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 Links: Modeling Ideas from Adult Rail CampBy Barry Abisch For the February 2010 MetroNorth Division meet, I prepared a clinic based on my experiences attending Adult Rail Camp on the Nevada Northern Railway. The following links may prove helpful to modelers interested in following up.
Next Stop: Stamford, CTWhether you’re wholeheartedly into realistic model railroad operations or just idly curious what the fuss is all about—even if you think (maybe especially if you think) they’re not half as much fun as slamming into a sharp curve at derailment speed— you’ll want to mark Dec. 12 on your calendar. Save that date for Metro North Division’s final meeting of 2009. Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Harry Bennett Branch of the Stamford Public Library, 115 Vine Road, in the city’s Turn of the River section, the meeting will focus on operations in both a morning clinic and hands-on afternoon operating session. The meeting will also welcome back “show-and-tell,” the Modelers Showcase. At the last meeting, Don Straub discussed bringing back the popular feature and asked for a show of hands. “I was overwhelmed with the response,” Don recalls. So, bring in that structure you’ve just finished, tell us all about a recently discovered wiring shortcut or show off your latest right-out-of-the box loco, with all that sound and a decoder included. “For the December meeting,” Don says, “please bring in any show-and-tell items you might like to share with us.” Or just sound off. If you’ve questions, comments or suggestions, this is the time to air them. Highlighting each meeting’s Modelers Showcase will be a contest, featuring a specific kind of rolling stock, a kitbash or other modeling category. December’s contest will be “My Favorite Caboose,” to be decided by popular vote. Later, after Don’s hat has seen duty as the model-contest ballot box, he’ll wear it as he teaches us to model with styrene, one of two clinics on tap for the meeting. In the other, Dick Wolter and Franklin Lang will discuss operating model railroads prototypically, using car cards, waybills and switchlists. In the afternoon, operations will move from the theoretical to hands-on when Franklin hosts an informal ops session at his nearby Stamford home. From 1:15 on, members are invited to grab a DCC throttle and navigate the Boston & Maine Central, Franklin’s 32-by-45-foot recreation of the Pine Tree State in the 1950s. Visitors with no yen to operate are welcome to watch the trains travel around four long peninsulas. Directions to Franklin’s house will be available at the meeting. To reach the library, take the Merritt Parkway from either direction to Exit 35 and turn right onto High Ridge Road. In about half a mile, look for Vine Road on the left (not at the gas station but the next block) and turn left. The library is just over a quarter mile down Vine, on the right. Metro North Division Meeting Preview By John P. McGloin The Danbury Railway Museum again will be the venue for our next meeting of the Metro North Division, on Saturday, May 16, from 10 AM to 1 PM. The Danbury Railway Museum is located at 120 White Street, Danbury CT. (See sidebar for driving directions from I-84.) Parking is immediately in front of the Museum. If that parking area is full when you arrive, the Museum's overflow parking is off Patriot Drive (actually the entrance to Metro North's New Haven line commuter parking lot at the Danbury train station). Diagonally across the street from the Museum to the left is a Dunkin’ Donuts, and to the right the New Holiday Diner. Either may be able to satisfy your breakfast needs, if you have not eaten before leaving home. Bring along your completed models to display. If you have model railroading items to dispose of, bring them too. (If any don’t sell, you could always donate them to the Museum’s gift shop!) And, don’t forget to bring $8, to remit to Judyth Stavans, Clerk of the Division, as your annual contribution in support of the Metro North Division. There will be a short business segment, during which elections are to be held for MND vacant positions. Don Straub also will convince you to volunteer at the Hartford National 2009 NMRA convention, which we in the NER are hosting. Three clinic presentations are planned for the meeting; and, two home layouts (in Bethel and Danbury CT) may be open in the afternoon for meeting attendees. Confirmations, as well as driving directions to each open layout will be provided at the meeting. Following the meeting, and before driving to one or more of the home layouts Saturday afternoon, you can ride the Danbury Rail Yard Local, on a 20-minute tour of the Danbury Rail Yard, possibly including a ride on their operating turntable. Clinic PresentationsAll three presenters at our May meeting will be presenting at the Hartford National 2009 (HN2009) NMRA convention. They are: Rick Abramson, Peter Ness and John Richards. Ness and Richards actually will be previewing their HN2009 presentation for us. At the Division's January meeting, Rick Abramson presented a video tour of his home layout, a highly-detailed rendering of catenary railroading on the New Haven. Then, at our meeting in March, Rick was scheduled to explain the various pipes, wires and cables that connect engines and cars. But, the real railroad Rick works for picked that date to hold a rules class, so he missed our MND meeting, and we missed that presentation. (Now that Rick knows the rules, perhaps he will offer a review for one of our future meetings?) In any event, for our meeting this May, Rick at last will get to instruct us as to what the hanging hose details on our models are used for on the prototype. Then our two HN2009 preview presentations: John Richards on: GIPX: Realistic Windows And Interiors For Buildings. A step-by-step guide to completing your model buildings with highly detailed windows and interior settings - using straight-forward tools available right on your computer and the Internet. Included will be a live demonstration of techniques for creating show windows with art glass window inserts, custom signage and commercial logos. Quick but realistic “2-1/2 dimension” interiors combining transparent, opaque and metallic effects, all using low-cost materials. Anticipated Layout ToursIra Pollack’s HO layout in Bethel CT depicts New Haven Railroad operations during the mid-50s. Although there are no strictly prototype scenes, trains roll through typical Northeastern cities and countryside. Built over the last 20 years, this ever changing layout uses standard block control, and Atlas turnouts. Power packs are MRC 9000; and, all have operated flawlessly over the years. Ira’s main goal, and enjoyment, is to watch trains roll through the scenery, bringing back memories of the heyday of the New Haven era. Ira Pollack is the current President of the Danbury Railway Museum. Dave McKee’s HO layout in Danbury CT is a labyrinth of multiple levels, multiple loops, and multiple staging yards. Exiting the Boston loop, trains can follow the B&M route to Portland ME, or head west to Pittsfield MA. In western and southern Connecticut, locales represented include: State Line, Canaan, Woodrow Junction, Berkshire Junction, Danbury Yard, Bethel, Oak Point, Devon Junction, New Haven, and Cedar Hill. Operation is with Digitrax DCC, and trackage is signaled. The layout is so large that as many as 15 operators could work it at one time. See you all at the Danbury Railway Museum on Saturday morning, 16 May! How to Get ThereTo reach the Danbury Railway Museum, follow the directions below from I-84. I-84 Eastbound:
I-84 Westbound
Next Stop: TrumbullTwo clinics, an opportunity to display your new acquisitions and three layouts are in store for attendees on March 21. Alex Conta will display the pulling power of his EMD Tunnel motors as demonstrated most recently at the Amherst Society’s show. Alex participated in the long consist pull! One person used six Atlas engines to pull the longest consist. Alex utilized two of his consisted engines to pull this same string. Come see his video-tape of these Amherst activities and be updated on the fine casting and painting techniques employed by Alex in the crafting of these engines. Also on display will be many of his UP, SP, Alaska, and NS EMD’s, each conformed to the specific prototype by road number(s). Rick Abramson will answer the question: “What are those hoses hanging on the end of an engine?” Be it diesel, steam or Rick’s first love -- electrics -- he does know his hoses. From Rick’s program, illustrated with slides, we will learn or test our knowledge of what the hanging hose details on our models are used for. So many of us visited the Amherst Show that at least one or two of us purchased a new . . . Yes, bring it in and share the fun. Any items to swap or sell? Bring them also. Following the meeting two home layouts and one club will be open for your viewing pleasure, Jeff Zeleny ‘s, Tri-State Rail Service, Vin Gallogly’s Westport Shore & Harbor Line and the Boothe Memorial Railway Society [BMRS] model railroad museum in Stratford. This group operates model railroad layouts in four scales: O-Scale, HO-Scale, N-Scale, and an upper level around-the-wall G-Scale layout in its own building within in Boothe Memorial Park. Driving directions to all three will be provided at the meeting. Rick Abramson in Print
At the Division's January meeting, Rick gave us a video tour of his home layout, a highly-detailed rendering of catenary railroading on the New Haven. At the next division meet in March, Rick will share his railroad knowledge by explaining the various pipes, wires and cables that connect engines and cars. Rick's New Haven layout was the cover story in the August 2004 issue of Model Railroader. A copy of the issue may be ordered from trains.com. The website also offers a free "online extra" article by Rick entitled "Tips for building your own model train catenary system." Kevin Feeney Rides the RailsLong-time Division member (and NMRA director) Kevin Feeney was among the passengers interviewed by Allen Salkin of the New York Times aboard the inaugural run of express train service from New York City to Atlantic City on Feb. 6. Salkin described Feeney as a “train buff” who regaled “all who would listen” with stories about the historic trains that used to service the route. Read the full article. Next Stop: StamfordSaturday, January 17, 2009 Directions: Take the Merritt Parkway from either direction to Exit 35 and turn right onto High Ridge Road. In about half a mile, look for Vine Road on the left (not at the gas station but the next block) and turn left. The library is just over a quarter-mile down Vine, on the right. Three clinics on agenda for Jan. 17 meeting
The clinics -- on barge modeling, layout building and prototype narrow-gauge operations -- are part of a full program that also includes visits to three layouts in Stamford. The meeting, co-chaired by Brian Sullivan and Dick Wolter, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the library, which is located at 115 Vine Road. With their wide variety of subject matter, the clinics should appeal to both our modeling and prototype interests. Brian Sullivan will present the how-to demonstration on modeling barges, Rick Abramson will offer a look at how he approaches layout building and Carl Liba will fully illustrate with pictures his discussion of prototype narrow gauge railroads in the 1940s and ’50s. After the meeting and following a lunch break (possible spots include a diner, a fast food and a large deli, all on High Ridge Road) layouts of Brian Sullivan, Franklin Lang and Dick Wolter will be open for visitors. Directions will be available at the meeting. Brian Sullivan will provide guidance for those interested in modeling water scenes that incorporate barges. He will show you how he builds barges without having to buy an expensive kit. Rick Abramson, a veteran locomotive engineer and chairman of the New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association’s technical committee, will discuss “Modeling the NYNH&H Under Wire.” A projected video will show how the benchwork and scenery were installed and how the railroad is controlled. Rick began his railroad career on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad in 1968 and subsequently worked for Penn Central, Amtrak, New York Cross Harbor RR and now as an engineer on the Housatonic RR. “My interest in trains, both real and model, began in 1956 and has never wavered to this date,” Rick says. “The railroads that have interested me along with the NH are the GN, PRR, CNS&M, RDG and BNSF. My interest in electrics goes back to almost the beginning of my involvement in the hobby. I have always been fascinated by big boxcabs and complex catenary. I am honored to share this with the Metro North Division.” Carl Liba will present pictures of the Colorado narrow gauge lines of the Denver & Rio Grande Western and the Rio Grande Southern railroads. The pictures largely date from the 1940s and 1950s when those carriers were still working to haul passengers, freight, food supplies, cattle, coal and ore to and from the communities they served. Western narrow gauge railroads have long served as prototypes for modeling. But now, with an influx of highly detailed locomotives and cars from Bachmann and others, with sound and DCC, interest has been heightened. Carl’s presentation will include the equipment and structures of the carriers and the countryside they operated through. Next Stop: Harrison, NY Saturday, October 18, 2008 Next Stop: Danbury, CT The cry of “All aboard!” might very well be heard at the Danbury Railway Museum May 3 after the Metro North Division concludes its final Saturday morning meeting of 2007-08. While the meeting is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include three clinics, a preview of this fall’s Northeastern Regional Convention, a modeler’s show-and-tell and election of officers, the museum will likely tempt members to stay a bit longer to ride its yard local. The museum is located at 120 White Street in Danbury. After the meeting, three home layouts (in Bethel and Danbury, Conn., and Poughquag, N.Y.) are expected to be open in the afternoon to welcome meeting attendees. Driving directions to each layout will be available at the meeting. Please plan to arrive early. At our request, the Danbury Railway Museum will open an hour early, at 9 a.m., to give us a chance to view several layouts on display in the museum or visit the gift shop, or do both before our meeting begins. That will also allow us to begin the meeting promptly at 10 a.m. to accommodate the extensive program. Last Stop: Westport, CT
Two “show and tell” clinics highlighted the Division’s February 2 meeting – with the emphasis on the “show.” Using a compact video camera connected to a projector, meeting coordinator Spen Kellogg showed the members a close-up view as clinician Bob Collett swapped out the DCC decoders in a Bachman Spectrum 10-Wheeler. The “show” in the second meeting clinic were photographs from Carl Liba’s seemingly endless collection of prototype images, this one focusing on the popular California Zephyr. While demonstrating the specifics of installing a Tsunami sound decoder, Bob’s running commentary also offered a number of general tips for any modeler contemplating a decoder installation. First tip: make sure you model runs well on DC before opening it up to add a decoder. Second point: test your decoder before you begin cutting wires and soldering. Bob also counseled on the importance of tools which “cut well and work well.” For his demonstration, Bob selected a small Tsunami decoder which, he promised, would have “awesome sound capabilities” once installed in the Bachman tender and the tender was buttoned up. At the end of his clinic, Bob proved his point as the 10-Wheeler convincingly chuffed along the short test track, accompanied by audible dynamo whine and realistic rod clank. While some of Bob’s advice seemed only logical – connect wires of like colors to one another – he also shared the benefits of his experience. For example, manufacturers are not always diligent about accurate labeling of components, and it can be difficult to tell a brown wire from a purple one. As Bob showed, confusing the brown wire with the purple is not a fatal flaw: simply reverse the connection; no harm, no foul. Bob’s demo was not limited to the electrical connections. He also explained the factors to consider in selecting and installing a speaker, and reviewed the programming of “CVs,” or “configuration variables,” to access some of the advanced sound and operating features in a DCC decoder. The second clinic took the meeting from the very small to the rather large, as Carl Liba shared photos of the California Zephyr (and its parents, siblings and offspring) as it operated in the real world of 12-inches-to-the-foot railroading. But, as is typical of Carl’s clinics, his meeting presentation was not simply a railfan’s reminiscence. Carl used his photos to offer modeling tips as well. The Zephyrs are popular with modelers. Carl pointed out variations in the consists – and that fact that motive power from three different roads – the Burlington, the Rio Grande and the Western Pacific – could be found taking turns on the point as the name train made its way between Chicago and Oakland. Carl’s photos also illustrated the different terrains traversed by the Zephyers, offering inspiration to modelers with varied scenic interests. Carl was careful as well to point out the small details, such as the proliferation of instructional signs in one picture, the sort of information useful to any modeler. Next Stop: Stamford, CT Saturday, December 8, 2007 Harry Bennett Branch Three clinics are planned for December’s meeting of the Metro North Division, which is scheduled to be held at the Harry Bennett Branch of the Stamford Public Library, 115 Vine Road. When Fred Dellaiacono moved to a new home he had a much smaller space available for model railroading. He will talk about the problems of scaling down his layout, and how he solved them. In particular, he will describe how he devised a system for storing locomotives off the layout, and transferring them to the layout safely without handling them, using ingeniously designed engine carriers. Also, Fred designed and built two under-the-table roundhouses (UTRs) which can hold up to 20 locomotives. Who said you need a large room for model railroading? Alex Conta scratchbuilds large HO scale diesel locomotives from the 1960s and ’70s, which he has shown and discussed at previous Metro North meetings. Last summer, on a business trip to Chicago, Alex took along four locomotives. Taking advantage of some free time, he contacted the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and arranged to have his locos run on its fabled HO scale layout. They performed beautifully, pulling long freight trains all over the massive layout. Alex digitally recorded the action with his handheld video camera, complete with sound. It’s a great way to see and hear the railroading going on, and see this fine layout’s scenery as well. Scott Russell will show us how to install DCC decoders in locomotives. There are choices and decisions to be made, from locomotives to decoders to installation. Using step-by-step photos and with locos opened up and on display, Scott will talk about all of these issues. He will also show the installation of sound decoders, a feature of DCC that is becoming very popular with modelers. After a lunch break, Franklin Lang and Dick Wolter will once again open their layouts for visitors. Directions will be available at the meeting. New features have been added to both layouts since Metro North members visited last spring. Next Stop: Pleasantville, NY Saturday, September 29, 2007 Mount Pleasant Public Library After taking the summer off, the Division resumes its regular meeting schedule on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Mount Pleasant Public Library in Pleasantville. The agenda includes a clinic by Phil Monat on the design, building and revamping of his home layout, the Delaware and Susquehanna Rail Road. The meeting also will feature a presentation by David Stavans on his participation in the National Railway Historic Society’s 2007 RailCamp at Steamtown National Historic Site. There also will be a brief presentation on the NMRA’s Achievement Program. As always, there will be time during the meeting for members to share examples of their own modeling work. One or more area layouts will be opened to visitors following the meeting. The meeting is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May Division Meet Clinics By Barry Abisch
Model builder Alex Conta summarized his research into the history of Union Pacific motive power, culminating in his artfully crafted GE U-50s in UP and Southern Pacific liveries. Henry Freeman reported on his three visits to the Tehachapi Loop, a rail-fanning adventure far from the domain of the B&O Cumberland division which he is recreating in the basement of his Westchester County home. And author John H. Roy Jr. showed how his own prototype research became a resource for other modelers as he cataloged more than 450 railroad structures still found in southern New England. Alex used slides to summarize the evolution of UP motive power right before and around the steam to diesel transition era. Alex found there were HO brass models available, but they would not operate on the 18-inch curves of his layout. There were no U-50s available in plastic. So, Alex set out to build his own, using a mix of available components and scratchbuilt parts. He worked with brass, styrene and acrylic and taught himself resin casting. He painted the engines using ScaleCoat paints in spray cans. Alex originally thought he could finish the project in four to six weeks, but building the chassis and the driving mechanisms alone took two months. He is not complaining: “I loved every minute of it,” he said. In his own slide show, Henry rail-fanned the Union Pacific right-of-way from Kern Junction to Mojave. With the BNSF enjoying running rights, the area sees 60 to 70 trains a day. The tracks transverse a 2.2 percent grade climbing 16 miles from Caliente to the Tehachapi Pass. The pass itself includes one of the most famous features in American railroading – the Tehachapi Loop. The loop itself covers approximately seven-tenths of a mile, and climbs 77 feet before crossing over itself. Trains longer than 4,000 feet – approximately 85 modern freight cars – cross over themselves, the feature which draws people to the loop. Henry also discussed some of the problems confronting railfans, including the necessity of finding safe places to view the tracks and the challenges posed by police officers who use post-911 security claims to harass people taking pictures of trains. John did not show pictures of trains, but he has compiled hundreds of photos of train structures. John, who models the New Haven in N-scale, is the author/compiler of “A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses." The book features photos, along with a description and history, of 467 railroad structures in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The book is a resource for model railroaders, whether they are modeling the region prototypically or are looking for architectural authenticity in a freelanced structure. John says a big challenge was finding many of the buildings, which have been given new uses and, in some instances, have been moved from their original locations. Vintage railroad structures often are threatened, he said, by a lack of preservation resources even when local officials recognize the importance of the buildings.
March meeting report
A fierce mid-month snowstorm put the division behind schedule and forced us to shorten the consist, but a stalwart contingent of modelers made it to the Trumbull Library for the March 17 division meeting. The start of the meeting was delayed by a couple of hours, and the meeting program was abridged after more than one foot of snow fell in some parts of division territory. The snow was accompanied in many places by freezing conditions that made driving treacherous, especially on some secondary roads. Members who were able to safely make it to Trumbull were treated to a slide show by Carl Liba, focusing on the locomotives of the New York Central. Carl's talk was a treat for modelers as well as for those members with an interest in the prototype. Henry Freeman, who was scheduled to report on a fan trip to the Tehachapi Loop, was among those members kept home by the weather. His clinic has been rescheduled for the next division meeting, on May 5 at Stamford. The March meeting also offered a preview of one of the other clinics on the May 5 agenda. During the modeler's showcase portion of the meeting, division member Alex Conta ran some of his Union Pacific motive power. At the May meeting, Alex will explain how he builds his U-boats. Inside every model railroader lurks a railfan begging to be set free. By Barry Abisch Whether you are a freelancer or a prototype modeler, there is a reason you are modeling a railroad and not building a military diorama or racing slot cars. For some of us, the passion is train order and timetable operation, while others are content to simply watch their trains run through the scenery. It doesn't matter: the common denominator is trains. Even if you are a run-trains-in-circles freelancer, you'll get more out of the hobby with an understanding of railroads and railroad operations. Division member Henry Freeman has presented clinics on researching prototypes. He's also published articles on the same topic. Among the resources Henry mentions are the historical societies devoted to particular railroads. Historical society Web sites are a good starting point for railroad research. Many societies include links to further resources, guides to books and reference materials as well as documents and photographs. One advantage of Web research is that you can do it at home. It's a way to enjoy the hobby when you don't have enough time to start a project in the train room, or the weather is too miserable for outdoor activities. If you want to learn more about railroading or if you are looking for an inspiration for your layout, whether prototype or freelance, why not start with the railroads closest to home? One advantage is that it doesn't take a weekend expedition to visit sites associated with the railroads which operated in our own Metro-North Division. With that in mind, MetroLines has compiled the following links to some historical societies and other sources of historical information to help you research close-to-home railroads.
Division member Barry Abisch is a member of the Ontario and Western Historical Society, a chapter of the NRHS. He is building a freelanced layout based in part on the O&W.
MetroLines - January/February 2007 Download PDF   |
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