It's time for my FAVORITE episode of the entire year. The Notch 6 Christmas SPECTACULAR! This year we have two great stories for you.

The Main Event: Lionel's Field Marketing Manager Bill Wander joins me to discuss exactly what it takes to keep the Lionel Holiday layouts running in New York City. We cover everything from planning, to set up, to maintenance. Bill also shares about what he keeps in his tool bag to service these layouts which run over 9 hours a day. He'll also tell us about some of the funny stories that have occurred while working around these layouts.

The Big Elf from Concord RETURNS: Mike Reagan returns to put some gift wrapping and a bow on the Vision Line Big Boy. You'll get the latest update on shipping times, the process of final assembly and more. We also discuss unlocking some less known features in these new Legacy engines such as the Big Boy, Berkshires, diesels and more. 

We'll conclude with a portion of the program that is quickly becoming a Christmas tradition with a few new elements added in this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Notch 6. We're kicking off the 2014 holiday season with an episode that is sure to give you some ideas for the holidays. We have special offers for you from The Madison Poster Company and Ken Bianco Jr. from Trainworld stops by as we discuss some O gauge ideas for holiday gifts and how Notch 6 can save you some money!

Be sure to check out: The Madison Poster Company and Trainworld

Notch 6 Episode 46- In this episode Disney Historian and Author Michael Broggie visits with us. Michael is the son of the original Disney Imagineer Roger Broggie and author of the book Walt Disney's Railroad Story. You'll hear about Disney's love for trains both big and small, plus stories of growing up riding Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific Railroad in his back yard. You'll also hear a great story about Pixar cheif creative officer John Lasseter and his role in the Disney railroad story. If you love trains or Dinsey history then this episode is for you! 

Notch 6 Episode 45- In this episode I travel to Michigan to interview former Lionel owner and President Richard Kughn. I sat down with Mr. Kughn in his train room and we chatted for over an hour about Lionel Trains, Madison Hardware, the LCCA and more. There are stories about his time running Lionel and his thoughts on the past, present, and future of the O gauge hobby. Mr. Kughn is a true legend in the hobby, and it was a pleasure to speak with him. Special thanks to The Lionel Collectors Club of America who helped to arrange this meeting. Video from this interview will be posted at a later date on the LCCA website. 

Andy Edelman Vice President of Marketing from MTH Electric Trains returns to Notch 6 to talk about the MTH 2015 Volume one catalog. Topics in this episode include MTH's 35th Anniversary Celebration, updates on the MTH app and WiFi box, a run down of all the new features and locomotives in the catalog, and new tooling for freight cars. We also discuss the S gauge and European MTH lines included in this catalog. 

Lionel has released a brand new catalog and Notch 6 is the first to bring you the news of this catalog directly from Lionel.  In this special episode we talk with Lionel's Matt Ashba and Ryan Kunkel about all the new products in this catalog. We touch on everything from large steam such as the Norfolk and Western Y6B, to diesel locomotives with incredible details such as the GP-30. We also cover freight cars, the new plug and play accessories and much more.  We suggest listening to the show while you browse the new catalog at Lionel.com There are details in this episode that you won't find anywhere else! 

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 42- In this episode we follow the journey of three men who are racing to have a custom Monon passenger set built by MTH. You'll learn about the design process, all the detail work, and other experinces that come with designing a custom run of product. We'll also get some interesting historical details on the Monon railroad. In other news we'll discuss building a layout vertically to get more space, update you on the Madison Hardware shirt project and we'll have a special guest in studio for the first part of the show.

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 41- The final day of the Lionel Collectors Club of America National Convention. We wrap this convention up with Al Kolis talking about the LCCA and LRRC merger. Angela Trotta Thomas stops by to tell us what's new in the world of Lionel art, and Mike Phillips will chat with us about how Lionel is reaching into the world outside of model railroading to reintroduce the public to Lionel Trains. 

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 40- The 40th Episode of Notch 6 is a big one. We sit down with Lionel President Howard Hitchcock at the Lionel Collectors Club of America National Convention. We talk about his transition to President at Lionel, his expreience building a layout at home with his son, and a blockbuster announcement about The Lionel Railroaders Club and the LCCA. 

Notch 6 Episode 39 - It's day 5 at the Lionel Collectors Club of America national convention. In this episode LCCA President Dennis Devito joins us to talk about new LCCA product, including a new set that you'll be able to order this Fall. Lionel brings us new product announcements to compliment the Vision Line Big Boy and a new accessory system. It's breaking news from the LCCA on Notch 6.

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 38. Night five at the LCCA National convention. Tonight we discuss the LCCAs work with children that have autism and recap the events from today's events. Our special guest is J. Don Reese who stops by to update us on Lion Chief Plus. 

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 37. Night four at the LCCA National convention. Al Kolis talks about a very special day for the LCCA as two children from the Make a Wish Foundation stopped by the Lionel layouts this morning for the opportunity to run the trains. We recap the days events and we get serious talking about the opportunities to give back using toy trains. The special guest tonight is Mike Reagan head of production for Lionel Trains. He brings us an update on the Vision Line Big Boy, aluminum passenger cars and other Lionel products. Plus we discuss some of the new processes and challenges that face Lionel as they work to make the trains we love.

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 36. Night three at the LCCA National convention. Tonight we chat with Al Kolis about the LCCA and how it makes the convention family friendly with a variety of tours. We also discuss how the LCCA impacts the cities where they stay by bringing O gauge trains to people who may have never run a toy train before. Our special guest tonight is Steve Nelson of Mr. Muffins Trains. Steve and Liz Nelson have built an amazing O gauge layout inside their store. The result is a train store that sees an average of 100 people through their doors on any given Saturday. 

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 35. Night two at the LCCA National convention. Tonight we chat with Al Kolis to get a recap of of the events today including a trip to Fort Wayne to see steam locomotive 765. We'll also hear from O Gauge Railroadings Ed Boyle as he discusses the Lionel MPC Chessie Royal Limited set.  *We are working to correct some audio issues with this show, these will hopefully be fixed in the next few days*

The Notch 6 Podcast Episode 34. It's the first night of the 44th Annual Lionel Collectors Club of America annual convention. We'll look at the week ahead at the convention with co-host Al Kolis and chat with Roger Farkash from TW Trainworx. Roger will tell us about the new Harry Potter themed layout they just finished, discuss additions to the LCCA modular layout, and we'll talk about what it takes to bring new blood into the hobby of O gauge trains. 

Episode 33 of Notch 6 introduces you to someone you should know in the world of O Gauge. Alan Arnold has been a long time collector and has most recently been working on a massive layout complete with sky scrapers, harbor, coal mines, and much more. Alan also happens to be the Advertising Manager for O Gauge Railroading Magazine. Derek will also discuss his adventures in buying real locomotive parts and the launch of The Madison Hardware T-Shirt project. 

Episode 32 of Notch 6 highlights what's new for 2014 for The Lionel Collectors Club of America. Al Kolis and Dennis DeVito stop by to talk in depth about the new E-Membership program, weekly pole questions, and talk details about the 2014 National Convention in Indianapolis. You'll also get an update on the Notch 6 modular layout section and you'll get to hear about Derek's adventure as a new Dad. 

It's time for the 2014 MTH Volume II Catalog on Notch 6. In this special episode we talk with MTH Vice President of Marketing Andy Edelman. We cover the new and update items in the new catalog including the Union Pacific FEF Northern, new run of T-1 steam locomotives, BNSF hertiage hoppers, Europen trains, Protosound 3.0 upgrade boards, and much more. We suggest listening to the show while you browse the new catalog at MTHtrains.com There are details in this episode that you won't find anywhere else! 

The Notch 6 online Podcast Episode 30- In this episode, part two of our interview with former Lionel President and COO Richard Maddox. Mr. Maddox spent 52 years working in the hobby industry at Bachmann, Lionel, and Atlas O. This episode covers such topics as the MTH vs. Lionel lawsuit, the closing of the Lionel plant in Michigan, the development of Fastrack, and much more. If you love Lionel history, this is a must listen interview. We also discuss the continued development of our LCCA modular section, and an announcement about the MTH 2014 Vol. II catalog show. 

The Notch 6 online Podcast Episode 29- In this episode, part one of our two part interview with former Lionel President and COO Richard Maddox. Mr. Maddox spent 52 years working in the hobby industry at Bachmann, Lionel, and Atlas O. We’ll cover his early years growing up in Philadelphia to his career at Bachmann trains, and the beginning of his career at Lionel. If you love Lionel history, this is a must listen interview. We also catch up with LCCA President Dennis DeVito with breaking news on how to save money on your LCCA membership. 

It's time for the 2014 Lionel Catalog on Notch 6. In this special episode we talk with Lionel's Matt Ashba about all the new products in this catalog. We touch on some new details of the Vision Line Big Boy, discuss the matching Vision Line freight cars, the return of the scale Berkshire, and much more. We suggest listening to the show while you browse the new catalog at Lionel.com There are details in this episode that you won't find anywhere else! 

The Notch 6 Podcast episode number 10. In this episode I introduce our new company to the public. I discuss the first part of our LCCA modular section build for the LCCA national convention this summer in Indianapolis. We've also have a new and innovative  way to light your layout. The feature interview this month comes from Lionel's Rudy Trubitt. We discuss the decision by Lionel to make the Legacy protocols open source, and talk about the nuts and bolts of the new Lionel LCS system which is coming to hobby stores this spring.