Figured this belongs here moreso than in the 3R section.

MTH Andy Edleman:

Asked who wants a 44Tonner. He said protosound3 boards will be small enough to accomplish this. Said they'd beat AtlasO to it as a joke.

He also mentioned that the scale protocouplers are coming soon. They are now in HO and that they may start putting both types of couplers in the box to let the modeler choose.

He's still talking right now. Will update as we go.

He also said he thought railking-scale revenue would increase, but actually premier(more scale) items have either stayed the same or increased in revenue.

Said a new website is coming for MTH.



ATLASO Jim Weaver:

Track sales up, engines/freight cars down.

Some layout wanted 60cases of flex track.

Going to get very heavy into passenger trains in 2010. Track and battery options for lights. ABS Plastic to avoid GGD's "heavy" passenger cars.

"Alot of new items."

New locomotives planned for next year.

new line of laser-cut structures: made in-house at Hillside, NJ

scale couplers....Kadee patent is gone. redesigned to act like a kadee and even couplers with 3R couplers now.

first full production cars to get these new couplers are some reefers coming out next month. They will be eventually separately and just replace the same item #s.

Working on a new remote control scale coupler.



Lionel Mike Reagan:

244 service stations...many needed some extra training...198 service stations are fully qualified to work on all trains as of today.

Former TAS employees are now repairing locomotives.

Mike wasn't really didn't know what to expect to say here.

Two odyssey one engines won't be able to perform well when "lashed up". They will run better together without odyssey turned on. The new legacy odyssey does not have an issue. Suggested using ERR cruise commander to lashup fine.

Doesn't have a problem with regular end customers going to training classes for the electronics.

Warranty policy used to be 5 years from date of manufacturing...now its 3 years. If you do not like it, Jerry Calabrese is the man to speak to. (joke)

1yr from date of purchase now for consumables. Warranty items don't include traction tires.

proto2 issues are mostly FET issues on a board....wiring harnesses are rock solid. Lionel is 99% of the time a wiring issue.

Mike will be really happy to let anyone who wants to learn Lionel electronics get a hands-on opportunity.

Thanks to the gracious hosts and presenters for putting this event together.

I hope Terry Wellman makes it back to York soon!