Online store zscalemonster is the go to place for numerous brands and products no one else sells in the United States. If you are looking for digital z Anthony has it, if you are looking for quality layout scenery Anthony has it, and if you are looking for Full Throttle/AZL/Rokuhan Anthony has that too. Plus lots of other z specialist items. He is also the official USA distributor for the finest building kits: Archistories!
Ron Ruddell’s new book “Riding the Bell Lehigh Valley Transit’s Liberty Bell Route” took 10 years to research until being published in 2015. 264 pages of text and photos this is the book to own concerning the “Liberty Bell Limited” written from the perspective one who know’s the regional railroad in PA and also one who was a passenger on the original rails. And Ron is a certified streetcar operator at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine, he even operates the only preserved Liberty Bell Trolley during the Spring and Fall.
Side note: the Seashore Trolley Museum is the world’s oldest and largest museum dedicated to trolleys from around the world. If you have ever looked in a book about trolleys and have been dazzled by early examples of trolleys at this museum you can see them in person. If is operated by a dedicated army of volunteers and Ron’s brother was the one to spearhead the restoration of its Liberty Bell trolley.
Back to the book: Ron’s Books in New York State has some copies left, it seems to be selling like hot cakes, maybe a good book to add to your collection while it is still available.
Here is the description of the book on Ron’s Books website:
Ron Ruddell 264 Pages hardcover
In the newest Central Electric Railfans’ Association publication, author Ron Ruddell chronicles the history of Lehigh Valley Transit’s famed Liberty Bell Route interurban that ran between Philadelphia and Allentown. Known for its scenic line through southeastern Pennsylvania, LVT operated a fascinating variety of equipment from stately heavyweight interurbans to secondhand lightweight high-speed cars acquired from Ohio and Indiana. Portions of the line meandered alongside local roads or over city streets while other sections operated on private right-of-way with catenary and block signals on fast competitive schedules. A cut above many interurbans, the LVT even operated deluxe club car service on selected runs. Noted transit historian George Hilton called the LVT’s Liberty Bell Route the last “pure” interurban as it owed its existence exclusively to passenger traffic or express carried in interurban freight equipment. The reader will learn about the Liberty Bell Route’s development, operations, colorful equipment, and also about the people whose dedication and effort managed to keep the line in operation until 1951.
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1947-1951 an Allentown clock and watch repairman by the name Gerhard Salomon documented the final years of Lehigh Transit’s “Liberty Bell Limited” in 16mm, he captured its entire run from downtown Allentown to Philadelphia’s 69th Street Terminal. Gerhard was a volunteer of Rockhill Trolley Museum, in Rockhill Furnace, PA. Rockhill Trolley Museum has released three video collections of Mr. Salomon’s 16mm films which beautifully capture the final years of the beloved trolley system in Lehigh Valley, PA including the tragic removal of track.
Videos can be ordered from The Rockhill Trolley Museum with all proceeds benefiting the operation of the museum:
http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/store/easton-line-1947-1949
http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/store/round-trip-liberty-bell-limited
http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/store/city-lines-lehigh-valley-transit-company-1947-1951
Trolleys enjoyed widespread popularity in small and large towns throughout the United States, post WWII trolleys suffered because of the transition from electric to gas powered public transportation, it was reasoned that buses were cheaper to operate and maintain. GM purchased trolley lines throughout the United States, they swiftly removed tracks and infrastructure, and their buses replaced the trolleys. When the Liberty Bell Limited was shut down in 1951 Lehigh Valley, PA lost some of its soul as I have gathered from speaking with members of the community from that era.
Only one trolley has survived the scrapyard, it is car #1030 built in 1931 by the American Car and Foundry Co. Today car #1030 is part of the important collection of international trolley cars at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME: https://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/philadelphia/162
As a tribute to Mr. Gerhard Salomon attached is his obituary:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mcall/obituary.aspx?n=gerhard-salomon&pid=99889423
Back when Marklin mini-club was the hippest thing since the hula hoop in the great old USA, dealers needed a way to display mini club in a proper display suiting these truly unique and beautiful trains. The big ones in Germany came up with a solution for USA dealers. And it was not an inexpensive solution, dealers had to shell out bags of cash for these newly designed cases featuring 4 shelves: 1 base shelf plus 3 heavy glass shelves. The “Marklin __________z” logo was silkscreened in red over a storage area in the bottom of the case. Access to the contents of the case was through sliding doors on the reverse side which kept the overly curious out of the treasure chest. Also neat about the display were mirrors laminated to the sliding doors which allowed increased visibility to trains on display. Need I say more, these are great solutions for displaying a large collection of Marklin mini-club. Two downsides: 1. they are hard to come by 2. access from the back of display limits where it can be placed
These are also very heavy!!!!
My solution to both: ask dealers if they may want to sell these displays and keep an eye out of Ebay (you never know), for the passionate and inveterate collector you will need to transport these cases by going and picking-up yourself; I own three, and I drove to each business and home to pick-up in person: Georgia once and Wisconsin twice.
According to one seller in Wisconsin who had been a Marklin dealer years ago many of these cases were damaged in shipping from Germany, Marklin USA told him at the time only 27 survived. Like many things that are rare they do eventually turn up, my last one was new still in its original shipping crate.
The solution for home display is a table that can be accessed on both sides or even a custom made rolling cart would be ideal.
Dimensions: 36 inches (length) x 18 inches (height) x 9 inches in depth
Price: $150 – $450
I know two dealers who still have these, they are not selling them, but they might in the future. If you think this would be something you could use just let me know and I will point you in the right direction.
Marklin released the 89003 display for mini-club in 2003, its retail price at that time was $475. Featuring aluminum case and thick polished glass shelves 89003 was a compact display with limited storage. Many dealers that I have spoken to over the years did not order it for their inventory citing its big price tag, and some dealers convinced their customers not to order it. I was one such customer that was discouraged from buying it from a dealer who even had one in stock. I now own 4, and I would buy more if I had the space. The case is a nice bright display with modern minimal aesthetics, well built, and designed to complement z gauge without distracting from it. It is delivered in a heavy carton with heavy cardboard packing strips, glass is interleaved in paper and plastic wrapped around case, plexiglas spacers, hanging hardware and the Marklin logo silkscreened on aluminum is also included. Hanging is on a wall is achieved by placing the included ‘L’ shaped lag bolts into a wall on a level line approximately 12 inches apart, I chose to install on wood, we own an old Pennsylvania house with these panels. Otherwise install into drywall with the included hardware. The bent end of the lag bolts need only stick out about 1/8 inch to fit inside the metal channels at the top of the case so 95% of the bolts are secured in wall material.
Case requires assembly:
Parts: case, 10 thick plexiglas spacers, hanging hardware, “Marklin” logo, and 5 glass shelves.
Instructions: 1. unwrap and lay all parts on clean table 2. slide front glass pane to the right to remove, it is caulked to the metal molding 3. start with a clean piece of shelf glass placing it in the base of the case 4. plexiglas spacers have heavy duty automotive double stick tape already installed, remove tape backing and apply one to each side, these are spacers that hold the glass in place *keep in mind the glass shelves and spacers are precision cut and fit perfectly in place, it is best to double check shelves and spacers are aligned before applying pressure to the spacers, I have found little difference putting these cases together either in the upright position or laying back side down, also keep in mind the case can be assembled so the front panel slides out on the left or the right, it is impossible to change the orientation later so be sure of how where it is being installed and how you want it assembled for that space 5. plexiglas spacers follow each shelf until fully assembled *residue maybe present on plexiglas from the double stick tape, this does not show up much so don’t worry about, it you need to remove it use plastic polish designed for this purpose and careful not to scratch the plastic. Also shelves should be cleaned, ammonia free glass cleaner is the best for this 6. display your favorite z gauge cars and locos 7. clean front glass and reinstall!
My modification: You spent a lot of money on the display and not many cars fit in, before you are disappointed with the value of this display: money spent versus small number of cars to display consider this: I have a simple and inexpensive solution to triple the storage and display and it stills looks like it came that way originally. Home building stores sell PVC 3/4 x 3/4 inch rods in the lumber department. Cutting these rods to the width of each shelf and assembling with wood screws you can make attractive white risers: 3 are required for each shelf. A hacksaw works perfectly for cutting the plastic and screw them together with wood screws *glue should not be used. I am including photos to illustrate this modification. This is a great case and one of the best to show off your special imprint cars and locos with easy access.
It is fun to display your trains, storing in boxes doesn’t cut it. This case is still available at Rocousa or MicroMacroMundo attached is the link:
http://www.rocousa.com/marklin_89003_display_case.asp
Blue, yellow, red and green are the colorful colors that adorn the small cottages produced by Archistories. In Archistories description these four small wooden houses were inspired by 16th century Swedish architecture. And the color of each certainly attests to that inspiration. Each house is named: 1. Svensson (red), 2. Johansson (green), 3. Karlsson (yellow), and 4. Hanson (blue). Small in size but decked out in detail several options come to mind. A Scandinavian layout is a sure bet for these houses if your running SJ RC2 trains through the countryside. Due to their small size plan to consider them for a briefcase layout. If you are new to Archistories kits consider these for some of your first, they go together like all the rest in less time so good to learn from.
In 2009 Marklin’s Insider car featured a box car lettered for Ford Works, Inc. and used on the German Federal Railroad (DB). Released in honor of Marklin’s HO 4937 build kit from 1970-1977. Inside the facsimile box for 4937 are the component parts to assemble a z gauge box car lettered for “Ford” . Car is relatively easy to assemble taking no more than 10 minutes, coupler and springs being the trickier assembly with the car body. A soldering iron is used to melt the posts during final installation of car body and chassis, great car should be taken when using the soldering iron with these small parts. Exquisite printing!
Insider Anniversary Model 82339 was offered to Insider members with 20 years membership in the club. Following the same format as Marklin “White Box” special editions this one is a finally printed gloss black box. Inside you will are presented with a power shovel in cast metal and orange paint, 4 Preiser track maintenance workers, and low side car with load of ballast. Track Maintenance Set for the DB is a very limited release.
Exquisite the first word to describe z-bahn models and the fast second is Rare. I have not a lot to offer about the origins and history of this fine manufacturer except to say sadly it is no longer in business. If you are lucky enough to find z-bahn articles for sale buy them, your good fortune may not return for a second chance. Roughly speaking the price you can expect to pay is $100 per coach, they were originally sold in sets of 2 and 5 so complete sets are upwards of $200 – $500 respectively. *Prices based on what I have seen on Ebay in 2015. The production value of the cars is equaled only by the well produced packaging. Sets were delivered in aluminum hinged boxes which were foam lined, a small booklet accompanied each set in German language only. The cars feature Marklin compatible couplers and interior details, yes interior details before Marklin did the same with the 81551 “Airport Express” trainset. Missing is interior lighting. Here we have two sets of EW II coaches: 30120 two car set and 30050 five car set. Set 30120 includes 1- 2nd class coach and 1- 1st class coach with ‘comfort stripe’. Set 30050 includes 1- 1st class coach with ‘comfort stripe’, 3- 2nd class coaches and 1- baggage car. Models are based on the prototype EW II coaches produced 1965-1976, they were used primarily in city and regional express trainsets. Later it has been described that EW I and EW II coaches may have been used in ‘relief trains’ to augment the need for additional coaches in special circumstances.
Art. Nr. 30120 EWII 2 Wag.Set Komfort
Art. Nr. 30050 SBB Wagenset EWII mit 5 Wagen mit Komfortstreifen
One of the very best sources for high end z gauge is Scandinavian Galleries of Napa Valley, CA also known on Ebay as “quality-toys-trains”. Here you will find rare Marklin Z, Freudenreich FR and Modellbau Z along with numerous other items including Marklin sheet metal vehicles. They ship items carefully and fast. I have bought from them for many years without a single problem. Highly recommended Ebay seller.
http://www.scandinaviangalleries.com/