Long shot

In message , Graham Harrison writes

Sounds like you'd be interested in Walthers's Empire Builder.

Mind you, you don't have to go to the US to buy this stuff, there are several places in the UK that will get hold of it for you.

You might find these useful:

Having used the Walthers systems to locate MacKays and Model Junction I should have remembered that. You've sent me off to the Atlas site where (of course) a similar system exists. Thank you.

I'm seriously considering the Walthers offerings. One of the issues is the import tax. That's one reason for visiting US dealers. If I subscribe with Walthers each shipping will cost me the import duty and VAT plus the fee that people like UPS/Post Office charge. I was thinking I could pay a dealer to store them up for me and make a single shipment. Tax will be the same but I'll save the UPS type fees.

I'm also hoping that the stock holding in US stores will be broader than the UK.

"Graham Harrison" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@bt.com...

Should add I'm also looking for books and even with the internet it doesn't help if you don't know what you don't know(!). Last time I was in the US I picked up a copy of a Motorbooks book about streamliners. I don't think I'd have looked for it had I not seen it and I wouldn't have found that publisher. If UK model shops are any guide I'm hoping that their US cousins will carry some books as well.

I don't know about model dealers, but I guess you know that Morgantown WV is home to the demonstration Personal Rapid Transit system, built by US DOT and Boeing Vertol in 1974 and still running (unlike B-V's Boston and SF light rail cars). Intended as a prototype for sale elsewhere, no other systems were built. In terms of the amount of government subsidy per passenger carried, it must rate very highly.

I had read references to the PRT and thought it was a bit odd that it was in Morgantown. However, I didn't know the history. I think I know where I might spend a night!

It is unique and worth a look, as long as you are not there on a holiday weekend when it might be closed. Main users are University students.

In message , Graham Harrison writes

Slightly off topic regarding your request, but time in PA should include a visit to Lancaster County/Strasburg, if at all possible. All of these are within a few hundred yards of each other :

National Toy Train Museum

LOL! We ate lunch in the diner there last November, looking out on the Strasburg Railroad where it was Thomas and Friends weekend!

How was the Red Caboose Motel? I saw it several times, when visiting York in April. American friends say that it was very run down at one time, but a new owner has spent lots of $$$ bringing it up to date.

We planned the trip to New York, Philadelphia and the York area after Thanksgiving (so Xmas decorations were up) and before the Christmas rush started in earnest. I didn't take a close look at the Red Caboose Motel this time (I first saw it about 20 years ago), but the diner was in good condition. It started out when someone placed a ridiculously low bid on an auction of surplus PRR cabooses and won! I seem to remember there used to be an extensive model rail layout in the main lobby, but not any more.

We spent quite a lot of money at the York outlet malls, but this year our Canadian dollar would be worth considerably more! (It hit par briefly today and closed at $0.9987.) And no PA tax on clothing!