O GaugeWatch.com

• Did you read about the “inadvertent inaccuracy” made by Lionel?  Read it here.
• You can check out the 2010 MTH Ready To Run catalog on-line here.
• Rumors that Lionel’s 2010 catalog is due mid March.
• Black Diamond Railway Part II DVD available here.  Part I was fantastic and I’m reading that Part II is just as good.
• Check out the new signs from Miller Engineering.
• Toy train show to benefit food pantry.

• Model Retailer Magazine’s top stories of 2009 includes a story about the World Greatest Hobby Show held in Philadelphia in January 2009.  The article indicate that the show “drew possibly the largest crowd ever to attend a model train show in the U.S.: just over 40,000 in two days”.  Read the “Top Stories” article here.
• This next tidbit is very old news but I just discovered it and it was news to me.  The host of the DIY network series Workin’ on the Railroad, Chris Chianelli, died in January of 2009 of natural causes at age 55.
• Atlas is offering a free look at their Golden Spike Club newsletter.  You can download it here (pdf).

• On December 7th, NBC’s Today show featured a Lionel layout during a spot on model trains.  Click here to view the video.
• MTH posted a video of their new Premier Line SD-35 locomotive here.
• Weaver Models posted information about their new PRR BP-20 A & B units here.
• The New Jersey Hi Railers in conjunction with O Gauge Railroading Magazine are holding an open house on January 16th, 2010.  Get more information here.  Check out the NJ Hi-Railers site for a complete list of all open house dates.
• On December 11th Atlas O announced new paint schemes for several products here.
• Get a video preview of the January 2010 issue of Classic Toy Trains Magazine here.

Model Retailer Magaine published a short article on their website explaining the status of European model railroad manufacturers Marklin, Faller and Fleischmann.  Marklin, which acquired LGB manufacturer E. P. Lehmann in 2007, declared bankruptcy in early 2009 but the article quotes a company official  predicting that Marklin will make a $7 million profit in 2009.  Industry experts are predicting Marklin will find a buyer in 2010.    Model Holding GmbH, majority owner of the once bankrupt European model railroad manufacturer Roco,  acquired Fleischmann back in early 2008.  Fleischmann, a manufacturer of HO an N scale models, is laying off 96 of its 230 workers.  Model Retailer is also reporting that Faller, the German based railroad structure and scenery manufacturer that declared bankruptcy in 2009, is restructuring its workforce.

Walter Matuch of Ready Made Toys is again leading an effort to spread some Christmas cheer to soldiers stationed in the Middle East.  A few years ago Walter coordinated an effort to send an O Gauge Christmas layout complete with trains and scenery to  a US Navy Seabee named Lance and his unit in Iraq.  The layout was a big hit for Lance and his fellow Seabees.

Lance is back in the Middle East for another tour and he and his unit are stationed in Afghanistan building an airstrip.  Walter with the help of other O Gauge companies has arranged for another layout to be sent to the Seabees.  The accommodations for the Seabees are a far cry from what they had in Iraq so space is a premium.  This year’s layout will only be 30″ by 48″.

So how can you help?  You may feel compelled to donate some train items for the layout but since the layout is so small there isn’t a need for that.  Instead, Walter is asking for you to show your support by sending the Seabees a Christmas card and he will make it very easy for you to do so.   All you have to do is send your Christmas cards and notes to Walter and he will take care of getting them to the Seabees in Afghanistan.

Send your Christmas cards (no packages please) to:

US NAVY Seabee Lance
c/o Ready Made Trains, LLC
P.O. Box 173
Bloomsbury, NJ 08804

Cut off date for your card to arrive at RMT®’s Bloomsbury, NJ address is no later than November 30, 2009. Cards and notes will be packed up unopened and sent off by Priority Mail to Afghanistan to arrive by Christmas.

Please take a moment to make this holiday season a little brighter for the brave soldiers volunteering to serve and protect our country.  A big thanks to Walter for coordinating this effort.