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BITTICK LAYOUT - SEASON 7
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| Sept 5-7, 2006 |
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This is the
first out of area trip for the season. Once again, it’s John, Gail, and
myself, but this time we have a backup in the form of Jose’ who is a
relatively new shooter with MPTV, and along to learn how to do this. As for
the day, it was uneventful, and here we are in St. Louis, ready to rock and
roll tomorrow.
 We
went off today to visit with Dean Bittick in Villa Ridge, Missouri. Dean is
a restorer of antique Fords, and has built an exemplary example of the 1949
Lionel showroom layout. He has a separate building that houses both the
cars and the layout. It all started with the visit to Richard Kughn’s Carail
facility. Once Dean saw the combination of cars and trains, he was hooked.
The showpiece of Dean’s collection is a 1931 Model A
Deluxe Roadster, which is a rare animal. Other projects include one of the
original Thunderbirds, a ’60 Chevy Impala, and a 1930 Model A pickup truck.
The Lionel layout really has lots of accessories – more than the original
layout, which was used as a marketing toll by the Lionel Corporation.
Following in their footsteps, Dean teaches a course in marketing at East
Central College and uses the Lionel Company as an example of how marketing
has to adapt
 to
the environment. Dean also has a part of a company that makes
stainless steel bridges, so
of which are incorporated on the layout. We did a couple of shots of Dean driving on the campus, and
then went to Washington, MO, for some additional footage of driving around a
town. It was a quaint little place, with a restored railroad station in the
foreground, and the Missouri River behind it. And then it was Miller time,
at a small bar along the waterfront, called the Landing. Everyone seems to
know Dean, and we had a really good time. Tomorrow we’ll hang around long
enough to get some classroom teaching on tape, and then we’ll be on our way.
We had a
later start this morning and drove out to East Central College to tape Dean
as he lectured to his class. We filled in a bit with a guest lecture, as to
where we have been, what we have done, and how to market things. Of note
was when John talked about seeing Chinese school kids with an abacus around
their neck, most of the class was clueless as to what an abacus is. Yikes.
After that, we got a bit of a late start for Ft. Wayne. But we fired up
Tilly, the GPS, and she brought us right to the motel. I don’t know if you
have ever used one of the new automotive navigational systems, but they are
uncanny. It follows the road, tells you right where to turn, finds fuel,
food, and other interest points, and just never lets you get lost. Still,
it was a long drive, exacerbated by the change to Eastern times, so we are
off to bed. Tomorrow is the last day on the road before Japan. |
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YOUNG GUNS STEAM - LYNCH - SEASON 7
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| Sept 8, 2006 |
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Today our GPS illustrated the GIGO Principle (Garbage
In Garbage Out). We were missing one number in the
 address,
so it took us to the wrong place. Once rectified, we arrived at the Ft.
Wayne RR Historical Society, to meet with Kelly Lynch, one of the rising
young names in steam preservation. The Society is home to the 765,
a 2-8-4 former Nickel Plate engine. Now preserved, it is the showpiece of
the Society. They have another restoration project
 in
the works – an 0-6-0 yard engine with a sloped back tender. Once restored,
it will be perfect for a “learn to run a steam engine” program. As this was
a portion of a longer piece, we headed home in the late morning, only to
loose considerable time around Chicago due to construction. But we arrived
safely, and that is the end of the first road trip from season 7. |
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