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Lone Star Trains & Collectibles 4161 Naco-Perrin Blvd. San Antonio, Tx 78217 (210) 655-4665
the newsletter for Lone Star Trains and Collectibles updated July 25, 2008 Contents: June 24, 2008: Lone Star Trains Layout has Changed We have made some exciting changes to the in-store layout. Come on in and see the new action. And keep coming in because there will be many more changes coming over the summer. HUGE THOMAS SALE Now--while supplies last. Receive a FREE Thomas conductor's cap with a $30 or more wooden railway purchase, and receive a special Thomas the Tank Engine Conductor's Cap FOR FREE!!! Note that this hat is not for sale anywhere--the only way you can get it is through this promotion. We have a limited number of hats for this sale, so please come soon if you want to be sure to get one.
ALERT!!
April 21, 2008
We
just purchased about $28,000 worth of store inventory from a hobby store that
is closing. We are inventorying it and putting it out as fast as
possible. Come in and see!!
Birthday / Event Room Completed & Ready The long-awaited event room at Lone Star Trains is now finished and ready to book. We have already hosted a birthday party there, and soon we will be scheduling events, special workshops, and more, so stay tuned. The room has lots of privacy, its own elevated train, and lots of great optional features. Check back soon for a page on our site devoted exclusively to this room. Engineer and railroad enthusiast Joe Covert has passed away On Tuesday, July 12, 2005, the railroading community lost a very important person. Joe had friends everywhere--especially in the railroading world. Joe Covert was a very important part of the atmosphere at Lone Star Trains. He was always ready to help us with any historical railroad information, and was very quick to inform us of any local railroad happenings. In addition, he often allowed us to play with trains from his own collection in the shop. Many of the trains you have seen over the years on Lone Star layouts were Joe's. Joe started his career with the Illinois Central. After a short stint there, he later joined the Missouri Pacific which was later taken over by Union Pacific. In the 1970's, he was instrumental in many projects at the Texas Transportation Museum, some of which he did single-handedly. He was an avid railroad memorabilia collector and historian. He especially loved railroad china. Last year, health reasons forced him to retire from UP. Joe was a fixture in our shop and our daily lives. He was knowledgeable, generous, big-hearted, and most of all, a good friend who enjoyed bringing little bits of sunshine to our daily lives. We will miss him intensely. George "Super Coop" Cooper has passed away George Super Coop Cooper passed away on Monday, November 17, 2003 around noon. In addition to his legendary radio career, Super Coop was the first co-worker at Lone Star Trains and was instrumental in LST's early success. All of us here at the train store will miss his mentoring, kind manner, and friendship very much. Click here to read his obituary. LONE STAR TRAINS FEATURED ON WOAI-TV'S LIVING SHOW Woai-tv channel 4 featured Lone Star Trains and Collectibles on its Friday July 18th telecast. Popular weatherman Maclovio Perez came out with Renee the camaraman and did 4 live spots direct from Lone Star Trains. One spot showed the layout and was used as a teaser during the Regis and Kelly show. Another longer spot featured Maclovio and Lisa Kinsner at the Thomas tables playing and talking Thomas. Another spot featured Mac in the middle of the layout. The longest spot had Mac and Clay Kinsner discussing and showing collectible toys and the different gauges of trains. At the end, Clay presented Mac with a TCA 2006 Convention button which he wore home! July 25, 2008: Atlas O Announces 5% Increases Across the Board Effective August 1. Due to factors beyond Atlas O's control, effective August 1st, 5:00 PM EST, Atlas O will raise prices on all track and accessories by 5%.
JULY 2: IMPORTANT LEGACY UPDATE FROM LIONEL. CLICK HERE. June 2008: Important Announcement from Lionel regarding 2008 volume 1 preorders. 05/01/08: LIONEL EXITS BANKRUPTCY Lionel has fully emerged from Bankruptcy. Current President Jerry Calabrese touts the fact that it has been tough, but it has rejuvenated the company and its resolve noting the record sales over the last three years and new technology such as the Legacy System. The legal troubles are over. Read the Official Press Release here. 04/30/08 04/22/08: New Lionel American Flyer S Gauge Big Boy Delayed Though Lionel and MTH settled their lawsuit, MTH and Korea S Gaugers should not feel alone; there are many other manufacturers and many other items that are caught up in this mess. 04/11/08: Lionel Legacy Update for current owners. Click here. October 27, 2007 Lionel and MTH Reach a Settlement (courtesy Yahoo News) COLUMBIA, Md. - The nation's two largest makers of toy trains are nearing a conclusion to a seven-year-old, multimillion-dollar lawsuit. Columbia-based MTH Electric Trains had sued Lionel, a century-old brand, accusing it of stealing train designs through a Korean subcontractor. The dispute focused on patented computer technology that synchronizes a train set's sound, smoke and speed, critical technology in their small but competitive market. "We're happy that we've reached a settlement," said Jerry Calabrese, chief executive of Lionel, based in Chesterfield, Mich. "It was a long, terrible case." However, MTH founder Mike Wolf said the settlement is contingent on resolving several outstanding issues. "It's not over until it's over," Wolf said. "We don't like each other. It's personal. It's been very difficult." The agreement includes a cash payment from Lionel to MTH and an agreement on future technology uses, but the companies agreed not to reveal details. The Lionel subcontractor was found guilty in a South Korean court of stealing train designs, and MTH then sued Lionel in the United States. A Michigan jury awarded MTH $38.6 million in damages in 2004, but in 2006 the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial. Instead of returning to court, the companies began discussing a settlement. October 5, 2007 LGBoA Signs Exclusive Agreement with Märklin September 21, 2007 Williams Trains Sells to BACHMANN! Here are some exceprts of a letter sent out to all Williams dealers:
July 27: LGB assets taken over by financially challenged Marklin?
The
acquisition of EP Lehmann in Germany has been completed in favor of Marklin.
At this
time we don't have any further information as to what Marklin's intentions for
the US market are.
Representatives
of LGB America are going to Germany next week to try to determine what LGBoA's
position will be in the future with regard to LGB products.
JULY 27: NEW LIONEL CATALOG RELEASED Highlights include Harry Potter train, die cast!, as well as a scale 844 in both gray and black, a Standard Gauge Trolley set and a metal remake of the prewar Flying Yankee! RC2 Issues Thomas the Tank Engine Recall on a Few Items 06/12/07: RC2 issues a recall on a few Thomas
the Tank Engine items.
The recall mostly concerns the red paint used in characters such as James and
accessories such as the Smeltering Yard. Visit http://recalls.rc2.com
for
a complete listing and instructions for sending items back to RC2. Here's
a list of what is affected:
01/28/07: Bobbye Halle Passes Away at 97 This past weekend we lost a true legend in the model railroading business. In 1946, Bobbye Hall was lured into the hobby business by
her husband who wanted her to run a hobby store while he worked.
She was already an avid model railroader with a layout.
The store was a success. Eventually,
she was single and ran the business totally by herself.
She was very involved in the business and became acquaintenaces with most
of the pioneers of the industry such as Mr. Walthers, Mr. Kalmbach, Gordon
Varney, Irv Athearn, and others. After
years of running the very successful hobby business, a friend told her about
importing items from Korea. It did
not take her long to figure out what that could mean for her train business, and
soon she began importing her own line of brass locomotives.
In
the 70's she started Hallmark Models, Inc. bringing in brass HO and N scale
model trains. Even today, brass collectors think of Hallmark as among the better
brass models.
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