Have you checked the consignment area recently?

Over the last couple of months many interesting items have come and gone through the consignment area.  Have you been looking for a special something that is hard to find?  If so you should be checking the listing we have on-line.  Last week the on-line listing was updated to reflect all that is currently out on our shelves.  For anyone looking for CN items you may want to take a look as there are some CN passenger cars and locomotives that have been received which are new and reasonably priced.

If you have items that you no longer wish and would like to have them added to our consignment area send us a quick email.

The Holidays are coming

Hard to believe that the holidays are coming and time is running by quickly.  We will be welcoming in 2010 before we know it.  With the holidays comes gift giving and here are some things that you may wish to add to your list:

County Line Caboose Gift Cards, available in any amount

Stocking stuffers for the train lover starting at under $5.00

Tail End Accessory Kits custom built to add realism to your current layout or layout in progress

Books or DVD’s-check out our listing on line for available titles or email us your wish list

Woodland Scenics Learning Kits covering 6 different scenery topics

New Items Coming

Watch for the following new products that should be arriving in the store. If there is something that interests you, contact us and we will set it aside for you when it arrives.  If there is a new product not on the list that you know is coming out and would like to reserve, please drop us a line and we will be happy to order it for you.

• Rapido
• Ho Scale Macdonald-Cartier “Rusty” Magnetic Metal Couplers-ETA winter 2009 available in the following:
• Short Shank RAP-102024 $6.95 MSRP (4 Pair)
• Medium Shank RAP-102025 $6.95 MSRP (4 Pair)
• Long Shank RAP-102026 $6.95 MSRP (4 Pair)
• Ho Scale BX Express Trucks RAP-102030 - $9.95 MSRP – ETA Winter 2009
• Fully Assembled and RTR
• Detailed on all four sides with separately applied parts per truck
• Insulated metal RP-25 wheel sets
• Steam Memories of Lindsay by Ian Wilson
• ETA March 2010
• Canadian Rails Vintage Scrapbook DVD
• Model Railroad Planning 2010
• Rapido Transcona Yard Caboose (TH&B and CP Rail)
• Royalty Rides the Rails-A railroad perspective of the 1939 Canadian/USA Royal Tour by Larry Shaak

12th Annual Model Railroad Garage Sale Date Set

Planning and preparation is currently underway for the 12th Annual Model Railroad Garage Sale.  The date of the 2010 event is Saturday, May 15.  So mark the date on the calendar early to avoid disappointment.  More details will follow as event plans are brought together.  If you know already that you wish be a vendor, please drop us a quick email so your space can be reserved.  We are also looking for volunteers for the day to help the event run smoothly.  If you think you can assist us please let us know.

Athearn Discontinues the Beloved Blue Box Line

Athearn recently announced that they are ceasing the production of their Blue Box line immediately.  They have decided to focus more on the Ready To Run line in the future.  While we still have some stock, once these kits are gone we will not be able to order any more.  For a complete listing of the ones that we still have in stock please check out the on-line catalogue. 

So what does that mean for the modeller that likes to build the kits over having the ready-to-run product?  Well to fill the gap left by Athearn we will be stocking more Accurail car kits starting immediately. 

We are also ordering in more of the Branchline Yard Master series kits for those that have been asking about us expanding that line.

While these are some of the items we are bringing in as standard stock to fill the gap left by the Blue Box line there are many other kits out there made by others that may have a high level of difficulty and are ordered in as well.  Some of these are the George Taylor kits, Sylvan and Branchline Blueprint Trains. 

Grey Central Railway Club Christmas Open House

It is this time of year that people think more of trains than any other time-the train running under the Christmas Tree, or the train display in the front window of one of the stores you may pass.  Trains are a magical thing at this time of year, and seeing them run brings joy to many.

The Grey Central Railway Club is opening up their layout to the public on Sunday, December 13, 2009 from Noon to 5:00pm.  Come see their layout in action, and talk to members of the group while you are there as they share their hobby with you.  Admission is by donation and all are welcome.  For the little train lovers Thomas The Tank Engine will be making a visit on the layout as well.  This is a great holiday afternoon activity that can be shared by the whole family.  Come experience the magic of the holidays through a train ride on the Grey Central.

The Grey Central Railway Club is located at the Participation Lodge Facility in Holland Centre.  For more information call Al at (519) 794-3692.

Check Out the New Layout!

A big thank you to the Saugeen Modellers who have donated their demonstration layout to be used in the store and to show off their love of the hobby.  If you have not been in for while this is something you are going to have to stop in to see.  Our current layout that was here for some time continues to be a work in progress, so it is nice to have a finished one to show off. 

The Saugeen Modellers meet once a month and are always looking for new members to share the hobby with.  If you are new to the hobby and would like to take in a meeting, please drop us a quick email and we will pass along their contact information.  If you are new to the hobby, or are an experienced modeler this group may be just the right fit for you to share your knowledge with others or gain some along the way.

The Saugeen Modellers are located in Hanover and surrounding area.

December Special

December is structure month.  Purchase any Pikestuff, Rix, or Smalltown USA structures and receive 10% off the regular price when you mention this special.

Upcoming Train Shows

Woodstock Model Train Show*

• When:
  • January 3, 2010  10:00am - 3:00pm
• Where:
  • Oxford Auditorium Woodstock Fairgrounds
  • 875 Nellis Street
  • Woodstock, ON
• Contact Info:
  • Ian Ward (519) 426-8875
  • toyshow@kwic.com

Paris Junction 2010 Model Train Show*

• When:
  • January 17, 2010 10:00am – 4:00pm
• Where:
  • Paris Fair Grounds
  • Silver Street
  • Paris, ON
• Contact Info:
  • John Moseley (519) 455-1311 or email jmoseley@sympatico.ca 

TH&B Model Railroader Flea Market*

• When:
  • January 31, 2010  10:00am – 3:30pm
• Where:
  • Marritt Hall
  • Ancaster Fair Grounds
  • 630 Trinity Road
  • Ancaster, ON
• Contact Info:
  • (905) 335-9112

Dundas Modular Railway Club Flea Market

• When:
  • February 13, 2010  10:00am - 3:00pm
• Where:
  • St. Paul’s United Church
  • 29 Park Street West
  • Dundas, ON
• Contact Info:
  • Bryant - (905) 387-5669
  • Mert - (905) 627-0038
  • Tom - (905) 575-9326
  • Gerry - (905) 628-8840
  • tczerned@cogeco.ca

Kitchener Model Train Show*

• When:
  • March 28, 2010  10:00am - 3:00pm
• Where:
  • Bingemans
  • 425 Bingemans Centre Drive
  • Kitchener, ON
• Contact Info:
  • Ian Ward (519) 426-8875
  • toyshow@kwic.com

* - Denotes shows that County Line Caboose will be attending.

Train Show Locations

Summer is Fading to Fall

Well it has been a busy summer, but now with fall coming it is time for me to get back to doing the newsletters more on a monthly basis.  I hope everyone had a great summer despite the poor weather and temperature for the majority of it. 

For those that dropped by during the summer you may have found us busy redoing the front of the caboose.  Yes there are 126 boards on the front alone and they are now replaced and the caboose is looking all new from the front side.  While it looks a little off right now, plans are in the works to have the CN logo returned and the caboose number added either later this fall or early into the spring of 2010 depending on the weather. 

With the onset of fall approaching it is time for all of us to start thinking of all the time during the winter months that we will have to work on our hobby.  This may be a rather short newsletter as I try to get things caught up, more of the new and coming items will be covered in the October newsletter, I promise.

Enjoy the read, and as always I welcome all comments and suggestions on improving our little Tail End Publication.

Take in a Local Train Show

For those of you that are local to the Grey-Bruce area I invite you to join us at the 4th Annual Open House and Train show presented by the Grey Central Railway Club along with the Midwestern Chapter of the Canadian Association of Railway Modellers as they host their Day at The Clinics.  This proves to be an informative day for both the beginner and expert and if you have the time it is well worth a trip.  You will be able to meet others in the hobby local to your area, gain knowledge from the clinics being presented, and the best part—attend a local train show in the Grey-Bruce area.  If you are interested in attending and wish more details they can be found in he shows section of this newsletter. 

New Products

The following new products have arrived since the last newsletter:

• Model Railroader October 2009 
• Trains October 2009 
• Branchline September 2009
• Garden Railways October 2009
• Railtime DVD – ALCO’s of MLW and Bombardier – The Last Years (RT-ALCO)
• Walthers HO 2010 Reference Catalogue (913-210)
• Various Mix N scale Model Power Rolling Stock
• Steam Scenes 2010 Calendar (100-CT2010)
• HO Model Power RCMP Police Car (490-19403)
• HO-Rapido Steam Generator Car (CNR) 1954 Scheme
• HO-Rapido Steam Generator Car CN Rail 1961 Scheme
• Morning Sun-Ontario Northland In Color (MS-1350)
• HO-True Line Trains CP Caboose (Block and Script Lettering)

11th Annual Model Railroad Garage Sale

Well once again our Model Railroad Garage sale is just a distant memory.  While the weather did not co-operate well this year, everyone that came found some treasures, made some new friends, and may have even learned a few tricks of the hobby that they were not aware of before.

Attendance was up even though the weather man forecasted gloom for the day.  Plans for the 2010 event have already begun and more details will released in upcoming newsletters.  If you wish to be a volunteer for the 2010 event please contact me.

I wish to thank all the vendors and buyers that came to make the show a success.  A big heartfelt thanks also goes to our wonderful volunteers and all those that stayed to help clean up the event at the end—it was greatly appreciated.  I think we got things put away in record-breaking time and in-between the rain drops—thanks again.

Also all the donations collected from the event go right back into it to improve it for next year.  This year we added the 26’ x 12’ canopy for extra vendors to be able to sell outside when the bays filled.  We also are slowly starting to purchase folding 6 foot tables to make the event more uniform in setup as well.

Everyday Low Prices

The following is a list of the items that we have at everyday low prices all the time:

• Kadee #5 couplers HO (2 pair package) 380-5 - $3.25
• HO Proto wheel sets
  • 36" Wheel Sets 920-21257 - $7.75
  • 33" Flat Back Wheel Sets 920-21258 - $7.75
  • 33" Ribbed Back Wheel Sets 920-21259 - $7.75
• Model Flex Paint - $4.29
• Atlas Code 100 Flex Track 150-168 - $3.95

Upcoming Train Shows

Grey Central Railway Club 4th Annual Open House & Train Show / CARM Midwestern Ontario Day at the Clinics*

• When:
  • September 19, 2009  10:00am – 4:00pm
• Where:
  • Participation Lodge (5 Minutes east of Holland Centre on Side Road 30)
  • Holland Centre, ON
• Contact Info:
  • Vendor info Al (519) 794-3692
  • Clinic Info Paul (519) 538-5904
  • pkorhonen@rogers.com

Brampton 2009 Model Railroad Show*

• When:
  • October 3, 2009  10:00am – 4:30pm
  • October 4, 2009  10:00am – 4:00pm
• Where:
  • Brampton Fair Grounds
  • On Heart Lake Road (3km North of Mayfield Road)
  • Brampton, ON
• Contact Info:
• Dean Beech (905) 454-5853
• Terry Link at BMRS@canadasouthern.com

Woodstock Model Train Show*

• When:
  • October 18, 2009  10:00am - 3:00pm
• Where:
  • Oxford Auditorium Woodstock Fairgrounds
  • 875 Nellis Street
  • Woodstock, ON
• Contact Info:
  • Ian Ward (519) 426-8875
  • toyshow@kwic.com

Kitchener Model Train Show*

• When:
  • November 1, 2009  10:00am - 3:00pm
• Where:
  • Bingemans
  • 425 Bingemans Centre Drive
  • Kitchener, ON
• Contact Info:
  • Ian Ward (519) 426-8875
  • toyshow@kwic.com

* - Denotes shows that County Line Caboose will be attending.

Train Show Locations

View Larger Map