The spring 2015 OGR Forum Grandstand Meeting was held under partly cloudy skies and one heck of a wind. The temperature was just north of 40 degrees. Last year in was in the 70’s. As pointed out by the crowd, so much for global warming.
Given the weather, we moved the meeting indoors to the Gold Hall – right north of the grandstands.
We had a video camera system there for recording the session and Ed was equipped with a wireless microphone. Given his lack of a derriere, it looked like an old window air conditioner hanging out of an abandoned building on his back side. Bottom line, we didn’t use it. He walked around the place and used his traditional Lawrence Welk microphone.
The session was standing room only and somehow the seats failed to be the customary narrow width as I could sit on one, nor did they have the usual splinters.
The meeting started a few ticks after 2:00pm and with all of the wires draped everywhere up front I was expecting one of the OGR boys to take a tumble. Thankfully, they did not.
First up was Ed Boyle from OGR and he introduced Rich Melvin who introduced Jim Steed. Jim recently had his layout covered in the magazine, and he also introduced Rich to the Misty Mountain Railroad in Blairsville, GA (http://mistymtnmodelrailroad.com/) and highly recommended folks from the forum visit this beautiful layout. Ed then introduced the balance of the speakers:
Atlas-- Jerry Kimble
Jerry was next and reviewed with the group the major announcements at Atlas O. First were the new Masterline F-7’s and the order window for them has been extended to April 27th as orders have continued to come in past the April 8th deadline. Second was the announcement of the new tooling for the Maxi-IV articulated well cars and third was the announcement of the 60’ Observation Car for the Trainman line in the initial 7 liveries. The observation car orders are due May 6th.
Jerry also shared with the group that the long awaited Alco RS-1’s were shipping. The order window for the baggage and dome diner had also been extended to Monday, April 27th. He said that Atlas O track is in production and on the way and we should see all of it by summer. Also, the Electra Theatre is available.
Finally, he wanted to remind everyone that Golden Spike Club membership, with the free car, was still only $30 – so sign up!
Korber Models—Rich Redmond
Rich was up next and as a follow up from the October Grandstand meeting wanted everyone to know that Korber Models had completed the transfer of their production back from China. After a pause, he recalled it had never been in China.
Korber recently added to their product line the modular kits from Pecos River Brass and they are terrific modular buildings as well as a great way to make building flats. Korber has more detail parts, and great items to add to your roof tops.
He also reminded everyone that they offer the Korber Complete model building services.
Miller Engineering—Chris Miller
Chris described and demonstrated his new line of rotating signs – 13 different signs. I didn’t catch all of the names, but lots of gas stations; a diner and a motel. They are doing a bowling alley next. The units have a baffle to allow the motorized base to be installed under the layout and connect to any of his power supplies.
They are doing a lot of window signs, and he told the group the best way to install them is to take the existing window pane out and use it as a template to trim the pane on his sign to the right size.
I heard him say Nabisco and Grain Belt were two of the latest signs and that they will be doing signs for all of the major railroads.
Scenic Express—Jim Elster
Jim was on next and reminded everyone that their new catalog is out and it includes at least 100 new pages. They have released a new line of figures with over 300 carved pieces. Many are designed to be used to create a scene on the layout. For example, he showed the figures in his Hillbilly Wedding set. One of the participants responded it looked like a photo from his family album.
The LCCA - Al Kolis, President Elect
The LCCA is a sponsor on the Forum and Al took a few minutes to bring the group up to speed on the LCCA’s mission, which is to promote running Lionel trains and to promote the hobby. He also reviewed the recent merger between the LCCA and the Lionel Collectors Club. This year is the 45th anniversary of the LCCA and they welcome all of us to attend the many special events they host around the country during the year. He had a couple of show of hands questions and a large percentage of those that were in attendance were LCCA as well as TCA members.
Ross Custom Switches—Steve Brenneisen
Steve reported that he has had some luck recruiting and retaining a new girlfriend. I, for one, was relieved. As pointed out, he had been looking pretty “tense.”
They are making a Standard Gauge switch in O-72 and Number 4’s and is open to making one in O-42 if there is enough interest. They also have the old rounded tinplate rail switches in O-72 and number 4 as well.
The deck girder bridges are available and in lengths up to 30 inches, in 3 inch increments. I am buying Ed a 3” one for his birthday.
Weaver Models---Paul Fischer
Paul shared that the new reefer scheme in the catalog is not green but cream. Given all the confusion as to which hall we were in, this was welcome news.
He reminded everyone that they can still do excellent custom runs for as few as 100 pieces. Great for a club fundraiser.
In the new catalog they are showing the RS-11 in 6 road names – if you’re interested in those they need to know so they stay on the schedule.
Also a reminder, their scale coat paints are sort of the “last man standing” in terms of hobby paints and that line is becoming pretty big for Weaver, so if you need paint, give them a call. Two bottle sizes plus spray cans.
MTH—Andy Edleman
Andy was next up and started out by sharing that he’s in Facebook communication with Bernneisen’s new girlfriend. As it’s inevitable that Steve will mess up, Andy is ready to gain from Steve’s loss.
He also shared that he is behind on a number of projects, like the new HO catalog; the new Lionel Tinplate by MTH catalog; etc – he’s been “counseled” by Mike to straighten out his performance so this could be his last meeting. I did note a few tears, but Ed cries at everything.
This is MTH’s 35th year and the majority of the leadership team has been there for at least 25 of those years. They continually work to adjust the offerings and expand the product line to reach new folks. He talked about the See It / Hold It / Run It program and their support for the World’s Greatest Hobby shows.
From the new catalog, he highlighted the reconfiguring of the ABAs, eliminating the tether, and the separate item numbers for each cab number so the customer can be sure that he/she gets what the road number they want.
Lionel LLC—Howard Hitchcock and Mike Reagan
Howard talked about the 115th anniversary of Lionel and the commemorative Berkshire they are doing limited to 250 pieces – more on the pricing and availability shortly. He also talked abhout the design your own box car promotion and that the winning car will be built by Lionel. He emphasized the importance of the Lion Chief Plus line and announced that Lionel was showing a new Lion Chief Plus remote in the booth that could control up to three different Lion Chief Plus locomotives at the same time. Lionel was doing demonstrations in their booth.
Mike showed a sample of the new GLA hoppers that came in this week and will be shipped shortly. These cars, like all future cars, including the 21” passenger cars, will come with a mounting pad for scale couplers. Mike also showed a prototype of the new B6 0-6-0 which is all new tooling, not old K-Line, below the boiler.
Howard also gave Mike some “coaching” on the Plug n Play line of accessories. It was suggested, maybe by Andy, that Mike and Andy can look for a new job together.
Williams by Bachmann/ Bachmann Trains—Larry Harrington
Big applause for Larry over the 44 Ton Switcher that was recently shipped. He said that he had been trying to do that project for a long time now.
They announced a new Pacific in 4 road names; and the NW-2’s in three road names plus a new number of the PRR.
He also shared that the turnout for Easy Streets has been popular and that they were doing a whole new line of pickup trucks for Easy Streets. Larry said they would also be doing Chuffington later this year.
Well, that was it – several members of the group then went into selfie mode and people were taking pictures of other people with people and featuring people. I got confused, but Ed’s hairpiece stayed in place. I think the meeting was adjourned.
Please feel free to add or offer corrections....... Thank you!