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The latest and the greatest from Mr. Muffin's Trains

March 2015 - I haven't upgraded the news on our website since October????? What have we been doing all winter? Running Trains! We ahve been crazy busy helping build layouts for people; receiving and shipping hundreds of new trains; getting the pre-orders processed for the new Lionel 2015 Catalog and working on our layout.

In addition to all the Monon Passenger Sets coming in and almost all of them leaving, we have been working with MTH on our next Monon special run. To be announced soon! Fox 59 came to visit and we were all over the telly - that brought in a lot of new people to see our layout for the first time.

October 2014 - What a month we are having! In addition to lots of folks visiting us at MrMuffin'sTrains, Mrs Muffin and I attended the Eastern Division Meet of the Train Collectors Association in York, PA. For the first time we staffed a booth in the Orange Hall. Our friend, Jim Robinson of Bridgeboss was under the weather so we invaded his booth and sold his stuff and some of ours. We had a lot of fun.

Our friends

September 2014 - Lots going on at MrMuffin'sTrains this Fall. The Lionel train sets have arrived for this holiday season and we are offering our guests that visit us here at MrMuffin'sTrains the opportunity to purchase one of these select sets for $100 off of the MSRP price. "While supplies last", as they say on the radio.

We are getting ready to head to the Train Collector's Association Eastern Division train meet at the fairgrounds in York, PA in October. For the first time, we will host a table in the Orange Hall with our friends from Bridge Boss. If you're going to the meet, stop by and say hello at booth AA08.

Here's a link to a new video we shot this month on our layout: MrMuffin'sTrains West End Video

CTT FF2

Summer 2014 - What an incredible summer we have had at MrMuffin'sTrains! In July we had the Lionel Collector's Club of America National Convention here in Indianapolis, and hundreds of O Gauge Model Railroad enthusists visited us and enjoyed our layout and collection. And boy did they eat some muffins! They literally came by the bus full.

During July, Roger Farkash of TW TrainWorx, Ed Boyle of OGR Magazine and Mike Reagan of Lionel, LLC also visited with us here at MrMuffin'sTrains.

MTH Electric Trains finalized the drawings for the Premier F-3 AA Diesel Set with a matching Premier 5 Car Passenger Set and a Passenger Railway Post Office (RPO) Car. The F-3 A Unit paint scheme is shown below.

Finally, as the summer comes to a close, Classic Toy Trains Magazine ran a feature article, including the cover shot, in their October issue of our old layout. What a terrific job they did! Thank you Roger Carp and CTT.

MTH Premier F3A in Monon livery

May 2014 - MrMuffin’sTrains of Carmel, Indiana, has contracted with MTH Electric Trains to produce a Premier F-3 AA Diesel Set with a matching Premier 5 Car Passenger Set and a Passenger Railway Post Office (RPO) Car. This paint scheme is the famous Monon Red, Gray, and White, as pictured above, prior to the FRA standardization of the F-3s series. You will note this is the original paint scheme, as received from EMD, with the two tone gray sides and gray roof.


The train being modeled is “The Thoroughbred” which ran from Chicago to Louisville serving, amongst others, the Indiana college communities of Rennsselaer (St. Joseph’s College), Lafayette (Purdue University), Greencastle (DePauw University), and Bloomington (Indiana University).   
MTH is projecting a scheduled ship date of November of 2014.  This special MTH run for MrMuffin’sTrains is LIMITED to 100 sets.
MrMuffin’sTrains is a member of the TCA and the LCCA, and received significant assistance on developing the specifications for this set from fellow members too many to list.

The prices of the items are:

  • MTH Premier F3 AA Set – MONON - $659.95
  • MTH Premier 5 Car Passenger Set (Smooth) - MONON - $449.95
  • MTH Premier RPO Passenger Car (Smooth) – MONON - $99.95

You may place your reservation for this set by calling MrMuffin’sTrains at 317.569.1999; placing your reservation via email to mrmuffinstrains@att.net; or via our ecommerce site at www.mrmuffinstrains.org/shop.  A single $100 deposit is requested to reserve your order. Please find below a picture of the prototype diesel pair, and MTH's drawings of the matching passenger cars - The RPO; Baggage; one of the Coaches; and the Observation Car. 

 

Monon F Units

Monon RPO

Monon Baggage

Monon Coach

Monon Observation

April 2014 - The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) and the Autism Society of Indiana invite you to attend an open house event at MrMuffin'sTrains on Saturday, May 3rd from 10-4. The event is open to all LCCA members, and members of the Autism Society of Indiana familes and friends.

Like Trains? Here's an easy way to get in the hobby!

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) and the Lionel Corporation have designed an easy way for people that are interested in the hobby of model railroading but don't have the room for a big layout to get started in the hobby by constructing a 30" by 45" "module" that can be connected with other modules to form a large layout and run trains. This size was chosen as it can be easily transported in a car for public display. Lionel and the LCCA offer a module construction kit that includes all of the standard electrical and mechanical connections that you need. Add a piece of plywood, and some 2" by 2" legs, and you have everything you need to build a model train module of your own.

MrMuffin'sTrains of Carmel, IN (146 W. Carmel Drive) is offering to assist families that would like to build their own module, and is hosting an open house on Saturday, May 3rd to show a module and share more information. Mr. Muffin's hope is that families that are interested, will build a module and have it ready for inclusion in a large modular railroad planned for the Lionel Collector's Club National Convention to be held in Indianapolis July 21st through July 26th.

Here is a short video that further describes the module: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jeIpBRBeO8

Have questions? Call MrMuffin at 317.569.1999

February 2014 - Enjoying our new location and the new layout.

LizandBuffet

We have two levels of track running and are running trains every Saturday now, as construction continues through the week. Mrs Muffin is axious to get started on the mountain scenery, but she has to wait until we get the benchwork and track in for the third level. In the interim, she is working on some of the scenery, including applying "rust" to the Buffet Bridge as shown here.

December 2013 - Construction on the new layout is underway!

Clouds

So, as it was explained to me, this time we are going to do scenery in sections while we can reach it and not wait until after all of the track is in and its impossible to reach anything! A case in point. Construction was delayed while MrsMuffin experimented with painting clouds. Really? We don't need clouds. So, as I am heading back to the workshop for a couple of tools that weren't on the cart as Mr Bugs has taught - what do I discover? Clouds!

November 17, 2013 - We have moved!



We moved our trains; our old layout has come down; and we have added to the shortage of high quality birch plywood in Carmel Indiana as we started construction on the new layout.

Our new location is at 146 W. Carmel Drive, Carmel, IN 46032.

Look for the red awnings. Or the snow on the red awnings.

 		  

October 20, 2013 - Our truck has arrived!

With our new location, we are planning to create custom layouts for families that want to get into Model Railroading as a hobby. As Mrs. Muffin says "Hobbies make a House a Home" and we are all about helping people learn about and enjoy this hobby. Crum Cake and Mr. Muffin, shown in the picture below, picked up our truck, so we are ready to deliver and install layouts. Plus, it makes a great billboard in front of our new location. Have you seen it 'out and about' in Carmel?


The Truck!

August 18, 2013 - Big news from MrMuffin'sTrains!

We have leased a new and bigger location on the other side of the track!

We will be building a much larger layout; have a couple of smaller layouts for guest operation; and space for conducting workshops on layout construction and scenery techniques. We might even have room enough to display ALL of our trains!

Our guests will be able to see the new layout as we build it. More bridges, more scenes, more fun!

We will also have expanded hours of operation, Monday through Saturday.

We will be running trains in our current location during September, starting Saturday the 7th, and begin moving by late October. Please come see us in November and snap some pictures of the old layout before it comes down!

Mrs. Muffin says we will have some new muffin recipes!

Please spread the word!

March 8, 2013- We had the "Retired Train Guys" from the Train Collectors' Association (TCA) visit us at Train Central this afternoon. They meet monthly and joined us for their March meeting. We had 30 or so train cronies on site and had a good time running trains and talking about the layout. In addition to hostessing the group, Ms. Eclair made cheesecake bars and brownies!

March 4, 2013 - Our Grand Muffin, Blueberry Muffin, came and spent the weekend with us. She volunteered to help with some scenery and welcomed out guests at Train Central. She also got pretty experienced at running trains!

Blueberry Muffin

February 17, 2013 - I haven't been in here since June?

June 15, 2012- We are making a lot of progress building the new layout. The Mini-Muffin is kitbashing a large train station out of 8 Disney World train station kits..... Here he has the basic units assembled and is starting to put them together. The final station will be in the shape of an "H". Sort of a quad.

May 5, 2012 - back from York, and then some - We had a great trip to York and added several engines to our collections. There were good deals to be had almost everywhere and we cleaned up on several new and like-new MTH Premier goodies like a PRR Bi-Centennial GG1; a pair of NH EP-3's; a PRR Mountain and Q2; and another Milwaukee Little Joe. We picked up a N&W Streamlined "J". We also scored a Lionel Legacy EM-1 and a Blue Comet Pacific.

Since we have been back, we have been working on the layout. We assembled the ten foot tall side walls to which we will install the bench work and we will complete hanging the lighting tomorrow. Mini-Muffin has been an incredible help. I expect we will complete the back drops this week, and maybe even paint them - then the bench work goes in. 

April 14, 2012 - Pre-York - What a difference a year can make! During 2011, we packed up all of the trains and took down the layout. We sold the big house and I moved to the "little house". At Fall York, my daughter, Cheesecake, went with me and we had a great time. For the first time we took a table, hauled out some of our trains, and actually thinned the collection a little bit. Well, not much - about 2%, but we got to meet a lot of great people. It was amazing, but with a table, you stay pretty stationary and all of your buds come through. Since the move, we have been looking for a place to build a new layout and a location where we can have the place open to the public. Given Carmel, Indiana has an Arts and Design District, we have been trying to locate in or near it. Yesterday, we signed a lease on an 1800 square foot location. In addition to a large room for the train layout, it has a loft for storage, an office area, a couple of locations for a workshop and is plumbed and wired for a small kitchen area. We visited yesterday, and the landlord is completing some "touch-ups". We will pick up the keys when we return from York and get to work. It looks like the layout will occupy 26' by nearly 40' so it will be almost 2.5 times the previous layout. We will have room for the coal mine we bought from B.T.S. and a turntable and roundhouse this time. Pretty exciting time at the Muffin's!

 

Christmas Eve - 2010 - All of the family is here at the Muffin's Christmas Eve having our traditional appetizer buffet and then down to the basement to run trains. Mini-Muffin caught the Mr. in the center of the west end of the layout and snapped this photo. Gives you a good shot of part of the layout over all. I am sure we will be running more trains tomorrow and will post more photos. Merry Christmas - and God Bless us everyone!

November 25, 2010 - Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Maybe working on the layout today - we have some open houses planned for December. Here's the Dreyfus coming across the bridge and passing the Reading 2-8-0 Consolidation with a coal drag and our new Reading cabeese.

November 14, 2010 - Had time today to work on the scenery some and run some trains. The JLC Allegheny was pulling a long long string of Atlas O hoppers. Some pals on the OGR Forum put me on to a source for detail castings as I was wanting to add an abandoned vehicle into my little forest ledge below Celesteville. They're from Rusty Rail - http://rustyrail.com/NewOScaleProducts2009.htm. I finished the first car and put in in place - looks pretty good!

November 7, 2010 - Ran some trains today! Here's the MTH Premier PRR 2-10-4 Texan pulling a string of Southern Pacific - Pacific Fruit Express Reefers. It has one monster tender.

October 31, 2010 - Building more display shelves! We drug the table saw out into the driveway and routed some additional 1 by 4's to build additional train shelves. We started assembling them around the layout - not everywhere as I still need access under the table - but we assembled over 200' of additional shelf space and started unpacking all of the trains that previously were stored under the layout. It's been great to see these pieces out of their boxes and enjoy them. Here are a couple of shots:

October 16, 2010 - Back from York! We had a great time. Attended the DCS Users Group meeting for the first time on Wednesday night and enjoyed the whole OGR Forum crowd at our Thursday at Friday's dinner meeting. Here's a shot of Brother Ben from the NJ Highrollers - er - Highrailers.

Mr. Muffin spent way too much money! We were able to pick up some MTH steamers on the sure-would-like-to-have-them-someday list. We bought me a pair of Y-3's for my birthday, one in Norfolk and Western and one in Virginian, and then had a PRR streamlined K-4 for me at home. Plus a set of the long-sold-out PRR E-8's she got from Sidetrack Hobbies in MD. I will add some pictures of all of my loot on the collection pages. The folks at TNC Enterprises from Elizabethtown, KY had all 8 of the Pacific Fruit Express Southern Pacific steel reefers at York and gave me a great price on them. Plus, as long as we are confessing the whole mother lode, Vince's Trains, and our pal Train Pop, filled my cup overflowing with a PRR Mountain, Decapod and a J1 2-10-4 Texan. Their Decapod was the short tendered version and later we found the long tendered version as well. Throw in a couple of cabeese; a Reading RPO; a NYC Gray E6B for our ABA set; and some buildings by Donna and we have a filled truck. All the rain Thursday didn't bother us a bit - except now it's 6 months until the next York. Dang it.

   

September 15, 2010 - Well, MTH offered these smooth-sided passenger cars several years ago in this scheme I really liked - at least from the photos and Jimmy at the Homer City Poor House had a set, but by the time I decided that we should get them - they were long gone. A few weeks ago a matching RPO came up on eBay and I got it for like half price - swell - I could finally see what the scheme looked like in person. To my disgust - it is fabulous and the car sets are all sold out. Last week I hear that Side Track Hobbies is having a big sale and behold - they have the passenger cars - and for like $150 off MSRP. They arrived this week. Now I just need to figure out what I should use to pull them! Guys on the OGR forum are saying the PRR T-1; PRR S-1 or maybe a GG-1. My buddy Carl says "Nah, get a Streamlined K-4."

September 6, 2010 - Labor Day - Spent part of the day just doing general clean up in and around the layout.... we had some spider webs move in here and there and they needed to be eradicated before we get into train season. I didn't run anything but one of my sons is here, and he gets video stuff, so we may try to film some "action" for the first time - exciting! The new Atlas O 8K tank cars came - what great paint schemes - see an example below. I am hoping the Erie F's come in before York - which by the way - is just 38 days away!

Deep-Rock Tanker

August 9, 2010 - Almost time for train season again. It has been so stinkin' hot and humid in this part of the galaxy, I should stay in the basement and work of the trains. TrainWorld put out an e-mail today with this engine in HO, the HH660 that we still don't have in O. Jim Weaver - what are you thinking? We need this and in Erie too.... 

 

July 13, 2010 - Have to keep up with Brother Ben with his train license plate for his truck:

April 24, 2010 - Home from York and what a great time we had. Thursday nights OGR Forum dinner meeting at Friday's was the best yet and just about all of our train Cronies were there - though we did miss PRRBill. We bought a 2nd Western Maryland Challenger from Kirk at Justrains; a couple of Atlas O diesels from Norm's O Scale; some Atlas O WM hoppers from Beth at Public Delivery Track; and lots of scenery stuff from our friends and Scenic Express.

Weaver formally announced they are doing the Lackawanna Pocono steam engine and Lackawanna cabeese to go with them. What great news for the Muffins. We expect to see them by year end. I hear they are selling very well. Here's a link to the Pocono.

 

April 18, 2010 - My Sister, Melba, came to visit today and she helped us run some trains. Up from Florida for the weekend she spent the day with us. Her husband, Cinnamon Toast, didn't make the trip this time. For 39 years he has been her favorite spice - can you believe it? She was yelling "Woo-woo" so loud she had to take over the Cab 1 - and then she started up not only the C&O Allegheny ("the 16", she says) but the C&O F-19 ("the 90", she says). We had swell time. She is very serious about running her trains - take a look!

 

April 9, 2010 - Getting ready for York and completing some projects on the layout. Here's a new restaurant in our more seedy part of town - named for my good friends - the Bugansky's. Looks pretty good - and they have their new convertible out front! You can see the fence work in the back yard and the trash cans. Theirs going to be a big tomato patch back there as well as soon as the planting gets underway. Steaks, Chops and Cocktails - what could be better?

 

 

March 21, 2010 - Bob does it again. He has a special run of Golden Gate Depot Madison passenger cars run in both Lackawanna and the Erie 2-tone green scheme. He's going to get all of my allowance and right before York! Guess I will have to start rummaging through the sofa cushions again for lost change or maybe sell Louise. Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

We really need Weaver to announce that Lackawanna steamer - the Pocono - as promised!

 

February 18, 2010 - Our pal, Bob Thatcher at AMHobbies (www.amhobbiesonline.com) is offering a special run flat with trailers in Lackawanna. These cars by Weaver are great - and this special run will be a real winner.

January 31, 2010 - Been really busy this month but did get some time on the layout. Seems like a few boxes show up from time to time all month with additional "stuff" for the layout. About the only new engine was this Milwaukee electric. It got on the track today and out for a spin:

Finished this kit for the layout - "Saul's Clay Pot Company"..... I need to complete the sign and some additional details but I really like how it came out.....

December 30, 2009 - 3rd Rail Norfolk and Western Y6b makes it's first appearance on the Muffin's layout.... and the MTH Premier NYC 2-8-0 Consolidation takes over pulling an express reefer train:

                    More N&W Y6b Photos

December 26, 2009 - Baby Crepe and Grandpa run some trains...

Croissant and Baby Crepe do some track repairs - thanks guys!

December 25, 2009 - Christmas! My daughter, Cheesecake made me a quilt for Christmas - and only Eastern Roads - smart girl!

December 24, 2009 - Christmas Eve. The Grand Muffins are here and BlueBerry Muffin grabbed the camera and started shooting. She squeezed off a 150 shots or so before we got called for dinner. See some of the shots she took, below. My favorite is the shot of her Dad, Mr. Crepe, checking out the MTH Premier Reading Camelback coming across the bridge. Merry Christmas everyone!

The MTH Premier T-1 and Hudson:

The MTH Premier PRR T-1....

The Allegheny speeds by....

MTH Premier Hudson...

December 20, 2009 - In New York I visited Crumb Cake, Cornbread and Croissant and we stopped by Macy's on 34th Street to visit their toy train layout.

  

  

 

November 1, 2009 - I am finally getting into this whole lighting thing. We picked up a lit police car, ambulance and bus at York and we added them to the layout today.

Plus, we have gone back and added outside lights to several buildings using the prebuilt HO lights from Walthers (www.walthers.com). It really makes the layout look better.

We also added a Korber Grain Elevator next door to Campbell's.

 

October 25, 2009 - Up on the table again. I was planning to have to use plaster cloth for background scenery behind the long bridge on the north side of the layout but we found a foil sheet that looked like stone at Scenic Express at York. (www.scenicexpress.com) These sheets are rather large and flexible; and they look great, so we installed about six feet of backdrop. I spent the day wrapping up a bunch of projects that needed closure. For example, all the street lights are installed at CelesteVille, and I installed cobblestone streets at ElyseBurg. Having fun on the layout today!

 

October 17, 2009 - The Muffins are back from York - the rainiest and coldest trip yet - we heard there was even snow just north of us in Hershey. We picked up the new Milwaukee Road F6a Steamer from Kirk at Justrains (www.justrains.com) and bought another pile of people for the layout (www.arttista.com).  Had a great time at Thursdays at Friday's and Mr and Mrs Farmer Bill had dinner with me Friday night. Not much new announced at York - but I spent quite a bit of time looking at the 3rd Rail N&W Y6's that will be coming out - hoping for one for my Christmas present - we will see. Sounds like the new MTH Premier Mohawks are all but sold out - and we didn't order one - dang.

Here's a shot of one of the 5 - count them - 5 Mohawk versions offered by MTH. Rich Battista posted this on the OGR Forum. Thanks Rich!

August 16, 2009 - The Grand Muffins were here for the weekend and after I wore them out at the water park it was time to run a few trains. Cheesecake, shown here, wanted to help Grandpa put some of the people on the layout, so we spent nap time sorting through the people we have stock piled and adding a few to the city scenes - even some dogs and cats.

By the way, that's our new and just on the tracks Western Maryland 2-8-0 Consolidation pulling a coal drag as some NYC varnish passes by.

For more pictures of the WM 2-8-0 Consolidation roaming the layout - visit here.

July 12, 2009 - Beautiful weather here, but I have a cold, so have been working on the railroad today.....

Completed the Downtown Deco Angels Flight Hotel kit and tucked it in off the alley behind the barbershop in ElyseBurg... Really like the way this is coming together. I ordered some new cobblestone streets that were referenced on the OGR Forum. Once the streets are in we can finish the detailing and add people, puppies and foliage...

I bought an advertised "O" Downtown Deco limited edition kit off a popular seller on eBay. Built it, then realized it was HO. Really got hosed - I over paid for it. The seller insisted that it wasn't his mistake. Pinged Randy at Downtown Deco and he confirmed that the Porky's Restaurant was never offered in O. I sold the assembled HO kit on eBay for like 10% of what I paid for it, and low and behold Randy sends me a very similar kit in "O".... I made similar signs on the computer and found a nice pig for the roof and like that - it's all made good. Thanks Randy!

I bought the NYO&W Camelback, I think it was for Valentine's Day. One really nice engine.... Here it's spotting a couple of 36' reefers... We have the NYO&W bobber caboose on order from Jimmy at the Homer City Poor House (www.jimstrainshop.com) and looking forward to adding that to the consist.

   

 

May 24, 2009 - I traveled to North Judson, Indiana to see Rich Melvin and the Nickel Plate Road's restored 765 Berkshire.

Rich is the publisher of the O Gauge Railroading Magazine and is also a steam locomotive mogul piloting the NKP 765 with Ohio Central passenger cars at North Judson, Indiana this weekend. I went up to say hello and see the 765 in action. It was amazing.

Here are a few more photos:

Rich and Mr Muffin

Rich piloting the NKP Berkshire

May 3, 2009 - Jeff Sohn repaints a pair of MTH Premier U-Boats - U-30Cs in Erie-Lackawanna for us. Wow. Can't wait until they get here.

 

April 23, 2009  - Back from York and what a good time we had.... The big news was that Atlas O announced doing the F3's in Erie's freight paint scheme - I can not wait until this version is released..... Erie F3 by Atlas O

We spent Wednesday going over to Justrains of Delaware to see Kirk and he made us a couple of offers we couldn't refuse.

Thursday's at Friday's with the OGR crew was the best ever, and at the Grandstand meeting on Friday I got all of the industry news down and posted as promised on the OGR Forum Friday night before heading for home on Saturday.

Here we are at Fridays - Mr Muffin with his pal, Brother Ben.....

Here's the link to the OGR Summary: http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/680106341?r=248104741#248104741

I had the most fun shopping for people for the layout at Arttista's display in the Orange Hall.... I ended up with 115 new figures and will add them to the layout shortly..... 

 

January 23, 2009 - Downtown Deco calls for preorders for their latest kit...

Randy Pepprock says that he will make his latest HO scale kit -  Gugisberg Machining in O scale if he gets enough pre-orders - about 100... The picture of the HO kit assembled is below. If you're interested, please e-mail him at downtowndeco@montana.com.

January 9, 2009 - Atlas O announces new C424's and 40' AAR Box Cars

New C424's

New 40' AAR Box Cars

December 21, 2008 - The Muffin's host a neighborhood open house and run some trains!

Many were invited and a few came to see what the Muffin's have been doing in the basement with all of that lumber and late night sessions. We had a grand time running trains and showing folks our collection. Engineer Steve made the scene and helped Mr. Muffin run the trains so he could entertain his neighbors and their questions - what a pal - thanks Engineer Steve!

Some of the Grand Muffins came too - here's Baby Crepe and his Mom, Cheesecake.

 

November 22, 2008 - Trains are able to run on both levels with both MTH's DCS and Lionel's TMCC command control. Tonight we were running C&O steamers on the lower level and NYC steamers on the upper level.

C&O Kanawha and F-19 George Washington on the lower level

NYC Berkshire passing the Empire State and another shot with it's string of empties.

November 18, 2008 - Layout plan posted under "Our O Gauge Layout" Section

Recently I drew up a quick schematic of how our layout looks - at least the major track plan. It is posted in the section titled "Our O Gauge Layout."

I have finally got all of the track powered up. The TMCC engines came right up - we were running several but I couldn't get the MTH DCS System back online and functioning. Several of the folks on the OGR Forum offered suggestions, then finally I got it to work on two loops. I ran the MTH Premier P5a Boxcab for awhile then fired up the MTH Premier Kanawha Steamer and it ran flawlessly. I started adding on passenger cars then decided that was enough for one day.

I staged several engines for running tomorrow including the MTH Premier 0-8-0 in C&O and the MTH Premier 2-8-4 NYC A2 Berkshire.

I need to run by Radio Shack and buy some additional 28 Volt light bulbs for connecting to the TIU Output's - seems to improve and settle down the DCS signal. Need to add the second TIU back online tomorrow.

I have taken several pictures of how the layout is progressing and will post them in the next few days. I am sure enjoying working on the layout. Did have a moment of anxiety today though - I was finally unboxing a set of Lionel Empire State passenger cars for running in the upper loop behind the ESE Hudson when I found under the pile a Lionel 2-10-4 Texan in PRR new in the box. I checked and I already have one on the shelf - I hosed up and bought two of these! Ugh!

November 17, 2008 - Sounds like MTH is finally shipping the reissued Premier Triplex....

We have an Erie in all black ordered from the Homer City Poor House and I am looking forward to receiving it. We have a case of Weaver hopper cars just waiting for it to make our acquaintance.

October 19, 2008 - The Muffin's are back from York....

Had a great time - best time ever.... Thursday at Friday's "was a blast"; found some good deals; some stuff we had been looking for for awhile; and finally bought all of the stuff to get started on the scenery on the layout. We just need to finish the last of the track work and we can get started.

Atlas O hinted at scale passenger cars in the Masterline series - probably Madison's and a new and larger steam engine for next year. They finally cataloged the C&O covered hoppers and we will be getting a case of those. More pictures when I get the truck unloaded.

 

October 15, 2008 - Mr Muffin celebrates his birthday by visiting the Homer City Poor House - aka Jim's Trains

I went over to visit Jim and Peggy Sutter at Jim's Train Shop aka The Homer City Poor House on Wednesday October 15th to celebrate the Mr's birthday on the way to York. They have a great shop - three immaculate rooms with a big layout in the center of the largest room. We have never seen a shop so well organized nor the products displayed where each can be seen and inspected.

I got the new Premier Boston and Albany Hudson for my birthday and I added some New Haven passenger cars for my New Haven electric. We took some pictures, shown below, though neither Peggy nor the layout got snapped.

Here's the sign out front....  

The Command Center....

Jimmy was on the phone calling MTH to solve a problem for a customer from Arizona.... Growl....

 

 

June 30, 2008 - Atlas O ships latest run of 40' Reefers

We received a case from Bob Thatcher at AMHobbies of the 4 different milk cars offered by Atlas O and then received a special run 40' Reefer from GB TV in Wisconsin decorated for Red Crown Prepared Meats. The folks at GB TV included a cool one page summary of the history of the packing company - very interesting.

Milk Car Reefers   Red Crown Reefer

Father's Day 2008 - We had the whole Muffin crowd together in the greater Chicago area for Father's Day. The group included the eldest daughter, Cheesecake and her husband, MrCrepe; the three sons - Crumbcake; MiniMuffin and Croissant; and the Grand Muffins - BlueBerry Muffin; Snack Cake; and Baby Crepe. A good time was had by all.

 

May 27, 2008 - and while we are taking pictures - here's a couple of shots of MTH's Premier Hudson NYC Lines Passenger Set....

   

 

 

May 27, 2008 - Mr Muffin completes his conquest of the "exercise" room....

 

       

April 15, 2008 - The Muffin's visit Justrains in Delaware

While at York, I had to run down to Newark Delaware and visited Kirk, Mike and the whole crew at Justrains today. A way big shop, they had about half their stuff for York already packed. I picked out a pile of Weaver RPO and Baggage Cars in Pennsylvania for us to outfit an express train to run behind some of our PRR electrics.

 

     

 

February 10, 2008 - New Layout Wiring Complete

Today, I completed the wiring on the new layout. Looks wonderful and we used over 2000 feet of wire. Here's a picture.

   

January 4, 2008 - The Atlas O EMD F units arrive.

Four cases - what did we order? Well, most likely an A-B consist in B&M Minuteman scheme; a pair of A's in NYC and 4 of the DL&W Freight F's. I need to open them and add them to our inventory. We are not going to talk about the fact that Brother Ben got his 2 complete A-B-B-A's in Lackawanna LAST Friday. Hell it was even last year!

December 28, 2007 - The Muffin's wrap up construction in the new basement - we are now ready for trains again!

Last night we put the door knobs on all of the doors and baffles on all of the ceiling cans and called it done. The basement is ready for the trains to come back from storage. Time to start on the bench work. The space is "L" shaped with nice windows, approximately 25' by 20'. Both sides of the L are about 15' across. We put a bathroom down there as the Mr. is almost older than dirt and won't have to go up and down the stairs every 20 minutes. Funny, but we made it big enough for a separate counter for a coffee maker and since we may not always feel like coffee there's enough room for a small refrigerator. Swell.     

 

 

December 1, 2007 - Finally picked up the Lionel Century Club Trainmasters

And, only paid $10 plus shipping MORE than what the guy offered to sell them to me at York. What an idiot. Good thing the Mrs. doesn't keep score. Of course, it could be worse like the half dozen times already I have bought a PRR S-1, then decided it was stupid, sell it and start looking for one again in no time......

Back from York - Fall 2007

October 20, 2007 - What oinkers. We were on a mission to have a great time and come back without a second mortgage. Failed. We picked up a second 3rd Rail Greenbrier, plus their late-model Allegheny and a brand new Pennsylvania T-1. I got a great deal on an MTH Reading T-1 so now we need the passenger cars, and we bought another Weaver NKP Hudson on closeout. The one that got away was a pair of mint Lionel Century Club II Trainmasters in the FM Demonstrator paint. Dang it.

Atlas O finally announces the Alco C-628's in LV Cornell Red - hot dog. We ordered a pair. In Monon too.

Atlas O C-628 in LV Cornell Red

Spring York - 2007

April 21, 2007 - We brought back a Lionel NKP Berkshire and a Weaver NKP Hudson and several MTH passenger cars, including the new RPOs, to go with them. Also got a case or two of Atlas O War Emergency Hoppers in PRR from Justrains. Finally met Bob Thatcher from A&M Hobbies - what a swell guy. Spent most of our time there socking up on Korber parts and begging Atlas O for a C-628 in LV Cornell Red and F units in Erie.   

Lionel's C&O F-19 finally on the track.

February 18, 2007 - Tons of snow on the ground here so a good day to work on the railroad. The Lionel F-19 was unboxed and took over for the Allegheny pulling the C&O George Washington this afternoon. What a gorgeous engine - and with that Vanderbilt tender. Here she is passing a string of milk cars at the ice house.

  

 

Weaver Nickel Plate Road Hudson acquired and put to work.

The Mrs bought this for me at York in April 2006. Here she is pulling some NKP varnish and a string of 36' reefers.

 

Atlas O announces two more special run reefers today!

News flash 5/3/2004 - just when we were getting a handle on new products about to ship, Atlas O sends out another flyer announcing 2 more reefers available only to dealers that participate in their track buys. They are 8125 Fairmont and 8126 Bourk-Donaldson-Taylor. Atlas says that they plan to ship them by July!

Atlas O New Reefers 05032004

Us Muffins back from York!

Back from York, Spring 2004 and had a great time. Atlas showed several new projects, and we ordered several new cars. We found an RS-1 in SusieQ with the matching caboose; picked up a used Mikado in NKP at a good price; and she bought me one of the new MTH Alleghenies in C&O livery for my Easter present - looks like I will have to do more than a card!

Atlas O announces 70 Ton Covered Hoppers in Erie and NKP:

We're going to have to order all of these. The Southern Pacific cars look good too!

Erie

NKP

MTH Empire State Passenger set finally make it to the Muffins:

We just recently received our MTH Premier Passenger Set for the Empire State Hudson - now that's an eyeful of NYC. The Empire State made its inaugural run on December 7, 1941 and was soon lost in the news of the day.  

Atlas announces boat loads of new reefers - both 36' and 40' plus several special runs.

Odds are that they will all show up at the same time and I'll be back in the poor house or the dog house - of maybe have to spend time in both! Please see a summary of these announced reefers here:

Grand Muffin Celeste learns TMCC lesson #1 - Blowing the Whistle:

The Muffins Grand Daughter - little Celeste - learns how to use the TMCC Cab 1 Remote - well at least to blow the whistle. With her sights on replacing Rich Melvin in future OGR TMCC videos, Celeste too a turn at blowing the whistles on several of the Muffin's steamers. With her Dad, Lance, playing a supporting role - she is sure to be a big success.

Celeste, her Dad and the TMCC Cab 1 hard at work

Speaking of "Home for the Holidays" - Crumbcake, Croissant join the MiniMuffin and make it home for the holidays.

Crumbcake pointing out the S-1 - his favorite steamer

The MiniMuffin and his favorites - the Erie Triplexes

Croissant "muffin handles" VA Triplex

Weaver ships the long awaited Vo1000 - a first generation diesel from Baldwin - in Lehigh Valley colors

Weaver's Vo1000 in LV - Photo from Bob Thatcher

Weaver's LV Vo1000 Interior

The Lionel H-7 in Chesapeake and Ohio makes it "home for the holidays"

We picked up our H-7 right before Christmas and got it out of the box and took it for a run on Christmas day. The 2-10-4 Texan took the day off and the H-7 picked up its load of 20 Atlas O C&O hoppers for the day. We have added more shots of the H-7 in "Our Collection" section - but here's one to get you started:

Lionel's H-7 in Chesapeake and Ohio livery

Robert Thatcher announces new Atlas O Reefer

Today, Robert Thatcher of AM Hobbies announced another Atlas O special run reefer - a 40' variety in Lehigh Valley livery. This will be one of my favorites!

Atlas O 40' Woodside Reefer in Lehigh Valley

Brother Yo visits - October 26th:

Brother Yo, or Yojimbo from the OGR Magazine's O gauge Forum, visited the Muffin household and shared dinner and running trains.  He was instrumental in diagnosing a track problem, and suggested that the Muffin's start scenicing by working on the upper level back drops first.

The gentleman from Minnesota was a gracious guest and a pleasure to have visit - we hope that he returns often.

York - Fall 2003:

Mr Muffin attended the TCA Eastern Division meet in York, PA October 15th through the 18th. Mr Muffin's birthday was the 15th and it was a very nice way to celebrate. The highlight of the meet was the opening of the new Orange Hall and they had consolidated all of the dealers into one very large building. I have been lifting weights for several weeks in order to be sure I could muscle my way in when the opening bell sounded.

At the show, we were very impressed with the new offerings from Atlas: their new GP-35 in Reading; the Erie Built's and the Double Door Box Cars were on display. Lionel announced the C&O H-7 and what an engine it is.

We picked up a few Atlas cars we were looking for and an MTH Premier J1e Hudson with the PT tender.

We visited B&E Hobbies in downtown York for the first time - a very nice shop. We found there a Downtown Deco 2 stall engine house kit.

 

 

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New Website Features & Updates

11/23/2007 - We added the "Train to Heaven" section to our website.

12/30/2003 - We have added pictures of the new Lionel H-7 in C&O and all of the new Atlas O reefers to our website.

10/29/2003 - Mr. "Bugs" visited the Muffin website today and offered his congratulations on this first cut at an O gauge website.

10/25/2003 - Mr. Muffin's Trains website is first published to the web

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Recent Media Coverage of Mr. Muffin's Trains

Featured on the OGR O Gauge Forum:

MrMuffin is the official unofficial reporter for the OGR Grandstand meeting at York. His Fall 2007 report was posted on Friday night, 10/19/2007 after the 2:00pm session and the link is included here:

October 19th, 2007 York OGR Grandstand Meeting Report

 

The York Pledge - Fall 2007 Edition..... 10/14/2007 by MrMuffin'sTrains

While I continue to be heavily conflicted on the subject of seeking permission or forgiveness, I think that making an effort, prior to our departures for York and coming face-2-face with the many temptations that await us, to craft a sacred pledge, each of our own choosing, could be our only salvation.

So, following last fall and spring's hardly successful attempt at this; and in the spirit of Brother Yo's O Gauge Confessional, while borrowing heavily from the cherished tradition of New Year's Resolutions, I , MrMuffin, am re-instituting, via this OGR Forum, an official place for each and every one of us to post, for all to see, our individual York Pledges for this the Fall 2007 pilgrimage.

And not that those of you that are not attending York should be smug about the great temptations we attendees will certainly face, please be reminded that you too should be thinking about your own York Pledge, as I for one have bought many a train that was not in the plan because I was not at York and therefore had saved a bundle and should treat myself for my frugalness....

Therefore, to kick us off, I, MrMuffin pledge to:
 
  • Not buy a single steamer even though I think I really need a new one. Okay, well maybe only one if I see a third-rail piece I have been coveting; or maybe the MTH Reading T-1 if it's on blow out; okay - or maybe just a PRR Texan, or Mountain if I can't find a Texan; or, I know, only get one steamer, maybe, like another 3rd Rail Greenbrier but only if it's at a good price, or maybe.....
     
  • Not buy any of the EM-1's that will be for sale cheap because they were repainted in Erie colors following Brother Ben's declaration that that was the next big thing. They then discovered that nobody in his right mind wants an EM-1 painted in Erie....
     
  • Not get mad at Atlas O for a) failing to anounce any additional 36' reefers; b) failing to announce any new engines at York; and c) refusing to give really good hints about the next F’s to be run..... But those 53'6" reefers are so so nice - why why why did I buy only 3 of them?
     
  • Not say anything in my posts about Steve Ross' girlfriend and the studded whatever she was wearing that got me in so much trouble with Mrs Muffin last spring....
     
  • Not pay $900 or more for all of the Lionel steamers that I passed on when they were being blown out for $600 or so 2 years ago
     
  • Not start collecting any new roadnames – particularly not Milwaukee even though the Mrs likes the schemes and I might be able to get away with it
     
  • Not trick MrsMuffin into carrying all of the boxes to the car with my little hesitation move and cough - at least not if it's raining
     
  • Not make MrsMuffin drive all of the way back to Indianapolis with not one but two boxes of china on her lap and some sticky thing with a stupid sign on it like "sunshine makes the flowers dance" stuck next to her head because the car was too full of a “few extra things” for me last time
     
  • Nor once again tell MrsMuffin that the only reason we are going to the grandstand at 2 is because Neil Young will be there, and that the seats have finally been padded, and Ed has the program down to 20 minutes tops..... Last spring she kept muttering - "Oh, please kill me now" while I was trying to take good notes....
     
  • Politely thank Mike for any new tooling in Premier Steamers even if it’s some stupid road down south as Mr Lash is now hintiing. All this west of the Mississippi has been bad enough - but now we are doing trains that ran in the south? Who could possibly care.... Mike - what color is the sky in your world?..... Tony can't tell us which road it is because, like me, he doesn't remember any of the roads that ran in the south.....
     
  • Not try to match PRRBill in ordering the same number of to-be-announced P5a's, or whatever they are called, even though they look real cool and I would love to MU them.... Mike - are you out of new electrics yet? We need re-issues of the FF-2's.... TRy finding a Premier GG-1 on eBay that isn't Conrail or Re-rail or whatever.....
     
  • Not make Mrs Muffin hunt and hunt and hunt for K-Line C&O passenger cars that she knows I had once and sold before I knew that I really wanted them..... Maybe I will get her to hunt for the Readings instead.....
     
  • Not beg Kirk, like I did last time, to bring me all 8 or whatever Atlas O WE hoppers in PRR then have to explain to MrsMuffin that the PRR was a farm team for the mighty Erie when she was going through our inventory sheets while paying the bill saying "heh - why are we buying these when we just sold all of the PRR steamers we had to buy Greenbriers?"

    Only by taking such a bold step can we benefit from each others support as we face this most difficult time of year. That's right - it's time to stand up and pledge!

    So come on now - how about the rest of you birds?

     
    		•

    New Thread on "The Importance of limits....." 01/27/2007 by MrMuffin'sTrains

    I mean I grew up understanding the importance of limits.... Like sticking to a single drink type when going out - such as forgoing a Harvey wallbanger after a glass of merlot.... asking out my girl friend's best friend..... asking one of my sons to hold my ice cream cone for a minute while I tied my shoes.... stuff like that....

    That's why since we sold off an entire estates worth of HO and reinvested it all into say one or two steamers in O, I have stuck pretty religiously to eastern roads.... Of course, I was pretty good at even limiting that for awhile as in no stinkin' PRR... until PRRBill and others came along with some cool pictures, and MTH, those - well you know, "Fella's" came out with that FF-2.... Then that led to some PRR madisons and that S-1, then Bob Thatcher's custom run 36' ers, then the "why don't we have any GG-1's?" from the Mrs followed by GG-1's for Christmas....

    I digress....

    Anyway - limitations - I have dutifully stuck with Eastern Roads.... I can easily ignore the siren call of the Santa Fe - they were always considered "guests" in Chicago..... and held up pretty good through the onslaught of the various electrics labeled Milwaukee Road in those fabulous paint schemes sent by the "Fellas" above and the kind people from Weaver.... Plus those Indian trains from the guys with the orange boxes.....

    But now - I have noticed my flipping through the MTH catalog and pausing oh, so slowly, as I pass the pages with the Milwaukee electrics.... and in the new Lionel catalog - the newly announced Milwaukee madisons.... My C&O GW's are real real nice so these Milwaukees would be.....

    I wonder if the Rock Island ever ran any of these fancy pants engines east?....

    and and and.... that Texas Special.... I think even Brother Yo used to talk about the Texas Special.... it's special alright.....

    And we have been to Texas and one has to have souvenirs right? Remembrances of life’s little adventures?... When was it we were in Texas - was it Austin or Houston? One of those "txn" places - they all look the same....

    Maybe I just need to snap myself out of this and order one of those new WM Challengers with the expectation that the tax refund I am still fantasing we will get, we will actually get this year.... and then keep my head down and start looking for WM hoppers to go with it.....

    Reminds me sort of when I took my sons back to DisneyWorld as teenagers and asked them if it was how they remembered it - and they said no.... It's a lot smaller but where did all of these girls come from?
     

    Featured on the OGR O Gauge Forum:

    A response to the thread: When trains crash, do you laugh or cry?

    "Recently, we were having a big time running session and one of the couplers gave out on a string of Weaver hoppers.... I didn't see it...

    The caboose and about a half dozen hoppers got rear ended by the EM-1 spreading hopper cars everyhwere....

    Coming into the scene from the opposite direction was another big steamer - Lionel's 2-10-4 in C&O... plowing into the hoppers derailed it and flipped it on its side, pulling several of the Atlas O hoppers with it....

    To make matters worse, the Texan's caboose was then rear ended by a Triplex coming through the curve - spreading more hoppers....

    While I started to cry, Mrs Muffin hit the crash sound button on her DCS remote - and that made me laugh - but now I get all teary-eyed every time somebody plays that sound sequence...

    My sons were thrilled - they were managing trains on some of the other loops so they weren't involved and grateful for it.... Their first reaction was to head for the stairs...

    Reminds me of the time when they were little and I was showing them how you can make a rocket out of a large soda bottle and the hose - only to send it flying through the storm door....

    They ran then too...." - MrMuffinsTrains 10/21/2003

     

     

     
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