founded by her great- grandfather in 1932. Stacey previously
served as vice president of marketing and communications, as
well as consumer marketing manager since joining the com-
pany in 2009 ...
Berkshire Valley update
Last month we noted that Berkshire Valley Models had been
purchased by Rich Rands. Transfer of ownership of the O scale
specialty firm has been confirmed by Rich, who said he and
his partner, John Kalin, are in the process of reorganizing all
operations of the company, replacing some molds, building up
inventory, and developing several new products. The new com-
pany address is P.O. Box 1666, Fenton, Missouri 63026. Rich
and John can be contacted by email at
com. In November we incorrectly stated that Frank Czubryt,
who founded Berkshire in 1989, had passed away. We extend a
sincere apology to Frank and are happy to note that he is alive
and well and recently enjoyed a week of camping in Maine …
Trainfest 2013
The annual Trainfest show is a favorite venue for manufacturers
to preview new products for the coming year. Interesting items
spotted last month at this year’s event include a PS 4750 cov-
ered hopper in Accurail’s exhibit, and decorated shells of HO
scale ALCo Century 430 locomotives in Bowser’s booth along
with engineering samples of an all-new Century 636 loco-
motive scheduled for release next year. Wheels of Time had
early production samples of the new Piggy Packer Intermodal
Loader announced in MRH last September. Traction fans were
happy to see a new brass body kit for an Illinois Terminal class
B motor coming next year from Model Railroad Warehouse,
and Athearn surprised a lot of folks with the unveiling of
three versions of its forthcoming GP7u/GP9u locomotives.
News column - 2
You’ll find details in our Athearn report. MTH showed prepro-
duction samples of various HO models including a new ore
car, and two new steam engines -- a Pennsylvania class H10
2-8-0, and a big Allegheny 2-6-6-6. Atlas showed a revised
S series Alco switcher, and an RS-3 locomotive with a new
exhaust stack. Now let’s see what else is new this month …
NEW PRODUCTS FOR ALL SCALES
Frenchman River Model
Works
is selling a kit for a
scow with a wood deck
that is adaptable to mul-
tiple scales. The dimen-
sions of the finished
model are 12.375'' x 4.125'' which equates to 90' in HO, 66' in
S, and 49' in O scale. The kit is composed of cast resin with
pewter detail parts. It is priced at $45.00.
Kalmbach
has released an updated edition
of Tony Koester’s “Realistic Model
Railroad Operation”. The author
explains how real railroads operate
trains and how hobbyists can apply
those methods to their own model
railroads. Timetable and train order
operation are fully covered, as well
as how cars are switched, how yards
function, and how signals work.
MRH-Dec 2013
