​​​Lakes and Pines Division - Train Collectors Association

​​  Roundhouse Rick’s

RR Ramblings 

#120

​Oh my, I can feel the cold air and the changing of the seasons BUT, our season of “training” is really heating up in November. There are five toy train flea markets and shows before Thanksgiving. That includes OUR OPEN MEET on Sunday, November 12 from 12:15PM to 2:30PM. We’ve raised our price of admission from $2 to $3, but if you find one of our flyers at a local hobby shop, you can get the $1 off coupon and still get in for only $2. OK, here are the other four shows. On November 4 & 5, the Great Train Show will take place at Canterbury Park, 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, MN. It’s open from 10AM to 4PM each day and admission is $10, with kids under 12 Free. That Saturday ticket is also good for Sunday. Parking is also Free. On Saturday, November 11, is the Granite City Train Show from 9AM to 3PM at the River’s Edge Convention Center, 10 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN. Admission is $6, with kids under 11 Free. If you want a table, call 320-255-0033. TRAINFEST will be November 11 & 12 in the Wisconsin Exposition Center at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, 8200 West Greenfield Avenue in Milwaukee. They call this the largest operating railroad show in the USA. There will be over 70 operating layouts and sales booths galore. 9AM to 5PM both days. On Saturday, November 18 is the Greater Upper Midwest Train Show & Sale, 9AM to 2PM at the Century College, West Campus, 3300 Century Avenue North, White Bear Lake. Admission is only $5, with kids under 13 Free. Reserve tables before November 10 for the best deal. Call our very own Tom Jefferson at 651-894-2926 or Greg Beckman at 651-808-8556. Now that’s what I can “training”. HOW ABOUT A SECOND LOOK AT THE LIONEL SIGNATURE EDITION Volume 2 I only had half a page to talk about the new catalog last month so I’ll waste another half page this month. On pages 12/13 they show the new scale Polar Express Berkshire plus a gold colored coach and six scale passenger cars in the traditional colors. How long can Lionel keep milking the Polar Express? On pages 18/19 Lionel introduces a Brass Hybrid 3160 Class 2-8-2 in unpainted brass, a Santa Fe painted and lettered version, and a painted unlettered version. The locomotive and tender are hand crafted brass. The chassis and wheels are diecast. The engines have all the LEGACY features. Remember, all of Lionel’s expensive steam engines and diesels are now Built To Order, so if these items are on your Christmas list, you have to get those orders in quickly. Lionel is also making scale 66’ Mill Gondolas with graffiti. I don’t need graffiti. I notice in modern Lionel there are many more scale cars than traditionally sized cars anymore. On page 68 is a very colorful Made In USA 2017 National Train Day boxcar. Now this is what I need. A Hot Wheels LionChief Ready-toRun set with orange roadbed FasTrack. Besides the $399.99 set, there are four special 50th Anniversary cars – an Auto Loader, a flat car with piggybacks, an Auto Rack and special 50th Anniversary boxcar. You just got to get one of these catalogs to see all the stuff you can no longer afford. That’s all for this month. I’ll see you at the Open Meet, November 12. Roundhouse Rick Krenske.