Why has Bobs Train Box been discontinued? Will there be a replacement?
Does anyone have an informtation about that?
I think it's kind of a long, complicated story only Bob himself can answer.
I certainly hope it comes back, access to "Bob's Train Box" is one of the reasons I subscribed to the magazine to begin with.
The episodes were getting harder to do simply because it was tough getting new product from the manufacturers (except Menards) to show. I don't know if I would say it has been discontinued, just not resumed. I'm always game.
Bob Keller
Well thank you gentlemen! Nothing like getting it from HQ at CTT.
Bob, if the manufacturers seem to be slow at getting product to you (Explains why we see so much Menards items) why not borrow stuff from that shop you like? Sommerfelds, I think it's called? From that video you shot there it looks like they've got lots o' stuff! As a matter of fact, you could even film a "Post-war Classics" series, or "MPC Era" series. See what's laying around everyone's collections and go for it!
I like that idea Flintlock. Maybe revisit all the era's, gauges and trains. Many newbies coming into the toy train hobby have no idea the depth of whats out there beyond the new stuff they view online. Start modern and work back or start prewar and work forward. Highlighting stuff along the way, like the scale Hudsons, PRR B6 and OO from before the war, the beautiful tinplate and so forth. Back when I had my last OO set up, many had no idea that Lionel did anything like that, ever. Especially something that nice, that small before WWII. All the best to CTT, look forward to whatever they have new in the works. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I like your "fleshed-out" idea even more Mike!
And the vids wouldn't have to be very long either, say ten to fifteen minutes, brief and to the point. "Here it was, here it is, this is what it did and does..." and so forth. A lot of material out there to work with.
A well known brass retailer who I get my HO brass from, does an online show called Monday Morning Express or MME for short. They highlight things like how to paint and weather your models, some of the behind the scenes to brass collections and so forth. They have been doing it for several seasons. Interviewing different importers/builders/painters ect. The same basic idea could be applied to our old trains. Interview some of the older generation before they are gone. The ones that remember the prewar and postwar years. As most will be gone before much longer. These are kind of like podcasts with different topics in each episode. Interview guys that do OO or knew those that did in the heyday of that scale ect. I bet CTT has the clout to get an interview with Neil Young or others that have/had intimate knowledge at Lionel ect. Lots of potential topics that can be discussed or explored. Put focus on the newcomer, the beginner much like J.L.Cowen's advertising staff did. Less focus on the massive layouts that take deep pockets to achieve. More on what can be done with the average American income. Not everybody is about the new stuff, especailly with what it costs just to get beyond the starter set, which in itself many times has a cost that exceeds what parents are willing to spend on a toy. Yet there are options to go even cheaper yet have a good solid start. Things around the house that cost little to nothing that can become scenery on the layout. This was the "meat" of the magazines years ago. Lets bring it back, in an online edition.
Good stuff Mike! Good stuff indeed!
The only thing I'd add is basic repairs on post-wars. Cleaning, lubrication, brush change-outs, smoke unit rebuilds, the stuff that's easy to learn and do with basic hand tools. Post-wars are very reasonable now that the speculators are out of it (Thank you God!) and they're a good entry point for those who don't have a ton of money to spend. They may be old but they've got decades of life left in 'em if they're cared for properly.
I agree with those topics. We need to teach a whole new generation how to service and maintain their own trains! That was one of the hallmarks of the pre/post war era. Trains you could, with some basic mechanical ablity, maintain on your own. Some of it needing to be done on regular basis like oiling transverse motor bearings(675, 2025 ect). How to service a postwar F3, what to look for. Or for todays topic "I bought these trains that have spent the last 30+ years in the attic, I have no local shop, now what do I do?" A few years ago, the average Lionel model railroader knew the basics to wake up and maintain these. Now...not so much if at all. Use a segment for steam, another for diesels and powered units. The only one I would not do is transformers, that is best left to someone that knows what they are doing since we are playing with potentialy lethal voltage. While some of the older/grumpy folk might complain they know all this. I am not worred or concerned about them. I am worried about the entry level people that like having a classic/vintage train set(be it Lionel, AF, Ives or whatever) but having no clue and no local shop to help. That would be a show stopped for many wishing to dip a toe into the hobby. Good shops are far and few between, especially ones that repair vintage trains. Having to ship stuff adds risk and cost to the whole equation. While I am sure there are youtube how to videos, some are not the best. This would be the perfect place for CTT/Kalmbach to set up and lead. Not every younger person is about the newest or the electronic loaded models(many cannot simply afford them), but can afford a common older model that will most likely need serviced. Teach them! I have! Mikie
To give a good example. A few years ago I was doing repairs on trains at a show, I think I had my 1-700e torn to bits as I had converted it to RS2.5 with TMCC and was dealing with some bugs. A guy walks up with a operator grade 2343 F3's he had bought as he always wanted a set as a child. BUT, they needed woke up as they had sat in a closet for over 30 years. He explained that they lived in the sticks, with no local shop and it took all he had $$ wise just to afford them(this was back when these still fetched much higher prices). I told him to grab a chair and sit down while I buttoned up my big Hudson and we would deal with his train. I tore down the powered unit, explaining to him step by step what I was doing and why. I made him pay close attention as I tore it down short of unsoldering any wires. I cleaned the E unit for him, then told him to take over and do what I told him to do. He learned where to lubricate, then how to reassemble that diesel. As well as oiling the axle bearings on the non powered engine. This type of online teaching tools are needed. Dealing with specific popular engines like the F3's, Turbines, Berkshires, 675/2025/2035(which can be intimidating to take apart). Just my 2 cents. Mike the Aspie
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