Crash!

For those who haven't been following the titanic legal collision between veteran Lionel and upstart MTH Trains over stolen locomotive plans, here are a couple of articles that will explain what's been going on in the world of tinplate trains.

Background of Lionel/MTH lawsuit, from Classic Toy Trains magazine

Train Wreck, from Inc.com. A personal profile of MTH founder Mike Wolf, and his perspective on the stolen-plans feud.

It looks like another lawsuit between the two companies, this time over Lionel's alleged misuse of a patented method of electronically controlling locomotives and related sound devices, has been postponed until the appeals court decides whether or not to uphold the existing $40 million judgment over the locomotive plans. Since Lionel entered bankruptcy after that judgment was awarded last year, it may be possible that as a major creditor, MTH will end up with partial or complete control of its forerunner and competitor.

Stolen documents, schemes, legal maneuvers.... Jay Gould and his hated archrival Cornelius Vanderbilt have nothing on these guys.