​​Lakes and Pines Division - Train Collectors Association

From the President


We had a decent crowd for our February meet despite the snowfall. As
always some mint or near mint Lionel trains appeared and were snapped
up immediately. Once again and I know I sound like a broken record but
if you don’t come to all of the meets you will miss out on some cool trains.
I managed to pick a few odds and ends and was pleased with the turn
out.
Our March 10 Open Meet is shaping up to be another exciting event.
More of Jerry Roeder’s trains will be available as the Roeder family
wishes to get as much as possible into the hands of Lakes and Pines
members. I will be selling what is left of the modern trains in my
possession as well.
Our members have arranged for publicity on Craig’s List, and flyers
distributed to hobby shops and other locations in the Twin Cities. Thanks
to Ralph Reiners, Mike Helde, Rick Krenske and Marlow Koch for
ensuring the flyers make it the various locations. The admission cost for
our guests is $3.00 per person.
We will have food again at the March 9 meet, thanks to the Members that
have volunteered to help out. Don’t eat lunch before you come so you
are good and hungry. Susan Ellingson will have TCA application forms at
the Open Meet. So if you know one of our guests who is not yet a TCA
member, this may be the time to start recruiting them. A huge benefit of
Lakes and Pines membership is the free selling tables at our two open
meets each year
We continue to impress our guests by helping several of them with
information on how to take care of their trains, and it shows as we see a
lot of the same people attending our open meets. Al Osterud will bring his
tools and parts and his handouts on taking care of Marx trains and will
also be on hand to fix any Marx that come through the door. Bill Kane
and Peter Southard will handle the rest and the test track will be available
as well. A huge 9 table Standard gauge and postwar layout will be set up
to entertain our guests. John Ellingson and Ralph Reinars are planning a
vintage erector set display as well. You won’t want to skip out on this
meet.
The doors will be open for members at 11:15 am for set up and will be
opened to our visitors at 12:15pm. Please keep trains on your tables at
least until 2:30pm.
If you have still not yet paid your 2019 dues, please send your $30.00
check payable to Lakes & Pines and see Susan at the open meet or mail
it using the dues form you were sent with the newsletter.
See you on March 10th.

Mike Speltz
President, Lakes and Pines