Lakes and Pines Division - Train Collectors Association
Roundhouse Rick’s
RR Ramblings
#119
Here’s my October Ramblings, and I just survived a 94 degree September 22nd, with the help of my trusty whole home air-conditioning. This Ramblings will only be one page (gives me a break) due to a special article. The TCMRM train flea market has come and gone and here is my observation. Where were the buyers? There were plenty of vendors but not plenty of buyers. Is this a sign of the future, or was the weather just a bit too nice to come inside? The next flea market is the Newport Model RR Club Train Show & Sale at the Woodbury High School on October 14th from 9AM to 2PM. A six foot table is only $20 until 10/7. Call Ed Petry at 651-233-3310. In November there are three flea markets. The Great Train Show at Canterbury Park in Shakopee is November 4 & 5 from 10AM to 4PM. The Granite City Train Show is November 11 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St Cloud from 9AM to 3PM. Call 320-255-0033 for more info. Tom Jefferson’s Greater Upper Midwest Train Show & Sale is at the Century College in White Bear Lake November 18 from 9AM to 2PM. Call Tom Jefferson at 651-894-2926 or Greg Beckman at 651-808-8556. Only time will tell if all these flea markets are overkill.
LIONEL SIGNATURE EDITION Volume 2 2017 HAS 88 JAMMED PACKED PAGES
Normally a Volume 2 catalog repeats a whole bunch of Volume 1 items and throws in a dozen or two new items. Not this time. EVERYTHING in this catalog is NEW items. All the new expensive engines are, of course, Built to Order, allowing Lionel to make more offerings. The letter from The Lionel Family on page 3 pretty much explains it all. Lionel now includes the new Bluetooth control systems in their LionChief and LionChief Plus trains. Will that work on my cheap cellphone? The much requested Milwaukee S-3 steam engine is back with the #261 black paint scheme plus a very attractive #260 “Hiawatha” engine, both with the new Bluetooth control. The Polar Express scale sized Berkshire is back plus some new E6 Atlantics, one in a colorful Great Northern paint scheme. For diesel fans there are new F3 and F7 sets, including Great Northern, plus E3 and E6 sets, including Chicago & NorthWestern, Milwaukee Road and Union Pacific. For modern diesel fans they have a AC6000 in demonstrator colors, that can run on any railroad. There are new 18” to 21” passenger cars. How about some Great Northern Oriental Limited heavyweight cars? There’s a whole bunch of new Made In USA LionScale freight cars that come with a lower price point. They are made from the Weaver molds. There are 17 new Bluetooth LionChief Plus engines, Pacifics, Hudsons, RS-3s and GP38s. There are new trolleys decorated for Sacramento and Connecticut. Would you like a Hot Wheels train set? I wouldn’t. American Flyer is also represented with new Bluetooth controlled FlyerChief Berkshires and GP7s, including a sharp Great Northern orange version. A new Bluetooth controlled FlyerChief Polar Express is now available with improved decoration. There’s new 3-Bay Hoppers, Boxcars, Woodsided Reefers and Cabooses. You just have to see all these new items for yourself. Catalogs are now available at Scale Model Supplies or your favorite Lionel dealer.
Our meet is coming up soon on October 8th. Also, remember that November will be our Open Meet. That’s about all Roundhouse Rick has room for this month. See you at Merzyn Hall October 8th.
Roundhouse Rick