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Newsletter

 
*The November meeting
*The Swap Meet
*-The New MTH Catalog Is Out
*Lionel Offers A Rebate

*A Visit To The Mexico HO Club
*
Speaking Of  Meets
*The December Meeting Is Canceled
*Lets Have A Party

Newsletter for November, 2009

The Next Meeting
See you Wednesday, January 6, 2010
promptly between 7 and 7:30 pm.

TCA Central Missouri Chapter


The November Meeting

There was a nice turnout for the November meeting.  The main item of discussion was the arrangements for the upcoming swap meet.  A quick check of the track on the modules showed everything seemed to be in good working order.  The modules were then disassembled and made ready for the move to the swap meet.
                           
The Swap Meet

Our annual swap meet was a nice event again this year. Table reservations were at an all time high of 65.  With the additional tables needed for the various layouts that were on display we came very close to using up the Knights Hall available tables! 

A big thank you to US Rents-It who gave us a discount on renting the truck, and the Columbia Daily Tribune who gave us a free ad-both because we were donating proceeds to the Coyote Hill Children's Home.  When the income and expenses were all totaled up, our Treasurer reports that he was able to send a check to Coyote Hill for $240.

Another big thank you to all who helped move the modules and set up the hall.  And to all who reserved tables and participated in the event.  There were lots of trains of all scales and lots of chatter and laughing.  What more could we ask?

By the way, if you missed seeing Clay's military train, you missed out on one of the most interesting and well done displays we have had in a long time.  26 flatcar load of trucks, jeeps and other military equipment completely detailed including figures.  It was awesome!

The New MTH Catalog Is Out

The new MTH 2010 Volume I catalog is now out.  If you can't find one anywhere else it is available on-line on the MTH web site.  You can download it as a .pdf file but be aware that it is a long file and can take a while, especially if you don't have a high-speed modem. 

Lionel Offers A Rebate

Lionel recently made the following announcement regarding a rebate program they are offering:

"Dear Lionel Customer:
 
Although he wasn't writing about Lionel, Charles Dickens nailed our situation when he wrote "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." 
 
In terms of product, Lionel is about to release what may be the best line-up we've ever made.  And yet, we're not blind to the fact that the economy is still struggling, which may make it hard for consumers to step up and buy the products we know they'll enjoy this year.
 
In order to help make this buying season a little bit easier, I just announced that Lionel would introduce a 10% off rebate on the new products offered in the latest Lionel 2009 Volume 2 catalog.  And 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.)
It's the enthusiasm, loyalty and support of Lionel fans everywhere that allows us to continue making the most innovative product in the market today.  This offer is our way of saying thanks. 
 
We hope you'll enjoy these new products for years to come."

A Visit To The Mexico HO Club

On Tuesday, October 20, several members of the Central Missouri Chapter as well as several members of the Mid-Missouri Railfans visited the Mexico HO Club.  What we saw was mind-boggling.  The layout fills the basement of a large building, is about 35' x 35', is double decked with a 400' main line, with scenery and structures in place for most of the layout.  The club ran two trains of about 50 cars each while we were there with a meet on a long passing siding in approximately the middle of the layout.  A neat detail is the helix in one corner where trains ascend or descend between the upper and lower levels.  There is also a long branch-line that can be operated separately.  The club members set up a tour just for our group and were very gracious hosts.  To see photos and learn more about the cub, log on to their web site at http://www.mexicotrains.com/.

Speaking of Meets

The following is a list of the events for November and December that your scribe found:

     November 28-29
     Great Train Expo
     Gateway Center
     Collinsville, IL

     November 29
     Mid-America Meet
     BTC Exhibit Hall
     I-435 and Front St.
     1775 Universal Ave
     Kansas City, MO

     December 5
     Ozark Division Great Christmas Meet
     Life Christian School
     13001 Gravois Rd
     Sunset Hills, MO

      Also, Ruben Bolton will be holding his annual Christmas open house on:

      Saturday, December 12, 2009
      6:00 - 8:00 pm
      3395 State Road J
      Millersburg, MO
      (0.9 miles south of I-70 at exit #137)
      573-643-8126

The December Meeting Is Canceled

The regular meeting for December has been canceled.  The next regular meeting will be on January 6, 2010, at the clubhouse at the regular time-promptly between 7 and 7:30 PM.  We can set the modules up again and run trains!  See you there.

Let's Have A Party!

Once again John and Debbie Becker have volunteered to host a Central Missouri Chapter Christmas Party at their home at 1507 Tide Water Drive here in Columbia.  The time and date is Friday, December 11, beginning at 6:30 PM.  John asks that everyone bring some sort of snack to pass around.  And it would be good if everyone who plans to attend could let John know so he has some sort of a head count.  Your Scribe and Mrs. Scribe plan to attend and look forward to seeing everyone there.  It will be a good time with lots of trains in John's basement to look at.  See you there!