TCA Central Missouri Chapter

A Short and Fast Newsletter

  Well, here it is the end of February already.  Your scribe has just gotten back in town and by golly it looks like we’re going to have at least a short newsletter this month.

The February Meeting

   The February meeting was held back at the club house.  The early meeting date must have taken some folks be surprise because only six people showed up. 

   The main topic of discussion was the upcoming show at Pacquin Towers.  Both the President and your scribe reported that several members had called and indicated they would be there.  And will bring trains to run. 

    Your Treasurer collected dues from several members bringing the total of paid memberships up to 14 as of February 2.

March Meeting

   The March meeting will be early again-Wednesday, March 1.  Mark your calendars now so you don’t forget.  See you there.

Pacquin Show

   Since your scribe was out of town, I have no first hand knowledge about how the Pacquin Show went.  But, whilst whiling away my time on a sunny Florida beach I did receive a cell phone call from some rowdies who were at the show.  From the sound of it, the show must have gone quite well.  Of course, the gang I talked to would have had a good time all by themselves if no one showed up! 

An Amazing Circus Model

    While in Florida your scribe had an opportunity to go to the Ringling Museum.  In a separate building there was a gigantic model of a full operating circus complete with all the tents, wagons, people, etc.  This display was so big that you walked in aisles that wound through it so you could see it all.  It was in ¾” scale and included a steam engine and all the flat cars, stock cars and passenger cars of a circus train.  If you happen to be in the Sarasota area this year, it would be well worth it to make a special trip to see it.

Dues are Due

   It’s last call for dues.  If you haven’t paid up, please remember to do so in March.  If you are not on the list, we won’t be sending you this fine newsletter, and even worse, you will be missing the companionship of some fine folks!

K Line News

   Well, the big news now, of course, is that Lionel is taking over K line.  In order to make sure that this information is correct, I have included an excerpt from an announcement from Jerry Calabrese, CEO of Lionel.

K-Line announcement from Jerry Calabrese
02/16/2006

February 16, 2006
 
K-LINE – Having said that, another situation, K-Line, is in need of some explaining. The K-Line bankruptcy continues to generate a lot of legal documents, rumors and speculation that can only be weighed in verbal tonnage and lawyer’s fees. That’s why I want to set the record straight in plain English.

Pending only the final documentation of our agreement with Sanda Kan, K-Line’s main manufacturer and principal creditor, Lionel will take control of the K-Line brand, its tooling, its inventory of unsold products, and everything else that lawyers and accountants call, “assets.” As soon as we can straighten things out and get organized, Lionel will make new products under the K-Line brand, and market and sell those products as part of the Lionel line.

For those of you who have paid for but not received K-Line club products, Lionel is going to make good on your orders. It may take us a little time to sort things out, but I believe giving people what they’ve already paid for is the right thing to do, even though we will be doing so at our own expense. It’s also an important step in rebuilding the K-Line brand and demonstrating Lionel’s long term commitment to K-Line’s fans.

It’s too early to lay out the exact details of how everything will be done in the incorporation of K-Line into Lionel, but we’re working on it and expect a reasonably smooth transition.

Jerry Calabrese

   All of this is of course subject to approval by the various judges, which it appears is supposed to happen on the 28th.  There is lots of information available, much of it confusing.  It appears that the Korean manufacturer of the items for both Lionel and K Line is involved and Lionel will do the marketing.

   So it appears that K Line will survive in some form or another.  At least for now.  It will be quite interesting to see the catalogs that are published this fall!  Stay tuned!

For Sale and Other Stuff

   If anyone has some trains they are thinking of selling and would like to have them posted in the newsletter, please let me know.  And, if anyone moves or changes their address, or especially if you are going to change your E-mail address, please let me know.

Meets and Shows Coming Up

   There are two meets coming up that I found:

   Saturday & Sunday, March 18 & 19
   Greenberg Show
   Gateway Center
   Collinsville, IL

   Saturday, March 18
   Boeing meet
   Queeny Park
   St. Louis, MO

A Final Note

      If anyone has any hot news, general gossip they want to distribute, or something for sale, let me know at r.malon@mchsi.com.  Or give me a call.  See you on the 1st!