National Toy Train Day?

[Anonymous]

I was reading an article in a Classic Toy Train magazine earlier this year (my dad's) and notice a sidebar that reminded toy train hobbyist to remember National Toy Train Day or National Model Railroad Day in November. I can't remember what the exact Friday in November and was hoping someone else spotted the sidebar article. In a nutshell it mentioned hosting that day at your child's school or local activity to introduce children/adults to the hobby and show the dedication to the hobby. I am planning such an event at my son's Kindergarten Class and wanted to do it on the specific day, although it really doesn't matter.

Thanks in advance.

[Bob Keller]

Take Your Train to Work Day is November 14th.

If you take your loco to work and you get a good photo of it in the work setting, send it in and we might be able to get it in News & Notes!

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[lionelsoni]

TYTTW Day has seemed odd to me since I first heard about it. I would be surprised if my co-workers showed up with stamps, golf clubs, windmill parts, embroidery, coins, etc, and not at all enticed to take up their hobbies. (It has not escaped my notice that TYTTW is promoted by those who profit from the toy-train hobby.)

[Bob Keller]

Hi Bob,

Why aren't coins, golfing, and windmill repair out there trying to do some outreach? Who knows. But if model railroad enthusiasts don't try and interest new people in the hobby, the demographics are against future growth, and it will eventually fade away.

Back when I lived in Seattle, when my club set its layout up at public events, I always made sure our table had handbills listing the local Lionel dealers. I figured if it was easier for consumers to make that trip to a 3-rail retailer, there might be a chance they'd get hooked on the fun of trains. I did this out of my pocket because I like the hobby and don't mind trying to interest others in it.

The World's Greatest Hobby program is supported by the industry to help grow the hobby - but it is also supported by national clubs, a lot of retailers, and a thousand or so hobbyists who won't make a dime out of their participation.

If you have an innovative way to draw some attention to the hobby, by all means get out there and do it. The more people involved, the better!

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[bowlerp]

Bob,

What is acceptable format for trains at work? Will you accept a digital photo? If so, what is the preferred file type (jpeg, TIFF, etc.). If not, what is acceptable film media - 35mm slides. or other? Thanks,

Peter Bowler TCA 00-51981

[Bob Keller]

Hi Peter,

We can accept digital files, but most files that can be e-mailed are too small for us to use larger / wider than a single column. The images I use when I shoot ,products for product news or product reviews are about 25 megs. Digital images of 360 dpi and about 1.5 megs can usually be utilized for a two-column wide image.

The Art Dept can convert a jpg, tiff or gif, I think they prefer jpgs or gifs. Slides or photos are my personal preference because you have all of the data present for scanning!

I'm looking forward to seeing something from you!!

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[Algonquin]

You don't have to bring in an expensive model in to the office to generate interest in the hobby. Several years ago I had one of the large TM post-war trains posters framed and hung it in my office in downtown Chicago. It generated a lot of conversation and I met quite a few new train collectors who were already in my company.

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

This will be my best display for toy trains to date. I mentioned it to some of my co-workers and they are looking foward to it. In the beginning, I just showed up with a loop of track and a running train. The result was I had women asking the intelligent questions and the guys either looking at me funny or asking What the *@?! are you doing? Let's see what happens this time.

[Tetsu Uma]

I'm bringing a short N-scale passenger train (Kato Burlington Route E-9 and four cars) and setting up a loop in the office conference room. I'm even bringing train shaped cookies (Had the cookie cutters for 30 years - thanks Mom). If they arrive in time, I'm going to bring my new Con-Cor bi-level communter cars - just like I ride to work on every day.

A. Cole
Chicago, IL

[Anonymous]

I suppose I should remember to bring a camera in to work next week. We have a trolley line in O27 running 24 feet along the spine of a cubicle block. 8 feet from one end is a wye onto one of the intersecting cube walls. Thanks to lionelsoni's suggestion, the trolly is set up to automatically run to all three ends of the line in succession.

[lionelsoni]

I'm glad to hear that it worked!

[Anonymous]

I'm pressed for time with work stuff today, but I took a few very quick pictures and wrote up a small description of the office layout. Three warnings though.

1. I am an ultra-minimalist when it comes to web pages. Funny colors and formatting be dammed. long live vi as a html editor.

2. the pictures are MASSIVE. 1600x1200

3. Combine that with it being at geocities, and the bandwidth will be choked pretty darn quick.

consider everyone warned. [:o)]

http://www.geocities.com/samndog/

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lionelsoni

(It has not escaped my notice that TYTTW is promoted by those who profit from the toy-train hobby.)

I can't help but wonder who else might be expected to promote it. . . .

I keep a Lionel clock (with the noise diabled), a tiny N-scale diorama, and the famous Hallmark Lionel puzzle in my office year 'round (along with a couple of pics of real trains, a Frisco calendar from 1980, and wall plaque in the form of a 4-4-0).

After Thanksgiving, I erect a small Christmas tree on top of my file cabinets, and an 027 circle just fits on the top. I usually run my Railblazer set from 1987--the red makes for a Christmasy appearance, and the little, light, DC loco doesn't make much noise (the board under the track rests on a piece of carpet, and I used cork roadbed and plastic ties to further reduce the noise).

I've made contact with several other railroad enthusiasts of various kinds, and some of them led to the formation of a local train club.

[lionelsoni]

"I can't help but wonder who else might be expected to promote it. . . ."

Just my point. Although I welcome anyone interested in trains, I would not expect anybody else in the hobby to promote it agressively. I suspect that many people would regard that as a nuisance. I think from your activities that you are also sensitive to that point, since you have gone to great lengths not to give offense, by making your train-related displays benign and unobtrusive, for which I commend you.

[Anonymous]

Bob,

I have pictures of my son's kindergarten class with the trains I took on Nov 14 and not sure where I should send. The files are 600K (medium quality on my 3.1 m/p camera). Should I send the pictures and a write up?

Thanks,

Chris

[Bob Keller]

Hi,

Send them to Neil at [e-mail]

We're looking forward to seeing them!!

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains