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HobbyVisions invites Southern California Traction Club to Las Vegas Trade Show!
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In August, HobbyVisions requested that the Southern California Traction Club appear at the four-day HobbyVisions Trade Show, held at the Sands Expo Center, Spring Mountain Drive & Koval Boulevard in Las Vegas, NV. So matter how many times, you have or have not visited Las Vegas, there is always something to amaze you, either within or without the show.

Many model train vendors, such as Athearn, Atlas and Walthers, skipped this show, due to the impending show in Chicago. But those who were there displayed some interesting items. Bachmann displayed their new E-Z Command DCC System, which will bring this method of model train operation to many more modelers. LGB showed their new New York City streetcar, which in truth is the New Orleans streetcar in a new paint scheme. But it looks good and sounds even better.

The new line of HO scale code 83 track from Peco was also displayed. It is a promising addition to the track choices available to modelers.

Meanwhile, The SCTC was track testing the new Bowser floor for the AHM/IHC/Mehano LRV (See article in column two)

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Southern California Traction Club Announces 2005 Appearances
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The Southern California Traction Club announced their 2005 schedule appearances on October 24, 2004. For hobbyists interested in pursuing traction as a hobby, there is no easier way to get ALL your questions answered than to visit the club during one of these appearances:

Jan 15-16 Model Train Expo - Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA.
Jan 29-30 Great American Train Show - Fairplex, Pomona , CA
Feb 19-20 World's Greatest Hobby on Tour - Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
Mar 12-13 Great American Train Show - Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, CA
May 21-22 NMRA LA-Div - South Coast Botanic Gardens, Palos Verdes, CA
Oct 22-23 NMRA LA Div - Descanso Gardens, LaCanada Flintridge, CA
Dec 3-4 Great American Train Show - Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA

Schedules have a habit of changing for many different reasons, so check the club web site for later information as 2005 approaches. Meanwhile, the club will appear at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on December 4-5, 2004 and at the Anaheim Convention Center on December 11-12, 2004.

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Bowser Purchases Stewart Hobbies
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Trolleyville learned on October 19th that Bowser Manufacturing has purchased Stewart Hobbies. The following announcement was made by Lee English of Bowser Manufacturing:

"Bowser Mfg. Co., Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Stewart Hobbies, Inc. We wish to thank Steve Stewart for 20 years of excellence in model railroad manufacturing. Bowser will continue the proud tradition that Steve has established. These great models will continue to be marketed under the name Stewart Hobbies and, as always, will be available at your local hobby shop and model railroad retailer."

Look for some exciting new releases as the competencies of these two companies are combined. We will pass information on to you as details emerge!


November 2004

HobbyVisions invites Southern California Traction Club to Las Vegas Trade Show! ***** In August, HobbyVisions requested that the Southern California Traction Club appear at the four-day HobbyVisions Trade Show, held at the Sands Expo Center, Spring Mountain Drive & Koval Boulevard in Las Vegas, NV. So matter how many times, you have or have not visited Las Vegas, there is always something to amaze you, either within or without the show. Many model train vendors, such as Athearn, Atlas and Walthers, skipped this show, due to the impending show in Chicago. But those who were there displayed some interesting items. Bachmann displayed their new E-Z Command DCC System, which will bring this method of model train operation to many more modelers. LGB showed their new New York City streetcar, which in truth is the New Orleans streetcar in a new paint scheme. But it looks good and sounds even better. The new line of HO scale code 83 track from Peco was also displayed. It is a promising addition to the track choices available to modelers. Meanwhile, The SCTC was track testing the new Bowser floor for the AHM/IHC/Mehano LRV (See article in column two) _____________________________________________________ Southern California Traction Club Announces 2005 Appearances *** The Southern California Traction Club announced their 2005 schedule appearances on October 24, 2004. For hobbyists interested in pursuing traction as a hobby, there is no easier way to get ALL your questions answered than to visit the club during one of these appearances: Jan 15-16 Model Train Expo - Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA. Jan 29-30 Great American Train Show - Fairplex, Pomona , CA Feb 19-20 World's Greatest Hobby on Tour - Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA Mar 12-13 Great American Train Show - Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, CA May 21-22 NMRA LA-Div - South Coast Botanic Gardens, Palos Verdes, CA Oct 22-23 NMRA LA Div - Descanso Gardens, LaCanada Flintridge, CA Dec 3-4 Great American Train Show - Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA Schedules have a habit of changing for many different reasons, so check the club web site for later information as 2005 approaches. Meanwhile, the club will appear at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on December 4-5, 2004 and at the Anaheim Convention Center on December 11-12, 2004. _____________________________________________________________ Bowser Purchases Stewart Hobbies * Trolleyville learned on October 19th that Bowser Manufacturing has purchased Stewart Hobbies. The following announcement was made by Lee English of Bowser Manufacturing: "Bowser Mfg. Co., Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Stewart Hobbies, Inc. We wish to thank Steve Stewart for 20 years of excellence in model railroad manufacturing. Bowser will continue the proud tradition that Steve has established. These great models will continue to be marketed under the name Stewart Hobbies and, as always, will be available at your local hobby shop and model railroad retailer." Look for some exciting new releases as the competencies of these two companies are combined. We will pass information on to you as details emerge!	Still More about Bowser HO scale Traction Floors! * The first Bowser production LRV floor was equipped with two bowser 125100 mechanisms and A-line 20040 flywheels with a preliminary wiring plan and sent to work on the club layout during the October 6-10 HobbyVisions Trade show. During the show, several potential problems were discovered and rectified so the production floors should be available by the christmas season. At this show, the production unit, Boston 3400, was coupled to the pre-production unit, Boston 3402 using the Kato Tomlinson couplers marketed by Custom Traxx as shown below: Meanwhile, the next two floors under development, were on display at the show. Both the floor for the Ken kidder Double Truck Birney and the Pacific Electric Double End PCC car floors were displayed along with one of the LRV floors. These pre-product on floors were send back to Bowser with Custom Traxx recommendations right after the HobbyVisions Show. The recent purchase of Stewart Hobbies could affect the availability of these floors, so please keep checking the Times for the progress on these floors or contact Custom Traxx (310-990-5422) for the latest information. _________________________________________________ World's Greatest Hobby On Tour Announces Shows!** The World's Greatest Hobby on Tour (WGHoT) announced their train shows with a new approach. These shows will be aimed at the general public, who have a demonstrated love of trains instead of the continuously dwindling number of avid model railroaders. HobbyVisions Trade show. WGHoT is sponsored by the Model Railroad Industry Association and managed by CIA Incorporated. CIA Incorporated is headed by the Chairman, Dave Swanson, who with a team of other model train enthusiasts, developed the Great American Train Show in the 1980s and still operates the most successful monthly train show in the country, the Great Midwest Train Show in Wheaton, Illinois. The show schedule is: Dec 11-12, 2004 - Edison NJ, Expo Center; Jan 8-9, 2005 - Saint Louis MO, America's Center Feb 19-20, 2005 - Long Beach CA, Convention Center Feb 26-27 - Denver CO, Convention Center. Each show will feature over 50,000 sq ft of railroad oriented entertainment including a live musical stage; Choo Choo Charlie the Railroad Robot; a huge children's Railroad Playland; and The Walt Disney Railroad story Exhibition. Those of you who always wanted to try model trains and have been put off by indifferent hobby shop employees, confusing instructions by experienced model railroader associates and any other reasons, should visit this show and find out what you have really been missing. For more information, contact the WGHoT staff by phone at 630-279-5094 or by email at Staff@wghshow.com. You owe it to yourself as a lover of model trains to attend these shows if you are in these areas. The future of model railroading will be affected by these shows, one way or another, so be there and see for yourself.