Hey, Larry 3-rail trains in Calgary, here's one for you: You may or may not remember, but there were a few great ones in Alberta back in the day. Universal Hobbies was one, run by John and Merv Claxton. Merv hosted a 1957 local TV show, "Clackety Claxton". I wrote a short novel-length story with the same name, giving credit at the end to Merv, altho' the story was about a ficticious hobby shop owner in the mid-50s, based in the Twin Cities. I saw my first Lionel Trainmaster diesels at Universal. Uncle Don's Hobby Shop was also a favorite, a classic 14-ft x 60 ft store with creaky wood floors, counter top displays, lots of Lionel new and used, Am. Flyer and others. There were a few others - Lionel was everywhere in Alberta, Canada in the 50s, even a small city like Lethbridge, which is where I swear on stacks of bibles I saw a (salesman's special?) clear-shelled 2333 Santa Fe being run around the store display on a Saturday morning, probably about '53 or maybe '54...
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