4.25.10 - Revised Amtrak Trainset Library Entry + New LGB Products
We have published a revised version of the Rolling Stock Library entry for our LGB Amtrak trainset, including lots of information on the prototype.
In other news, LGB has announced their new products for 2010. Notable among these is the return of the F7 A- and B-unit locomotives and accompanying streamliner coaches, available in Santa Fe livery. You can download a PDF of the brochure or view details on LGB's website (German).
7.29.09 - New LGB Center Flow Hopper Arrives
Today we took delivery of the newest piece of rolling stock on the layout, an LGB 40820 Santa Fe center flow hopper. Pushing 20 inches in length, the hopper is reportedly close to 1:29 scale, the same as our relatively new LGB Amtrak rolling stock and as our Aritsocraft pieces. The hopper has opening loading and unloading hatches for each of the three storage compartments. We hope to have a picture- and detail-filled Rolling Stock Library entry for the hopper online soon, along with an entry for our USA Trains Moosehead Ale refrigerator car.
In other Rolling Stock Library news, the Stainz entry has a new, better, and bigger picture.
7.20.09 - LGB Launches New Website
Coincidentally, just as we relaunched our website, LGB has relaunched theirs. Rolled out two years after Marklin bought the assets of Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk, the new LGB website replaces what was basically a placeholder website that offered little more than downloads of price lists, availability schedules, and product brochures.
The new site closely follows the design of Marklin's own website, with sections for products, service, and online shopping. There is also a product database split into narrow gauge trains, standard gauge trains, and track and accessories. However, the database only covers products available under Marklin's LGB and, as such, is a far cry from the much more complete database that was available on E.P. Lehmann's site.
Currently, the website is only available in German. However, it is already partitioned into a German version in the same way Marklin's bilingual website is, so hopefully an English version will be coming soon.
Visit LGB's new website »
7.18.09 - New Site Launches
Two years to the day after we relaunched E&A Trains, we have refreshed the site's design. While the overall layout, function, and navigation remain the same, the design as a whole is much lighter. The altered layout also provides room for more content even though the site itself has the same width. Because the right-hand column found on most pages has been moved out of the main content area and into its own, we can reclaim previously wasted space for content. The new layout also makes it easier to access subsection pages. For example, the Archive section has subsections for the News Archive, the Rolling Stock Library, and the Building Library. Now, those three subsections are easily accessible from any page in the Archive section. We believe that this updated design will make it easier for E&A Trains to adapt and grow and we will continue to tweak the site as we adjust to our new look.
7.10.09 - New Building
A new building has arrived at the layout, in the style of a traditional downtown building with two connected spaces. The structure has two stories, though it is at a slightly smaller scale than most of the items on our layout. The building has no back wall, so we will have to build either our own back wall or an extension to the building. The latter would give the building a more realistic depth. There is also no built-in second floor so we would need to add that as well in order to outfit the structure's interior.
The building is unpainted save for the second-floor window frames, so we're looking into how we might want to decorate the building.
Most of the building is brick but there is also a variety of other materials in use. Some ideas floated for possible occupants include a bakery/restaurant (perhaps a new location for the currently MIA Fred's Cafe) and an art gallery. We have not considered a location for the building on the layout or an estimated date of installation.
7.6.09 - New Movie Online
We have posted a new movie. It takes you on a tour of our new Park at Town Plaza, which was completely redone in April. It starts during the day and shows the various amenities the park offers, as well as some of its animal inhabitants. It then turns to nighttime, where you can see the park's lights. During both segments our LGB Amtrak Genesis passes by pulling a passenger train consisting of, among others, LGB Amfleet and Pennsylvania coaches. The movie is one minute and 22 seconds long.
Watch the movie »
