NEWS AND UPDATES
01/17/18

Miniature World of Trains Update

Meeting at the proposed new leased venue with the city to review the proposed plan for the building went well the other day. The proposed changes and updates to the building are within the parameters and needs for this location. Next step is to receive the letter of recommendations for this location from the city which should happen within the next week. This will allow me to move forward with the concept at this location.

Fund raising will begin next week for the new LLC. The project will have to be 75% funded before the lease will be signed! Stay tuned for details!

Government Shutdown

The government shutdown might start effecting the status of product availability soon! Why you might ask?
The bulk of model railroad products comes from out of the USA from China and Europe. All of these items have to go through US customs and this department is currently not operating at full capacity at this time.

So things are starting to back up at the ports of entry around the USA.

This could start effecting product availability soon as start begins to dwindle until this situation is resolved.

I am already aware of some delays in customs processing for LGB and Marklin items being delayed about 30 days. Other manufacturers could follow!

So, think ahead as to what your needs are and order today before stock runs out!

Walthers Shinohara Track

New Code 83 and Code 100 track announced from Walthers! WalthersTrack incorporates popular features from the original line produced by Shinohara from 1997 to 2018, while each item features new tooling with several important upgrades to enhance performance. Improvements include molded drill starter points on the underside of ties, turnouts with snap-action solid rail points, isolated frogs with a built-in jumper and current jumpers entering and leaving the frogs, and new spacer ties to equalize spacing when joining tracks and turnouts. All this and more with no increase in prices! However, there is no information as to when the product line will be back in stock!

White River Productions Delays

I received an email from White River and it reads as follows:

Due to the winter storms that  have  hit the  Midwest we are experiencing delays in receiving products and shipping out products.  The February issues will be later than usual. We do apologizes for the inconvenience and will work diligently getting your shipments out as soon as possible.

News From InterMountain Railway

Happily, in the midst of major supply chain issues, we have been able to maintain a steady supply of HO, N scale, and O scale metal wheelsets. Nearly all versions of our much sought after line of wheelsets are currently in stock. These all-brass, non-magnetic wheelsets have become the standard in the model railroad hobby. Over 11,000,000 of the HO wheelsets have been sold by InterMountain.

BRH has these in stock on line and at the retail store!

After a long drought, production is underway! The first HO freight car of the year will be shipping soon. Ten paint schemes of the HO 4650 cubic foot hopper car are included in this first offering of 2019. Decorated samples of all ten will be on our table at the Amherst show over the weekend of January 26th and 27th.

Upcoming Preorder Deadlines

January 30: Bowser Preorders
January 31: Intermountain Preorders
January 31: Walthers Preorders

NEWS AND UPDATES
01/13/18

USPS Rate Increase

The USPS will be increasing postal rates at the end of the month on January 27th!
Please remember that postal rates are a pass through cost from the USPS to you the valued BRH customers! BRH does  not mark up costs!
---------------------------------------------------
FROM THE USPS

WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of price changes to take effect Jan. 27, 2019.

The proposed prices, approved by the Governors of the Postal Service, would raise Mailing Services product prices approximately 2.5 percent. Shipping Services price increases vary by product. For example, Priority Mail Express will increase 3.9 percent and Priority Mail will increase 5.9 percent. Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The Governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with needed revenue.

If favorably reviewed by the PRC, the new prices will include a 5-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, from 50 cents to 55 cents. The single-piece additional ounce price will be reduced to 15 cents, so a 2-ounce stamped letter, such as a typical wedding invitation, will cost less to mail, decreasing from 71 cents to 70 cents.

The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:

The proposed domestic Priority Mail Retail Flat Rate price changes are:

First-Class Package Service, a lightweight expedited offering used primarily by businesses for fulfillment purposes, will move to zone-based pricing to better align with the cost of service and improve value based on distance.

The Postal Service has some of the lowest letter mail postage rates in the industrialized world and also continues to offer a great value in shipping. Unlike some other shippers, the Postal Service does not add surcharges for fuel, residential delivery, or regular Saturday or holiday season delivery.

The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect Jan. 27, 2019. The complete Postal Service price filings with the new prices for all products can be found on the PRC site under the Daily Listings section at https://www.prc.gov/dockets/daily (see listing for Oct. 10). For the Mailing Services filing see Docket No. R2019-1. For the Shipping Services filing see Docket No. CP2019-3. The price change tables are also available on the Postal Service website at https://pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

THE BREAKDOWN

Summary of the 2019 Postage Rate Increase:
Domestic Mailing:

• The First Class Mail Letter (1 oz.) rate for postage purchased at the Post Office will increase by five cents to $0.55 from $0.50.

• Each additional ounce for a First Class Mail letter will cost $0.15 (a decrease from $0.21).

• “Metered Mail” rates for First Class Mail Letters (1 oz.), which includes online postage providers and postage meters, will increase three cents to $0.50 from $0.47. Each additional ounce will cost $0.15.

• The five cent “Metered Mail” rate discount for a First Class Mail letter (1 oz.) compared to the Post Office rate represents a savings of 9%.

• First Class Mail Flats/Large Envelopes (1 oz.) rates will not increase and will remain at $1.00. Each additional ounce will cost $0.15.

Domestic Shipping:

• Priority Mail Express will see an overall rate increase of 3.9% in 2019. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $22.68 (previously $21.98).

• Priority Mail will see an average rate increase of 5.9% in 2019. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $6.95 (previously $6.55).

• First Class Package Service will see an average rate increase of 11.9% in 2019. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $2.66.

• First Class Package Service will move to zone‑based pricing in 2019.

• Parcel Select Ground will see an average rate decrease of 1.3% in 2019. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $6.85 (previously $6.55).

• Media Mail rates will increase by 2.9% in 2019. Rates will start at $2.75 (previously $2.66).

International Shipping:

• Priority Mail Express International will see an average rate increase of 3.9% in 2019. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $42.00 (previously $40.38).

• Priority Mail International will see an average rate increase of 6.2% in 2019. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $39.71 (previously $38.29).

• First Class Package International Service will see an average rate increase of 3.9% in 2019. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $9.98 (previously $9.50).
  
  So get you orders in ASAP to avoid the increases!

Upcoming Preorder Deadlines

January 15: Atlas Preorders
January 30: Bowser Preorders
January 31: Intermountain Preorders
January 31: Walthers Preorders

All-New WalthersProto HO Tank Cars Now Shipping

New WalthersProto 55' Trinity Modified 30,145-Gallon Tank Cars are based on prototypes with upgraded safety features. Spotting features on these models include reinforced/shielded ends, revised end platforms and a multi-valve housing to meet federal safety mandates. These new models have all of the highly visible
modifications and they'll look great on your  modern unit oil trains. They're also used for ethanol, gasoline and
more. These highly detailed and much-anticipated cars feature etched-metal walkways, applied grab irons and accurate decoration for extra realism. Available in multiple road numbers per scheme,
make sure to order now so customers can add them to their tank
car fleet!

TO ORDER



New Arrival of Popular WalthersMainline HO Scale EMD SD70ACes Now Shipping!

The latest arrivals of EMD SD70ACes are shipping now!
This latest release includes new road numbers for BNSF and KCS units plus NS heritage units decorated for NYC and PC fallen flags. Modern-era modelers love the reliable, affordable EMD SD70ACe diesels for their good looks and great performance. NS heritage-painted diesels are extremely popular with many of you, and some BNSF road numbers are just about sold out, so order now and don't miss out!

TO ORDER


Bowser Announces New HO Freight Cars

Bowser has announced new schemes and road numbers ready-to-run PRR X31 Boxcars and K11 Stock Cars. Based on PRR prototypes, these distinctive round-roofed cars were also operated by other  railroads and could be found running coast to coast. Bowser cars feature detailed injection-molded bodies, accurate decoration, metal wheels and magnetic knuckle couplers. Preorder now before they are sold out!

TO ORDER