O GaugeWatch.com

• Bachmann released a free on-line version of the 2010 Williams by Bachmann catalog.  You can download it here.
• MTH released the 2010 O Gauge Volume 2 catalog.  Visit the MTH site for more details here.
• Weaver’s spring 2010 catalog can be downloaded here.
• Lionel sunsets its revolutionary (at the time) TrainMaster Command set.  Read more here.
• Brian Ellerby, founder of Evergreen Scale Models, died on April 29, 2010.  Read about Mr. Ellerby here.
• Woodland Scenics announces e-newsletter.
• AristoCraft bringing their Train Engineer Control System to O/O-27.  Read about it here.

3 new 2010 catalogs were just released:

Lionel 2010 Ready To Run Catalog
Lionel 2010 Signature Edition Catalog
Lionel Corporation 2010 Tinplate Catalog

Model Retailer Magazine is reporting that a German newspaper Südwest Presse reported…

a delegation from U.S. toy train manufacturer Lionel has visited Märklin’s production facilities in Göppingen in Germany and Györ in Hungary, presumably with interest in purchasing the company.

Märklin, a German toy and model train manufacturer that was founded in 1891, is about to emerge from an early 2009 bankruptcy.  The company is turning a profit and apparently Lionel is showing interest in purchasing the company.  Märklin’s trains are unique because they are powered by a hidden 3rd rail in the middle of the track.

Read the entire Model Retailer article here.

As part of a new Christmas email campaign, Lionel will be sending an email a day starting on December 1st to help you count down the 25 days ’til Christmas.  The emails will highlight different Lionel products and also contain clips from the new Lionelville DVD and products tips.  You must sign up to receive the emails by visiting Lionel.com.

Also, Lionel has announced a Black Friday sale at it’s Rockefeller Center store location.  All Lionel sets, engines and rolling stock will be 20% off.  Get more details here.

Lionel has opened a flagship retail store in New York City in Rockefeller Center.  To celebrate the opening Lionel is offering a 20% “Friends and Family” discount on merchandise purchased at the flagship store between November 9th and 16th.  To receive the 20% discount, present this coupon at time of purchase.  The address of the new store is:

The Lionel Store
30 Rockefeller Plaza
50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues
New York, NY

The store will be opened through the holidays closing on January 5th, 2010. Store hours will be 10 am - 9 pm weekdays and 11 am - 7 pm weekends, but will often have extended hours for special events and celebrations.

Read the press release announcing the store’s opening here.

Lionel is offering a 10% off rebate on all new products in their 2009 Volume 2 catalog.  According to Lionel:

…we’re making the program as easy to implement as possible.

This 2009 coupon will be available on the Lionel website - www.lionel.com - starting Tuesday, October 20.  To take advantage of the offer, here’s all consumers have to do:

• Print the coupon from the website
• Fill out the coupon with your name and mailing address
• Send in the completed coupon along with the original receipt from an authorized Lionel dealer that identifies the product purchased and its price to:

Lionel 2009 Rebate Program
26750 Twenty-Three Mile Road
Chesterfield, MI 48051

• The coupon will apply to the over 100 new items listed in the Lionel 2009 Volume 2 catalog. (Applicable products will be clearly listed on the Lionel website.)

Check out the entire rebate offer announcement at Lionel.com