Seismic Events

Well, the Lionel/MTH Curriculum vitae is breaking on the internet and I think everyone should be excited/ecstatic about it. Why? Well, it indicates a cessation of hostilities between the two companies; they can get innovating vs. litigating. That's a monstrous thing, not just a good thing. More money should go to R&D, less to legal fees and court costs.

Second and ethical as important; it means standard gauge and prewar trains are still on the minds of both companies. It's funny, I've had several manufacturers at shows let out me that there is no new news in prewar toy trains. All of the new and exciting stuff is in the amazing high rail gear coming out coupled with the electronics that has become omnipresent in the hobby. Yet here we are, two of the largest train manufacturers in our country doing something great and teaming up to make products from yesteryear. And it is promising they will be great products as well.

There is news in great prewar trains and they will continue to get even better in 2009 and 2010. Over 100 years former times their introduction and the innovation hasn't stopped. Here's the whole press release:


From Jerry Calabrese:

Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:02 pm (PST)
From Jerry Calabrese:
Yesterday, an thrilling charge rippled through the model train boards when someone managed to find a draft of a press release on the M.T.H. web site that was not otherwise to hand to the public, and post it on OGR. And while the timing was off by a week or so, the facts are correct.
Since the news leaked yesterday afternoon that Lionel is prosperous to license M.T.H. to use its name on historical tinplate Standard and O Gauge model trains and accessories, a lot of questions have been raised, and I've heard everything from, "Wow, remarkable for the hobby," to "Wow, say it ain't so." I understand that the idea of Lionel and M.T.H. working cooperatively, so soon after settling our long and bitter lawsuit, is a discompose to a lot of people, especially...

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seismic repair News

State, homeowners differ widely on damages from ground-pounding ... - Casper Star-Tribune Online Casper Star-Tribune Online, WY - Jan 25, 2009 Aver, homeowners differ widely on damages from ground-pounding They contend the seismic vibrations shook their houses, accelerated persistent subsidence and generally moved the earth until most homes are now literally

Only 5100 homes used seismic retrofit system - The Daily Yomiuri The Daily Yomiuri, Japan - Jan 16, 2009 Only 5100 homes reach-me-down seismic retrofit system It was almost never used in some other municipalities, including Hiroshima, where only one building underwent repair work using the system,

Millions, years spent repairing TO arts center - Ventura County Star Ventura County Star, CA - Jan 19, 2009 Millions, years fagged out repairing TO arts center Repairs included improvements to deck-to-wall connections, and seismic joint replacement. The newest helping of work, which the council authorized in

Editorial: Now comes hard part for Obama, country - Delaware County Daily Times Delaware County Daily Times, PA - Jan 22, 2009 Leader: Now comes hard part for Obama, country The seismic shift the nation underwent is underscored by the throngs that filled every opening and cranny of the National Mall in Washington,

Public unaware of quake funds / Billions in subsidies for testing ... - The Daily Yomiuri The Daily Yomiuri, Japan - Jan 18, 2009 Famous unaware of quake funds / Billions in subsidies for testing The repair work cost him 2 million yen. The Iwate-Miyagi Inland Earthquake, which leisurely upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7,

Workshop Opens Doors For Soft-Story Ordinance - Alameda Sun Alameda Sun, CA - Jan 23, 2009 Workshop Opens Doors For Plastic-Story Ordinance Berkeley's soft-story ordinance requires owners of these structures to "recollect an engineer to prepare a report identifying seismic weaknesses that follows

Structural flaw may stunt tower - Las Vegas Sun Las Vegas Sun, NV - Jan 07, 2009 Las Vegas SunStructural mark may stunt tower “Just having the rebar there provides some structural strength, but when you have a high swerve or seismic load, you have to tie them together,

MVTHS receives 10-year report - Mt. Vernon Register-News Mt. Vernon Register-News, IL - Jan 24, 2009 MVTHS receives 10-year write-up And, the costs to make the campus buildings brought up to the current seismic code is also cost prohibitive, due to the expense of retrofitting older

Historic structures being evaluated for repairs - Pahrump Valley Times Pahrump Valley Times, NV - Jan 24, 2009 Unforgettable structures being evaluated for repairs The historic structure report and seismic retrofit design drawing are supposed to be completed by Jan. 31. The absolute contract is supposed to be completed

Ancient technique helps researchers build quake-proof house - Hindu Hindu, India - Jan 23, 2009 Antique technique helps researchers build quake-proof house Hickson has been given the go-ahead to safely use his construction system anywhere seismic enterprise is common and a hazard to life.