered locos and rolling stock, and the large size. It’s a layout that requires a second – and even a third – look to capture all the details.

An Accommodation to Reality

IstartedoutbuyingandmakingGlor-Craft®buildingkitsandlearnedbydirectexperiencethetechniquesofscratch-buildingstructuresforatrainlayout.IdiscoveredthatIcouldn’taffordtobecomeatraincollector.ItseemedthateverythingIlikedwasexpensive.About14yearsago,Idecidedtobuildalayoutandinvestmytime,effort,anddollarsintocreatingahighlydetailedenvironmentforalimitednumberoftrains.MostofmyideascamefromModel Railroadermagazine;Ijustappliedthemtoathree-railempire.

Ienjoyedincorporatingreal-lifeaspectsintomybasementlayout.ThegasstationisSparky’sTruckStop,namedforatruckmechanicIworkwith.Inrecognitionofafriendthatcomesbyandbuildscabinetsandstoragestuffforme,IinstalledNick’sCabinetShop.Anotherfriendownsamarketthatsellssteaksandspecialcutsofmeat,andhisbusinesswasthe

inspiration for the Boston Beef building. I made an Indian™ motorcycledealershipandcreateditssignbasedonanimageinamagazineaboutIndianMotorcycles.Nowadays,onewouldprobablymakethesignwithacomputer.Thetrainstationisalimited-productionkit,sothere’sverylittlescratchbuildinginthatstructure.Itwaslasercutandeasytoassemble.

by David Connolly RM 27552

My Weathered World of Trains


Kits and Kit-bashingI have several Berkshire Valley® kits – Twin Whistle,

Hank’s Country Store, and others. Basically, I assembled thosekitsas-isandthenaddeddetailstothem;theguyonthetruck,adog,anaxleftinthetreestump.Mywifeprovidedtheseesawandthebicycles.Thosefinishing touches added dimension to thelayout.

Crow River™ is a company inthisareathatoffersalineofbuildingscastinresin.Thebrickandstonedetailingisoutstanding,anditfeelslikeI’mworkingwitharealstructure.

TheREAbuildingisscratchbuilt.Iboughtapassengerstationkit,butIdidn’tlikeitafterItookitoutofthebox.SoIusedallthewoodandpartstobuildanarrowbuildingthatseemedappropriateasaREAfacility.Theshingleswerecutfrommanilaenvelopes.Avisitorasked,“How’d you get the shingles to lift like that?” I explained, “The glue didn’t hold – it just happened.”

Scenes that Tell a Story

Iliketocapturemomentsintimeinareasofthelayout.Forexample,there’s a roofing job in progresswithguysontheroofpullinguptarpaper.ThelocalGrillincludesstoolsandapotbellystoveinside.Ipositioneditclosetotheedgeofthelayoutsothatifyoupeerinyoucanseethedetails.Atthetrainstation,adepartingsoldierkisseshisgirlfriendgoodbyebeforehoppingaboardatrooptrain,circa1944.Ienjoydoingstuffthatsomeonewillnoticeandappreciateevenifthe“Ah-hah!”comesafterthesecondorthirdglance.

Layout Geography as Destiny

Someoneaskedmeonawebforum,“Whendidyoustart building your Boston and Albany layout?” I really didn’tstartwiththatinmind.TheterrainIbuiltforthelayoutlookedNewEngland-

ish, but there was nothing available then for B&A. When K-Line introduced the Berkshire in B&A, I bought one and likedit;thenboughtasecondone.Later,Icustom-painteda couple engines – a Lionel® 0-8-0 and a MTH® “Hudson”


– into Boston & Albany. In just a year, I had a fleet of B&A steamers.

Mymotivepowerbasically reflects the steam-to-dieseltransitionera.Ifavorsteampower,butIhave an Alco DL-109s also. Thatcompanyintroducedtheprototypein1941,anditwasinserviceduringWWII.Ihavesomeotherdieselstuckedaway.

All about WeatheringI had a MTH New York

Central “Hudson” that dated backto1996,andIdecidedto make it into a Boston and Albany.Ididn’tstripoffthepaint; I used Scotchbrite™ toscruboffallthemarkings,repainteditengineblacktocovereverything,andapplieddrytransferletteringfrom

Clover House®. I even built a sand box out of styrene; B&A wasfamousfortheirsquaresandboxes.Althoughratherugly,that’swhattheyallhad.SoIgluedthesandboxontothetopoftheloco.Fromadistance,itdoesn’tlooktoobad.ThenItriedweatheringit.Afterall,thatenginewasn’tworthalot,andIhadalreadyrepaintedit.Ifitlookedbad,Icouldrepaintitagain.Itcameoutalittleoverdone,butitlookedprettygood.

WhenIshoppedforanairbrush,Iwastakenbackbythe price – $120 – and I kept putting it off because I never seemedtohave$120tospend.TheSnap-on®toolguyalwayshadoneonthetruck,andduringonevisitIasked,“Do you still have that airbrush?” I researched the product andlearnedfromothersthatasingle-actiontypeiseasierto

learn how to use. He didn’t havethatone,buthehadadouble-actionmodel.Itwasafewdollarsmore,butbecausehewouldacceptatime-paydeal,Iboughtit.

While painting the first engine,Idiscoveredthatthistoolisveryforgiving.Itputsoutfaintamountsofpaint.Mostofmyweatheringisdonewithearthcolors,andittakesseveralpassestoachievetheeffect.Onecanstillreadtheletteringonaboxcar.I’mnotthatskilledwithityet,butitdoesn’tletyoumakeamistake.IstopwhenIfeelit’s“justright.”Inhighlighting

steamengines,ifIgetcarriedawaywithapplyingtoomuchrustcolor,Iputthegrimyblackcolorbackonthegunandtone it down. However, those with a collector mindset probablyshouldn’ttryit.

Pushing the EnvelopeAfterweatheringmyinexpensiveengines,Istarted

doing boxcars. By the time I started weathering my more expensiveengines,Ifeltcomfortablewiththetoolsandconfident in my ability.

Ilearnedatrickofthetradeaboutpaintingthedrivewheels of locomotives. On the first ones, I took quite a bit of theengineapartandpaintedpartsindividually.Iusuallykeptthebodyshelloff,paintedaportionofthewheels,andthenturned the flywheel to rotate the wheels. Later, I invested in


arollerbaseandawoodenfoodturntableformyworkbench.ImountedapieceofLioneltracktoitandsettherollersonit.Iruntheengineinplaceandpainttherodsandthewheelswhileit’sinmotion,thenturnitanddotheotherside.

WhenIphotographedthelayoutandpostedpicturesonwebforums,Inoticedthattheweatheredenginesreallypoppedoutofthepicture;thepaintingbringsoutthedetail,eventherivets.IwassurprisedbyseeingthingsIdidn’tevenrealizewerethere.Tome,anon-weatheredenginedoesn’tjumpouttoyou;it’sinthescenebutnotasnoticeablebecauseyoucan’tseethedetailsonit.

Techniques for WeatheringIusePoly-SPaints®becausetheyareacrylicandwork

wellforme;Ifeelcomfortablesprayingthemindoors.Iwearamaskwhilepaintingattheworkbench,butIdon’thaveaspraybooth.Afterall,I’mnotapplyingahugevolumeofpaint.Istickwiththreecolorsforweatheringlocomotives:grimy black, earth, and D&RGW brown to simulate rust. I refertobookswithcolorpicturesasaguideforweathering,althoughtop-of-the-linepassengerslocoswerewashedalotmore …except for the DL-109 diesels. They were always filthy looking perhaps because the DL-109s ran in freight serviceatnightandwerefueledupandruninpassengerserviceduringtheday.Theywereusedaroundtheclockbecausetherailroadwasshortofmotorpowerandthoseengineswerethenewestpowertheyhadontheroster.

Allofmyboxcarsandreefersarewood-sided.Iwillweatherthemindifferentways.Ilaythemontheirsideanduse20partsPoly-Sthinnertoonepartgrimyblack.WhatI’m looking for is enough definition to see the separate slats ofwoodonthecar.Onanoutside-bracedcar,thepaintwillsettlealongthebraces.Iusuallypainttheundersidetoshow

mudsplattering.Onthetops,Iaddalightdustingofgrimyblacktoshowtheroofseamsandsprayalittlebitofearthonthesides.Ivarytheboxcarssothatsomelookalittlebetterthanothers;notallare“rundown.”

Iremovethetrucksfromthecarsanduseastyrenepaintmask

betweentheframeandthewheelsothatIcanpaintthesideframesandeverythingelsewithoutblastingpaintalloverthewheels.Ipaintthecouplerswhiletheyareontheframe.IinstallKadee®couplersoneverycarandapplyamistofgrimyblacktothemwitharustaccenttotakeawaytheshine.

Atthispointintime,I’veweatheredonlyonepassengercar – an RPO – but it isn’t heavily weathered. Based on my research,“hiddencars”weren’twashedasoftenbecausepayingcustomersweren’tgoingintothem.Thepassengercars will be lightly done – the trucks, undersides, steps, and stairtreads.

Weaverhasofferedfactory-appliedweatheringforafewdollarsmore.Maybehobbyistsareseeingthebeautyofweathering.

Trains of the New HavenTheothermodelsonthelayoutareletteredforthe

New Haven – a Weaver® I-5 passenger Hudson, a Lionel “Mountain,” a MTH 0-8-0 switcher, and one diesel – a MTH DL-109 A-A pair. B&A and NH are the only two roads on the layout. It is difficult to customize those locos because


mostoftheirsteamershaveanarchedcabwindow;everythingisunique.I’mlookingfora“Mikado,”andtheoneIlikemosthasaswitchattendee.I’dliketo get two locos – a “Mikado” and a switcher – and combine them into what Iwant,butI’dhavelotsof“leftover”pieces.

I’veconsideredhavingoperatingsessionshere,butthere’sonlysomuchroomforstaging.Themorestuffyouhaveonthelayout,theharderitistoruntrainsaccordingtoapre-plannedschedule.Thelayoutcanbecomecluttered,andit’stoohardtomakemovements.

Adding more DetailsIboughtScenicExpress®plants

– they look like little weeds – to add to thelayout,andIwanttoincludemore

trees;perhapsasaloggingactivitywithacrewchoppingdowntreesinanarea.I’mthinkingofajunkyardorsalvageyardwithpilesoftires,junk,andabandonedfurniture.Forthelittlegasstationscene,Iboughtracksoftirestodisplay.

Irecentlypurchasedsomeinterioritemsforacoupleofbuildingsneartheedgeofthelayout.Iwanttolightthemupandinstallinteriordetailsthatcanbeseenbyvisitors.Ihavenearly15Artista® new figures that will be placed on the layoutsoon.

About AutomobilesSomeofmy1:48scaleautosonthelayouttranscend

my1944timeframe.Afterall,thereareonlysomanyvehiclesofthateraavailable.Idon’twanttooverdoitwithconvertiblessincethisisNewEngland,notFlorida.Iplacedthe“out-of-era”carsawayfromthetrainstodisguisethistimewarp.

Irecentlyorderedsometrue-to-eraautomobilesandtrucksandI’llsprinklethemaroundthearea.I’llremovethe1950s-eracarsandreplacethemwithcarsfromthe1930sand40s.I’minterestedinutilitariancars,notsexy,splashy1957Oldsmobileconvertibles.IjustorderedaMassachusettsStatePolicecar.

The Missing SeasonThelayoutstartedwithasummersetting.Iusedpoly-

fiber to make the trees and most of them were green. When Istartedmakingmyowntreesfromweedsandstuff,Iwentforanautumnlook.Mostofthetreesareyellowandredandorange;verycolorful.Thelayoutdoesn’thaveawinterscene.I’mnottheGrinchthatstoleChristmas;Ijustlikethemorecolorfulseasonsoftheyear.

Family InvolvementEarlyon,mydaughterhelpedmixtheplasterand

sprinklegroundfoamaroundthelayout.Shelearnedhowtorunthetrainsandentertainedthekidnextdooratthelayoutinthebasement.Weenjoyedwatchingthem.Nowshe’sincollege, and when she brings home a friend that’s the first place they go – to see the trains.

Mywifeisa“people-person”andisinterestedinbuilding up the population of the layout. She finds figures for placement in the right places – people for the passenger cars, aguyatapayphone,aguyintheouthousewiththedooropen,thatsortofthing.Idon’tknowhowmanyhobosanddrunks are on the layout. I probably have every hobo figure evermade.

What to Add NextThereisadditionalsquarefootageinthebasementfor

growingthelayout,butit’sprettymuchdone.TheonlythingIwoulddoisbuildanotherstagingarea.Ialreadyhaveaturntable,butit’slocatedinahorriblespot.IfIcouldhaveaturntableoutintheopenwitharoundhouse,Iwouldlikethat;butIdon’thavetherealestate.

Photographs by Mike H. Mottler & David Connolly


ToanovicecollectororeventotheuntrainedeyeofanexperiencedcollectorthisgroupingofLionel®postwartrainswithcommonplace,regularproductionitemswouldhardlyraiseaneyebrow.Apurchaserwouldlikelybereturnedenoughchangefroma$100billtotreathiswifetoarespectabledinnerifheweretobuytheengine,tender,andalltherollingstock!

However, to a promotional set collector theseitemswiththeiruniqueindividuallynumberedboxesare“thestuffthatLioneldreamsaremadeof.”Atthistime,weareawareofonlyonecomplete“set”andanothernear-completeexamplethathavesurvivedtothepresentdaywiththecorrugated,Lionel-issued,shipping-gradeboxes.

JohnW.SchmidofProjectRoarPublishing®andauthoroftheoutstandingAuthoritative Guide to Lionel’s Promotional Outfits 1960-1969hasfreelysharedinformationabouttheseitemsfromhisprivatecollectionofLionelproductionrecords.

Theitemspicturedbelowareacomplete1961“set”withoutasetbox.Mr.SchmidadvisedthatoriginalLioneldocumentsstatethat500unitsofeachindividualitemwereboxed accordingly. His records are unimpeachable, but unfortunately,theydonotlistthecustomer.

This“set”waspurchasedwithallitemsasshownandwaspossiblyasalesman’ssampleoracompletegroupingsentbyLioneltothecustomerforreference.

Currently,wecanonlyspeculatehowthis“set”wasmarketed.Weassumeitwaspurchasedone-item-at-a-timebytheend-userandwasroutinelyshippedtothatrecipientthroughtheU.S.PostalService.Theotherexampleofthis“set”(notshown)hasanaddresslabelandcancelledpostagewithdifferent1961shippingdatesoneachitem!

Again,wesensiblyassumethatthe1060LT-50mastercartonwithcomponentboxedengineand unboxed tender was shipped first (Schmid’s records confirm that the 1050T tenderwasunboxed),followedbytherollingstockandeightpiecesofO27-gaugecurvedtrack.

ManyquestionsremaintobeansweredaboutthisLionelmystery.Firstandforemost,whowastheLionelcustomer? How were the items purchased by the end-user? Were they purchased withlegaltender(money),orwithsometypeoftradingstamps,boxtops,orcoupons? Another possibility – could theyhavebeenmailedfreeofchargetoemployeesofaparticularcompanyassome type of bonus? We just don’t know.

Hopefully this article will stir interest amongcollectorstopossiblybringforthsomemuch-neededinformationaboutthisrareLionel“set.”

Photographs by Marc Soracco Photographywww.soraccophoto.com

A Set without a Set Boxby Paul V. Ambrose RM 8795

Featured above is an assortment of common, typical production Lionel items from 1961 shown with some exceptionally rare corrugated boxes. We believe this is the first time that pictures of these boxes have appeared in print. Notice the 1060LT-50 master carton that even most advanced collectors were not aware existed. Also pay particular attention to the individual corrugated shipping boxes that are identified with a –600 suffix; they are confirmed by Lionel documentation.

Packing of the 1060 Scout-type engine with the accompanied 1050T slope-back tender was also unique to this “set.” The engine came with its own properly numbered “NO. 1060” corrugated box that was placed inside the 1060LT-50 master carton. However, the tender was unboxed; it was wrapped in what Lionel called “bogus” paper and placed alongside the engine for shipping. An individual 1060 engine box occasionally surfaces in the marketplace. We at AmbroseBauer Trains auctioned an example several years ago as a rare box but without knowing the true background of the item.


A Life with TrainsAn Interview as told toMike H. MottlerRM 12394

Editor’s Note: Paul V. Ambrose is an internationally known Lionel train collector, train hobby author, expert on Lionel postwar trains, and now a partner in a train auction company – AmbroseBauer Trains. With this issue of TLR, Paul begins a series of articles about rare Lionel train collectibles.

Back to the ‘50sI received my first Lionel®trainsetasaChristmas

gift.ItwasreadyformetorunaroundthetreeearlyChristmasmorning1950;dadsurelyworkedovertimethenightbefore.Iassumethissetwaspurchasedon-saleshortlyafterthepreviousChristmas.Myfatherwasacoalminer,andbycoalminingstandards,mysisterandIgrewupquitecomfortablyinsmall-townwesternPennsylvania. Dad was also a judicious shopper; he stretched the family dollar as best he could. Back in the 1950salltoytrainswerereducedtohalf-priceinmajordepartmentstoresthedayafterChristmas.ItwasnotuntiladulthoodthatIrealizedhowexpensiveLioneltrainsactuallywereatthetime,andthatmostofthetrainsmyfatherpurchasedduringmychildhoodwereusuallyboughtathalf-price.

Throughoutthe‘50s,familygiftstomeforChristmas,Birthday, Confirmation, FirstCommunion,schoolhonorroll,andanyotherspecialeventswerealwaysLioneltrains;theyweretheloveofmychildhood.Also,myfatherwastotallyinvolvedinthehobby;itwassomethingwealwaysdidtogether– father and son bonding. We had a yearly on-the-floor layout that went up the day after Thanksgiving andstayedupuntiltheweekafterEpiphany;Ihadfive to six weeks of ultimate Yuletide fun. We planned somethingslightlydifferenteachyear;itwastrulyalaboroflove.Thememoriesofthemanyhoursweinvestedarewithmetothisveryday.

Trainsweretheonepassionthathasstuckwithme through my entire life – except for the timeframe ofabout16to25yearsold.Everyguyknowswhathappensduringthatperiodwhentrainsoftenbecomesecondarytogirls,thecarkeys,college,career,andthenmarriageandchildren.

A Resurrection of InterestThoughdormantforawhile,myinterestfortrains

neverwaned.Iwouldpurchaseanitemnow-and-then,butthecollectorbugbitmehardinmylate20swhenIhadarealjobandsomedecentearnings.EventhoughIreceivedLioneltrainseveryChristmas,therewasalwayssomethingthatI“really”wantedbutdidn’tget.Aswithmanybaby-boomers,myinitialfocuswastoacquirethetrainsIdidn’thaveasaboy.

Soitwasinthelate1970sandearly‘80swhenIstartedre-collecting.Qualitytrainswerestillreadilyavailableinthemarketplace.Fortunatelyforme,IlivedandworkedinthemetropolitanNewYorkCityareaandhadaccesstoseverallargedealersandhobbystores,including the noted Madison Hardware. Collecting seemstohaveabuilt-inSteamRollerEffect,soIspentmuchofmydiscretionaryearningsonLioneltrains.

Buy the Best

I followed this premise: BUY TOP QUALITY TRAINS WITH ORIGINAL BOXES. Looking back, I realizethatwasoneofthesoundestdecisionsI’veevermade.Trainsinlikeneworbetterconditionwillalwayscommandapremium,andtrainsinpristineboxeswillcommandanevenhigherpremium.Mostofthosepurchaseshaveappreciatedfarmorethanotherrealestate, financial, or stock market investments.

Whileattendingtrainmeets,Ioftenboughtboxeswithouttheitem.Tomanysellers,theboxesweresimplyexcessbaggage.SomesellersthoughtIwasout-of-my-mindforbuyingaboxandoftensaying,“Youcankeepthetrain.”TheonlytimeIboughtsomethinginquestionableconditionwasifIconsideredittobeexceptionallyrare;evenanitemwithissueshasvaluebecauseofrarity.IalwaysknewIwouldbeabletorecoupmostofthepurchasepriceonthemarginalitemifandwhenIfoundabetterexample.

Time for a ChangeForyears,Iworkedintheapparelmanufacturing

business.Itwasalucrativecareer,butitrequired12-to14-hourdays,sixdaysaweekandmoreSundaysthanIcaretoremember.AsIbegantoapproachage50,Idecideditwastimeforacareerchange.Alifelongfriend,whohadalsorecentlyretiredfromtheapparelindustry,beganasmallrealestatedevelopmentcompany in Boston. When the opportunity presented itself,Ibecameinvolvedwiththatventureforabout10yearsasasecondcareer.

Whatultimatelydrovemeintoatoytrain-relatedbusinesswasmydecisiontoreturntomyroots.Afteraclassreunion,Irekindledarelationshipwithahigh

Paul V. Ambrose


schoolsweetheart(weeventuallymarried)anddecidedto relocate to a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. Being that I wastooyoungandenergetictototallyretireandhadalife-longloveoftrains,myhobbyinterestemergedasapossiblebusinessventure.

For 20-plus years, I had known Drew Bauer from thetrain-collectingcommunity.

He is also from the Pittsburgh area. Every dealing thatIeverhadwithhimhadbeenfavorable,andIrespectedhisworkethicandknowledgeoftoytrains.One day I called Drew and said, “I’m coming back toPittsburgh”and“let’sgetinvolvedinatoytrainbusiness.”Atthatstageofmylife,therewasnobusinessthatIcouldorwouldwanttoundertakeonmyown.Therestisrecenthistory.

The Auction BusinessDrew was amenable to the idea, and about five

years ago we established AmbroseBauer Trains. Drew is extremelyknowledgeable,moresothanme,inotherareasoftraincollecting,includingStandardgauge,AmericanFlyer, HO, Modern Era, and paper; healsodevelopedourwebsite.MyforteisLionelPostwartrains;that’swhatIknowbestbecausethat’swhatIcollected.Wewentintobusinessknowingtherewouldberoutinegriefandaggravationasineveryventure,but I truly enjoyed the commodity – toy trains.

Therearethreeorfourothercompaniesoperatinginthisauctionfield. We were last aboard and thus forcedtocarveourownspecialniche,andIbelievewehave.Weoperatethebestwebsiteinthehobby;itoffersmorethananyofourcompetitors.

Wehavetheoptiontoshow48-pluspicturesofanitemifneeded,andallpicturescanbeenlargedtofullscreen.Visitorstooursitewww.ambrosebauer.comcanprintaPictureCatalogandevencheckthehistoryofpastauctions;weprovideanarchivethatshowsactualrealizedprices.Furthermore,weassignaconsignorcodesocustomerscanlookatthehistoryofitemssoldontheirbehalf,whattheysoldfor,andwhatwe’restillholding.Wemakebiddingconvenientandsimple.Onceregisteredwithus,bidderscanplaceabsenteeorsnipebids anytime once an auction is posted on our site – even whiletheauctionisinprogress.Theyhavetheabilitytobid“live”atthemoment.

No Faux

Westandsolidlybehindtheauthenticityofwhatweauction.Noonewilleverbuyafakefromus,orunknowinglytakea“hit”onsomethingthatwasrepaintedorrifewithreproductionparts.Allbuyersandconsignorshavethe combined knowledge of Drew and Paul at their disposal;

noothersinthebusinesscanofferthatdegreeofexpertise.Consignorsalsohaveacomfortlevelknowingthatwewillproperlyidentifytheirtrainsandthatnothingwillbesoldfor“shortmoney”duetolackofproductknowledge.

Expectations and RealityManycollectionsthatareofferedtousforauction

havesomehigh-priceditemswithproblems.Consignorsareoftenshockedwhentoldthattheirpreviouslypurchasedtop-of-the-linetrain,suchasa2358GreatNorthernEP-5ora 2360 five-stripe GG-1, was repainted, redecaled, and/or restriped. They often tell us, “But I bought it 20 years ago.” Myanswer,“Yes,butitwasredone20yearsago.”Thereareprobably more fake 2341 Jersey Central FMs floating around in the market than there are real ones. Another issue – many long-timecollectorsstillbelieveallF3sarevaluedequally,andtheiroldtrains,regardlessofcondition,are“priceless.”Theyareunderstandablydisappointedtodiscoverthatmostaretypicallycommonplace,andsometimesworse.

Onapositivenote,mosthobbyistsalsohaveanitemortwo in their collection they under appreciate and/or greatly

undervalue,andit’sapleasantsurprisetothemwhentheylearnaseeminglynon-noteworthypieceactually has significant value. A detailasinconsequentialasarowofrivets,rubber-stampingversusheat-stamping,oradifferentnumbercanelevatewhatappearstobea$50itemto$1,500ormore.

Baby Boomers and Auctions

Some Baby Boomers opt tohandlethedisposaloftrainspersonallybecausetheyknowwhattheyown,anddon’twanttotaskthefamilywithliquidatingatraincollectionafterpassing.Atypicalovertureis“Iwanttoturnthisstuffintocashbecausemychildrenhavenointerest.”Theothersideofthatcoiniswhenthecollectorsays,“I’mholdingonaslongaspossible.

Mywifeandkidswilltakecareofmatterswhenthetimecomes.”Wealsohearthecash-crunchscenario,suchas,“I’mstaringatcollegetuitionbills.”

Moretrainsarecomingintothemarkettodaythaninyearspast.Lookingshortterm,thependulumisnotmovingupward,buteventuallyitwill.Atbest,weareinastatusquo market. However, if a collector has merchandise in top conditionwithcomparableboxes,itwillbringanabsolutepremium.Qualitysellsbest.Alwayshas,alwayswill.

Photographs by Marc Soracco Photographywww.soraccophoto.com

A detail as inconsequential as a row of rivets, rubber-stamping versus heat-stamping, or a different number can elevate what appears to be a $50 item to $1,500 or more.


by Tim Robinson RM 10414

Dad Started It Myfascination

withtrainsstartedwhenIwasaboutsixyearsold.MydadsetupaLionel®trainlayoutinourden,andIrememberwatching it fly aroundthetrack.Mymostvividmemorywaswhenhefailedtonavigateacurveandsenthisfavoriteenginecrashingtothe floor. Eventually, headdedonagaragetoourhomeandconstructedalarge layout. He encouragedallofustorunthetrains.OurfavoritegamewastotakeabatteryoperatedMarx®engineandplaceitattheheadofourLioneltrain.TheMarxenginewassetinmotion.WhoevercouldcatchtheMarxengineinthefewestlapswasthewinner.Thetrainswereeventuallypackedawayatmydad’shouse,butIneverlostmyloveforthem.

Istartedtobuyasethereandacartherewiththeintentofbuildingmyownlayoutsomeday.Itisamazinghowlong

waitingonsomedaycanbe.IjoinedtheLCCAin1986attheNorfolkConvention.ThereIpurchasedthePennsylvania#6200set.Icontinuedtocollecttrains,andmywifealwaysboughttheLCCAConventionCarasmyValentine’spresent.Is there any better way to show love?

The Train Room


Our1050-square-feethomedidnotaffordmeaspacetobuildalayout,soIplacedmytrainsaroundtheChristmastree.In2002, we finally were abletobuildournewdreamhome.Ithadatrainroomintheplans,andmywifeagreeditwouldbemyroom.But she has managed to sneakinsomecurtainsmadeoutofgreypinstripeandtrimmedwithredbandanamaterial.

New Layout Shortlyafter

movingin,Istartedbuildingmylayout.By now, my older son TimothyhadmovedawayandwaslivinginNewYork.Mymiddleson,Scott,helpedcarrytheplywoodupstairsbeforeheadingofftocollege.Myyoungestson,Matthew,andIworkedontheprojecttogether.Ididn’tgointotheprojectwithawell-developedplan;Iactedmorelikeakidinacandystore.Grace,mywife,wouldsaymorelikeabullinachinashop.

Whoneedsamaster plan? What is the fun in that? To me, followingamasterplanwouldhavebeenmorelikeworkthanfun.Iwouldplacethetrack,tryitoutandthenpullitupandstartalloveragain.Inacoupleinstances,Itoredowntheentireframeandstartedover.Therewereseveraldifferent versions until I settled on this layout. I finally decided I wanted more than a layout filled with many trains andafewsupportingpieces,Iwantedtobuildacommunitythatwasservedbythetrains.

Thelayoutismadeof¾-inchplywood,soitwillsupportmyfullweightof250lbs.Iconstructedthemountainsusingchickenwirecoveredwithburlapcloththencoatedtheburlapwithwhitegluetohardenit.Finally,Iusedwallmud(spackle)tosculptthem.


A Gift of a Village

Mydaddecidedhewoulddonatesomeofhistrainstothe cause. He also gavemethehousesthatheandmymomhadpaintedfortheirChristmasvillage.Theyweremadefromcrushedoystershells.Someofmyfavoritememorieswerewhentheywereworkingontheirtownanddecidingwhattodowithit.Theyscrapedandcleanedthemoldjointsandhandpaintedeachpiece.Thevillagehadbeenboxedupforyearssincemomhadpassed,andtherewereseveralunfinished pieces.

MatthewandI finished painting thebuildingsandstartedlayingoutawinterscenewiththevillage.MywifeandIscouredseveralfabricstoresbeforefinding the perfect snowlikecoveringtoplacethehousesupon.ThesehouseswerelitbyastringofChristmastreelights.Wethenbeganworkingonthecity.ThebuildingsareacombinationofK-LineMainLine®,Lemax® and Dept 56®.Thecityroadwayismadefromanti-skidtape,andIusedcrayonstomakethestreetmarkings.LocatedwithinthecitylimitsaretheOperatingToyStore,Carousel,andPlaygroundaswellasthetraditionalLionelNewsstand,TrainStation,andOperatingSwitchTower.Intheautumntingedfarmarea,IhavetheLionelIceStation,Cattle Loader, Horse Loader and a Milk Platform. Across the doublebridgeIstartedtheindustrialarea.MatthewandIhotgluedseveralhundredpebblestomakethestoneretaining

wallthatseparatestheupperandlowerlevels.TheindustrialsitehasaLionelCoalUnloadingRampandLoader,SawMill,andGantryCrane.

Let the Trains RunThe layout consists of five loops. The first loop goes

throughthewintervillageonthetoplevel.Thesecondloopruns the train from the station on the middle level to the first levelstation.Thethirdlooprunsaroundthefreightyardandenginehouse.Thefourthisadogbonethatconnectsthemiddle city with the industrial area, and the final loop is a


mainlinethatloopsaroundtheperimeterofthelowerlevel.IhaveashortshuntlinethatrunsthecoaltrainfrominsidethemountaintotheCoalLoaderRamp.Ifoundrunningthetrainsonloopsasifonautopilotgivesmetimetovisitwithfriendswhilethetrainsarerunning.

GraceandIhopetomakeittofutureLCCAConventions.Shesaystheylooklikefun,andshewouldlovetotakesomeofthetours. But I still have onemoresontosendto college, so I figure fourmoreyearsof“someday”beforeIgetthere.

Untilthen,Iplanoncompletingthelayoutandseeingtheenjoymentonthefriendswhostopbyandwatchthetrainschugthroughthetowns.

Photographs by Tim Robinson

15

Toy Trunk Railroad by Erik Sansom


Tour #1 - Niagara History “On the Rails” Monday, July 21 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.$82 per person

Experiencetheuniqueandexciting“livinghistory”ofNiagaraCountyontheMedinaRailroadMuseumTrainRide.WithhistoricNYCEunitsin“lightningstripe”liveryon point and stainless steel Budd cars in tow, you’ll enjoy thescenicandhistoricridefromMedinatoLockport(andreturn)whileinteractingwithcostumedcharactersfromNiagara’shistory.EncounterfugitiveslavesandconductorsofthefamedUndergroundRailroadandobserveruthlessbounty hunters board the train to find them. Learn about Niagara’sindustrialistsandentrepreneurs,ErieCanalworkers, farmers, and Civil War heroes – all through interactionandfunduringyourrailexperience.TheseinteractionsenableyoutolearnmoreabouttheimpactofrailonNiagaraCounty!

YourtripincludesampletimeattheMedinaRailroadMuseumwithitshugememorabiliaandtoytraincollection,fire-fighting collection, and 204-feet-long operating train layout.Alsoenjoyadeliciousbarbecueluncheonprovidedby Keith’s Famous Barbecue with all the fixin’s.

Tour #2 - Trains in Erie, PATuesday, July 22 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.$76 per person

Inthe1980s,agroupofGEretireesandmembersoftheGeneralElectricElfunSocietyinitiatedaprojecttoaccumulateandvalidatematerialofhistoricinterestandtointerviewpersonsofresponsibilityandknowledgeintheErieplantoperation.ThepreservationofthishistoryoftheGE Erie operation became the Museum of Erie GE History.

Next,it’sofftotheMARX®ToyMuseumfeaturingwonderfulMarxToyssuchthefamousbigwheel,largerunningtraindisplays,tintoys,andErie’sFamousMouseHouse, a 16-room cardboard box mansion built as if mice hadgatheredthingsfrom“downstairs.”

Thehistoryoftrainsthencontinueswithlunchatthe Concourse of Union Station – a 1927 restored train station.

16

AlsovisittheErie Brewing Companyandlearnhowbeerismade;ofcourse,therearesamplesofErie’s finest! Traveltimeisapproximately1hour,45minutes.

Tour #3 - “… on the Erie Canal”Tuesday, July 22 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.$77 per person

Tour #4 - Casino Night Tuesday, July 22 1 – 9 p.m.$32 per personNOTE: This tour is for ADULTS ONLY; must be at least 19 years old. Proper proof of citizenship required when traveling into Canada.

StartbyexperiencingtheFallsviewCasinoResort,an opulent and spacious gaming floor with over 3,000 slot machinesand150tablegames.YourdinnerbuffetattheCasinoisincluded.VisittheGalleriaShops,withavarietyofretailboutiquesandrestaurantslocatedrightintheFallsview.

RightoutsidetheCasinoyou’llexperiencethepoweroftheNiagarawithaneveningself-guidedtourofNiagaraFalls. The adjacent streets are filled with museums, souvenir shops,gamingarcades,restaurants,clubs,andtouristattractionsofallkinds.

Tour package includes: luxury motorcoach transportation, five-hour visit to the Fallsview Casino Resort, full dinner buffet, and $10 casino coin voucher per person!

Buffalo,New York

Niagara,Canada

LCCA 38th Annual Convention

2008

SOLD OUT


Tour #5 - The Niagara Falls Experience: USA & CanadaWednesday, July 23 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.$85 per personNOTE: Proper proof of citizenship required when traveling into Canada.

ThewondersoftheworldcomealiveonthisfabuloustourfeaturingboththeU.S.andCanadiansidesofTheFalls.TraveltotheU.S.sideoftheFallstovisitGoatIslandandTerrapinPointforaviewfromthebrinkoftheUpperNiagaraRiverRapidsandAmericanFalls.

Nextyou’reofftotheNiagaraReservationStateParkandProspectPointObservationwhereyouwilldescendintheNiagaraGorgeaboardthehistoricMaidoftheMistforan unforgettable cruise to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. AdelightfulfullluncheonoverlookingtheFallswithaspectacularviewisplanned.

Followinglunch,we’llenterCanadatovisitTableRock,the floral clock at the Niagara Park, and the Whirlpools.

Tour package includes: luxury motorcoach transportation, first-class step-on-guided tour of Niagara Falls USA and Canada featuring all highlights, Maid of the Mist Boat Tour, full luncheon overlooking the Falls, applicable taxes and meal gratuities.

Tour #6 - The Finger Lakes ScenicRailway ExperienceWednesday, July 23 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.$85 per person

Discover central New York and the history of the railroadtherewiththisfull-dayexcursionthattakesyouontheFingerLakesScenicRailwayfromGenevatoCanandaigua– with alunchlayoverinShortsville!RideinvintageNYCgraysmooth-sidepassengercarspulledby“lightningstripe”engines.

Your guides will share the Erie Canal Heritage Corridor withyouonthetwo-hourridetoyourboardingStationinGeneva.Interpreterswillsharemoreaboutthehistoryanddevelopmentsoftherailroadinthisregion.

Featured on this tour is the story – told by costumed historic presenters – of the baseball league that became a regional fixture featuring teams from every rail yard in CentralNewYork!Greatrails,greathistory,andgreatfunasyouenjoycentralNewYork’sFingerLakesregion.

Tour #7 - Niagara Falls Supernatural WondersThursday, July 24 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.$75 per person

AtourofNiagaraFallslikenoother– experience the ragingrapidsatThreeSistersIslands,partofGoatIslandStatePark,whichalsofeaturesTerrapinPoint,LunaIslandandallofthefavoredvantagepointstoviewandexperiencethe Falls. Tour includes admission to Cave of the Winds – a walkway at the base of the American Falls – and the world-famous Maid of the Mist Boat Ride with admission to the ObservationTower.

EnjoyadeliciouspicniclunchatWhirlpoolStatePark,alongwiththeopportunitytoviewtheWhirlpool.YourtouralsoincludestheNewYorkStatePowerAuthority’sPowerVista – a complete hands-on experience for the whole family.

AspecialadditionfortheLCCAisapresentationontheGreatGorgeRailroad,whichranfromthelate1800sto1935byNewYorkParksinterpretivestaff,completewithvisuals.


Tour #8 - Buffalo Harbor CruiseThursday, July 24 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.$85 per person

Tour #9 - Buffalo’s Best Friday, July 25 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.$80 per person

The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park isaone-of-a-kindattractioninthenation.AllbranchesoftheArmedforcesarerepresentedintheexhibits.AvisittoBuffalo isn’t complete without a lunch stop at the Anchor Bar – home of the original chicken wing – for a “taste” of Buffalo’s best.

Ourstep-onguidewillescortyourgrouptointernationallyacclaimedartandarchitectureandthroughBuffalo’s Central Terminal, Forest Lawn Cemetery, and Millionaires Row – a living museum of Gilded Age grandeur featuringhomesofastonishingsizeandsplendor.

Visit the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum featuringautomobilesmadeinwesternNewYorkincludingPierce-ArrowandThomasFlyer.

Tour #10 - Buffalo’s Religious Architecture

Friday, July 25 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.$48 per person

VisitOurLadyofVictory Basilica, First PresbyterianChurch,TempleBeth Zion, and Trinity EpiscopalChurches.Thisjourney to Buffalo’s houses ofworshipwillshowthemagnificence of Buffalo’s religiousarchitectureatthesefabuloussites.

Followingyourtour,lunchwillbeatThePearlStreetGrillwhichisquicklybecoming“downtown’smostfunandexcitingrestaurant.”

Tour #11 - Ladies Day Out at Galleria Mall Shopping & LunchSaturday, July 26 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.$30 per person

TheWaldenGalleriaMall,thearea’slargestenclosedshopping mall, is located in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga.WaldenGalleriacomprises1,600,000squarefeetofretailspace,withmorethan150storesontwolevels.

Afteradayofshopping,relaxandenjoyauniquelunchexperienceattheMeltingPotRestaurant,wherefonduetrulybecomesamemorablefour-coursediningexperience.Patrons can dip into something different – and discover all theingredientsforauniquediningexperience.

TransportationforSaturday’sshoppingisviaWhiteSchool Bus, an air-conditioned bus with cushioned seats. No lavatory.

Tour photographs provided by Buffalo Niagara CVB (Chuck LaChiusa & Mark Parsons) and tour sites.

SOLD OUT

Answers to Lionel Puzzlement

1. Texas & Pacific2. Boston & Maine3. Boston & Albany4.Peoria&Eastern5. Denver & Rio Grande6.Norfolk&Western7.Chicago&NorthWestern8. Delaware & Hudson9. Baltimore & Ohio10.GulfMobile&Ohio11.Pittsburgh&LakeErie12.Louisville&Nashville13.Minneapolis&St.Louis


Lionel Trains in a Restored Depot

by John R. IacovinoRM 6891

Idonatedmypermanentoperatingmodeltrainlayoutto the local Save the Depot Foundation for display and operationatthisrestoredstructure.ThisrestorationprojectnowenhancestheambianceofthisrehabadventureinWallace,NorthCarolina.

Thelayoutmeasures12x8feetandfeaturesprimarilyLionelOandO27engines,cars,andoperatingaccessories.Wallshelvesholdanddisplayalargeselectionofenginesandrollingstockfromthegoldenageofthecompany.Thereis also a HO layout in the building.

The restoration was part of the Wallace Downtown RevitalizationProject.ThedepotnowhousestheChamber

ofCommerce,theLongLeafArtandCraftsGuildshowroom,andaFarmer’sMarketwhichisopenonSaturdays. Honoring its railroad heritage, the depot also housesatransportationmuseumwithartifactsofrailroadingincludingitemsoriginallyassociatedwiththedepotandfromitsemployees.

Built in 1914 by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad,theWallacedepotwasrestoredtoitsoriginalgrandeurandopenedtothepublicon November 11, 2007 – Veterans Day – in memoryofthemenandwomenwhopassedthroughitwhileinservicetotheircountry.

Wallace was originally named Duplin Roadsbutwasrenamedinthe1880stohonorStephen Decatur Wallace, an official of the AtlanticCoastLine.Thelinewasoriginally

builtinthe1830saspartoftheWilmingtonandWeldonRailroad.EventuallyitbecamepartoftheAtlanticCoastLinesystem.

Thedepotwaslastusedabout1960.Overtheyearsit fell into severe disrepair. In 2002, Save the Depot FoundationwasestablishedandspearheadedbyLCCAmemberThomasEdgerton(RM19387).Thefoundation

obtainedfundingfortherestorationprojectthroughfederal,state,andlocalsources.Rehabilitationandconstructionbeganinthefallof2006.Therestorationprojectwasguidedbytheoriginalconstructionplans.

ThedepotandmuseumareopenMondaythroughFridayfrom9to5.ThetrainroomisopentothepubliconFridayafternoonsfrom3to5o’clock.WallaceislocatedoffInterstate40,85milessouthofRaleighand40northofWilmington,NorthCarolina.Formoreinformation,calltheWallaceChamberofCommerceat910-285-4044.

Photographs by John R. Iacovino


End of the LineThe2008ConventionCarpairwillbethelasttwo-car

offeringbyLCCA.Althoughprevioustwo-carofferswerequitesuccessful,weareforcedtodiscontinuethispracticebecauseofrisingrawmaterialcosts.Theprevioustwo-ferswere of Conventions in Lancaster, PA; Dearborn, MI (LCCA &LOTScars);Pittsburgh,PA;andMilwaukee,WI.

The Sky Is Falling – or NotThetruthaboutthecurrenteconomictimesisthatthe

sky is NOT falling, but many believe it’s so. By hearing the sameinformationoverandoveraboutthedowneconomy,soon you may believe you’re living in the Depression of 1929.Themediathriveonbadnewsandsensationalism;it’sallaboutsellingnewspapersandcapturingTVratingpoints.Certainlyoil,gas,andfoodpricesareontherise.Thehousingandautomobilemarketsareinthetoilet,butweallknow this is not the first downturn, and it won’t be the last.

During my 28 years in the model trains business, I weatherthestormsofseveralrecessions.Youmaynotbelievethis,butsomeofmybestyearswereduringso-called“badeconomictimes.”Sure,peoplemadesomeadjustmentstotheirlifestyles.Maybetheydidn’tgooutfordinnerasoften,buttheystilldinedout.InsteadofdrivingtoFloridabeaches,theywenttotheJerseyShore.Mostpeopledon’tdeprivethemselvesofenjoyment,andyoushouldn’teither.

Mypointis,don’tstopenjoyingyourhobby.Youmay need to adjust your spending pattern to fit the times, and that’s sensible. During recession years, I adjusted my inventorytomatchthesituation.Youmaypostponebuyinga$1,200locomotive,butwhenthetrainbugbites,you’llneedtoscratch.

TheLCCArecognizesthetenorofthesetimes,andtheclubwilladdresstheissue.Wehavedecidedtopostponesomeofthemoreexpensivereleasesinfavoroflow-to-moderatepriceditems.WatchforinformationinTLRandatthewebsiteaboutnew,affordableoffers.

I Can’t Believe It’s Finally HereThanks for your great feedback on the New Haven

#209train.Thematchingadd-oncarsareshownbelow.Thecompletepassengertrainlooksgreat.Yourpatiencepaidoff.Yourcontinuedsupportofclub-sponsoredproductsenablesyourclubtoremainthebesttoytrainclubontheplanet.

Lou is a Past President and the currentManager of LCCA Product Development

20

LCCA Product Development Shop

by Lou CaponiRM 8735

Last ChanceIfyouhaven’torderedyour2008ConventionCar

pair,getamoveon!ThesetwoPS-2coveredhoppercarsaredynamitelooking,andLionelhasaddedalltheirlatestdetailingwithnewstylepadprintingandmatchingpaintedroller-bearingtrucks.

Timeisrunningout;thedeadlinefororderingisJune30th,sodon’tgetleftout.Two-thirdsoftheproductionrunisalreadyspokenfor.InthewordsofLarrytheCableGuy,“Git‘erdone!”

The Price Is RightInrecentyears,mostLCCAConventionCarssoldfor

$69.95 each with S&H included. If you haven’t done the math or noticed, this year’s two-car set is $59.95 per car – a savingof$10each.Capturethebucksandalsosupportyourclubwiththispurchaseoffer.


A Barn Full of Trains

Ourtrainlayoutisina60x25-feetfarmer’sbarninthebackyardofourhome.Weliveonatwo-acreblockofland,sowehaveplentyof“elbowroom”fortrains.

Thelayoutplatformrestsuponschoolcupboardsremovedfrombiologyclassrooms.Thetopsofthecabinetsare1½-inchMarantiwood,soit’sasturdybasefortrainoperations.Thesecabinetswraparoundtheperimeteroftheshed,andsomeareplacedinthemiddle.Therestofthebenchworkismadeoftimberandparticleboard.It’sstrongenoughtowalkonasImakerepairs.

TherearetwomainlinesofGargraves®tinplatethree-railtrackandRosspoints(calledswitchesorturnoutsinAmerica)aroundtheedgesofthebarnandaloopfromoneendhalfwaydown.SeethetrackplaninFig. 1.Enginesheds,aroundhouseandturntable,sidings,andthestartof a current project – making passenger platforms for the Adelaide Railway Station – are in the middle of the layout. Iplacedanotherroute500mmabovethemaintrackplatformaround the perimeter of the shed. It is reserved for HO trains.

Trains at FourI received my first train when I was four years old. I

pulled up some of my Nana’s flowers, laidthemoutonaconcretepath,andtoldherIwouldtakeherforarideinoneofmytrains.Thathasn’thappened;neitherdidsheeverseehowthetrainhobbyhasgrowninmylifetime.

IstartedcollectingmodeltrainswhenIwasabout10yearsold. I received a Triang™ Victorian RailwaysTrainSetasaChristmaspresentfrommyparents.Iaddedtomycollectionoverthenext10yearsandboughttrainswithpocket

moneyandearningsfrommowinglawnsataSalvationArmyOldMen’s Home where my Dad worked.Isavedmoneyforseveralmonthstobuyoneengine.

Dad occasionallyhelpedwiththeworkonthe10x4-feetlayout,butIdidmostofitonmyown.Ibuiltitinsidea

sleepoutwhichwasconnectedtoabackyardshed.IrantheTriangtrainsonthatlayoutwithnoscenery,butmyyoungimagination filled in the environment.

Boys Grow UpWhenIstartedfull-timework,Iputthetrainsonhold

forawhile.Myinterestshiftedtooldcars,andIwasalsoheavily involved with the Salvation Army – playing in the band,singinginthesongsters,andteachingSundaySchool.

I met Helen and we were married in 1971 with car collectingstillgoingon.AtonetimeIhad16ChryslerRoyals(similartoa1956Plymouth)inthebackyard.Ourhome in Balaklava in South Australia was on a half-acre blockofland.Ibuilta60x25-feetshedinthebackyardtohousethecarsandprotectthemfromtheweather.

AsIgotolderitwashardertogetcarparts,soIsoldquiteafewofthecarsandreinvestedthemoneyintotrains.

Trains Down Underby Graham & Helen Wood RM 28404

Figure 1


I set an HO layout in a 20x30-feet section of the shed where insulationlinedtheroofandwallsoftheentireroomandthe concrete floor was a firm base. This layout was based on the design of Broken Hill and the surrounding areas. To some, it may seem a huge layout, but I had trouble fitting in everythingthatwasshownonthemapIobtainedfromthemuseum in Broken Hill.

A Relocation ChallengeWe shifted to another home – our current residence

– approximately 10 years ago and moved into an old farmhouse eight kilometers outside Balaklava in the state ofSouthAustralia.Wegaveconsiderablethoughttohowtomovethelayoutbecausewedidn’twanttoleaveanythingbehind.Wecarefullypackedthetrains,modelcars,andsomelayoutscenesforrelocation.Withashovelinhand,Idismantledtheplastermountainsandtunnelsfromthetopsofthecabinets.

Weuseda20-feet-long,tray-toptrucktoshiftthecupboardsandlayoutmaterials.ThatrequiredthreetripsfollowedbyanotherfourtripswithaChryslerRoyalstationwagon to haul the trains, track, and buildings. How I would hatetomoveagainnow!

Necessity as OpportunityThe HO layout needed Australian models. Inasmuch as

nonewereavailableatthetime,Idecidedtomakemyown.

IpurchasedanAmerican-madeAthearn® F45dieselengineandcutoffthecabin.IgluedonanF7cabinfromanotherengine,scrapedofftheoldmoldings,andreappliednewonesmadefromstyrenemoldingsandglue.Afterapproximately100hoursofputtying,sanding,moldingchanges,andpainting,IhadtheengineIwanted.IalsomadeanNSUfromplansandphotosanda Dodge Inspection Car from a verysmallphoto.TheseweremadefrompolystyrenesheetingwithaFerrischassisanddrivemechanismfortheNSUandaspudbogiedriveunitfromarailcarfortheInspectionCar.

TheO-gaugelayoutsupersededthe HO one, anditincludesacollectionofLionel®,Hornby®,AmericanFlyer®,Marx®,variousothermakes,andsomescratch-builttrains.Australian-madetrainsarehard to find, soImademyown:aGMFageol Rail Car, (O scale and HO), and an 830, all produced the same way as the HO trains. I also repainted a Chicago & Northwestern Dash 8 into a Hammersley Iron Ore (BHP) engine. I am using a Babbitt Railway Company chassis to makeaSouthAustraliansteamengine.

On Making SceneryThelayoutconsistsofEnglish,American,and

Australianscenes,plussomeimaginarylocales.Therearetunnels,cuttings,crossings,aroundhouse,asaw-toothshed,andevenamine.Somebuildingsarefromkits,andImadeothersusingbalsawood,westernredcedar,andthesealsfromcoffeetins.

Imadethescenerywithcastingplaster,water,andaluminumfoilfortherockfacings.Afterscribingseveralcoffeesealsusingabiroandruler,Ihadthe“corrugatediron”sheetsIneededtomakesomesheds,theroundhouse,and a sawtooth carriage shed/workshop. I spent hours at the kitchentablemakingthecorrugatedironthatIneeded,andIneedtomakemore.It’ssurprisingwherethesealscomefrom and who will pass them on to you. Helen has a few peopleatworkthatgivethemtoher.Ihavespenthourscutting up matches to make a long picket fence in HO scale.

Cardboard,newspaper,castingplaster,papertowels,andbrownpaperformmostoftheshapeofthetunnels.IusedsandfromRoxbyDowns on the layout, andI’llusemoreofit for finishing the mine area. Helen has donatedsomeitemsfrom her craft/sewing cupboardtohelpwiththescenery,e.g.,curtainmaterial,oldstockings,cottonreels,andbuttons.


The Trains Are the Stars of the Show

Thelayoutisnotcompletelytoscaleas it is meant to run toy trains, not fine- scalemodels.Someoftheenginesthatrunonthetrackare:

“O”andO27traditionaltrains Lionel Union Pacific Big Boy Union Pacific M10000 Rail Car Set Union Pacific Veranda Turbine MTH tinplate trains of various grades Hornby live steam locomotive Bowman - several clockwork trains.

I no longer work full-time, and I find playingwithtrainsafull-timehobby.Itgives me something to do whilst Helen isatwork.Igetalotofpleasurefrombuildingthemodels,watchingthemrun,andresearchingandcreatingthescenery.

For Visitors and Family Severalpeoplehavecometoseethe

layoutandaresurprisedbywhattheycansee;thenItellthemthattherearenearlyasmanytrainsstoredincupboardsanddrawers.Someofthegoodtrainsareondisplay,butthemostexpensiveonesarepackedawayinalockedcupboard.Istashtheenginesthatmustbeworkedonforalatertimewhentheweatheristoohotorcoldtodoanythinginthebarn.Theroofofthebarnisnotinsulated,andsomeofthesidesaren’tinsulatedeither;afterall,it’sjustabarn,notalivingspace.Localtempsclimbto45or50degreesC;that’s115-120ontheFahrenheitscale.Incoldweather,we’llseefrostontheground,butnotmuchsnow.

Therearemanyexpensivetrainsinthebarn,andoureightgrandchildrenareallowedto“lookbutnottouch.”Thetrainlayoutinthecarshedisforthemtousewhentheycometovisitandwanttoplaywithtrains.

Trainingisdoneherenearlyeveryday!

Photographs by Graham & Helen Wood


Lionel News & Views

by Bill SchmeelkRM 6643

Got Milk?Lionel®wasjustbeginningitspostwarrisewhen

in1947itintroducedthe3462OperatingMilkCar.Theideaforthiscardidn’tcomefromLionel,butratherfromindependentinventorRichardG.SmithwhoovertheyearssoldseveralaccessoryideastobothLionelandAmericanFlyer.ThisoneprobablymadeSmiththemostmoney.According to Ron Hollander’s informative book,All Aboard,Lionelsoldover180,000ofthesecarsin1952alone.Theoriginalversionofthisnow-famouscarappearedineverycatalogfrom1947to1955.In1955,thecarwascompletelyredesignedtofeaturetruer-to-scaledimensionsandsmootheroperation.Lionelcontinuestoofferthiscarinitscurrentcatalog.Ican’thelpwonderinghowmanypeopletodaywouldknowwhatamilkcanis.

Mr. Smith’s ToyRichard Smith filed for a U.S. patent

onhisoperatingmilkcanrailroadcaronSeptember21,1944.Apatentwasissuedin 1948 – well after his agreement with Lionel.AlthoughtheideadidnotemanatefromwithinLionel,companyengineerscompletelyredesignedSmith’smechanismforproduction.InSmith’soriginaldesign,thecansremaineduprightandwereloadedintoasmalldooronthesamesideofthecarasthe unloading door. Before loading the cans, a spring-loaded plungerhadtobecocked.Afterthemilkcanswereloaded,thisplungerwasreleasedandappliedpressureontherowofuprightcans.Asolenoidprovidedthemeansofpushingthecansoutofthecar.OneoftheuniquefeaturesofSmith’sdesignwasthatthecarrierwhichdeliveredthecanwasmadetolooklikeanattendant.Foryears,LionelcatalogedaMerchandiseCarwhichejectedpackagesfromaboxcar,butnovisiblehumanwasinvolved.Thiswas Lionel’s first operating car to feature a persondoingtheunloading.

AftermakingadealwithSmith,Lionel’sengineerscreatedamoreworkableandreliablemechanism.ApatentforthenewdesignwasappliedforonJuly7,1948. The car first appeared in the 1947 catalog. Lionel often filed for patents just shortofoneyearafterintroductionoftheproduct. This allowed the patent to reflect thedesignoftheproductionmodelandachievethelongesttimespanforpatentprotectiontoremainineffect.Apatentmustbeappliedforbeforetheitemhasbeenin

publicuseforoneyear.Onceapproved,apatentatthattimewouldhaveatermofseventeenyearsfromthedatewhenthepatentwasissued.Afterexpiration,aU.S.patentcannotberenewed,andtheinventionbecomespublicdomain.Ittook the patent office over five years to grant the patent for theOperatingMilkCar.ItwasissuedonJanuary5,1954.Infact,thatpatentincludedboththeoriginal1947versionandthe later 1948 version which had significant design changes.

A Stream of Continual Improvements TheinventorslistedonthepatentwereJosephL.

Bonanno, Lionel’s chief engineer, and Abram D. Gash, Jr. ThepatentwasassignedtoTheLionelCorporation.Thenewdesignusedgravityinsteadofaspringplungertoloadthecans,butalsorequiredthecanstobeturnedtoanuprightpositionbeforedeliveryoutofthecar.

Photo1 shows the car as it first appeared in the 1947 catalog. Had the car actually been produced as shown in the catalog, it would have been Lionel’s first molded boxcar with different colors on the roof and car ends. But it was not tobe.Photo2showstheearliestmodel,the3462,asitwasproduced. The use of very early trucks confirms that the car inthephotoisoneoftheearliestversionsproduced.Theoriginalpriceforthecarwas$8.95.

Asshowninphoto2,twowire“U”clipshadtoberemovedfromtheundersideofthecartoallowtheshelltobeliftedoff.Thecarfeaturedsprungaluminumdoorson

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eachsideofthecarandasmallroofhatchforloadingthemilkcans.Thecansweremachinedfromaluminumandcontained a small Alnico™ magnet. The magnetwasnecessaryduetotheabruptactionofthesolenoidwhichmovedthecansoutofthecar.Photo3showsthemechanismofanearly3462.

After the first year, the milk car mechanismwentthroughanextensiveredesign.TheearliestLionelServiceManual sheets that I could find for the OperatingMilkCararedatedAugust1948.Forthe1948model,themechanismshowninphoto3hadbeenreplacedandthemanualwarnedthatforthemostpart,the1948mechanismis not interchangeable with the 1947 version. Despite the redesign,thecatalognumberremained3462.Thisredesignis shown in the patent papers filed by Lionel. The original mechanism is also illustrated in the patent as a “modified construction.”The1948priceforthecarwas$9.50andremainedatthatpricethrough1950.

Operating Mechanism ChangesThecontinuedpopularityoftheOperatingMilkCar

promptedfurtherrevisionsofthemechanism.In1949,theMilkCarnumberwaschangedto3472.Thecatalogtouteditasoneof“TwoExcitingNewCars!”ThoughitwasshowninthecatalogwitharedLionel“L”itisnotknowntohavebeenproducedthatway.Themainreasonforthechangeinnumber was to reflect the change from electro-magnetic coil couplerstothenewmagneticcouplers.Therewere,however,changesmadetothemechanisminsidethecar.Photo4showsthe1949mechanism.Noticethatthedie-castchuteforthemilkcansnowhasanextensiontowardtherearsideofthecar.Thereturnspringwhichbringsthemanbackintothecarwasnowlocatedontheshaftofthesolenoidplungerratherthanonthesweeparmpivot.A1949servicemanualpageadvisedthatbetteractioncouldbesecuredonearlier

versionsbyreplacingthesweeparmspringwiththenewconicalplungerspringandwasher.Theplasticshellofthe3472continuedwithaluminumdoors.

In1950thecarbodyhadseveralchanges,butanewnumberwasnotoneofthem.Asseeninphoto5,thealuminumdoorswerereplacedwithplasticdoors.Thenewplasticdoorshadseveraladvantages.Inadditiontoreducingmanufacturingcosts,thenewdoorswereeasilyreplacedifdamaged,featuredmoredetails,andimprovedthelookofthecar.The“U”shapewire

clipswerestillusedtosecurethebodytothecar,although

itwasnowalsonecessarytoremovetheplasticdoorframeassembliesfromeachsideofthecarbeforetheshellcouldberemoved.Anotherchangetothebodywastheroofhatchthroughwhichthecanswerereloadedintothecar.Thenewhatchdoorwaslongerandcouldbeopenedmoreeasilyby

merelypushingdownontherearportion.Onceopened,thisnewdoorwouldstayopenwhereastheoriginalsmallerdoorwouldcloseifnotheldopen.Photo6showsthetwohatchstyleswiththenewerversioninfront.In1951,thepriceofthiscarjumpedup $2 to $11.50, and the catalog specifically pointedoutthesharpdetailoftheplasticdoors.In1952thepricewasreducedto$10.50,whereitremainedthrough1955.

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TheOperatingMilkCarcontinuedtobeatopsellerandwentthroughyetanothermajorchangein1954whenitwascatalogedas3482.Inthisversion,thetwo“U”clipsusedtomountthebodytotheframewereeliminatedandthebodywasheldinbytwotabsontheframewhichwereinsertedintotwoslotsinoneendofthecar.Theotherendwassecuredwithasinglescrew.Thisismuchthesamemethodasusedonthe6464seriesboxcars.Anotherchangecanbeseenwhenremovingthedoorframes.Thereisasmallnotchoneachsideoftheopeningintowhichthedoorframesaremounted.Theseallowedadditionalclearanceforthedoorsprings.Icould not find a service manual page with illustrationsofthe3482,butwecanseesomedifferencesinthemechanismofa3482inphoto7.Thebracketholdingthesolenoidcoilwasnowintwosections,andthisallowedthecoiltoberemovedmoreeasily.Theconicalreturnspringalsohasseveralmoreturnstoit,givingitmorestrength.

The 3662 — Bigger in SizeAmajorchangeforthecaroccurred

in1955withtheintroductionofthe3662OperatingMilkCar.Thenewcargrewin length from the 9-1/2 inches of the previouscarstoanear-scalelengthof11-1/2 inches. This new version is shown inphoto 8.AnewbodydesignmoldedintwopiecesallowedLioneltoeasilyimplementthetwo-colordesignoriginallyshowninthe1947catalog.Amuchimprovedhingingmethodwasusedforthedoorsandcanbeseeninphoto 9.Thenewtwo-piecedesignallowedtheroofhatchtobemountedwithouttheuseofametalhingepin.ThenewbodydesignisquiteingeniousandisyetanotherexampleofLionel’sengineeringabilities.Thecarshowninphoto 8isactuallyamodelfrom1964orlaterasevidencedbytheplastictruckframes.

Inadditiontothenewsize,themechanismwasagainredesignedandimproved.Thecatalogadin1955statedthata“Newpneumaticslow-downfeaturegivesmilkmanrealisticmovement.”Thenewmechanismisshowninphoto

10.Thoughsimilar,thenewmechanismemployedamoldedplastic,ratherthandie-castcanchutewithametaltopplate.Thesolenoidplungernowincorporatedapneumaticpistonwhicheasedtheabruptnessoftheplungeractionandallowed a smoother motion. Because ofthissmoothermotion,themagnetinthebaseofeachmilkcanwasnolongerneededandthecanswereredesigned.Thoughverysimilarinappearancetothe

oldercans,thenewcansweremoldedinplasticandhadametalplugbase.Asinpreviousversions,sevenmilkcansweresupplied.Theenvelopeinwhichtheyweresuppliedspecifically stated that these were non-magnetic milk cans forusewiththe3662caronly.Thedesignalsoimprovedthemethodbywhichthecansweeparmwasmovedbackandforth,makingoperationmorereliableandeliminatingtheoccasionaldryrunwiththemanappearingwithoutacan.Themetalunloadingplatformremainedunchangedandinfactstillhadtheoriginal3462Pnumberstampedonthebottom.Thepriceofthenewcarwas$10.95.

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Theshorterversion(3682)wasalsoshowninthe1955catalogwithagroupofcarslistedas“availableonlyonspecialorder.”Thepricewasstill$10.50.Thiswasthelastcataloginwhichtheshortversionappeared.

Thenew3662remainedinthecatalogthrough1959.Priceswerenotlistedinthe1956and1957catalogsbutreturnedin1958.Thecarnowsoldfor$12.95.Interesthadapparentlywanedasthepriceinthe1959catalogdippedtotheoriginal$10.95.For the first time since it was introduced in1947,theOperatingMilkCarwasnotofferedinanyofthecatalogedsets.Inthesameyear,Lionelintroducedthe3672Operating Bosco Car. This was essentially thesamecarwithanewpaintscheme.TheBosco Car appeared in one set and was offeredforseparatesalefor$12.95.FortheBosco Car, the milk cans were molded in yellow and the word Bosco was imprinted oneachcan.

From O to HOBy 1961 there were no milk cars in

theO-gaugeline.Inamisguidedpolicyof introducing O-gauge cars into their HO line,thecompanyofferedanewOperatingMilk Car in HO scale. Photo 11showsthe HO version with the no. 0900 Remote ControlTrackSection.Thissectionwasavailableseparatelyandusedtooperatethe HO Log Dump and Coal Dump Cars. Theplatformhadamagnetmountedundertheplasticplatformtokeepthesmallsteelcansupright.Forcomparison,Photo 11showsanO-gaugecannexttotheHO can. The 0366 was brilliantly designed. A completely newsystemwasused.Thesolenoidtooperatethecarwaslocatedintheunloadingplatformandthemilkcanswereloadedthroughthetopintowhatresembledagunbarrel.Thecarwithitsshellremovedcanbeseeninphoto 12.LionelwasgrantedaU.S.patentonthisnewdesignonJanuary

25,1966.Thenewcarsoldfor$9.95andremainedinthecatalog through 1966. By that time, the price was $10. I can

onlyguessthatLionelwassimplysellingexistingstockforseveralyears.

TheO-gauge3662returnedin1964withplasticTimkentrucksandtheplatformnolongerhadanyinformationstampedintothebase.Thepricewas$14.95.In1965thepricewentto$15andthe3662made its final appearance in the postwar periodinthe1966catalogat$15.

Milk Cars in the Modern Era IntheModernEra,theOperating

MilkCarcontinuedasapopularitem,andLionelhasoffereditinseveralpaintschemes.Thelatestversionisshowninphoto13.Asmallchangewasmadein

thewaythedoorspringsweresecured.Photo 14showsthepostwarversionontop.Thecandeliverymechanismhasremainedbasicallythesameasthepostwarversionwithoneexception.Forsomereason,themoderncarsdonothavethepneumaticpistonfeature.Comparethelatestversioninphoto15withthepostwarversioninphoto10.Noticethattheoutercasingovertheendofthesolenoidismissing.AccordingtoLionel’smodernservicemanual,thisiscorrect.

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Wecomparedtheactionofthemodernversionandthe1964postwarversionandfoundthatthepostwarversion,withitspneumatic cylinder definitely worked more smoothly.Inmyopinion,Lionelshouldincludethecylinderinfuturemodelsbecauseitenablesagentleroperation.Themilkmanplacesthecansontheplatformratherthanthrowingthem.

Now Compatible with FasTrackAnother significant change in Lionel’s

latestmodelisthattheunloadingplatformhas been modified to allow the use of FasTrack™. Photo 16showsthelatestversionontheleft.Thesmalltabswhichheldthetubulartrackinplacearealsoonthenewversionallowingittobeusedwitheithertypeoftrack.Fromtheoriginalthroughthelatestversion,theplatformheightcanbeadjustedtoeitherOorO27track.

WelookforwardtoseeingmoreofLionel’saccessoriesmadecompatiblewiththenewtracksystem.AlthoughLionelmodified the unloading platform, they didnotupdatetheinstructionsheetwhichadvisesFasTrackownerstousetwoO-gaugeTransitionTrackpiecestotransitiontoanO-gaugeRemoteControlTrack.ThisofcourseisnolongernecessaryandtheFasTrackOperatingTrackcanbeused.

Not the EndCountingRichardSmith’spatented

design,we’veseenfourcompletelydifferentmechanicalmethodsusedtoallowtheLionelvillemilkmantodelivercans of milk. A fifth design, new and completelydifferentfromthoseprecedingit,wasintroducedbyK-Line®justbeforeit

becameapartofLionel.Nextissuewe’llshowyouhowthisnewversionoperates.

Whilewritingthisarticle,Iexaminedeachofthemodelsphotographed.ForevenmoreinformationonthesecarsIwouldreferreaderstotwobooks:Authoritative Guide

to Lionel’s Postwar Operating CarsbyJosephP.AlgoziniandEmanuelF.Piazza;foradditionalinformationonRichardG.SmithandhisdealingswithLionel,check out Ron Hollander’s All Aboard.Neitherofthesebookswilldisappoint.

IhopetoseeyouattheLCCAConvention in Buffalo.

Photographs by Bill Schmeelk

Email Bill at: [email protected]

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Theblackdiskagainstwhichthespringpressesisthepistonwhichoperatedwithintheroundblackcylinder.Lionel’spostwarservicemanualsuggestedthattheeffectivenessoftheoriginaldashpotdependedontheairsealbetweenthepistonandthecylinder.Incurrentmodels,thecylinderhasbeeneliminated.

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The Tinplate Cannoball

by Ken MorganRM 12231

Budget Classic VarnishOkay.Youbitthebulletandmadethedecisiontomove

into real Standard gauge – not the repro stuff. If you don’t needpristinetrains,theoriginalsmayevencostatadlessthanthenewreprosifyoubuywhatIcall“budgetclassics.”

Soifyouhavepickedaloco,whatshouldyouplacebehind it? You are operating, not displaying, so remember myrule:ifithaswheelsandamotor,it’ssupposedtorun,notrest.Unlikerealrailroads,Lionel®offeredfarmorechoicesofsizeandcolorinpassengercarsthaninfreightduringtheStandard-gaugeera.SoTheTinplateCannonballwilllookatpassengercarsbeforedelvingintofreight.

First,asusual,today’strivia:I’msureyou’reallfamiliarwithMr.Ed,thetalkinghorse,butwhohadtodealwithatalkingcarbeforeKITTofKnightRiderfameortoday’ssmooth-voiced GPS computers?

OK,let’sridetrainsinsteadofcars.Youhavealoco.Here are your choices in the passenger car line.

LionelofferedtwodifferentsetsofsmallpassengercarsduringtheClassic Era. Both arethesamesizeandtheywerecatalogedonlyinsetswiththe#8and#10.Ifyoupickeda#318,theywerelistedwiththenextsizeupinthepassengercarline-up.Theywillcostatleasttwiceasmuchasthesmallercars,soyouroptionsare: an affirmation ofhistoricalinaccuracyoranassaultonyourwallet.Chooseone.

The first set of small cars is the #337/338 Coach (Pullman) and Observation Carrespectively.TheyarenearlyuniqueintheLionelline.All the early Standard-gauge cars except the #29 Day Coach hadwidesinglewindowswitharoundtop.AlltheClassicEra cars except the #337/338 had double windows. Only the #29 and the #337/338 had single slim vertical rectangular

windows.Andassoonasthesecarsappearedinthecatalogs,a #337/338 pair was catalogued with the #8. That was it; a three-unittrain.Ifyouwantbasepriceanduniquewindows,thisisit.

The other small cars are the #339/341, also a Coach (Pullman) and Observation Car. What happened to #340? It is a very early (and now very expensive) 2-7/8 inch gauge bridge,producedwaybackin1902whenLioneltrackhadonlytworails.The#339and#341carswerecataloguedwiththe#10andwereinthree-carsets,utilizingthematching#332 Baggage Car. Catalogued #10s always had these cars. SoifyouwantalongerpassengertrainfromtheLionelcatalog,thisisit.

But you really have options if you stretch the catalog to gowithcarsofferedforindividualsaleordepartmentstorespecial (DSS) consists. Pay attention to the prices because they tend to ascend the north face of Big Money Mountain quickly.

The#337and#338carswerecataloguedinmohave,olive green (either red or maroon trim), and red. DSS were availableinpeagreenandred.The#8waslistedinmaroon(with the earlier #35/36) and then mohave, olive green and red, plus DSS in pea green and red, plus a peacock one. All ofthemcamewith#337and#338cars.Notehownicelythecolorsalignexceptforthatpeacockloco.We’llgetbacktothatone.Photos 1 and 2showbothtwo-andthree-carsetsofthe#337and#338cars.

The#339and#341werecommoninthecataloguedcolorsofpeacockandgray.Soare#10s.Theyarealsoavailableinastatebrownwithadarkbrownroofandpeacockwithadarkgreenroof,andthe#10matchedboth,exceptthatthedarkgreenwasontheframeratherthantheroof.Anothergreatcoincidence!#10sarealsofound

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(althoughrarely)inredandolivegreen.SeePhoto 3;itshows a typical three-car set comprised of #332/339/341.

Baggage Cars #332, were availabletomatchmostofthesecars,butwereonlycataloguedwith the #10/339/341 sets. Colors includedmohave,olivegreen(redtrimonly),red,peacock,gray,andthe DSS peacock with dark green roofandstatebrown.FromwhatIhaveread,thered#332camein a DSS with red #337/338 and the red #10 – not a #8. Red #8 DSS, as far as I have been able to learn,camewithtwo#337sanda#338.Justtoconfusetheissue,the #8 DSS in peacock came with #332/339/341. But the pea green set was a #8/337/337/338. I believe the olive green #10 may have come in a DSS with matching #332/337/338, although I am not positive of that; my references vary. Hey, Lionel was just pushing out product! Manyofthebaggagecarswerealsoofferedforseparatesale,asweretheCoachesandObservations,soyousometimesseeallsortsofcombinations.Soyoucanpickandchoosealmostanythinghere.

Speakingof“anythinggoes,”Ihavenotseenareferencetoanyofthesecarswithacombinationcoupler.Theyalwaysseem to have latch couplers. But the earliest cars were manufacturedduringthetransitionperiod,soIwouldnotrulethatout.Early#8and#10locosareoftenfoundwithcombinationcouplers.Also,LionelusednickeljournalboxesduringtheearlieryearsofClassicEraproduction.Thentheywenttocopperfromroughly1931to1934andthenbacktonickel.Setswithmixedjournalboxesmayverywellbelegit.AsInotedearlier,Lionelwasinthebusinessofmovingproduct.Infact,inthenext-largersizeofpassengercars,themaroon#309Coachwiththeterracottaroofusuallyhasnickeljournalswhiletheaccompanying#312ObservationCarnearlyalwayshascopperones.

Also look at the red #337/337/338 set in photo 2.Ithasamixedsetofjournalboxes,andIwouldbewillingtobetthatwashowthesetwasproduced.

Finally,manyofthesecarscamerubberstampedeitherTheLionelLinesorNewYorkCentral;again,sometimesinmixed sets. The gray #332/39/341 set is mixed. The baggage carisLionelLines,theothertwoareNYC.Seephotos 4 and 5fortheletteringonthegraycoachandbaggage.Thisletteringdoesn’tseemtoaffecttheprice,althoughsomecarshaveIllinoisCentralstampingwhichusuallycommandsapremium. The bottom line – there is precedent for almost anythinghere.Justlookaround.

Abriefnoteaboutpartsforoldertrains.Mostofthethingsyou’llneedareavailableasreproductions,butlotsofpartscanbefoundinboxesstashedunderthetableattrainmeets – especially for these low-end cars. My olive green #337coachcamemissingadoorandwithonlyonetruck– which was incorrect. Over the years I managed to find very inexpensiveoriginalreplacementsatmeets.OnepartIhavenotseenunderthetableisthedrumheadfortheObservationCarrailings.Theyareeasilylostandarefragile.Photo 6showsallthreesets.Withthepossibleexceptionofthegray#341, they are repros, so don’t get locked into a DSS just becauseithasadrumheadliketheMacy’soneonmyred#338.

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AquickpointaboutLionel’sconstructionpractices.Thedoorsareseparatepiecesandswingloosely,sotheyareusuallyopen.Theothercoloredpieceisasingleinsert.Muchlikethebrasstrimonthelocos,thewindowsandthecontrastingblocksbelowthemonwhichthecarnumbersand“Pullman,”“Observation,”or“RailwayMail”arerubberstamped(seephoto 4)areallonepiece.Internally,ithasacomplexbendwhichLionelreferstoasabenchseat.Ifso,theseatingislongitudinal,alasomeoldsubwaycars,nottheseatsyouareaccustomedtoseeinginpassengertrains.Whatthe“seat”reallydoesisaddrigiditytothestructure.Next,noticeinphoto 6thatthe#341ObservationCarhasthecontrastingcolorattheendofthecarbody.Theothertwodonot.Idonotknowifthisisalwaysthecaseornot.

Finally,allthesecarsareilluminatedwithasinglebulb.Sincethereareinternalbulkheadsinthebaggagecar(alsomarooninmyset),onlythecenteriswelllit,buttheothercarsareopensothatwhileitdims,thelightshowsthroughallwindows.

The years of production overlap a bit. The #337/338 were catalogued from 1925 to 1932, the #339/341 from 1925to1933,andthe#332from1926to1933.

Inanycase,ifyoustickwiththesecars,youcanprobablygetasetoforiginalLionelStandardgaugetrainsforlessthanapristinereproset.Maybewon’tlookasclean,buttheyarerealoriginalprewarLioneltrains.Goforit!

Trivia answer: “My Mother, the Car” spoke to David Crabtree, played by Jerry Van Dyke; yes, Dick’s brother. AnnSouthernprovidedthevoice.Thecarwasa“Porter”touringcar,actuallyanamalgamofpartsofcarsofvariedmakeandvintage.Americadidnotsupplymuchofanaudience;henceitsrapiddemiseafteronlyoneseason.Iftheserieswasrenamedandrecastas“MyFather,theTrain,”maybetheoutcomewouldhavebeendifferent.

SeeyounexttimewithmorerollingstockforyourStandardgaugelocotohaul.

Photographs by Ken Morgan

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LCCA Board Minutesby Bob CarterRM 6620

March 29, 2008 This meeting, held at the Hyatt Regency, DFW Airport,

was called to order at 8 a.m. by President Dick Johnson. Present,inadditiontoPresidentJohnson,wereImmediatePastPresidentCaponi,PresidentelectKolis,TreasurerDeVito, Secretary Carter and Directors: Calkins, Ellingson, Fogg,GambinoandOurso.AlsopresentwasNominatingChairmanandConventionCo-ManagerFisher.

Upon motion by Director Calkins, seconded by Director Gambino,theminutesoftheSeptember29,2007boardmeetingwereunanimouslyapproved.

Director Fogg reported on our participation at the World’s Greatest Hobby On Tour (WGHOT) shows, stating ithasbeenagoodexperiencewithover500thousandpeopleattendingandmorethan100newmembersrecruitedoverthelastyear.LionelLLC® joined the WGHOT at the St. Paulshow,andLCCAhaspartneredwithLioneleversinceanddevelopedacloserelationshipwiththecompany.Ourparticipationattheseshowsisagreatrecruitingtool.Ourmembershipisholdingsteady,andwearetheonlynationaltrainclubthatisnotlosingmembers.

ConventionCo-ManagerFisherreportedthatpre-registration for the 2008 Convention in Buffalo is ahead of 2006and2007.ThegroupRadioNationwillprovidetheentertainmentforourGetAcquaintedPartyonThursday.Itisapopular,high-energymusicalgroupthatpromisestogetourbloodpumping.Wewillalsohaveareceptionforourfirst-time Convention attendees on Wednesday evening. This is a first for the club and is the result of a recommendation madeatlastyear’sLCCAbusinessmeeting.FisheralsoproudlyannouncedthatwehavedevelopedamedicalemergencypreparednesspolicyforourConventions,andhethanked Director Calkins for his medical input in getting this policyimplemented.

The2009ConventionwillbeinSacramento,California,at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento, a resort property whichwillbecompletelytakenoverbyLCCA.Fisherrecommendedregisteringearlyinordertogetthebestroomswhichoverlookthebeautifullakeontheproperty.Thereareonly 320 rooms, but we’ve arranged for an overflow hotel. WeexpectSacramentotobeoneofourbetter-attendedConventions.SomeprobabletoursaretheNapaValleyWineTrain,theCaliforniaRailroadMuseum,andtheWesternRRMuseum.ThisisgoingtobeagreatConventionatanunbelievablevenue.

The 2010 Convention will again be held in Denver, Colorado, at the Denver Marriott Tech Center and will coincide with Cheyenne’s Frontier Days. We are once again looking at a UP steam trip from Denver to Cheyenne with possibleadditionaltraintripstoWinterParkaboardtheSkiTrain,arideontheLeadville,Colorado&Southern,and

anothertripontheRoyalGorgeRailroad.Allthisisstillunder discussion, but Denver is shaping up to be another fine Conventionlocationforus.

Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Dallas are currently beingconsideredasfutureConventionlocations.

PastPresidentCaponigaveanupdateonourLCCAproducts, specifically the New Haven #209 passenger train andthematchingadd-oncars.Theadd-oncarsshouldbeinthe hands of those who purchased them by the first part of May.The#209trainshouldfollowlater,withallsetsbeingdeliveredonorabouttheendofMay.LoualsoannouncedandshowedtheboardanewoperatingaccessorythatwillbeavailableonlytoLCCAmembersin2008.Thisitemwillbe a first for Lionel, and it will be reasonably priced for our members.AnothergreatreasontobelongtoLCCA.

NominatingCommitteeChairmanJohnFisherannouncedthecandidatesforthethreedirectorpositionsandthesecretaryposition.Fordirector,thecandidatesareMichael Halebian, Jr., David Miller, Ed Richter, and Bill Schmeelk;forsecretary,thecandidateisJerryCalkins.

Meeting break from 9:45 to 10:05 a.m.

Treasurer DeVito gave a detailed Treasurer’s report whichshowedthatwearecurrentonallourpaymentsandare in an excellent financial position.

AdiscussionwasheldregardingtheestablishmentofpublishingandrepublishingguidelinesforThe Lion Roars.ItwasdecidedthatauthorsmustacknowledgethatanymaterialtheysubmittoTLRforpublicationhasnotbeensubmitted,andwillnotbesubmitted,toanyotherclubormagazineforpublication.Also,requestsfromathirdpartytorepublishaTLRarticlemustbesubmittedtotheLCCAPresident.

President Johnson advised the Board that a member surveycontaining20qualitativequestionswillbesenttoallmembersalongwiththe2008ballotingmaterialstoobtainmemberinputregardingtheprogramservicesofferedbytheclub.Johnsonhopesthatalargenumberofmemberswillcompletethesurveyandthereforeprovidevitalfeedbacktoclub officials.

Lunch break from 12:05 to 2:10 p.m.

PresidentJohnsoninvitedopendiscussionfortheremainder of the Board meeting which included producing newLCCAclothingitems,archivingclubinformation,andexploringwaystomakeavailabletomembersandnon-membersphotosanddescriptionsofallclubcommemorativesfromprioryearssopeoplecouldlearnwhatwasofferedandtheyearitwasoffered.Itwasfeltthiswouldbehelpfultomemberswhoaretryingtoaccumulateclub commemoratives. Director Ourso agreed to oversee and coordinatethisproject.

The next board meeting will be in Buffalo, NY, on SundayJuly20,2008.

A motion to adjourn was made by Director Fogg and seconded by Director Gambino at 4:00 p.m. The meeting wasadjourned.

Respectfullysubmitted,Bob Carter, Secretary


&IBC

Answers are published in TLR … somewhere.

The AmpersandTheconjunction“and”mayberepresentedbythe“&”

signwhichisknownasanampersand.ThissymbolhasbeenincommonEnglishusagesincethe1840sandcanbeseenaspartofnumerousroadnamesonLionelboxcars.Testyour“AmpersandSkills”byplacingroadnamesfromtheAnswerPooloneithersideofthe“&”sign.Placeonlyoneletteroneachline.Enjoy!

Road Names

1. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

5. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

6. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

7. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

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12. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

13. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Answer Pool: Albany, Baltimore, Boston, Boston, Chicago, Delaware, Denver, Eastern, Gulf Mobile, Hudson, Lake Erie, Louisville, Maine, Minneapolis, Nashville, Norfolk, North Western, Ohio, Pacific, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Rio Grande, St. Louis, Texas, Western

A Lionel Puzzlementby Gene H. Russell, Ed.D.RM 24608


LCCA 2008 Convention ScheduleBuffalo – Niagara, NY July 20-26, 2008

Sunday, July 20 Time NotesRegistration Desk open Noon – 7 p.m.Board of Directors Meeting 2 – 9 p.m. Adam’s Mark Hotel

Monday, July 21 Registration Desk open 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.Tour #1: Niagara History on the Rails 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. BBQ Lunch

Tuesday, July 22Registration Desk open 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.Tour #2: Trains in Erie, PA 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Lunch at Union StationTour #3: On the Erie Canal 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Lunch at Lockport LocksTour #4: Casino Night 1 – 9 p.m. Fallsview Casino Resort, buffet dinner included

Wednesday, July 23Registration Desk open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.Tour #5: Niagara Falls Experience 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. USA & Canada, lunchTour #6: Finger Lakes Scenic Railway 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Lunch in Shortsville

Thursday, July 24Registration Desk open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.Tour #7: Niagara Falls Supernatural 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Picnic Lunch at ParkTour #8: Buffalo Harbor Cruise 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Lunch at WaterfrontGet Acquainted Party 6 – 9:30 p.m. Adam’s Mark Hotel

Friday, July 25Registration Desk open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.Trading Hall 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Set-up for Exhibitors onlyTour #9: Buffalo’s Best 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch at Anchor Bar Tour #10: Buffalo Churches Architecture 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch at Pearl Street GrillLCCA Business Meeting 2 – 3 p.m. Adam’s Mark HotelLionel Seminar 3 – 5 p.m. Adam’s Mark HotelTrading Hall open 6 – 9 p.m. For Convention Registrants

Saturday, July 26Registration Desk open 8 a.m. – NoonTrading Hall open 8 – 9 a.m. For Members onlyTrading Hall open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. For Members & PublicTour #11: Mall Shopping & Lunch 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Walden Galleria MallLCCA Reception 6 – 7 p.m. Adam’s Mark HotelLCCA Banquet 7 – 10:30 p.m. Adam’s Mark HotelConvention Ends after the Banquet

Sunday, July 27Trading Hall take-down 9 a.m. – Noon For Exhibitors only

Safe Travel Home! See you in Sacramento – July 2009

dave’s decision: whether to weather€¦ · dave’s decision: whether to weather volume 37, no....

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