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The latest news letter from Sunset Models & Golden Gate Depot is available on-line.  The October edition is packed with updates and new product announcements.  Check it out here (pdf).

Sunset Models has released their Spring 2008 catalog.  The catalog contains information about new items from the Third Rail Division of Sunset Models and Golden Gate Depot.  You can check it out here (pdf).

Sunset Models - 3rd Rail Division has announced two new products that are both new interpretations of "old standards" in O Gauge.

Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 4800 "Old Rivets"
Brass / $799.00

Of the dozens of different GG-1 models offered in brass, plastic, and dice-cast, this is the first model of the original GG-1 prototype. The model is offered in four paint schemes, including the original Pennsylvania Railroad 5-Stripe scheme, Conrail blue, Bicentennial Celebration, and the "today" paint scheme that reproduces the look of the locomotive as it is preserved in the State Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Production is limited to 25 copies per paint scheme.

New York Central 1938 20th Century Limited
Streamlined Dreyfuss Hudson / $1199.95
12 Scale 85′ Passenger Cars / $1799.85

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Continue to read GUEST BLOGGER John Ryan - New Products From Sunset Models - 3rd Rail Division

Here are a few stories from the last week or so that broke while OGaugeWatch was on vacation.

1. After a long absence, "Clyde Coil" over at Hi-Rail Times wrote a few posts about Lionel’s Legacy control system.
2. MTH introduced the final Steelers Superbowl Boxcar in the series (unless they win another).
3. The TCA’s New England Division will host the National TCA convention in 2008 in Burlington, VT.  They announced the 2008 convention cars and they are nice.  I’m sure the Ben & Jerry’s refer and the Vermont Railway maxi-stack cars will be a big hit.  Save 5% if you order by 10/31/07.  See all the cars here.
4. 3rd Rail released production photos of their C&O Greenbrier.  What a sharp looking piece.  View the photos here.
5. Marc over at the Standard Gauge Blog found several videos on YouTube of the late Tom Snyder interviewing Ward Kimball, the legendary Disney animator and railroad enthusiast..  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
6. Joshua at the  prewar times Blog posted that MTH is releasing a new tinplate catalog at this October’s TCA York meet.  Keep an eye on prewar times for possible pre-release information about the catalog.

The 3rd Rail division of Sunset Models released a few new pre-production photos of their beautiful C&O Greenbrier J-3 locomotive.  The details are incredible.  Reserve price is $1,195.99 and they are scheduled for a May/June ‘07 delivery.  Check out the photos here.

I never tire of visiting the TCA Museum.  I could spend hours examining all the fine models on display and the great layouts.  Today the TCA held it’s bi-annual open house at the museum.  The open house is always held the day before the Spring and Fall TCA Eastern Division train meets in York, PA.  If you’ve never been to the open house you need to attend at least one.  It’s a great event because most of the influential leaders of the O Gauge industry present their "wares" to the their core demographic and plant the seeds of anticipation by showing pre-production models and hinting at things to come. 

Compared to the Spring ‘06 open house (my first) I thought the attendance was about the same, maybe slightly lower.  Sunset Models/3rd Rail, Weaver Models, MTH, Atlas O and Lionel were all represented as well of Marklin (HO).  In my opinion, the presentations at the Spring open house offered up more interesting and new information.  Nonetheless, there was still some good info to be had.

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Continue to read TCA Fall '06 Open House - Recap Part 1