What's new for July! The National Train Show in Milwaukee!! - July 19, 2010

This was the 75th Anniversary of the NMRA and they celebrated with an excellent convention and a great train show. I attended as a plain old member. I didn't set up and sell at the train show, I didn't present any clinics and I wasn't involved with any committees. It was refreshing. I highly recommend it.

The NMRA introduced a new logo. It will take a bit of getting used to. The old logo with the steam loco driver and the "wrench' was ok with me, but maybe it really is time for a change. I remember a similar situation at NASA. The original NASA logo was the "meatball', a stylized earth and an abstract sort of sweep around it. Then after several years they replaced it with the "worm'. This was a simplistic license plate like logo with four stylized letters. Everyone complained. Several years later a new administrator changed the logo back to the meatball. Everyone complained. My advice for those who are concerned about the new logo is: Give it time.

The Train Show

Not the biggest, but probably one of the best. Clean, well organized and well run. Not as many manufacturers as I had expected, but most of the big names were there.

Athearn

The SD70ACe was on display and the announced delivery date is September. They looked great. Really big and highly detailed. This the former Tower 55 product that was made by Overland. It has been redesigned to fit the Athearn mechanism.

They were also showing the updated HO scale Palace cars in several new paint schemes including the PRR "Yellow Kid' scheme and the C&O early 20th century orange and maroon. There maroon looks entirely too red for my tastes, but it is an attractive car.

Bachmann

They had a ton of stuff in HO and N to be released this fall. If it all arrives in time for Christmas I will have a heart attack. I won't complain about it when it gets here, but I do think their schedule is a bit optimistic.

N Scale
A sweet little 70 tonner just like the HO version. The mechanism is a lengthened version of the N Scale 44tonner, which has made a LOT of friends because it runs so well. The 70 tonner should be every bit as good. It should also be a great starting point for HOn30 "critter' construction.

and an N scale Peter Witt!

HO Scale
In the Spectrum line. A three truck Climax. Yes! It's finally here! This is based upon the prototype at Cass that is being restored. With or without DCC/Sound. Looks great and the mechanism problems that plagued the earlier two truck Climax have been resolved. Bachmann has repair parts for the two truckers, give them a call. List price $350.00. Scheduled for September delivery.

Another new model in the HO Spectrum line is a Baldwin 4-4-0. This will also be available with or without DCC/Sound. Why another 4-4-0? This is a "modern' Baldwin version. Due in October they will list for $300.00. And for the traction fans there is a Birney. Very nice.DCC equipped this will list for $160.00 Due in November.

In the "Silver' series there will be an RS-3 and a GP-7. The RS-3 is totally new . There will be variations of detail such as headlights. The GP-7 should come as no surprise. Bachmann has had a GP-9 for a while and they changed inserts in the dies to make the detail corrections that differentiate a GP-7 from a GP-9. Both units are DCC equipped and will list for $99.00. Both are scheduled for November delivery.

And...Two brand new Silver series freight cars, a 50' box car and a 55ton USRA Hopper. Both are due in November and will list for $22.00 ea.

On30
The Porter 0-4-2 and 0-4-0 are back. These will now be available as DCC or DCC with sound. List price for DCC is $150.00. DCC w/sound will list for $275.00. These are scheduled for November delivery.

Lenz

Not a lot of news out of Lenz lately so what do they show up with? A stunner. How about a DCC throttle ap for your iPhone? Yep. I had the opportunity to try it and it worked. Now if they just include push-to-talk you can run the train and talk to the dispatcher! Seriously, this is a very nifty product. No price or delivery date yet.

System 50

This is a new company with a terrific new product. A freight car with DCC operating Kadee knuckle couplers! The car comes with either one or two operating couplers. Now you can uncouple anywhere on the layout! ( Many, many years ago I had couplers that would uncouple anywhere on the layout. These were the old Roundhouse and Devore knuckle couplers. The problem was that they would uncouple without being asked!) At this time the System 50 boxcars are selling direct only and the price for a car with dual DCC couplers is $75.00.

Imagine That - Laser Art Products.

There are a LOT of small model railroad firms selling laser cut kits. From cutesy little buildings all the way up to turntables, and almost everything in between. "Imagine That' has come up with girders and bridges for elevated railways and their exhibit was impressive. The good news for us steel mill modelers is that they sell the girders and parts separately. Want to build a steel building with 1930's style structural elements? Here it is ready to go. All you need is roof trusses. Visit www.imaginethatlaserart.com for more info.

And...For the Steel Mill Modelers.

BCH International released the remake of the old AHM mini-trains Hon30 Plymouth diesel and industrial cars a few months ago. They have now added the saddle tank steam loco and high and low side coal cars to their line. The original AHM versions of the locos were notoriously poor runners. Not so with the BCH versions. A completely new mechanism and a better motor make elevate them from static models to operable models. Just think what you can now model in your steel mill.!

Was there more?

Sure, but I don't have the space to cover everything. There were a lot of new products and some great modular layouts. All in all, it was a very well run show.

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