December 2010 Vol. 31 No. 6 - Lionel Operating Train Society

Transcription

December 2010
Vol. 31 No. 6
The Journal of the Lionel® Operating Train Society
LIONEL OPERATING TRAIN SOCIETY
The Lionel Operating Train Society, Inc.
(LOTS) is an Ohio not-for-profit corporation.
®
“Lionel” is a registered trademark of Lionel
L.L.C. and is used with its permission. LOTS is
not affiliated with this company. LOTS’ use of
®
the Lionel ZW Transformer as its Club em®
blem is also with permission of Lionel L.L.C.
The Switcher ISSN 10810234, USPS Publication #012-341 is published by LOTS six times
a year – in February, April, June, August, October and December. The deadline for articles is
six weeks preceding the issue. Periodicals
Postage Paid at Cincinnati, Ohio. Membership
subscription is included in annual dues.
POSTMASTER send address
changes/
corrections to LOTS, 6376 West Fork Road,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45247-5704.
Except for materials reprinted herein with the
permission of others, all materials in the
Switcher are the copyrighted property of LOTS,
and permission for their reproduction must be
obtained from the Switcher Editor. The opinions
expressed in the Switcher are strictly those of
the authors and are not necessarily those of the
Officers and Directors of LOTS nor of the LOTS
organization as a whole. Copies of Lionel®
copyrighted materials have been used in this
publication with the permission of Lionel® L.L.C.
Volume 31 No. 6 December 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our School’s Christmas Layout......................... 4
A Study in Motion / Time to Share Your Trains. 6
A Holiday Exhibit Follow-up Story ..................... 7
One Thing Leads to Another .............................8
Our Lionel Layout for all Occasions .................12
Vice President’s Column ..................................14
I Love Toy Trains ............................................ 15
Hallmark’s M-10000 and Other Ornaments .... 16
A Chanukah Train Menorah ............................ 17
Billboard Refrigerator Cars...............................18
Some Stocking Stuffers for LOTS Members... 20
Trains and Mardi Gras Parades in Mobile ...... 22
Toy Train Drag Racing .................................... 23
Discover Omaha with LOTS! .......................... 24
North Platte Pre-Convention Tour....................28
Again for our Holidays issue of
SWITCHER, Angela Trotta Thomas
(RM 4099) graces the cover with
her fine artwork. This piece is from
her “Windows In Time” series and
titled “The Modern Era.”
It shows an enthusiastic boy
looking through a store’s window at
Lionel trains going around a layout.
If you've ever thought of having
an heirloom painting created of
your children (or grandchildren) with
your favorite trains please visit
www.angelatrottathomas.com or
call Angela @ 570-510-0082.
OFFICERS
DIRECTORS
APPOINTED OFFICIALS
APPOINTED OFFICIALS
Cris Matuszak, President
6108 West Eastwood
Chicago, IL 60630-3001
773-777-9435
Ed Mazur, Vice President
990 N Lake Shore Dr, Apt 21A
312-654-8546
Phil Howe,
Victor Bodek, Chairman
39394 Marne Ave.
Sterling Heights, MI 48313-5526
586-321-1712
Paula S. Smith, Statutory Agent
6376 West Fork Road
Cincinnati, OH 45247-5704
513-598-8240
Don Carlson, SWITCHER Editor
14743 Ronnie Lane
Livonia, MI 48154-6130
734-462-4265
Tony Rudmann,
Ralph Spoettle, SWITCHER Assistant Editor
210 Coachman Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23325-4710
757-420-9627
Secretary/Treasurer
739 Alleghany Road
Grayslake, IL 60030-3834
847-548-5325
LOTS Business Office
Paula S. Smith
6376 West Fork Road
513-598-8240 (phone)
866-286-6416 (fax)
Web Site
www.lots-trains.org
6108 West Eastwood
773-777-9435
Elections Committee Chairman
Scott Kuntz, Past President
900 E. Northwest Hwy.
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
847-398-3320
Herb Kern, At Large
6405 Magnolia Place Ct S
Mobile, AL 36695
251-660-1659
Mike Rotolo, At Large
PO Box 67
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
570-476-4205
22 Westchester Drive
Albany, NY 12205-2121
518-869-9615
Paula and Larry Smith, Web Site Co-Managers
6376 West Fork Road
513-598-8240
Michael Solly, Librarian
2312 Snowflake Drive
Odenton, MD 21113-2235
410-672-6699
Neil K. Yerger, Assistant Librarian
7 Farm Road
Wayne, PA 19087-3303
610-688-0689
LOTS OFFICE FUNCTION DIRECTORY
Address Changes
Applications
Information
Completed Applications with Payment
Complaints
Between Members
Regarding Applications or Mailings
Convention Car Orders
Dues Renewals
Information & Mailings
Payments
Elections
Nominations
Petitions
Completed Ballots
Information about LOTS
Membership Badges & Convention Bars
Membership Cards
Operational Issues
Policy Matters
Roster Listings
Scheduling a LOTS Meet
SWITCHER
Articles and Letters to the Editor
Back Issue Sales
Change of Address
Damaged or Missing Current Issues
Reprints of Past Articles
Track Changes
Ads
Change of Address
Missing or Damaged Issues
VHS Video Tape Rentals
ABOUT THE COVER
Volume 31 No. 6 - December 2010
LOTS E-MAIL DIRECTORY
www.lots-trains.org
lotsbusinessoffice@juno.com
Business Office
LOTS Web Site
Business Office
Business Office
Business Office
Officers
President:
Cris Matuszak
Vice President:
Ed Mazur
Secretary/Treasurer:
Phil Howe
Immediate Past President
Secretary
Business Office
Business Office
Business Office
Nominating Comm. Chair
Secretary/Treasurer
Nominating Comm. Chair
Business Office/Web Site
Business Office
Business Office
President
Chairman, Board of Directors
Business Office
Vice President
Editor
Librarian
Business Office
Business Office
Librarian
Business Office
Business Office
Business Office
Assistant Librarian
2
cmtarkus@aol.com
emazur531@aol.com
pshowe@ameritech.net
Directors
Chairman:
Victor Bodek
President:
Cris Matuszak
Immediate Past President:
Scott Kuntz
Directors At Large:
Herb Kern
Mike Rotolo
Appointed Officials
Elections Committee Chair
Tony Rudmann
Librarian
Mike Solly
mr.vic@comcast.net
cmtarkus@aol.com
scktrains@aol.com
dxlndkern@aol.com
rotolomj@aol.com
arudmann@nycap.rr.com
trainman52@verizon.net
SWITCHER Editor:
Don Carlson
donctrains@aol.com
SWITCHER Assistant Editor:
Ralph Spoettle
threerailguy@peoplepc.com
Web Site Co-Managers:
Paula & Larry Smith
contribute@lots-trains.org
December 2010
VIEW FROM
THE CAB
LOTS
2010 NH State of Maine Boxcar – For
those of you who ordered this car, you should
have received your order by November 30th.
If you did not receive your car, please contact
the Business Office as soon as possible.
It’s hard to believe we are already
celebrating the 2010 Holiday Season. By this
time, if you are like me, you will be scurrying
about doing whatever you normally do for the
Holidays. For me, it’s running trains, attending
train shows, hosting family parties, visiting with
family and participating in church gatherings
and services.
2010 NH Yankee Clipper Boxcar – We
anticipate shipping these to all who have
ordered by the middle of February 2011. Lionel
informed us of a slight delay a few weeks ago.
As you have read in a previous issue of
SWITCHER, my train store hangout, Trains
and Toys in Morton Grove, IL is now closed.
It’s hard for me to believe I will not be selling
or repairing trains this year for the first time in
thirty years! Since I’ll have LOTS of spare time,
I think I will try to work on my layout and have
it presentable for all my friends and family this
year. As I have written before I have an 8' X 14'
layout with traditional O-Gauge tubular track
and LOTS of accessories.
2010 SF ACF 2-Bay Hopper Car – Should
be arriving by the end of 2010. As with all our
cars, we will send you a “Shipping Notice”
postcard once we have received the cars.
2011 Robin Hood Beer Car – Be sure to
place your order before the deadline. An order
form is in this issue.
October 2010 LOTS Dinner in York, PA –
Our “Dutch Treat” dinner at YORK this fall was
another success. Approximately thirty people
joined us for dinner and great conversations.
It just goes to show you that this really is the
friendliest toy train club around! If you are
headed to York in April, please try to attend.
As with most of us in this hobby, my likes
are forever changing. I have developed a true
crush on prewar tinplate trains from both Lionel
and American Flyer. In order to operate my
accessories, I will need to run some postwar
equipment. I have an Acela set that has not
been out of the box yet. Maybe that will be on
my holiday presentation along with many other
items waiting for their turn. If you are in the
Chicago area and have time in the evenings to
visit, let me know and we’ll set up a visit.
32nd Annual Convention in Omaha, NE
July 10-16, 2011 – Please read the information
included in this issue and mark your calendars
to make sure you join in on all the fun. Our PreConvention tour to the Golden Spike Tower
and Visitor’s Center in North Platte, NE will be
a special event not to be missed. More Omaha
Convention coverage and registration forms
will be in the February issue.
Turning to club business…it’s that time of
the year when your Officers, Board Members
and Business Manager wrap up the current
year and look forward to the coming year.
Following is the status of what has happened
in 2010 and what will happen in 2011.
SWITCHER Articles – I’ll encourage all
of you “operators” to get your layouts up and
running and have some friends and family over
to enjoy your passion. Don’t forget to take
some pictures and write a paragraph or two
about your special holiday display so we can
share it with all your fellow LOTS Members.
2010 TN Aquarium Car – Repair kits were
sent to all those who ordered a TN Aquarium
car on or before April 12. If you did not receive
your kit or have questions, please contact me
immediately. As a fellow Member and hobbyist,
I urge you to please apply the fix to your cars
as soon as possible. I don’t anticipate any
additional issues, but would like to hear any
concerns or mishaps you may have had during
the installation process.
Until next time, I wish each of you a
healthy and prosperous 2011.
3
December 2010
By Ismael Pérez, RM 3319
This layout began as a way to introduce kids
in our area to different traditions that people have
for the holidays. P.S. 145-K is located at 100 Noll
Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, a somewhat
economically disadvantaged part of New York
where toy trains are normally not a part of life.
Our first year 2006 had a figure 8 loop with an
oval around it on a 3' X 6' tabletop. Needless to
say the layout was an instant hit and the children
eagerly awaited its arrival the following year. 2007
saw the figure 8 become a dog bone with a trolley
in the center while still maintaining its outer loop.
In 2008 the figure 8 returned, the loop remained
and the trolley was elevated using evenly spaced
blocks from the Kindergarten class. In addition to
the basic trains children and teachers contributed
items that could be displayed along the layout to
give it not only a festive look but a warm nostalgic
look as well.
The year 2009 saw a bigger layout measuring
4' X 8' with the use of a discarded whiteboard that
was no longer useful in its initial form, but sturdy
enough for a layout. The outer loop grew in size
using Lionel O-36 FasTrack to encompass the
perimeter of the board. On this line is running a
1956 Burlington GP-7 Passenger set that has
been resurrected from the dead by a local train
buff and historian, Arthur Miller, and me. (There is
a related story of his on page 6 - Ed.) Directly
inside of this loop is a slightly smaller loop of MTH
O-31 track upon which is running a 1990s RS-3
Red and White Christmas diesel engine pulling
two holiday gondolas and a RailScope caboose.
The figure 8 is still alive and well with
a 1990’s New York Central starter freight set
zipping around the track. Due to added space the
trolley is now run on top of three file cabinets on
a 6' long track.
While the idea of the layout may have been
my own I cannot take all of the credit for its current
look. Mr. Silver contributed the New York Central
set, Mr. Flores contributed the GP-7 passenger
set, Mr. Robert Miller provided his 1947 GG-1
passenger set, Ms. Calderon and Ms. Candelario
provided many of the trinkets around the layout,
Mr. Calegari helped with the acquisition of the new
4 x 8 board and Ms. Castellano contributed the
garland which helped spruce everything up. And,
this railroad would not be running without the
constant maintenance it requires from its Chief
Engineer Mr. Arthur Miller. He has tuned up and
repaired many of the items and has graciously
brought over some of his own trains to run on the
layout including the magnificent 773 Hudson.
While this may not seem like much by most
standards it is a blessing for the children of the
school. The backdrop was new so Kindergarten
and 1st Grade classes could take their pictures in
front of the layout and then make frames from
popsicle sticks to give their parents for Christmas.
4
December 2010
In closing, it has taken a dedicated group of
people to bring a smile to many children's faces.
I have heard from several of the children and staff
that they got a train for Christmas after seeing the
layout. Even our school Guidance Counselor
Ms. Rodriguez went out and bought her family the
Lionel Christmas starter set after seeing the trains.
Now isn't that what it's all about? Caring and
sharing...with trains! Should any readers have
some unwanted or non-working trains they are
going to get rid of please consider sending them
our way. Maybe we can fix them up, give them a
new lease on life, and continue to bring smiles to
children's faces. :)
5
December 2010
Story by Arthur Miller
Photos by Ismael Pérez, RM 3319
Build in 1946-47 at Cypress Avenue in
Ridgewood, New York from available materials and
powered with an American Flyer 3-rail “Torpedo”
chassis and motor, this speedy beauty delights and
thrills all who see her.
My dad (Arthur Miller, Sr.) wanted to make us
something unique and decided on this self-propelled
observation car. It really was a concept car at a time
when streamliners were in vogue.
Dad hand cut, formed and fitted the body
parts. With mom’s help, they cut and heat-formed
the dome that I had to replace several years ago.
It is silent, sleek and smooth, but I’ve never
been able to run it wide open. At 64 years old,
the aluminum-bodied flyer never fails to capture
the eyes and attention of any visitors anywhere
it appears.
By John Morris, RM 6510
Now that retirement has set in for my wife Karol
and me, we want to encourage all LOTS train buffs
to share their wonderful train hobby with everyone
they can. Let the public know you have something
that certainly interests them. We’ve been doing that
now for 8 years with our model trains that span
24 x 37 feet of our walkout basement and boast
16 running Lionel trains, 1,400+ people among full
scenery with a football game, drive-in theater,
mountains, rivers, lakes, farms, Amish settlement,
Alpine village, zoo, a circus, and about 200 other
buildings together with cars and trucks that really
liven up the place.
What’s so special about sharing them? Well, my
talented wife builds all the scenery, and we share
the hobby together, we keep inviting everyone we
can to come and see and experience his or her
childhood again. In 2009, between Christmas and
New Year’s, 600 people came to see our layout in a
2-day 6-hour time slot. 9 newspapers in Michigan
and Indiana had picked up our story telling about
our hobby and the fact that in the 8 years of open houses we had raised $14,000+ for Habitat For
Humanity and another $1,000 for vocal high school music scholarships. All the free will donations
from people viewing our layout go for these 2 causes.
(Editor’s Note: More about Karol and John’s sharing of their layout in the next issue.)
6
December 2010
By Tom Bromstrup, RM 5388
The October SWITCHER had an article called “New Holiday Train
Exhibit” that I had the pleasure of working on. It is called JINGLE RAILS –
THE GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURE and located in the Eiteljorg
Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana. It opened in November and will continue
to run through January 9, 2011. More information about the Museum and
exhibit is at www.eiteljorg.org
The original article mostly told of what was coming and also noted it
was being designed and built by Paul Busse. One of the tours at LOTS’
2010 Convention in Omaha, NE, will include a Model Railroad Garden also
designed and built by Mr. Busse. If you can come to the museum in
Indianapolis you will get a good preview of his work. The exhibit utilizes four
islands and each island depicts two separate locations. It’s been said that a
picture is worth a thousand words so here are some pictures of the exhibit.
While the photos show
the areas, you really
have to see the entire
exhibit to enjoy the all
of its expert detailing.
It just so happens
that Indianapolis and
Yellowstone share the
same island in the
exhibit so the Indiana
Railroad train at Old
Faithful is in the two
photos to the top left.
Photo at the lower
left is Yosemite Park.
The Grand Canyon
and Mount Rushmore
are the top two photos
to the right.
And the Tlingit Village from the NW Coast section of
the exhibit is in the photo at the lower right.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy the exhibit during your visit!
All photos used with permission of the Eiteljorg staff.
7
December 2010
By John Warren, RM 5672
I almost gave up until someone told me
about a local train show (swap meet). Affordable
postwar trains – yeah! I bought an engine, a new
car or two, and a transformer – all was now right
on the Warrenville Railroad. The train tooted,
climbed the grade and unloaded milk cans. The
crossing gate operated and the switches
snapped! Oh, I was a happy boy again.
Winter 1985 made me think of fun things to
do inside. Two young daughters made me think
of toys. Christmas made me nostalgic. All of the
above made me think of the Lionel trains I had
enjoyed as a child.
The next logical step, at least for me, was
to try to have my daughters experience the
enjoyment I had as a child playing with my
trains. So, off to Toys R Us, the last place I
saw Lionel train sets for sale.
Shortly thereafter I found that Lionel was
once again making quality trains – Thank you
Richard Kughn for getting Lionel back on track.
I bought a Cannonball Express set and, if
I recall, it consisted of a plastic DC powered
Scout type engine, O-27 versions of a hopper, a
gondola, a boxcar and an unlit caboose. All of
the rolling stock had plastic wheels and trucks.
Also included was a small DC power pack, some
bright red plastic logs (what was Lionel thinking
with that color?), telephone poles, 8 curved and
2 straight tracks plus a lock-on.
I built up my personal head of steam and
maintained that level for the past 25 years. More
train shows (including York) were discovered,
many friends were made, the Warrenville RR
and collection expanded, local club layouts were
found, and national clubs were joined.
Today the Warrenville railroad has about
500 feet of track on 3 levels and uses over 1,600
watts of postwar Lionel power. The roster has
about 60 engines, 20 motorized units and 570
pieces of rolling stock. In addition, there are over
90 operating accessories that we enjoy.
I quickly set up the loop on the kitchen table
with the excited help of my girls. After a couple
turns each running the train around and around
the girls got bored and never really showed any
interest in the hobby again.
To be honest, even I was bored. Smoke and
a whistle would have helped. So would a neutral
mode so that the train could stop to load/unload.
So would have opening doors on the boxcar. I
pushed on, however, as the love I had for my
childhood Lionels came flooding back to me.
Off to the lumber yard to buy some 2 x 3’s, a
4 x 8 piece of plywood and, of course, a can of
Forest Green paint. Back to Toys R Us for more
track, a couple of switches and a trestle set.
Building the layout was fun but, once again, the
trains disappointed. The power was too weak to
snap the switches, and too weak to get even this
light train up the grade.
For action I bought a crossing gate but the
plastic wheels wouldn’t work with an insulated
track section. I bought a postwar milk car for
some action too but, of course, this would not
operate with the DC power. I was shocked at
how expensive the postwar trains I remembered
were at the hobby shop!
An interesting note: the original 4 x 8 and
loop from 1985 is still a part of the layout (it’s the
section highlighted in red). This is also the only
section of the layout that still has O-27 curves.
All the other curves are O-42, O-54, and O-72.
8
December 2010
Oh yeah, getting back to trains and
Christmas, prewar standard gauge Lionel
trains make their way around our Christmas
tree, enjoyed by me and my grandchildren.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season filled
with LOTS of toy trains!
For more information and photos about my
empire, please visit WarrenvilleRailroad.com.
9
December 2010
Season’s Greetings
from your Club’s Leadership Team
Cris Matuszak
President
Ed Mazur
Phil Howe
Vice President
Secretary/Treasurer
Scott Kuntz
Victor Bodek
Immediate
Past President
Chairman
Board of Directors
Herb Kern
Mike Rotolo
Director-At-Large
Director-At-Large
Tony Rudmann
Paula Smith
Elections Committee
Chairman
Business Office Manager
&
Statutory Agent
Mike Solly
Neil Yerger
Librarian
Assistant Librarian
Don Carlson
Ralph Spoettle
SWITCHER Editor
SWITCHER
Assistant Editor
10
December 2010
New LOTS Members Listing
With the LOTS Roster on the Club’s web site, we’ll only list new Members’ name and city.
Welcome aboard and we’ll continue to regularly list new LOTS Members in SWITCHER.
RM 7829
LARRY MEHL
MANITOWOC, WI
RM 7843
DAVID BORGMAN
PORT AUSTIN, MI
RM 7857
THOMAS J. CIESICKI
SALINE, MI
RM 7830
LESTER P. THOMAS
ARLINGTON, VA
RM 7844
JONATHAN UPDEGROVE
ALLENSVILLE, PA
RM 7858
LALE SHULTZ
GARDNER, KS
RM 7831
CHARLES PARRIS
WINSTON, GA
RM 7845
WILLIAM YOUNG
CANTON, OH
RM 7859
JOHN ARVISH
BEAVERTON, OR
RM 7832
GARY R. GOLEM
CANTON, MI
RM 7846
SCOTT NETTLES
MONROE, LA
RM 7860
ROGER KAHN
BEDFORD, NH
RM 7833
KEN KROMER
COLLIERS, WV
RM 7847
ARTHUR W. WALKER
ANTIOCH, CA
RM 7861
ROBERT J. QUINLAN
BRADLEY BEACH, NJ
RM 7834
COLIN HASTE
THORNTON, CO
RM 7848
RICHARD PETERSON
MANSFIELD, OH
RM 7862
BILL CUMMINGS
SELDEN, NY
RM 7835
DAVID PFEIFER
MORAGA, CA
JM 7849
JAMES GROTTO
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
RM 7863
ERIC JOHNSON
SAN CLEMENTE, CA
RM 7836
ANTHONY A. CINELLI
NISKAYUNA, NY
RM 7850
DARRYL SEBROWSKI
WEST HAVEN, CT
RM 7864
TOMMY HEIDORN
LA GRANGE, IL
RM 7837
EDWARD W. RAETHER
WAUKESHA, WI
RM 7851
TERRY BEVERLIN
FT. JONES, CA
RM 7865
STEVE CHAIMSON
GOODYEAR, AZ
RM 7838
DAVID DEUSEBIO
RICHMOND, VA
RM 7852
JOHN KOEPKE
OKEECHOBEE, FL
RM 7866
BOB VOEGTLY
TRACY, CA
RM 7839
BERTIL FALT
FJARDHUNDRA, SWEDEN
RM 7853
JOHN BLOMENBERG
SEWARD, NE
RM 7867
DAVID ZARNDT
CALUMET CITY, IL
RM 7840
JACKIE LANGSTON
ATOKA, TN
RM 7854
BILL BRAMBLE
MCCORMICK, SC
RM 7841
JAMES L. MYERS
JOHNSTON, IA
RM 7855
JAMES. D. CASKIE, JR.
MONETA, VA
RM 7842
NEIL NEDERFIELD
LAFAYETTE, NJ
RM 7856
EDWARD C. POWERS
CHERRY HILL, NJ
11
During this time of sharing
and celebrating, why not give a
gift that keeps on giving.
If you have a friend or
relative who is also a toy train
enthusiast, recruit them into the
club so they can join in on all
the fun we have!
December 2010
By Paul Versarge, RM 6625
As covered in the October 2010 SWITCHER, my wife Mary decorates our 4'x8' layout for all the
holidays and summer. Previously we shared our Halloween and Thanksgiving layouts. In this issue
below and on the facing page are photos from the Christmas edition she put together last year.
We really enjoyed ourselves at this year’s LOTS Convention in Hartford, Connecticut, as we had
not been to any toy train club’s convention for the past 3 years. Mary’s favorite event was the layout
tour (along with any of the others that featured a layout we could see) and she came home with LOTS
of ideas for our future layouts.
During the Christmas Season we invite folks to come for a visit to tour the layout and see all the
decorations in the living room. Once they get inside and see the displays, many of the folks don't want
to leave and will stay most of the night playing with the trains. Our home has become a popular place
for young and old to visit and we can claim responsibility for some who even started on a new hobby
by receiving their first train set after seeing our simple oval and figure 8 layout.
Once again, her creativity proves that even if you only have a small space for a layout, it can be
set up so you can have fun playing with and sharing your trains (especially during the Holidays!).
12
December 2010
13
December 2010
VICE PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
engineer and railroad fireman on the Lackawanna
Railroad. Floyd has been involved in toy trains since
the age of five. He has built and operated at least
thirteen layouts in HO, S, O, Standard and G
gauges. This 92-year-old LOTS Member is currently
working on a 16 by 40 foot “U” shaped layout of
various gauges!
I wrote to Floyd and asked him to send us
pictures of some of his model railroad activities.
Unfortunately, my letter was returned with Floyd’s
name and address and a large REFUSED on the
envelope. Floyd – please send us some pictures of
your activities. I hope that you did not think you were
receiving correspondence from a bill collector! Floyd,
I look forward to continuing to receive your letters.
I am often asked by Members the following
question: “Where do our almost two thousand
Members reside?” According to information provided
by our Business Manager, Paula Smith, we are a
very diversified toy train club. We truly have a
national membership and even a few members
outside the continental United States. The four
leading states are New York (9.9 %), Pennsylvania
(9.6 %), New Jersey (8.5 %), and my state of Illinois
(8.4 %). These are followed by Ohio, Michigan, and
California. Floyd LaBarre Jr.’s state of Maryland
represents 2.9 % of our Membership.
Two Members e-mailed me and asked if I knew
anything about the Lionel Grand Central Stations
that they had ordered almost two years ago. After
jokingly telling them that it was an item well beyond
my train allowance, I informed them I would do my
best to inquire as to their status. I contacted TM
Designs in Texas who is making the station.
According to TM Designs, all 250 pieces left Texas
for the Lionel Central Distribution Center in late
September. Thus, they should arrive at dealers in
mid to late October and be a handsome addition to
their holiday layouts. Please send us some pictures
so that we can see what we missed!
Our Members should have received Volume II of
the Lionel Catalog. This is one of the many benefits
that we provide to our Members. This bonus is the
result of our leadership team seeking continuously to
provide more value for your dues. Remember, we
are here to serve your needs.
In closing, I wish each and every one of you and
your families a safe holiday season and a prosperous
New Year. Let us all take a moment to offer our
thoughts to the men and women who serve and
protect us and keep us from harm’s way.
Season’s Greetings from the LOTS leadership
team. The holiday season, Christmas, Chanukah,
Kwanzaa and other holiday celebrations, are the
prime toy train season. As the leaves turn colors and
drop to the ground, as the days shorten, as cold and
snow seem to come in like the proverbial lamb and
often soon turn into the ferocious lion, we all seem to
find a reason and the time and the space to set up
a train somewhere. Usually this is in our home or
apartment. But, it can be at a children’s hospital, a
church or synagogue meeting hall, at our offices and
places of employment and more than we can conjure
up in the space allotted.
This is the time of the year to open those orange
and blue – and other colored – storage boxes and
bring those prized locomotives and rolling stock to
the track. This is the time to hook up the transformer
and see that it operates properly. This is the time to
examine those favorite accessories and make
certain that they operate. This is also the time to
clean, lube, repair, and visit your local train shop,
treat yourself to a new train item, and leave the
Lionel catalog on the table so that your family can
see what you hope that the holidays will bring to you.
Our toy train interests seem to increase in
intensity in November (which happens to be National
Model Railroading Month), peaks in December and
January, and slowly, for some of us ever so slowly,
begins to abate in the spring as our thoughts turn to
the outdoors and spring training.
This is the time of the year to be grateful for all
that we have received and to share with others. This
is the time of the train year to begin to plan to attend
the 2011 LOTS Annual Convention in Omaha,
Nebraska in July. No other train club has ventured
where LOTS is going for our 32nd Annual
Convention! This is the perfect time of the year to
order the LOTS Convention Car and other special
offerings. This is the time to ask your neighbors,
relatives, and co-workers to join LOTS, the friendliest
of all the toy train clubs.
As you enjoy your trains and the holiday season
you should get your camera out and take a few
pictures and send them to our SWITCHER editor,
Don Carlson, so that we can all share in your
enjoyment of toy trains. If you can add a few notes to
your photos – so much the better for all.
Recently in my correspondence from several
members I received a letter from Floyd LaBarre Jr.,
RM 2050, who resides in Rising Sun, Maryland.
Floyd is 92 years young and wrote about his career
as an administrative engineer and toy train operator
and modeler in various gauges. His father was an
Edward Mazur, Vice President
14
December 2010
By Jim Steed, RM 7030
For Christmas 2009 here in the mountains of North Georgia we had one of our biggest snows of
the season. It reminded me of a Christmas Eve during my childhood and the anticipation of a Lionel
train or accessory on Christmas morning. I got to thinking, “why” do I love trains so much? I love all
trains. Full size, museum trains, model trains, toy trains. I love 'em all.
I got my first Lionel set in 1946, a postwar steamer number 224, a 250 watt Z transformer, four
cars, three of which were tin plate, as the whole set was really a prewar design, and put into
production at World War II's end. I’ve still got every piece of that set including the uncoupling track
section and the original Lockon. Somewhere along the way I lost one of the four barrels that rode in
the black Pennsylvania gondola car. Since then I have amassed a huge collection and operating
postwar layout which many of you saw on the “Blairsville” layout tours during LOTS 30th Annual
Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee, back in 2009.
My layout is 36 sheets of plywood and fills the whole basement area of our home. But “why” do I
have so many trains? I keep asking myself that question (as does my wife, Gayle). When we go on
vacation, I try to stop by the local hobby shop in that town. If I see a train store en route, I say, “Gayle,
can we stop here?” It's amazing. It’s mind boggling how I’m infected by seeing, holding, smelling, and
running O-Gauge trains.
I confess I’m an addict. But, then again, no, I’m not an addict. I finally figured it out. Why do I have
so many trains? The answer is simple. I “rescue” trains. It finally hit me when my local train club
President called me one day. He said he had a friend whose husband had died and left Lionel trains.
She didn’t know what to do with the trains: whether to sell them, give them away, what their value
was, or who to call. Then there was another call from a woman who had her husband’s trains in the
basement. She apologized because of the smoke damage the trains had endured all those years due
to her wood-fired furnace in the basement. Need I say more? And on and on. More calls, similar
stories. Bottom line, the trains were going to waste, rotting and rusting in some basement, attic, or so
forth. You know the story.
Now, as I said, “Yes, I’ll be glad to handle your trains. I would love to care for them, fix them, sell
them for you, buy them from you. You name it.” And that’s when I figured it out “who” I actually am as
a train nut. No, not a nut, not even an addict. All I really “want” to do is “RESCUE” the trains. I really
don’t want the trains as much as I just want to “rescue” them. I can’t stand to know that those Lionels
are just lying there, gathering smoke, dust, rust and decay. I want to rescue them and give them a
good home. It’s kind ‘a like seeing a dog, lost, on the freeway. You want to rescue the dog from all the
ills of being out there alone on the freeway. You really don’t want the dog; you just don’t want it to be
lost or to get hit. You want to get him away from that situation and into a good home.
So, there it is. I finally know my true identity. I’m a “train rescuer”. I simply cannot resist any stray
train that comes along. Buy it, fix it, nurture it, but most of all, “rescue” the trains and “give them a
good home”. That’s what I love to do!
15
December 2010
By Edward H. Mazur, RM 3123
The Hallmark Corporation has issued the 15th in
a continuing series of Lionel Train Ornaments. The
three-piece set made its 2010 debut in mid-July for
the approaching holiday season. This issue is certain
to delight both toy train and ornament collectors.
Turning to the other Lionel by Hallmark offerings
for 2010, first is the three-piece Scout Set consisting
of a #1110 2-4-2 locomotive, square back tender
with the “LIONEL SCOUT” name proudly on its side,
and the #1002 “LIONEL” gondola. All the pieces are
1” to 1½” in length and done in the same black as
the originals. On the set’s box is the copy that reads,
“No other Lionel train set was more recognizable
than the Scout. From the late ‘40s to the early ‘50s,
the sturdy and affordable Scout set brought the
fulfillment of Christmas hopes and dreams to living
rooms everywhere.”
Lionel first issued the M-10000 in 1934 and
continued to offer the Union Pacific, the first railroad
to pioneer a true lightweight streamliner in America,
until 1941. The initial set was numbered 751W and
consisted of three pieces: the famous yellow and
brown diesel locomotive, numbered 752E and two
coaches numbered 753 and 754.
The Union Pacific’s M-10000 was built by the
Pullman-Standard Car Company and the ElectroMotive Corporation. Information on the back of the
locomotive’s ornament box states, “Introduced in
the early 1930s, streamlined trains revolutionized
American railroading and captured imaginations with
their unprecedented speed and sleek appearance.
Lionel tapped into the excitement by quickly releasing
scale models of the earliest streamliners. This
Keepsake Ornament replicates the #751W O-Gauge
Union Pacific Streamliner set, based on Union
Pacific’s M-10001 City of Portland Train.
“The set’s locomotive #752W included innovations
like Lionel’s railroad whistle and a powerful ‘Distant
Control’ motor. Just like its real-life counterpart,
which could top 100 mph, this little engine rode low
to the track and was capable of curve-hugging
speed. Also like the real thing, it had baggage car
doors and did double duty as a railroad post office.”
When introduced in 1934, streamlined trains
revolutionized American railroading and captured
imaginations with their unprecedented speed and
sleek appearance. These three Lionel by Hallmark
ornaments replicate those trains and capture the
excitement they generated.
Hallmark’s Lionel Trains “Special Edition” for this
year is this attractive and colorful diesel locomotive.
Text on the box states, “Seventy years ago Kansas
City Southern Railway’s legendary “Southern Belle”
began a tradition of “Streamlined Hospitality” on rail
lines from Kansas City to New Orleans. Pulling a
train that included passenger, sleeping, lounge, and
diner cars, it provided uncompromising comfort.
The powerful 3000-horsepower F-3 diesel-electric
engine was equipped with the latest in mechanical
improvements for fast, efficient, streamliner service.“
LOTS Members who add these ornaments to
their holiday displays will enjoy them. Happy holidays
to all and to all LOTS of great railroading.
16
December 2010
To this day, I don’t understand how my folks
saved and scrimped enough to pay for this set. I
believe that he won it at a workplace raffle, in a
drawing at the local lunchroom/tap where he ate
daily, it fell off of the proverbial truck, or it was
paid for on the traditional “lay-away” plan!
For many LOTS Members, family, friends,
and acquaintances our thoughts of holiday trains
begin to become ever more prominent as the
leaves drop from the trees, the Thanksgiving
holiday approaches soon to be followed by the
December holidays of Christmas and Chanukah.
If we are fortunate enough to have permanent
layouts we begin tidying and cleaning up,
checking the wiring, track, accessories, power
units, operating cars, couplers, wheel bearings,
and transformers. For those of us who do not
have such good fortune we begin to plan our
temporary holiday layout. We gather our track,
check the connections, switches, operating track
sections, and unwrap or open those precious
orange and blue Lionel boxes carefully removing
each train component.
I do remember that Chanukah came several
weeks before Christmas in 1953 and that for
Christmas I received an accessory, a #445
Operating Switch Tower add to my train layout
that was on the living room floor.
Last year I was taking a international group
of visitors to Chicago through the Spertus
Museum of Judaica. Following our visit to the
museum exhibits we wandered into the gift
shop. Have you ever noticed how museums are
laid out – you always seem to exit through a gift
shop area? As my guests meandered and made
some purchases I saw an exhibit of menorahs.
Off to one side was a menorah in the form of a
three-car train. A red “locomotive” was pulling a
blue and a yellow coach. Faster than anyone
could say LOTS I purchased the train menorah!
Often, we stop and look at each locomotive,
car, or accessory and remember how we first
obtained the item. Usually these are bittersweet
but good memories of those who gave us these
items but who are no longer with us or of special
occasions when the most treasured gift was an
addition to our train collections.
I have written in the past about holiday
memories of toy trains, of department store
displays, and of the Hallmark Lionel Ornament
Collection. I received my first train in December
1953 for Chanukah. My late father, who worked
in a wholesale dry cleaning plant, and never
earned more than $100 a week in a good year,
brought home a large corrugated box with a pair
of 2353 Santa Fe-F-3 units and four aluminum
passenger cars. The master carton said Lionel
Trains Set 2190W and had the suggested price
of $89.50. The set consisted of twin Santa Fe
Diesels with MAGNE-TRACTION and four 15
inch long illuminated streamline cars including
the 2533 “Silver Cloud” Pullman, 2534 “Silver
Bluff” Pullman, 2532 “Silver Range” Vista Dome
and 2531 “Silver Dawn” Observation. Track
included 8 sections of O-Gauge curved, 9
sections of straight, 1 UCS Remote Control set,
a Lockon, lubricant, instruction booklet, and a 90
watt 1033 transformer.
This year Chanukah is from December 1
through 8. My family will light the menorah in the
following manner. The primary candle holder is
on the front of the red car. It’s the engineer or
“Shamash” who drives and organizes the rest of
the consist. This engineer is lit first, a prayer is
said (in our house we take turns and repeat the
prayer until all have had a chance). Then the
engineer lights the candle on the far right. On
each successive night we add one more candle
until the last night when we have eight candles
and the engineer lit and blazing away. We each
exchange one gift for each night of the holiday.
Then it is time to eat, drink, make merry, and run
grandpa’s trains on the office floor that is part of
our condominium.
17
December 2010
Great Plains states and into the Denver,
Colorado area. Perhaps a LOTS companion
piece to the railroad car would be an
appropriately decorated beer delivery truck?
Many LOTS Members as well as countless
other toy train operators and collectors are fans
of “Billboard” refrigerator cars.
For the club’s Milwaukee Convention in
2002 the LOTS Convention Car was a Schlitz
Billboard Reefer that was a complete sellout
(as are most all of our Convention and Special
offerings). When considering a car for the 2011
Omaha, Nebraska Convention, a suggestion
was made to offer a Robin Hood Beer Billboard
Refrigerator Car. The LOTS Constitution
demands that the Convention Car “be as
prototypical as possible.” In selecting the 2011
Robin Hood Car, the Officers and Board
solicited suggestions from near and far and
ultimately considered several cars that reflected
on railroading and Omaha. Ultimately, the
finalists included reefers decorated for Armour,
Swift, Omaha Power and Electric, Union Pacific,
and Robin Hood Beer.
Through many discussions (and your Board
and Officers love to discuss, debate, and
persuade before any voting takes place) we
were convinced that the brewery being closed
and the label discontinued was not a negative.
In fact, since the beer is no longer produced,
we do not feel that we would be accused of
promoting alcohol consumption. We are simply
acknowledging an interesting and nostalgic part
of Omaha’s heritage. A search of the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office by our Immediate
Past President and LOTS legal counsel, Scott
Kuntz, found no active listing for Robin Hood
Beer or anything related to Robin Hood and
alcoholic beverages. Thus, we did not have
to negotiate with anyone to obtain rights.
We had great difficulty in finding a picture of
a prototypical Robin Hood Beer Refrigerator
Car. We had toy train offerings but as our
recently retired Board Chair Larry Smith would
remind us – “we had no actual proof that such
a car existed.”
In selecting the LOTS 2011 car, consideration
was given to being prototypical, having visually
appealing graphics, color, and whether Lionel
and other manufacturers/importers have offered
the car, when was it offered, and quality of
product. After a lengthy series of discussions,
telephone calls, and e-mails we found no record
of Lionel making this car. We discovered that
only MTH and Crown had made a Robin Hood
car. Both were offered more than five and as
long as fifteen years ago. We also found an
N-Gauge and two HO-Gauge manufacturers that
have produced the car, leading us to believe
that the Robin Hood car is an appealing design
with viable marketing potential. For many LOTS
Members and supporters, Robin Hood was
part of our childhood education and adult’s
imagination. Thus, drawing on the Robin Hood
image is seen as a LOTS plus.
This led to an abundant amount of research
and investigations. We contacted local railroad
clubs and collectors, the University of Nebraska
Library, the Nebraska Historical Society and
ultimately through a suggestion from current
Board Chair, Victor Bodek, I was able to find in
Richard Hendrickson and Edward Kaminski’s
book, BILLBOARD REFRIGERATOR CARS, a
picture of a prototypical Robin Hood Refrigerator
Car. After added discussion, the Board and
Officers approved Robin Hood for 2011 and
Omaha, Nebraska.
The practice of painting advertisements on
the freight cars of shippers and car owners
dates well back into the 19th century. But, in the
1920s, leasing companies realized they could
contract with shippers to pass back usage
payments beyond some agreed minimum.
This led to an explosion of car leasing and
The car is representative of Omaha and the
Fontenelle Brewery that operated from 1933-38
in one of the largest brewery buildings in the
city. Robin Hood Beer was made in its Omaha
facility until the brand was discontinued in the
1960s. Our research found many images of
trucks distributing the beer throughout the
18
December 2010
ruling occurred in 1937. Although this was only a
minor part of the story from the railroad and ICC
viewpoint, it is a major part of the story for toy
train operators and collectors, rail fans, railroad
photographers and historians, and others.
a corresponding explosion of billboard
decoration of refrigerator cars. Railroad
objections, especially to the usage payment
rebates, led to hearings before the Interstate
Commerce Commission which, beginning in
1937, banned most of the leasing practices
which had generated the car leasing bonanza.
After World War II, a restrained billboard style
made a modest comeback.
Richard H. Hendrickson, a retired professor
of English linguistics at Sonoma State
University, has enjoyed something of a second
career as a railroad historian and modeler,
having more than 400 magazine articles on
freight car history and modeling to his credit,
along with the authorship or co-authorship of
three books about freight cars of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Edward S.
Kaminski has been employed by American
Railcar Leasing (formerly ACF Industries’
leasing arm) and is current Eastern District
Sales Manager, located in Saddle Brook, New
Jersey. Kaminski has published several freight
car related articles and five books on railcar
building and freight car history.
Car-side advertising was only one detail
of that ICC decision. But because it was the
basis for a remarkable diversity of refrigerator
car paint schemes in the era, these billboard
refrigerator car paint schemes have long
held an interest for model railroaders, toy train
manufacturers, rail fans, historians, and many
LOTS Members.
The use of large, dramatic and sometimes
florid lettering on the sides of railroad freight
cars dates back at least to the 1870s. The book,
BILLBOARD REFRIGERATOR CARS focused
on the 1920s and 1930s, the decades when
certain leasing company officials realized that
they could lease refrigerator cars (or “reefers”) to
shippers, and then collect more than the leased
cost in mileage payments for operation of the
cars. At that time, reefer usage was paid for on
the basis of miles moved, whether loaded or
empty. The key point then was the offer to
lessees to pay them any excess of the mileage
charges above the leased cost. This naturally
led to abuses. A shipper could direct shipments
by somewhat roundabout routes. Cars could
also be used for smaller shipments than might
normally be economical in order to increase
monthly mileage.
Their fine book published in 2008 by
Signature Press Books thoroughly documents
hundreds of billboard refrigerator car paint
schemes, together with details of the leasing
companies and car builders associated with the
individual cars. The book has more than 440
photographs, most previously unpublished,
and includes a modest amount of color and
color information. This book is a superb job of
collecting and organizing the information that is
presented and is sure to appeal to modelers and
to many who are interested in railroad history.
The book illustrates a bewildering variety of
lettering, graphics, and colors. Though typically
it is impossible to be certain of colors used,
there can be little doubt that a wide range was in
use and the authors include materials in an
appendix that give some idea of colors. In some
cases, where photographs exist of both sides of
a particular car at a particular time, the two sides
might display quite different advertising material!
Hey, how would that be for a factory error or a
Convention or Meet Car? Unfortunately, records
of car assignments and lettering are very
fragmentary, so the photographs in BILLBOARD
REFRIGERATOR CARS provide most of what
information is known.
Most important, since railroads were obliged
by their common carrier status and by laws such
as the Hepburn Act to provide cars needed by
shippers, it soon became evident that the
railroads were being placed in the position of
providing backup capacity only. This led to
complaints to the ICC and resulted in hearings
and subsequent action to prevent the abuses.
Most of the leasing arrangements that had
proved profitable to both lessor and lessee
(partly at railroad expense) were abolished.
One result of the ICC action was the
banning of car-side advertising that was a
striking feature of the billboard period. The ICC
(Continued on page 20.)
19
December 2010
(Continued from page 19.)
The book is organized by the leasing company
ownership of cars, not only giant companies such
as North American, General American, and Union
Refrigerator, but many smaller ones, too. This
provides readers with an understanding of those
lessees who used the cars of multiple lessors, as
well as showing patterns of leasing use.
This is a reference book that should be in
many personal libraries and collections as it
chronicles an important as well as colorful part of
railroad history.
For more information about BILLBOARD
REFRIGERATOR CARS, either write to Signature
Press, 11508 Green Road, Wilton, CA 95693, or
visit their web site at www.signaturepress.com.
By Don Carlson, RM 4735
One of our fellow club Members has
put together LOTS and LOTS of Lionel’s
historical paper items in a DVD format.
Shown on the left are 2009 releases:
Lionel Prewar Parts & Instruction Sheets
– Expanded to 475 pages, including 50
pages of scarce Lionel Prewar Service
Bulletins, 1942 Lionel Nautical Instruments
Catalog reprint, instructions for the 5B
Test Set, and a tough-to-find reprint of the
840 Power Station Instruction Sheet.
Lionel Postwar Instruction Sheets Volume I
– 400+ pages of sheets and documentation
covering locomotives and rolling stock as
originally published, with easy navigation
and accessibility to quickly find desired
sheets, plus a bonus of rare postwar
Lionel Service Bulletins 1946-49.
On the right are some 2010 releases: Lionel Postwar Advance Catalogs 1949-1969 – A complete,
full-color reference of hard-to-find Advance Dealer catalogs, includes almost 1,000 pages as originally
published, has easy navigation and accessibility, bonuses of postwar inserts for years issued and
super-rare Sprint 1946 and spiral bound 1950 Anniversary Advance Dealer catalogs.
Lionel Postwar Instruction Sheets Volume II – 340+ pages of Lionel instruction sheets including 80
different accessories and 46 of the most popular outfits (sets) as originally published, features easy
navigation and accessibility, and a bonus of rare postwar Lionel Service Bulletins.
These are but a few of the numerous items available from Bob Osterhoff, RM 6850. For more
information, visit his web site at www.trainpaper.com
20
December 2010
2011 CONVENTION CAR ORDER FORM
ROBIN HOOD, ROBIN
HOOD----riding down the rails.
ROBIN HOOD, ROBIN HOOD--delivering "Cream of the Barley
Crop” refreshing ale.
LOTS is proud to offer a
never-before-manufactured-byLIONEL, ROBIN HOOD BEER
CAR commemorating our 32nd
Annual Convention in Omaha,
NE. The strong graphics and the
iconic image of ROBIN HOOD
make this billboard-style reefer a
MUST HAVE addition to the
roster of LOTS cars.
The practice of painting
advertisements on the freight cars of shippers and car owners dates back into the 19th century. Between 1920 and 1937, there was an
explosion of car leasing and a corresponding explosion of billboard decoration of refrigerator cars. Railroad objections, especially to the
usage payment rebates, led to hearings before the Interstate Commerce Commission which, in 1937, banned most of the leasing
practices which had generated the car leasing bonanza. After World War II, a restrained billboard style made a modest comeback.
The LOTS ROBIN HOOD BEER CAR represents a significant product of Omaha’s business and industry between 1933 and 1938.
During this time, the Fontenelle Brewing Company brewed Robin Hood Beer, and production continued under the Metz Brewing
Company until the 1960's. Robin Hood Beer was a fixture in the Midwest and as far west as Denver, Colorado.
This Standard O-Scale double-sheathed boxcar is 11-1/2" long and features opening doors, die-cast sprung trucks and operating
couplers, separately applied metal underframe details, simulated wood-sheathed exterior, steam era Fishbelly-style underframe with
separately applied metal details, simulated wood-sheathed exterior, and operation on O-31 and larger curves.
ROBIN HOOD is a part of many LOTS Members’ imaginations and education. Don’t miss out – add the LOTS 2011
Convention Car to your toy train collection!
ORDER YOUR CAR(S) TODAY! ORDER DEADLINE IS MARCH 25, 2011!
Anticipated shipping date – November 2011 ~ A shipping notice will be sent to you a week before the cars ship.
Please complete the following information.
QUANTITY DESIRED: Robin Hood Beer Car
______ x $69.95
SALES TAX: Michigan residents must add 6% sales tax per car.
______ x $ 4.20
st
SHIPPING (IN 48 LOWER U.S. STATES): $10 for 1 car, $5 each car thereafter (max. $20)*
SHIPPING (ALASKA, CANADA, HAWAII): $15 for 1st car, $5 each car thereafter (max. $30)*
(* Higher than previous charges due to an increase in shipping costs.)
TOTAL AMOUNT DUE:
Type of Payment (U.S. Funds Only):
Check #_______
Money Order
Visa
$_______________
$_______________
$_______________
$_______________
$_______________
MasterCard
Discover
If check or money order, make remittance in correct amount payable to “LOTS” (U.S. dollars only). All payments will be processed upon receipt, not when shipped.
All orders are final - no refunds will be issued.
Credit card number: ____________________________________________ Expiration Date: ___________ 3-digit code: ________
Name on card (please print): _____________________________________ Signature: _________________________________
By my signature, I authorize LOTS to charge my credit card account for the amount indicated above.
Shipping Address: ___ Address below is a business address. ____ Address below is not the same as my SWITCHER mailing address.
Name:_______________________________________________________ Member Number (must be included):_______________
Street (No P.O. Boxes):______________________________________________E-mail :_____________________________________
City:_____________________________________ State: ______ Zip:_______________ Phone No:_________________________
Orders accepted online at www.lots-trains.org, by FAX at 866-286-6416 or mail your order to:
LOTS – 2011 Convention Car Order, 6376 W Fork Road, Cincinnati, OH 45247-5704
(Form may be photocopied)
21
December 2010
TRAINS AND MARDI GRAS PARADES IN MOBILE
The South West Alabama Railroad Modelers (SWARM) invite all
LOTS Members to a weekend of real and model railroading events,
blended with the fun and foolishness of a family-styled Mardi Gras in
Mobile, Alabama (where Mardi Gras in America began in 1703) on
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 4, 5, and 6, 2011.
Schedules, details, costs, and so forth are still being developed at
press time. If you are interested in attending, please contact Herb Kern
by e-mail at DXLNDKERN@aol.com or by phone at 251-660-1659 for
more information.
Everyone who participated in 2010 had a great time and you are
invited to join us in 2011 for what will be another great time!
22
December 2010
Drag Racing is a competition in which
vehicles (usually rubber tired vehicles) compete
to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a
standing start, and in a straight line. Drag
Racing first gained popularity in the USA after
World War II. Over the years, the sport has
steadily grown in popularity and has since
spread across the globe.
Since then, the strip was rebuilt using
FasTrack on shorter sections for eaiser
transporting to the Convention each year and
the ZW transformer was retired when Mike and
Marlene Moore (RM 2265) donated a “brick”
as the main power source. Over the years,
we acquired some loaner engines so that if
someone without a locomotive in tow wanted
to race, they could participate.
Most drag races begin with a standing
(stationary) start and are just 1/4 mile long
(1,320 ft (400 m)). Races last between 3.9 and
17 seconds, with finishing
speeds ranging from 80 to
over 330 mph (530 km/h),
depending upon the type
of vehicle being used.
Some of the faster vehicles
needed a parachute to
slow down, an innovation
credited (indirectly) to
cartoonist Tom Medley.
Unfortunately, during the Hartford
Convention in 2010, LOTS suffered a great
loss. Although we are not sure
of the how’s or when – all of the
connecting track, power, loaner
engines and Paula Smith’s
personal racing engine were
discovered missing on July 19th.
All of the mentioned equipment
was in one paper box. We had
hoped the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Hartford would have discovered
our box of equipment, but they
quickly responded with “no luck in
finding the box we described.”
For LOTS the vehicles
of choice are the kind that
smoke, squeal, spark, are
light-weight (toy version), have traction tires and
are powered by three-rail Lionel O-Gauge track.
I’m sure you are thinking only the finest
locomotives can run in a Toy Train Drag Race,
but this isn’t the case in LOTS. For example, our
club’s President, Cris Matuszak, has never
entered a regular locomotive – he has used a
powered “caboose” as his vehicle of choice!
As you can imagine, those of us direclty
involved with the race were devastated, but
since then a few LOTS Members who found out
about our dilemma including Paul (not Paula)
Smith, RM 7174, Cris Matuszak, RM 3199,
Don Klose, RM 6251, and Larry Smith, RM
5978, have donated enough money to replace
the track, power and two engines.
In 2011, LOTS will host the 10th Annual
LOTS Train Drag Race in Omaha, NE. If
you have any engine(s) you are no longer
using – we sure could use them for our
upcoming races. Please consider donating
to a great cause that is always filled with
LOTS of fun.
LOTS “Train” Drag Racing started in 2002
with our 23rd Annual Convention in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin and has been a fun-filled and exciting
event each year since the inaugral one.
That year the Chicagoland Lionel Railroad
Club brought their equipment to Milwaukee for
LOTS to borrow. Herb Koch, RM 3928, showed
us how to successfully run a Toy Train Drag
Race using the CLRC’s equipment.
In 2003, Horace Wahl, RM 4666, created
and donated the tubular trackage and base for
the strip and LOTS supplied the power using
Paula Smith’s ZW Transformer.
For those of you who might be interested
in starting your own Drag Racing competition,
a link to Herb Koch’s TOY TRAIN DRAG
RACING STANDARDS, 2005 can be found
by visiting the LOTS web site at
www.lots-train.org.
23
December 2010
Plan now to join LOTS in Omaha, NE for our 32nd Annual Convention July 10 -16, 2011. Next year's celebration is
shaping up to be yet another outstanding week filled with LOTS of train related activities and fun events. If you've never
attended a LOTS Convention, please consider joining your friends at LOTS when planning your 2011 summer vacation.
“We plan great Conventions, so you can plan on having a GREAT TIME.” Join us and experience the difference while
attending the 2011 LOTS Convention!
Omaha, Nebraska, located in the center of the United States and on the banks of the Missouri River, offers Midwest
hospitality and affordability with the excitement of a city at full throttle! During the 19th century, Omaha's central location
caused the city to become an important national transportation hub. Throughout the rest of the 19th century, transportation
and jobbing sectors were important in the city, along with its railroads and breweries. In the 20th century, the Omaha
Stockyards, once the world's largest, and its meatpacking plants, gained international prominence. History books tell us
the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 made construction of the transcontinental railroad possible. It designated tasks for two
companies: the Central Pacific Railroad of California (CP) was to build eastward from Sacramento, and a new company
called the Union Pacific (UP) was to build westward up the Platte River Valley from Omaha, Nebraska. Union Pacific
didn’t let Congress down and is still going strong! Everywhere you go in Nebraska, you are reminded of the role UP has
and still plays in the history of the State. Come along with LOTS to explore the fascinating sites in and around Omaha.
Our Convention headquarters hotel will be the CoCo Key Water Resort-Hotel and Convention Center in Omaha, NE (off
I-80, Exit 449, 3321 South 72nd Street, Omaha, NE 68124) is conveniently located minutes from downtown Omaha and
Eppley Airfield (OMA). CoCo Key has something for everyone including a family-friendly getaway at their 60,000-square
foot Indoor Water Resort themed to the wild excitement of Key West. Bring the kids and grandkids with you to the
LOTS Convention in 2011. They stay free in the room and for only $5 a day they can have LOTS of fun in the water
park! Dining is available at the Trade Winds Restaurant & Lounge located in the hotel's lobby and other restaurants
nearby. All of the oversized guest rooms feature in-room hair dryers, coffee makers and free WiFi Internet. Additional
amenities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, fitness center and free parking. Our preferred group rate is $109 plus
tax per night for up to 4 people in the same room. Suites are available on a first come, first served basis at the rate of $159
plus tax per night. Children under 18 may stay free with a relative.
Reservations are being accepted now at 1-402-393-3950. Be sure to mention you are with the Lionel Operating Train
Society when calling to make reservations. Reservations must be received by June 24, 2011 or before our room blocks are
full, whichever comes first.
Although the final 2011 Convention Registration Form will not be available until February 2011, the highlights of our
tour itineraries are listed on the next three pages. Mark your calendars now! You won’t want to miss the LOTS 32nd Annual
Convention in Omaha, Nebraska – July 10 – 16, 2011!
Photo courtesy of VisitOmaha.com
24
December 2010
Tuesday, July 12 – Strategic Air and Space Museum, Village of Boys Town and NE-IA Railroaders
“He ain’t heavy, Father,
he’s m’ brother.”
25
December 2010
Wednesday, July 13 – Lauritzen Gardens, Kenefick Park, River City Star and Fred Standa
Cruising under UP’s mainline.
Thursday, July 14 – Get Acquainted Party in the Evening – Durham Western Heritage Museum
26
December 2010
Friday, July 15 – Home Layout Tour
Thursday, July 14 – UP RR Museum, Rails
West RR Museum, General Dodge House
Friday, July 15 – Home Layout Tour
Saturday, July 16 – NE-IA Railroaders 40th
Annual Train Show!!! LOTS of vendors and
operating layouts in the 22,000 square foot hall!!
27
December 2010
Space is limited! You MUST register by April 1, 2011
The next stop on the LOTS 2011 Pre-Convention
Tour of North Platte, NE will be at Cody Park, the
sight of the first Wild
West Show and the
Cody Park Train
Museum. The
museum features
the only Challenger
3900 series steam
locomotive on public
display in the world,
accompanied by a 6900 series diesel locomotive.
The two locomotives have combined horsepower of
more than 12,000. A restored depot, several rail
cars, a caboose and railroad memorabilia are also
on display.
The tour continues
a short distance from
Cody Park for a
Canteen Spirit Event at
the Lincoln County
Museum and Buffalo
Bill State Historic Park.
Upon our arrival,
Buffalo Bill Cody will
greet us by horseback; we’ll enjoy dinner while
being entertained by 1920’s-30’s swing music and
ending with a special presentation reminding us of
how important the North Platte Canteen was to
more than 6 million soldiers as they traveled by
train en-route to where they would serve during
World War II.
Overnight accommodations in North Platte will
be at the Quality Inn & Suites and are included in
the cost of the tour. Room keys will be distributed
upon our arrival. Room fees and hot breakfast
buffet is included.
On Monday, we’ll depart at 7:30 a.m. Our first
destination will be to the Golden Spike Tower and
Visitor Center. The Tower rises 8-stories above
Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard – the world’s largest
train yard. Attendees
will enjoy a 360degree panoramic
view from the
enclosed 8th floor
viewing area or they
can enjoy the sights
and sounds of the
railroad action from
the 7th floor open-air
platform. UP’s Bailey
yard covers a
massive 2,850 acres
(that’s over 2,856 football fields in size)! Every 24
hours, 10,000 railroad cars move through Bailey
Yard utilizing 315 miles of track. Docents will be on
hand to answer any questions.
If you subscribe to TRAINS MAGAZINE,
you have probably read about the Golden Spike
Tower and Visitors Center
overlooking Union Pacific’s
Bailey Yard. Now is your
chance to see it in person
with LOTS on July 11th!
Our two day, one night
Pre-Convention Tour begins
bright and early on Sunday,
July 10th, 2011 with a
departure from the CoCo
Key Water Resort and
Hotel at 7:30 a.m. and
returning on July 11th at
8 p.m.
On our way to North Platte we’ll stop at the
Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in
Kearney, NE. The
Great Platte River
Road Archway
pays tribute
to America’s
freedom of
mobility. The giant
log arch built
across I-80, today’s busiest east-west highway,
depicts the pioneers’ westward journey along the
Great Platte River Road. Attendees will travel
through time beginning with the Lewis and Clark
era, experiencing a buffalo stampede, a frontier fort,
the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express, a lively
stagecoach ride, the excitement of the completion
of the transcontinental railroad and additional
exhibits depicting the establishment of the interstate
highway system. During our visit we’ll enjoy an
entertaining re-enactment titled “The Coming of the
Railroad” while
enjoying lunch
at the on-site
Chuckwagon,
BBQ restaurant.
After lunch,
we’ll head west
to NORTH
PLATTE! Our
first stop in will be to the Fort Cody Trading Post,
Nebraska’s largest western souvenir gift store and
home of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in miniature!
This show of 20,000 hand-carved pieces previously
on tour throughout the United State in the 1960’s
and 70’s is sure to please one and all. There is
plenty of action happening during a show where
train cars, steam locomotives, Indian tepees, Indian
dancers, cowboys, wagons, horses, a circus and so
much more come to life. Fort Cody Trading Post is
also home to the Museum of the Old West, filled
with authentic pieces of history from the Great
Plains region of the United States.
28
December 2010
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RegistrationForm
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orFax
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Formto:
to: LOTS,
LOTS,6376
6376West
WestFork
ForkRoad,
Road,Cincinnati,
Cincinnati,OH
OH45247-5704
45247-5704
Name:
Name: ____________________________________
____________________________________Member
Member#:#: _________________
_________________Phone:___________________
Phone:___________________
Address:
Address: ____________________________City:
____________________________City: _______________________
_______________________State:
State:______Zip:_______________
______Zip:_______________
E-mail:
E-mail: ___________________________
___________________________Badge
BadgeName
Name(s):
(s): ____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Double
DoubleOccupancy
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(uptoto44ininone
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accommodations): ____
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____Check(payable
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____Money
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_____________________________________Exp.Date
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15,2011.
2011.IfIfyou
youhave
havequestions,
questions,call
call513-598513-598-8240.
8240.
29
December 2010
Club History and Information
The Lionel® Operating Train Society (LOTS) was founded in 1979 by Larry Keller (CM-1) of Cincinnati for the purpose of providing a
national train club for operators of Lionel® trains and accessories. Our friendly band of model train enthusiasts is dedicated to having
the most fun possible by operating and collecting those wonderful trains from yesteryear and today — Lionel®! Yes, those fascinating
milk cars, searchlight cars and Santa Fe diesels that you remember from the 40's and 50's are still out there, lovingly cared for by a
new generation of hobbyists, as are the new versions being made by modern Lionel®! Today, LOTS is an Ohio not-for-profit corporation
and has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS as a not-for-profit hobby club. As of December 2010, LOTS has about 2,000 active
Members throughout the world.
The Members of LOTS are united by their love of toy trains by setting up and running their favorite engines and rolling stock on model
layouts. Many have different interests: scenery, electronics, operations, lighting, accessories, repairing/restoring old trains, or even
operating some of the fine related products from other O-Gauge manufacturers, such as K-Line by Lionel®, AtlasO, Weaver, Williams
by Bachmann, and MTH Electric Trains. The common denominator is fun! LOTS has no local chapters or divisions. Instead, small
groups of LOTS Members may decide to get together informally to run trains on each others' layouts, build modular layouts, and share
maintenance tips.
All Members are encouraged to attend our Annual Convention each year. Past Annual Conventions have featured LOTS of operating
layouts (one owned by LOTS), toy train videos, modeling contests, maintenance clinics, Lionel® LLC question and answer seminars,
table sales of trains and train related merchandise, train drag races, home layout tours and special excursions. Club train meets are
open to the public ensuring broad exposure to the pleasure of operating toy trains! We plan great Conventions, so you can plan on
having a GREAT TIME!
In conjunction with each of its Conventions, LOTS offers its Members an annual commemorative car. To date, most have been
variations of Lionel® O-Gauge cars. The first cars, issued from 1979 to 1987, were either over-stamped by silk-screening or
professionally redecorated (stripped and repainted) by a non-Lionel® company. Since 1988, our cars have been produced and
decorated to LOTS specifications by Lionel®. All are prototypical of a railroad or privately owned car seen in or related to the
Convention city. Cars are produced in limited quantities and are sold to Members only. All LOTS cars have been sell-outs and are
prized by operators and collectors. In addition to an annual Convention car, LOTS has also offered other special commemorative
issues available only to club Members. These offerings carry a prototypical or club theme that is displayed on model railroad equipment
or accessories such as mint cars, aquarium cars, diesel engines, station platforms and lighted billboards.
LOTS has three publications: SWITCHER, a bi-monthly journal devoted to all aspects of Lionel® operating and collecting, an annual
Membership Roster, and a periodic buy-sell-trade publication Track Changes. SWITCHER typically features operating tips and
techniques, methods for layout construction and maintenance, building and modification projects, photographs, new product reports
and reviews, and articles related to past and present prototypical railroads. In addition, SWITCHER includes important club information
and news. Members entitled to receive the SWITCHER may request first-class mailing upon the payment of an annual postage
surcharge. Track Changes and Roster are available online as well as in print upon the payment of a mailing surcharge.
LOTS offers three Membership categories. Regular Membership (RM) is open to all operators of Lionel® trains and accessories who
are at least 18 years old. Junior Membership (JM) is open to all Lionel® operators who are 17 or younger. Family Memberships (FM)
are available only to the spouse and children (22 years old or younger) of Charter or Regular Members. Regular and Junior Members
receive or have access to all club publications. Although neither Junior nor Family Members are entitled to vote on club issues, they
may purchase all LOTS Convention cars and other commemorative issues. The application for Membership shows the initiation fee
($6), annual dues ($29), and annual postage surcharge (if any) required for LOTS Membership. Each LOTS Member will receive a
Membership card when they become a Member and each time they renew.
Further information about LOTS can be obtained by contacting:
Paula S. Smith
LOTS Business Office
6376 West Fork Road
Phone: 513-598-8240 or e-mail: lotsbusinessoffice@juno.com
or at our web site: www.lots-trains.org
30
December 2010
Lionel Operating Train Society (L.O.T.S.) Membership Application
Help LOTS grow……. Share this application with your friends!
Please answer all questions, print clearly and be sure to date and sign on the applicant’s signature line in the middle of the application. Please allow
two to three weeks for processing. You will be added to the mailing list for the next issue of SWITCHER, but your Membership card will not be
mailed until the end of the month following the month you applied for Membership.
Name: _____________________________________ E-mail Address: ________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________ City: ________________________ State: ____ Zip: __________
Occupation: ____________________________ Date of Birth: _____________ Phone: __________________________
Do Not List my ___Telephone
___ Address and/or ___ E-mail Address in the LOTS Roster.
How did you hear about LOTS?
Magazine? Website? If so, which one? ________________________________________________
Train Meet? If so, which one? _______________________________________________________
LOTS Member? What is his or her name and LOTS Number? ______________________________
Other? Please explain: ______________________________________________________________
Do you consider yourself an operator, ______ a collector, ______ or both ______?
Do you have an operating layout? ___ What gauge? ________ Size of Layout? ______________ Is it landscaped? ______
Would you be willing to show your layout to LOTS Members, provided they call in advance? Y__ N__
Has your membership in any other train club been terminated for any reason other than non-payment of dues? Y__ N__
A separate application must be submitted for each individual applying for Membership. Check the type of Membership being sought
and remit the Initiation Fee plus Dues (and the postal surcharge, if applicable) required for your Membership Class. Your Membership
will be paid for twelve or twenty-four months (see below) from the last day of the month you become a Member.
The amount of your remittance depends upon the Membership Class for which you are applying. You cannot sign as a Family
Member if you are not the spouse or child of a Regular Member. Payments in excess of the required amount are gratefully
accepted as a donation.
By sending this application to the Business Office of LOTS for processing, each applicant agrees to abide by the Club’s Constitution
and Administrative By-Laws.
Membership Class (select one):

Applicant’s Signature:_________________ Date: _________
1 year Regular Membership (RM) - $35.00 ($6.00 Initiation Fee + $29.00 Dues)
Non-U.S. Mailing Addresses:
2 year Regular Membership (RM) - $62.00 ($6.00 Initiation Fee + $56.00 Dues)
__ Canada & Mexico - $15.00 one year
1 year Junior Membership (JM-under 18 yrs.) - $19.00 ($3.00 Initiation Fee + $16.00 Dues)
__ Canada & Mexico - $30.00 two years
2 year Junior Membership (JM-under 18 yrs.) - $33.00 ($3.00 Initiation Fee + $30.00 Dues)
__ All Others - $25.00 one year
1 year Family Membership (FM-spouse or child of RM) - $13.00 ($3.00 Initiation Fee + $10.00 Dues)
__ All Others - $50.00 two years
2 year Family Membership (FM-spouse or child of RM) - $21.00 ($3.00 Initiation Fee + $18.00 Dues)
If Spouse or Child of RM is signing up for a Family Membership……Spouse of RM- ________________ Child of RM- ________________
Optional Postal Surcharges: Roster and Track Changes are available online (updated monthly). If you have provided us with an e-mail
address above, a password will be e-mailed to you after your membership is processed. If you want SWITCHER mailed First Class or a printed
version of Roster or Track Changes mailed to you, there is an additional surcharge. You must match the Optional Postal Surcharge with the length of
Membership you selected above.
1st Class USPS SWITCHER Delivery
__ $15.00 one year (U.S. Addresses Only)
__ $30.00 two years (U.S. Addresses Only)
Type of payment:
__ Check
Printed Roster (mailed October each year)
__ $5.00 Roster one year
__ $10.00 Roster two years
__ Money Order
__ Visa
Printed Track Changes (mailed Quarterly)
__ $5.00 Track Changes one year
__ $10.00 Track Changes two years
__ MasterCard
___ Discover
Credit card number: _______________________________________________ Exp. Date: _________________________ CVV: ______________
Name on card (please print): __________________________________________ Signature: _________________________________________
By my signature above, I authorize LOTS to charge my credit card account for the total of the amounts indicated above. If check or money order,
make remittance in correct amount payable to “LOTS” (U.S. dollars only).
Mail or Fax completed application(s) with remittance to:
LOTS-New Membership, 6376 West Fork Road, Cincinnati, OH 45247-5704, Fax 866-286-6416
Applications are also accepted online at www.lots-trains.org.
This application supercedes all others. Effective January 1, 2010. Photocopies of this application will be accepted.
31
December 2010
LOTS BUSINESS OFFICE
LIONEL OPERATING TRAIN SOCIETY
6376 WEST FORK ROAD
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45247-5704
.
Are you moving? Or did you move? Don’t forget to notify the Business Office of your new address.
Lionel Operating Train Society Past Cars Order Form
Support LOTS! Order a limited edition Club Car today. 1st Come 1st Served!
(Note: All cars are available now.)
2009 Meet Car - $69
2009 Aquarium Car - $75
Item Description
Name:
Shipping Address*:
City:
Quantity
Member No.
Phone No.
State:
Zip:
2010 ATSF Hopper Car - $58
Each Price
Total Price
Total for Cars
SHIPPING $9 per car type.
If ordering more than one car of the
same type, add $4 for each.
Grand Total of Order
*No P.O. Boxes ___ Address above is a business address. ___ Address above is not the same as my SWITCHER mailing address.
Type of Payment:
__ Check #____
___ Money Order
___ Visa
___ MasterCard
___ Discover
Credit card number: _________________________________ Expiration Date:_________3-Digit Code:_____
Cardholder’s Name (please print): ____________________________ Signature: ________________________
By my signature, I authorize LOTS to charge my credit card account for the amount indicated above. If check or money order, make remittance in
correct amount payable to “LOTS” (U.S. Dollars only). Mail or fax completed order form (may be photocopied) to:
LOTS – Past Club Car Order, 6376 West Fork Road, Cincinnati, OH 45247-5704 Phone: 513-598-8240 Fax: 866-286-6416