View Online UK: BRIDPORT: Railway club 'do the locomotion'
MULTI-MILLIONAIRE record producer Pete Waterman shared his passion for trains with members of the Bridport and District Model Railway Club last week.
The former Pop Idol judge has masterminded 22 number one hits for the likes of Cliff Richard, Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley but has always harboured a passion for model railways.
The star even runs his own company called ‘Just Like The Real Thing’ producing scale model locomotives for the world market.
Last weekend the Bridport and District Model Railway Club paid a visit to Pete’s home in Cheshire.
The club travelled up to Birmingham on Friday where they stayed overnight and were guests of the Warley Model Railway Club, who organise the national model railway exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham each year.
They were given a conducted tour of the club facilities and invited to take along some of their own stock to run on the club layouts during the evening and also had time to spend talking about model railways to the Birmingham members.
On Saturday morning the party travelled up to the home of Pete Waterman where they spent the day with Pete and his friends.
The layout is centred on Leamington Spa and Pete himself has spent a considerable amount of time researching the area and building details in order for the model to reflect as close as possible the reality.
His layout is 140 foot long by 40 foot wide and can run 13 full-length carriage trains and still be in scale with the surroundings.
Pete only operates the layout a few times each year as it takes a dozen people to run it.
After a short presentation about the layout, and a chance to operate it themselves, the Bridport members had lunch with Pete discussing railway topics in general and exchanging thoughts and ideas on many model railway subjects.
Before departing from Cheshire, Club Publicity Officer, Douglas Beazer, presented Pete with a copy of ‘The Bridport Branch’, which they hoped would serve as a reminder of the club’s visit.
The trip was organised by Mr Beazer, who said: “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to view and operate such a fantastic layout and the club was very privileged to have the opportunity for this day.
“The members who attended said they had enjoyed the weekend very much. They had a most enjoyable and unforgettable day and are grateful to Pete Waterman for accommodating them on Saturday.”
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Feds to loan Amtrak millions for new locomotives
The Washington Post: Feds to loan Amtrak millions for new locomotives
The federal government plans to loan Amtrak about $563 million to buy 70 locomotives to run along the busy Northeast and Keystone corridors, allowing improvements in service between Washington and other cities, and in Pennsylvania.
Amtrak announced the purchase of the engines last fall.
The loan is being issued through a Federal Railroad Administration financing program and will also pay for upgrades to maintenance plants and the purchase of spare parts.
The program “is a model of how we can leverage federal dollars to spur private investment and build up the economy,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. “It provides steady, affordable financing for major rail construction and expansion projects, and best of all, it comes at zero cost to the taxpayer.”
The Department of Transportation said in a statement that Amtrak’s purchase of the new locomotives would create 250 manufacturing jobs in California, Georgia and Ohio. The electric locomotives will be manufactured by Siemens Industry USA.
Amtrak said the locomotives are expected to begin operating in 2013 and will replace models that have been in service for 20 to 30 years. The agency also announced plans last year to buy 130 new rail cars. Amtrak plans to replace and expand its entire fleet over the next 30 years.
“Record numbers of passengers are riding Amtrak trains across our national network of intercity routes,” Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman said in a statement. “To better serve our customers, we are implementing a fleet replacement and renewal plan to improve the reliability and performance of our equipment. “
According to the FRA, the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program provides loans and loan guarantees, which cannot be used for operating expenses. The statute creating the program requires the agency receiving the loan to pay interest and a “credit-risk” premium. Repayments are required to begin no later than six years after the loan funds are disbursed.
The loan to Amtrak is the largest ever provided through the program, officials said. In the past, sizable loans have been made to the Denver Union Station Project Authority ($155 million in fiscal 2010); Virginia Railway Express ($72.5 million in 2006); the Dakota Minnesota & Eastern Railroad ($233.6 million in 2004); and Amtrak ($100 million in 2002).
Amtrak celebrated its 40th anniversary this year and has faced questions about its role in the future of rail transportation. Critics have questioned its financial viability. Amtrak received a $1.48 billion federal subsidy this year.
The railroad also needs to replace aging infrastructure, such as bridges, tunnels and power substations, while also accommodating future demand. It has a $117 billion vision for creating a high-speed rail network on the East Coast and last year named its first vice president for high-speed rail.
House Republicans, however, have proposed privatizing the high-speed rail effort. House Transportation Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.) has condemned Amtrak as having “one of the most dismal records on earth” and has derided it as a “Soviet-style” rail system.
Boardman told a House committee this month that he believes the legislation could hinder development of high-speed rail, at a cost of time and money that the nation cannot afford.
The Obama administration announced in May that Amtrak would receive $450 million in the most recent round of awards for federal high-speed rail funding. Amtrak has said that money will be used to upgrade service between Washington and New York.
The federal government plans to loan Amtrak about $563 million to buy 70 locomotives to run along the busy Northeast and Keystone corridors, allowing improvements in service between Washington and other cities, and in Pennsylvania.
Amtrak announced the purchase of the engines last fall.
The loan is being issued through a Federal Railroad Administration financing program and will also pay for upgrades to maintenance plants and the purchase of spare parts.
The program “is a model of how we can leverage federal dollars to spur private investment and build up the economy,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. “It provides steady, affordable financing for major rail construction and expansion projects, and best of all, it comes at zero cost to the taxpayer.”
The Department of Transportation said in a statement that Amtrak’s purchase of the new locomotives would create 250 manufacturing jobs in California, Georgia and Ohio. The electric locomotives will be manufactured by Siemens Industry USA.
Amtrak said the locomotives are expected to begin operating in 2013 and will replace models that have been in service for 20 to 30 years. The agency also announced plans last year to buy 130 new rail cars. Amtrak plans to replace and expand its entire fleet over the next 30 years.
“Record numbers of passengers are riding Amtrak trains across our national network of intercity routes,” Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman said in a statement. “To better serve our customers, we are implementing a fleet replacement and renewal plan to improve the reliability and performance of our equipment. “
According to the FRA, the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program provides loans and loan guarantees, which cannot be used for operating expenses. The statute creating the program requires the agency receiving the loan to pay interest and a “credit-risk” premium. Repayments are required to begin no later than six years after the loan funds are disbursed.
The loan to Amtrak is the largest ever provided through the program, officials said. In the past, sizable loans have been made to the Denver Union Station Project Authority ($155 million in fiscal 2010); Virginia Railway Express ($72.5 million in 2006); the Dakota Minnesota & Eastern Railroad ($233.6 million in 2004); and Amtrak ($100 million in 2002).
Amtrak celebrated its 40th anniversary this year and has faced questions about its role in the future of rail transportation. Critics have questioned its financial viability. Amtrak received a $1.48 billion federal subsidy this year.
The railroad also needs to replace aging infrastructure, such as bridges, tunnels and power substations, while also accommodating future demand. It has a $117 billion vision for creating a high-speed rail network on the East Coast and last year named its first vice president for high-speed rail.
House Republicans, however, have proposed privatizing the high-speed rail effort. House Transportation Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.) has condemned Amtrak as having “one of the most dismal records on earth” and has derided it as a “Soviet-style” rail system.
Boardman told a House committee this month that he believes the legislation could hinder development of high-speed rail, at a cost of time and money that the nation cannot afford.
The Obama administration announced in May that Amtrak would receive $450 million in the most recent round of awards for federal high-speed rail funding. Amtrak has said that money will be used to upgrade service between Washington and New York.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Lebanon: Tripoli’s train station opens its doors for 100th anniversary
The Daily Star: Tripoli’s train station opens its doors for 100th anniversary
TRIPOLI, Lebanon: To mark its 100th anniversary, the Tripoli Railway Station opened its doors to the public over the weekend for the first time since 1975.
The event, which was organized by Friends of Tripoli Railway Station in collaboration with Al-Mina Municipality and the Railway Administration in the Ministry of Transport, was aimed at introducing visitors to the station and increasing the public’s awareness of its important heritage and history.
The head of the organization, Elias Khlat, said the event was a way to “open the door for people to get to know the station and strengthen relationships among those who wish to support the activities of Friends of Tripoli Railway Station through various forms of communication such as Facebook, Twitter, and the organization’s website.”
According to Khlat, the organization began its efforts to preserve the station in the northern coastal city three years ago. “We ask that any project to rehabilitate it [the station] preserve its architectural style, which is a French-style dating back to the 19th century,” Khlat said.
Khlat does not hide his concern for the aging equipment in the station, which includes important historic trains. According to him, the station has eight German trains dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Two of these are G7 model trains and were built in 1895, and four of them are G8 models dating back to 1901 and 1906. “The likes [of these trains] are being exhibited in museums, while here they are being eaten by rust and neglect,” Khlat said.
That’s why, he says, Friends of Tripoli Railway Station is campaigning to turn the station into a historical monument and wish to renovate it while preserving its heritage, including the Lions Tower, which was a workshop in the station.
“Unfortunately we lost the station’s clock which was especially built for it by Paul Garnier in 1906,” Khlat said. “We want a complete comeback for the station in a way that preserves its heritage and returns it to the map of transportation, as it used to employ over 350 employees.”
The two-day event at the station included a free guided tour led by volunteers and an open-air concert which included performances by bands from Beirut and Tripoli.
Activists and volunteers who were part of the campaign gathered around the station’s entrance to receive visitors who came from across the country, and distribute information leaflets.
Volunteers accompanied visitors on a tour of the station, offering information on the station’s history, while children were busy drawing trains, real and imaginary, in an area set aside for them.
TRIPOLI, Lebanon: To mark its 100th anniversary, the Tripoli Railway Station opened its doors to the public over the weekend for the first time since 1975.
The event, which was organized by Friends of Tripoli Railway Station in collaboration with Al-Mina Municipality and the Railway Administration in the Ministry of Transport, was aimed at introducing visitors to the station and increasing the public’s awareness of its important heritage and history.
The head of the organization, Elias Khlat, said the event was a way to “open the door for people to get to know the station and strengthen relationships among those who wish to support the activities of Friends of Tripoli Railway Station through various forms of communication such as Facebook, Twitter, and the organization’s website.”
According to Khlat, the organization began its efforts to preserve the station in the northern coastal city three years ago. “We ask that any project to rehabilitate it [the station] preserve its architectural style, which is a French-style dating back to the 19th century,” Khlat said.
Khlat does not hide his concern for the aging equipment in the station, which includes important historic trains. According to him, the station has eight German trains dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Two of these are G7 model trains and were built in 1895, and four of them are G8 models dating back to 1901 and 1906. “The likes [of these trains] are being exhibited in museums, while here they are being eaten by rust and neglect,” Khlat said.
That’s why, he says, Friends of Tripoli Railway Station is campaigning to turn the station into a historical monument and wish to renovate it while preserving its heritage, including the Lions Tower, which was a workshop in the station.
“Unfortunately we lost the station’s clock which was especially built for it by Paul Garnier in 1906,” Khlat said. “We want a complete comeback for the station in a way that preserves its heritage and returns it to the map of transportation, as it used to employ over 350 employees.”
The two-day event at the station included a free guided tour led by volunteers and an open-air concert which included performances by bands from Beirut and Tripoli.
Activists and volunteers who were part of the campaign gathered around the station’s entrance to receive visitors who came from across the country, and distribute information leaflets.
Volunteers accompanied visitors on a tour of the station, offering information on the station’s history, while children were busy drawing trains, real and imaginary, in an area set aside for them.
RTD's airport rail car model takes off from Union Station: Where does it go now?
Denver Westword Blog: RTD's airport rail car model takes off from Union Station: Where does it go now?
This afternoon [June 27, 2011], the full-scale model of a rail car that will run to DIA is scheduled to depart from Union Station, where it's been displayed for five weeks to gather feedback. But unlike the real DIA train cars of the future, this one won't be departing on rails. The 10,700-pound unit will be lifted through the air courtesy of a giant crane, placed on a trailer and driven to a storage facility. So what happens to the funny little train car after that?
The model car was provided by the contractor building the new trains, since RTD has never had a train of this kind before and folks wanted to get an idea of what, exactly, the rail cars would look like as the rebirth of Denver's Union Station unfolds. And according to Kevin Flynn, RTD spokesman for the project, the 7,000-plus people who took a faux ride on the faux car over the past five weeks -- from tourists from Japan and Germany to the crowds using the light rail to get to Rockies games -- offered a lot of responses. Stuff they liked? Flynn says visitors gave thumbs up to the spaciousness of the car and the fact that all train doors will be level with station platforms, which means mobility-impaired riders can board at any entrance. Stuff that might need some work? The limited storage space for luggage and the fact that a service dog who stepped aboard had a hard time figuring out where to stand on the car.
There were a few odd encounters on the train, too, says Flynn -- like the wedding party that decided to have a few of their album photos taken there (how romantic). And the "plankers" who showed up, who, as part of the internationally recognized "lying-down game," lay face down, stiff as a board, across the seats and posted photos of themselves online. Um, yeah.
So what happens now to the make-believe train car? "We are still going to show this model to the public and special-interest groups," Flynn notes. One location may be in the center of DIA's main concourse, where the decorative fountain used to be. That is, if they can actually get the darned thing inside. Flynn, who's well versed in DIA conspiracy theories, has a suggestion as to how to do that: ""They should bring it in via the underground runway."
And after that? There's no possibility of the model actually riding the rails, Flynn concedes, since it's just a steel and plywood mock-up of the front third of the 85-foot rail car's interior. (Flynn admits that the picture of the rest of the car's interior that bookends one end of the model is realistic enough that they decided to cover it with safety tape, so nobody would pull a Wile E. Coyote and try to walk into the image.)
Who knows, jokes Flynn: "Maybe we could put it on Craigslist."
There's surely a better use for a make-believe full-size section of a rail car. Anyone have any suggestions?
As for your first thought, you dirty little buggers: No, it won't fit up there, so don't even suggest it.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Alberta, Canada: DeWInton Station Garden Railway
http://www.dewintonstation.com/
I share some info from their offical website:
DeWinton Station Garden Railway
Annual Exhibit Canada Day July 1st, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., bring a picnic lunch.
Featuring: G scale indoor and outdoor layout,
Ol’ Smoky rides, Panpipe musician Nikolai,
and Kazoo Facepainters!
This website features G-scale indoor & garden train layouts and information for booking the Ol' Smoky Motorized Train.
DeWinton Station has now quickly evolved from a personal desire to develop a home based retirement hobby project - into a major undertaking, that now has the potential to become a first class attraction. I have always been fascinated with the railroad, its history, romance and relationship to the growth of this nation. To now pass on this interest onto the next generation of rail fans will fulfill a desire to leave behind a worthwhile project or legacy that will carry on...
DSGR's primary concentration is to create a lasting exhibit for those who have had a similar connection with the steam era of railroading. DeWinton Station will be the vehicle in which to support this dream, to provide the focus and support system required to encourage the development of a day visit location for the underprivileged and disabled children as well as for senior groups.
“Our product is excitement.”
Excitement generated through the combination of the visual realistic scenery that surrounds you from all sides, friendships created with fellow train enthusiasts and the sense of freedom derived while you envision yourself traveling the winding mountain railways. The model toy trains of my youth inspired me to expand my learned abilities as a carpenter to create an imaginary world - far apart from the hectic pace of the modern city living. My modest two-acre parcel at the southern outskirts of Calgary is the perfect location to conduct this venture.
History of the DeWinton Station Garden Railway
(The many photos illustrating the website are of course not reproduced, but if you're heading up to Washington State, why not nip up to Calgary and see the place?)
I share some info from their offical website:
DeWinton Station Garden Railway
Annual Exhibit Canada Day July 1st, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., bring a picnic lunch.
Featuring: G scale indoor and outdoor layout,
Ol’ Smoky rides, Panpipe musician Nikolai,
and Kazoo Facepainters!
This website features G-scale indoor & garden train layouts and information for booking the Ol' Smoky Motorized Train.
DeWinton Station has now quickly evolved from a personal desire to develop a home based retirement hobby project - into a major undertaking, that now has the potential to become a first class attraction. I have always been fascinated with the railroad, its history, romance and relationship to the growth of this nation. To now pass on this interest onto the next generation of rail fans will fulfill a desire to leave behind a worthwhile project or legacy that will carry on...
DSGR's primary concentration is to create a lasting exhibit for those who have had a similar connection with the steam era of railroading. DeWinton Station will be the vehicle in which to support this dream, to provide the focus and support system required to encourage the development of a day visit location for the underprivileged and disabled children as well as for senior groups.
“Our product is excitement.”
Excitement generated through the combination of the visual realistic scenery that surrounds you from all sides, friendships created with fellow train enthusiasts and the sense of freedom derived while you envision yourself traveling the winding mountain railways. The model toy trains of my youth inspired me to expand my learned abilities as a carpenter to create an imaginary world - far apart from the hectic pace of the modern city living. My modest two-acre parcel at the southern outskirts of Calgary is the perfect location to conduct this venture.
History of the DeWinton Station Garden Railway
(The many photos illustrating the website are of course not reproduced, but if you're heading up to Washington State, why not nip up to Calgary and see the place?)
Welcome to our home and my G-scale train displays.
The era “circa 1915” depicts the year of birth of my father, Richard A. Roberts, a realtor and retired career soldier who developed the property and the Valleyview Acres subdivision. Father (a.k.a. Robbie or Dick) served with the PPCLI in Italy during WWII, then enlisted with the LdSH upon returning from overseas.
It also symbolizes the time his father, Captain A.E.W. Roberts (a.k.a. Cappy) an early Peace Country settler/pioneer, was away serving the nation as a combat soldier in the First Great War campaign. Cappy was awarded the Military Cross at Arras for his fearless actions defending his position to the last round, despite his own wounds from gunfire.
All of the trees were planted by Dick's hand (and my back) with the exception of the grouping on the east side. These native poplar trees have now matured to provide an excellent wind shelter for the home, and to allow a certain amount of privacy.
My mother Joan's love of gardening gave me the inspiration to enhance the garden aspect of the railway. My parent's once beautiful vegetable gardens have been given up considering my personal handicap and the need for continual upkeep.
As you can tell by my writings, I have a certain respect and fondness for my ancestry, all of whom have served in the great World Wars of past, and then lived through the depression years. As a baby boomer, I did not experience first hand these events but I do appreciate the life that they had endured or sacrificed to provide to my generation and yours, the freedoms we now so easily take for granted.
It is time now for me to step up to the plate and to unselfishly give of myself to make this world a better place, in a manner that I am capable of - during this stage of my life, not despite of - but in particular because of my disability.
If you can imagine life at the beginning of the last century, you would see the hardships these pioneers had to face on a daily basis, just to survive at best! Let alone to strive and build this country into the booming mecca it is today.
The history of this development, along with the introduction of the steam train, which solidified this nation from the eastern to western coastlines and into the Yukon, all within the last 100 years, is truly amazing. I hope to immortalize that picture for future generations, to reflect and to be thankful for their own being.
We live in one of the most pristine places in the world, considering the atrocious events of the day and the continual sacrifices our young men and women are making overseas, to maintain these freedoms and luxuries.
The project is at times overwhelming, and I must give credit to my friends for their assistance, in particular to Jytte Birkholm who manages to maintain the gardens and home, and provide a sense of sanity amongst the madness.
I have had the pleasure of entertaining several groups as they have visited my home to enjoy watching the trains run. In particular, the senior groups who are encouraged to bring lunches and to picnic for a few hours within the yard. The well treed park atmosphere, its water features, and full scale Western Town facade are just a few of the features that make this exhibit a unique and enjoyable place to visit.
I wish to enlist organizations or clubs that have the capacity of enlightening the hearts of the many underprivileged or disabled children and deserving seniors and would like to provide sponsorship for them to attend this venue.
As you approach the central entrance or breezeway, a railway mural and 3D station greets you. Once you step inside the caboose entry and go directly down to the lower level you will be surprised to see a "G" scale layout complete with scenery.
One of the enduring features of the side entry and the lower indoor layout are the hand painted murals. I believe they enhance a certain visual enjoyment as you watch and hear the trains travel past.
The workshop cabinets are distressed to resemble that of a vintage train station roadhouse. The “last spike” bedroom suite resembles a parlor car and is fashioned after a Pulman sleeping berth. The off-suite guest washroom has a wooden ceiling and walnut cabinet with a vanity sink. Curtained glass doors provide some vanity protection, however viewer discretion is advised.
This project will provide enjoyment for many cold winters to follow and is far from complete, yet still far enough along to provide the vision I have for the basement - a livable guest area with an action filled railway theme.
Enough said, now please enjoy your pictorial visit to DeWinton Station, and plan to visit us on your next trip to the Calgary area.
20-26 June, 2011: Cascade Rails 2011 in Tacoma (Railroad History)
Railroad History Convention:
I share this announcemnt from their website:
Welcome to the official website for Cascade Rails 2011, the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) annual convention. The event is being held in Tacoma, Washington, June 20-26, 2011. Tacoma Chapter NRHS is hosting the event. Our intent is to update this website as necessary to provide current information to our NRHS member attendees and guests.
NRHS at its Board of Directors meeting during the convention in Tacoma, announced June 24 that $38,500 had been awarded in 2011 NRHS Railway Heritage Grants, including the following three awards in Northwest Region:
Pacific Northwest Chapter NRHS - Portland OR - awarded $3,400 – toward PTRC Alco S-2 diesel locomotive repainting project.
2. Yaquina Pacific Chapter NRHS - Toledo OR - awarded $1,200 – toward installation of two interpretative highway signs on Yaquina Bay Road near site of former Yaquina City on route of former Oregon Pacific/Willamette Valley & Coast/Corvallis & Eastern/SP rail line to Newport from Toledo, Oregon.
3. Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives - Burien WA - awarded $2,000 toward project to preserve and digitize 30 years of Pacific Coast Railroad train dispatcher's daily Record of Movement of Trains ("train sheets") from Maple Valley WA. Supporting this independent multi-organization Archive facility and its development is a major new focus and activity of Tacoma Chapter NRHS.
Ticket Sales are now available to the Public.
The SP4449 trip from Tacoma to Portland on Sunday June 26, 2011 has available seating.
Chehalis STEAM! S.P. 4449 STEAM! Mount Rainier STEAM! Trolleys and Electric Busses! Geared Locomotives! Rod Locomotives! First and second generation Diesels! Major Intermodal operations! Historic railroad structures! We’ve got it all!
.
Convention registration is open to all NRHS members in Good Standing. Many events are selling fast, and to ensure you make it on board you need to hurry. Likewise, the Hotel Murano in Tacoma is fast approaching capacity, and you’ll want to be in the Convention Hotel if at all possible, by calling 1-888-862-3255.
.
You may register for the Convention and the remaining available events as shown on the "Order Tickets" page.
.
Ticket orders and inquiries may be sent via U.S. Mail to:
.
Cascade Rails 2011 Convention
Tacoma Chapter NRHS
PO Box 340
Tacoma WA 98401.
.
Orders will be held and processed as on-site “walk-up” orders for any seats remaining available for each event, at the Convention Registration Desk at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, starting 3:00 p.m. PDT Sunday June 19, 2011.
.
Questions may be referred to the Convention information line at (253) 495-7500, or by an email question submitted on the form below. .
.
A few events are “sold out” and are listed below:
.
2010 Chehalis-Centralia Railroad.
2220 Seattle Traction Tour
2390 Tacoma Rail Night Photo Session
2510 Mainline Steam 4449 Stampede Pass Coach
2511 Mainline Steam 4449 Stampede Pass Club
2512 Mainline Steam 4449 Stampede Pass Dome
.
Thanks for your interest in Cascade Rails 2011.
.
Edward M. Berntsen
Convention General Manager
I share this announcemnt from their website:
Welcome to the official website for Cascade Rails 2011, the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) annual convention. The event is being held in Tacoma, Washington, June 20-26, 2011. Tacoma Chapter NRHS is hosting the event. Our intent is to update this website as necessary to provide current information to our NRHS member attendees and guests.
NRHS at its Board of Directors meeting during the convention in Tacoma, announced June 24 that $38,500 had been awarded in 2011 NRHS Railway Heritage Grants, including the following three awards in Northwest Region:
Pacific Northwest Chapter NRHS - Portland OR - awarded $3,400 – toward PTRC Alco S-2 diesel locomotive repainting project.
2. Yaquina Pacific Chapter NRHS - Toledo OR - awarded $1,200 – toward installation of two interpretative highway signs on Yaquina Bay Road near site of former Yaquina City on route of former Oregon Pacific/Willamette Valley & Coast/Corvallis & Eastern/SP rail line to Newport from Toledo, Oregon.
3. Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives - Burien WA - awarded $2,000 toward project to preserve and digitize 30 years of Pacific Coast Railroad train dispatcher's daily Record of Movement of Trains ("train sheets") from Maple Valley WA. Supporting this independent multi-organization Archive facility and its development is a major new focus and activity of Tacoma Chapter NRHS.
Ticket Sales are now available to the Public.
The SP4449 trip from Tacoma to Portland on Sunday June 26, 2011 has available seating.
Chehalis STEAM! S.P. 4449 STEAM! Mount Rainier STEAM! Trolleys and Electric Busses! Geared Locomotives! Rod Locomotives! First and second generation Diesels! Major Intermodal operations! Historic railroad structures! We’ve got it all!
.
Convention registration is open to all NRHS members in Good Standing. Many events are selling fast, and to ensure you make it on board you need to hurry. Likewise, the Hotel Murano in Tacoma is fast approaching capacity, and you’ll want to be in the Convention Hotel if at all possible, by calling 1-888-862-3255.
.
You may register for the Convention and the remaining available events as shown on the "Order Tickets" page.
.
Ticket orders and inquiries may be sent via U.S. Mail to:
.
Cascade Rails 2011 Convention
Tacoma Chapter NRHS
PO Box 340
Tacoma WA 98401.
.
Orders will be held and processed as on-site “walk-up” orders for any seats remaining available for each event, at the Convention Registration Desk at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, starting 3:00 p.m. PDT Sunday June 19, 2011.
.
Questions may be referred to the Convention information line at (253) 495-7500, or by an email question submitted on the form below. .
.
A few events are “sold out” and are listed below:
.
2010 Chehalis-Centralia Railroad.
2220 Seattle Traction Tour
2390 Tacoma Rail Night Photo Session
2510 Mainline Steam 4449 Stampede Pass Coach
2511 Mainline Steam 4449 Stampede Pass Club
2512 Mainline Steam 4449 Stampede Pass Dome
.
Thanks for your interest in Cascade Rails 2011.
.
Edward M. Berntsen
Convention General Manager
Railroad models a hit
LampocRecord.com: Railroad models a hit
The Crow family from Santa Maria has a long history of train enthusiasts.
Becky Crow’s grandfather worked on the railroad in Idaho, her father built a ridable steamer in the yard, and her 11-year-old son, Taylor, collects and sets up model trains.
Members of the Crow family eagerly took part Saturday in Model Railroad Day at Shepard Hall in the Santa Maria Public Library.
The free event put on by the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association featured three model railroads in various scales and train memorabilia to browse through.
Model Railroad Day marked the group’s first event in Santa Maria.
Becky Crow hopes there are many more such train displays in town.
“I think they need it more often,” Crow added.
Taylor Crow said he collects Lionel brand train models.
“They’re bigger and they’re cool,” he said.
Taylor also has models of houses to place next to his trains.
“I’ve just got to set them up like that,” he added, motioning to an elaborate, running model-train set that included miniature scenery surrounding the track.
Mike Mickens, secretary of the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association, answered questions posed by those who turned out for the occasion while dressed in a conductor’s cap and vest.
People were enjoying Model Railroad Day, he said. The group plans to continue to hold the event in Santa Maria in the future and expand it to two days. They also hope to find a larger venue that can hold more trains.
“People are already asking us to come back next year,” Mickens said.
“We weren’t even open yet and they were trying to come in,” he added.
Setting up the trains, which ran on top of tables, took about three and a half hours, according to Mickens.
Los Olivos resident Sean O’Neill, 9, loves trains so much he did a school project on the Pacific Coast Railway that used to run through the area.
He was especially interested in a train set at Model Railroad Day running past a model of the Los Olivos depot.
“Because I know where it is, and some part of it is still there,” Sean explained.
His mother, Kelly O’Neill, said the display of trains was a smaller version of what the O’Neills recently saw at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.
“But it’s very well done,” she added.
The Crow family from Santa Maria has a long history of train enthusiasts.
Becky Crow’s grandfather worked on the railroad in Idaho, her father built a ridable steamer in the yard, and her 11-year-old son, Taylor, collects and sets up model trains.
Members of the Crow family eagerly took part Saturday in Model Railroad Day at Shepard Hall in the Santa Maria Public Library.
The free event put on by the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association featured three model railroads in various scales and train memorabilia to browse through.
Model Railroad Day marked the group’s first event in Santa Maria.
Becky Crow hopes there are many more such train displays in town.
“I think they need it more often,” Crow added.
Taylor Crow said he collects Lionel brand train models.
“They’re bigger and they’re cool,” he said.
Taylor also has models of houses to place next to his trains.
“I’ve just got to set them up like that,” he added, motioning to an elaborate, running model-train set that included miniature scenery surrounding the track.
Mike Mickens, secretary of the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association, answered questions posed by those who turned out for the occasion while dressed in a conductor’s cap and vest.
People were enjoying Model Railroad Day, he said. The group plans to continue to hold the event in Santa Maria in the future and expand it to two days. They also hope to find a larger venue that can hold more trains.
“People are already asking us to come back next year,” Mickens said.
“We weren’t even open yet and they were trying to come in,” he added.
Setting up the trains, which ran on top of tables, took about three and a half hours, according to Mickens.
Los Olivos resident Sean O’Neill, 9, loves trains so much he did a school project on the Pacific Coast Railway that used to run through the area.
He was especially interested in a train set at Model Railroad Day running past a model of the Los Olivos depot.
“Because I know where it is, and some part of it is still there,” Sean explained.
His mother, Kelly O’Neill, said the display of trains was a smaller version of what the O’Neills recently saw at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.
“But it’s very well done,” she added.
Friday, June 24, 2011
FAQ on Garden Railways from The Train Lady
http://www.thetrainlady.com/about.htm
Granted, half the fun of having trains is making your own layouts...but if you're a business, that wants a model train layout, you go to Elaine Silets.
Here's the FAQ from her website:
Question: Do you cover your Garden Railways in the winter?
Answer: NO. Garden Railroads operate all year long in any climate. They are miniature prototypes of real railroads and operate under the same weather constraints.
Question: Is Huff & Puff open to the public?
Answer: NO. We are open to qualified perspective buyers by appointment only. However, we are open for occasional charitable fund raising events. You can be added to our mailing list by registering on our CONTACT page.
Question: How long does it take to build a railroad?
Answer: The length of time required to build a Model Railroad or a Garden Railway depends on the scope, size, and intricacies involved. This is driven by the design, the number of square feet, number of lineal feet of track, type of installation and method of operation requested by the client, as well as the custom buildings, automations, special features and the level of detail specified. The process is much like working with a home building contractor.
Question: How much do you charge for your railroads?
Answer: One track railroads or wooden train environments for children, Christmas tree train layouts and other holiday displays, start at approximately $7,000 (USD). Model Railroads, Train Furniture, Garden Railways, etc. start at $20,000 (USD) and go up depending on the design, labor, materials, square footage, topography and techniques involved. Custom Children's Wooden Railroad Inter-active Environments start at $15,000 (USD), depending on the bridges, buildings, and trestles. Back drops will factor into the cost as well.
Question: Do you buy collections?
Answer: NO.
Question: Do you sell Scale Trains?
Answer: We do under certain circumstances, such as for our regular layout customers.
Question: Do you sell track, accessories, etc.?
Answer: NO. We are not a Hobby Shop or Website devoted to that side of the business.
Question: Do you repair trains?
Answer: No. We recommend returning your trains to the dealer you purchased them from, or to the manufacturer for repair.
Question: Can you create Garden Railways in scales other than G-scale?
Answer: No. We prefer to use G-Scale exclusively for our Garden Railways, as they are manufactured for exterior use.
Granted, half the fun of having trains is making your own layouts...but if you're a business, that wants a model train layout, you go to Elaine Silets.
Here's the FAQ from her website:
Question: Do you cover your Garden Railways in the winter?
Answer: NO. Garden Railroads operate all year long in any climate. They are miniature prototypes of real railroads and operate under the same weather constraints.
Question: Is Huff & Puff open to the public?
Answer: NO. We are open to qualified perspective buyers by appointment only. However, we are open for occasional charitable fund raising events. You can be added to our mailing list by registering on our CONTACT page.
Question: How long does it take to build a railroad?
Answer: The length of time required to build a Model Railroad or a Garden Railway depends on the scope, size, and intricacies involved. This is driven by the design, the number of square feet, number of lineal feet of track, type of installation and method of operation requested by the client, as well as the custom buildings, automations, special features and the level of detail specified. The process is much like working with a home building contractor.
Question: How much do you charge for your railroads?
Answer: One track railroads or wooden train environments for children, Christmas tree train layouts and other holiday displays, start at approximately $7,000 (USD). Model Railroads, Train Furniture, Garden Railways, etc. start at $20,000 (USD) and go up depending on the design, labor, materials, square footage, topography and techniques involved. Custom Children's Wooden Railroad Inter-active Environments start at $15,000 (USD), depending on the bridges, buildings, and trestles. Back drops will factor into the cost as well.
Question: Do you buy collections?
Answer: NO.
Question: Do you sell Scale Trains?
Answer: We do under certain circumstances, such as for our regular layout customers.
Question: Do you sell track, accessories, etc.?
Answer: NO. We are not a Hobby Shop or Website devoted to that side of the business.
Question: Do you repair trains?
Answer: No. We recommend returning your trains to the dealer you purchased them from, or to the manufacturer for repair.
Question: Can you create Garden Railways in scales other than G-scale?
Answer: No. We prefer to use G-Scale exclusively for our Garden Railways, as they are manufactured for exterior use.
Illinois Top designer shows lavish garden railroads in N. Barrington
DailyHerald.com, Illionois: Top designer shows lavish garden railroads in N. Barrington
Sure Silets has other gardens, including a trellis created with espaliered crabapple trees and a 450-year-old bur oak tree that anchors the shady area.
But Silets is a professional designer of railway gardens and indoor model railroads, designing and building them all over the country. And for one day only, she is inviting the public inside to see her own incredible display.
http://www.thetrainlady.com/about.htm
Aficionados want to see “The Gloree & Tryumfant Garden Railway,” 11 separate G-Scale model trains traveling on 6,000 square feet of operating bridges, waterfalls, streams, lakes, bridges, trestles, city and country vignettes and a circus, covered in plant material and miniature trees of all types.
Then there's the Japanese garden where The Shabui Garden Railway chugs through the waterfalls; and the indoor museum dedicated to Chicago and its trains.
Inside the museum trains operate on three levels, in some places side by side on independent tracks. Model ballplayers really play at Wrigley Field, cars drive through the McDonald's, a man paints the “Welcome to Barrington” sign, water flows in Buckingham Fountain, and Silets and her late husband, Harvey, spit at each other from the iconic fountains in Millennium Park.
All three venues will be operating Saturday, which is the one day of the year that Silets opens the grounds to the public.
Silets fell in love with the iron horses when she was 3 or 4 years old and has been making high-end train systems for 22 years.
“We install to the same protocol as the regular railroads,” said Silets. “We have the same problems, the winter freeze and contraction and the expansion in the spring.” And she uses the same grades for hills, 3 percent or less.
Visitors can watch the trains as long as they want, but they also get to talk to Silets and hear her stories about trains, both real and model.
One year her services were offered as a Top 10 Christmas gift in the Nieman-Marcus catalog, and she built a railway for the buyer in White Plains, N.Y. Another time she struggled to build outdoors in a Dallas park when the temperature was 110 degrees.
Children recognize the different types of rail cars from watching Thomas the Tank Engine, the animated television series.
Silets will talk about driving a steam engine for the Rovos Rail in South Africa — “The scariest thing I've ever done.”
The firebox was on one side of her seat, and she got pelted with cinders when she put her head out the window on the other side.
Still, that train is on her list of favorites, along with the White Pass & Yukon where passengers look down on a trail 20 inches wide that miners had to climb with 150-pound packs before they got to the ice stairs.
And she rode the Orient Express when it was not a luxury train.
But her best train ride ever?
“The bullet train in Japan,” said Silets.
Sure Silets has other gardens, including a trellis created with espaliered crabapple trees and a 450-year-old bur oak tree that anchors the shady area.
But Silets is a professional designer of railway gardens and indoor model railroads, designing and building them all over the country. And for one day only, she is inviting the public inside to see her own incredible display.
http://www.thetrainlady.com/about.htm
Aficionados want to see “The Gloree & Tryumfant Garden Railway,” 11 separate G-Scale model trains traveling on 6,000 square feet of operating bridges, waterfalls, streams, lakes, bridges, trestles, city and country vignettes and a circus, covered in plant material and miniature trees of all types.
Then there's the Japanese garden where The Shabui Garden Railway chugs through the waterfalls; and the indoor museum dedicated to Chicago and its trains.
Inside the museum trains operate on three levels, in some places side by side on independent tracks. Model ballplayers really play at Wrigley Field, cars drive through the McDonald's, a man paints the “Welcome to Barrington” sign, water flows in Buckingham Fountain, and Silets and her late husband, Harvey, spit at each other from the iconic fountains in Millennium Park.
All three venues will be operating Saturday, which is the one day of the year that Silets opens the grounds to the public.
Silets fell in love with the iron horses when she was 3 or 4 years old and has been making high-end train systems for 22 years.
“We install to the same protocol as the regular railroads,” said Silets. “We have the same problems, the winter freeze and contraction and the expansion in the spring.” And she uses the same grades for hills, 3 percent or less.
Visitors can watch the trains as long as they want, but they also get to talk to Silets and hear her stories about trains, both real and model.
One year her services were offered as a Top 10 Christmas gift in the Nieman-Marcus catalog, and she built a railway for the buyer in White Plains, N.Y. Another time she struggled to build outdoors in a Dallas park when the temperature was 110 degrees.
Children recognize the different types of rail cars from watching Thomas the Tank Engine, the animated television series.
Silets will talk about driving a steam engine for the Rovos Rail in South Africa — “The scariest thing I've ever done.”
The firebox was on one side of her seat, and she got pelted with cinders when she put her head out the window on the other side.
Still, that train is on her list of favorites, along with the White Pass & Yukon where passengers look down on a trail 20 inches wide that miners had to climb with 150-pound packs before they got to the ice stairs.
And she rode the Orient Express when it was not a luxury train.
But her best train ride ever?
“The bullet train in Japan,” said Silets.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
MANITOWOC, Wi: Railroad Club open houses set
htrnews.com: Railroad Club open houses set
MANITOWOC — The Clipper City Model Railroad Club will hold an open house every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. through Aug. 10. Admission is free.
Club members will be available to demonstrate model railroading and answer questions on the various trains that will be running.
The Clipper City Model Railroad Club is in the Iron Horse Barn on the Manitowoc County Expo grounds.
[They do not appear to have a website]
MANITOWOC — The Clipper City Model Railroad Club will hold an open house every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. through Aug. 10. Admission is free.
Club members will be available to demonstrate model railroading and answer questions on the various trains that will be running.
The Clipper City Model Railroad Club is in the Iron Horse Barn on the Manitowoc County Expo grounds.
[They do not appear to have a website]
Monday, June 20, 2011
Red Run Express, Rouzerville, is 1930s Model A train
The Record Herald.com: Red Run Express, Rouzerville, is 1930s Model A train
Rouzerville, Pa. — The final dings of an old bell signal the last call to all the children to hop on the Red Run Express, before the conductor shouts “All aboard!”
A ride on the 1930s Model A miniature train has been a favorite outdoor family activity at Red Run Park in Rouzerville for more than 15 years during the hot summer months.
Families wrap around the porch of the train station and patiently wait their turn for two or three laps around the oval-shaped track.
Kim Marshall of Chambersburg and her 6-year-old daughter, Miranda, were at Red Run Park for the first time on Saturday and just had to check out the train and give it a whirl.
“We are here visiting family for a high school graduation and when the kids saw the train come out at 1 p.m. we knew we just had to check it out,” said Marshall.
Lending a hand
Volunteers are an essential part to keeping the Red Run Express on the track for both the young and the young at heart to enjoy.
Anyone with a passion for trains or just looking for a way to help out the community can be the conductor of the antique fuel-powered train, that includes a faux coal car, two passenger cars and a caboose bringing up the rear.
Brice Klingensmith, Saturday’s conductor, has been a volunteer for the last two years.
“I was already a member of the Waynesboro Model Railroad Club, so this seemed like a natural place to volunteer my time,” said Klingensmith.
Volunteers are needed to operate the train from 1 to 4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. Special events are also held during Halloween and Christmas, when the train area is appropriately decorated.
Rides are free, but donations are always welcome.
Piece of history
“The unique thing about the train is that it gives the kids an opportunity to do something else besides play on the playground equipment,” said Klingensmith, who noted it provides a mini-history lesson to visitors of all ages.
The 1930s train resided at Cold Spring Park, a 25-acre amusement park located near Zullinger during the 1940s, transporting visitors back to the days of another era and to sentimental childhood memories.
In 1995, the train made its way to Red Run Park thanks in part to a $5,000 donation by local businessman Dean Hebb, which was used toward the train’s purchase.
This past fall, the Washington Township maintenance crews completed some repairs to the track to ensure it was level.
“It was jumping the track at three or four different places,” said Matt Watson, township code enforcement officer. New ties were placed down to help level the track.
For more information, call the Washington Township offices at 762-3128.
On the Net
http://www.washtwp-franklin.org
Rouzerville, Pa. — The final dings of an old bell signal the last call to all the children to hop on the Red Run Express, before the conductor shouts “All aboard!”
A ride on the 1930s Model A miniature train has been a favorite outdoor family activity at Red Run Park in Rouzerville for more than 15 years during the hot summer months.
Families wrap around the porch of the train station and patiently wait their turn for two or three laps around the oval-shaped track.
Kim Marshall of Chambersburg and her 6-year-old daughter, Miranda, were at Red Run Park for the first time on Saturday and just had to check out the train and give it a whirl.
“We are here visiting family for a high school graduation and when the kids saw the train come out at 1 p.m. we knew we just had to check it out,” said Marshall.
Lending a hand
Volunteers are an essential part to keeping the Red Run Express on the track for both the young and the young at heart to enjoy.
Anyone with a passion for trains or just looking for a way to help out the community can be the conductor of the antique fuel-powered train, that includes a faux coal car, two passenger cars and a caboose bringing up the rear.
Brice Klingensmith, Saturday’s conductor, has been a volunteer for the last two years.
“I was already a member of the Waynesboro Model Railroad Club, so this seemed like a natural place to volunteer my time,” said Klingensmith.
Volunteers are needed to operate the train from 1 to 4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. Special events are also held during Halloween and Christmas, when the train area is appropriately decorated.
Rides are free, but donations are always welcome.
Piece of history
“The unique thing about the train is that it gives the kids an opportunity to do something else besides play on the playground equipment,” said Klingensmith, who noted it provides a mini-history lesson to visitors of all ages.
The 1930s train resided at Cold Spring Park, a 25-acre amusement park located near Zullinger during the 1940s, transporting visitors back to the days of another era and to sentimental childhood memories.
In 1995, the train made its way to Red Run Park thanks in part to a $5,000 donation by local businessman Dean Hebb, which was used toward the train’s purchase.
This past fall, the Washington Township maintenance crews completed some repairs to the track to ensure it was level.
“It was jumping the track at three or four different places,” said Matt Watson, township code enforcement officer. New ties were placed down to help level the track.
For more information, call the Washington Township offices at 762-3128.
On the Net
http://www.washtwp-franklin.org
POLICE: Man sold $40,000 model trains to The Roundhouse
WDRB.com: POLICE: Man sold $40,000 model trains to The Roundhouse
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police say they've arrested a man for selling $40,000 of his father's stolen model trains to a Louisville hobby store.
It happened earlier this year. Police say that on Feb. 23, 36-year-old Anthony S. Dockwiller showed up at The Roundhouse on Brownsboro Road, near Rudy Lane, and sold the antique model trains to the store.
The Roundhouse is a hobby shop that specializes in antique model trains.
Dockwiller's father had reported the trains stolen days earlier. According to police, he eventually visited The Roundhouse and found his train set. Since Dockwiller had to display his ID to store employees before he sold the trains, it was easy to identify him as the seller.
Police were called, and Dockwiller was arrested Friday evening, shortly after 6 p.m., on an arrest warrant.
He was charged with receipt of stolen property of a value in excess of $10,000.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police say they've arrested a man for selling $40,000 of his father's stolen model trains to a Louisville hobby store.
It happened earlier this year. Police say that on Feb. 23, 36-year-old Anthony S. Dockwiller showed up at The Roundhouse on Brownsboro Road, near Rudy Lane, and sold the antique model trains to the store.
The Roundhouse is a hobby shop that specializes in antique model trains.
Dockwiller's father had reported the trains stolen days earlier. According to police, he eventually visited The Roundhouse and found his train set. Since Dockwiller had to display his ID to store employees before he sold the trains, it was easy to identify him as the seller.
Police were called, and Dockwiller was arrested Friday evening, shortly after 6 p.m., on an arrest warrant.
He was charged with receipt of stolen property of a value in excess of $10,000.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Forgotten Railroad’s Land Makes a Great Back Porch
Not on-topic, but pretty interesting!
NewYorkTimes: Forgotten Railroad’s Land Makes a Great Back Porch
Talk about the reverse of not in my backyard!
You’d never know it from the looks of the swimming pool, back porches, patios, makeshift garage, basketball hoop, parking lot for five cars and other suburban amenities squatting in the middle of a square block in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, but they occupy a 20-foot-wide corridor that is officially a railroad right-of-way.
Fortunately for homeowners who abut the 520-foot-long strip and have all but appropriated it, that branch of the New York, Brooklyn and Manhattan Beach Railway ceased service a century ago. Moreover, the line’s legal successor, the Long Island Rail Road, seems to have, er, lost track of the property.
Earlier this year, when the owners of a two-story house and an adjoining vacant lot on East 18th Street sued to legally claim the railroad land that borders their property, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which acquired the Long Island Rail Road in 1965, replied that neither it “nor any of its affiliates have had nor now have any interest in” the defunct railroad.
In fact, however, the transportation agency acknowledged that the corridor formally belonged to the Long Island Rail Road, which, in 1925, when it was a private carrier, acquired the New York, Brooklyn and Manhattan Beach line.
“If they lost that land, it belongs to the homeowners,” said Michael Abdullah, who owns a fastidiously renovated corner house on East 18th Street and Avenue V. “And even if the railroad owns it, what would they do with it?”
After searching its tax records, the city’s Finance Department declared last week that the right-of-way was an ownerless “alley,” even though, unlike most alleys, it was not publicly navigable. A spokesman for the department said, however, that access from the alley to the block’s interior lots increased their value, which means their assessed valuation and property taxes were probably higher than if the lots were not accessible.
“The trains were gone a long time ago,” said Sally Freedman, who bought a mock Tudor house at 2130 East 18th Street in 1957, “but we absolutely knew about it when we moved in.” Two years later, she and her husband joined other homeowners in formally recognizing each other’s right of access to the section of the railroad corridor that abutted their property.
“We closed the right-of-way,” Mrs. Freedman recalled. “Other people have been building on it and expanding their houses.”
In 2007, the Freedmans sold their house for $595,000 to Phoebe Wu and Wei Sen Chen, who filed the recent lawsuit — invoking a version of squatters’ rights known legally as adverse possession — against the New York, Brooklyn and Manhattan Beach line. Through their lawyer, Peter E. Sverd, they declined to say why they decided to sue now or whether when they bought the house they were aware that a railroad still owned a slice of their backyard, where they have installed a brick patio and a mammoth above-ground pool.
“I had no idea,” said Dimitri Andreenko, 23, who grew up down the block from Ms. Wu in a house his parents still own. “There are no remnants of it whatsoever. My father built an awning over the backyard so he can park his car there.”
The existence of orphaned properties similar to the abandoned railroad right-of way could be a bonanza for title searchers, who assume there are many more undiscovered ones. “There very well may be, and in a city the size of New York with as varied and complicated a history, I would have to assume it is highly likely,” said Brian D. Tormey, executive vice president of TitleVest, which conducted a title search of the right-of-way for The New York Times.
According to TitleVest’s search, the right-of-way and adjacent property was purchased from the Stillwell family in 1877 for a narrow-gauge railroad to speed guests from ferry landings in Bay Ridge and Greenpoint (through East New York) to the spectacular Manhattan Beach Hotel (its dining rooms could accommodate 4,000 people simultaneously) and bathing pavilion being built by Austin Corbin, a railway baron who would consolidate several labyrinthine lines, including his new Manhattan Beach branch, into his Long Island Rail Road.
Thirteen trains a day carried passengers on the Manhattan Beach line south from Flatbush to the hotel and a race course in Sheepshead Bay on tracks that ran just west of East 18th Street and about three blocks east of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railroad (which eventually became the Brighton elevated line, now served by the B and Q subway trains; a phantom staircase to its platform still stands at Avenue V and 16th Street).
The Manhattan Beach Hotel was razed in 1907. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the branch’s tracks were removed in 1910. Most of the branch’s land, including most of the block on East 18th Street between Avenues U and V, was sold by the Long Island Rail Road in 1924 to a developer, the Lezbern Building Company. The two-story homes were built the next year.
The 12 lots on the west side of East 18th were only 28.44 feet deep because, for whatever reason, the railroad apparently retained the right-of-way, the title report showed, so the semi-detached houses had virtually no backyards. (A typical lot is 80 to 100 feet deep.) A spokesman for the transportation agency speculated that the strip adjoining the East 18th Street lots might have been acquired for a station platform or some other purpose that was abandoned.
Meanwhile, owners of the neat, brick, mostly one- and two-family homes all but appropriated the right-of-way. In 1959, the Freedmans joined 11 other property-owners in a legal agreement recognizing “the right of each of the other parties to possess and enjoy by right of adverse possession, that part of the said 20-foot strip immediately to the rear of or abutting the lot owned by each of the other parties.”
The strip is barely big enough for a model train, much less a real railroad (the tracks at the New York Botanical Garden’s holiday train show are more than twice as long).
This month, after a reporter brought the property to the Long Island Rail Road’s attention, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Aaron Donovan, said it believed it still owned the right-of-way and was considering what to do with it.
“We can’t comment on potential litigation,” he said, adding, “It’s safe to say that we have no plans to reactivate service on the Manhattan Beach Branch.”
NewYorkTimes: Forgotten Railroad’s Land Makes a Great Back Porch
Talk about the reverse of not in my backyard!
You’d never know it from the looks of the swimming pool, back porches, patios, makeshift garage, basketball hoop, parking lot for five cars and other suburban amenities squatting in the middle of a square block in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, but they occupy a 20-foot-wide corridor that is officially a railroad right-of-way.
Fortunately for homeowners who abut the 520-foot-long strip and have all but appropriated it, that branch of the New York, Brooklyn and Manhattan Beach Railway ceased service a century ago. Moreover, the line’s legal successor, the Long Island Rail Road, seems to have, er, lost track of the property.
Earlier this year, when the owners of a two-story house and an adjoining vacant lot on East 18th Street sued to legally claim the railroad land that borders their property, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which acquired the Long Island Rail Road in 1965, replied that neither it “nor any of its affiliates have had nor now have any interest in” the defunct railroad.
In fact, however, the transportation agency acknowledged that the corridor formally belonged to the Long Island Rail Road, which, in 1925, when it was a private carrier, acquired the New York, Brooklyn and Manhattan Beach line.
“If they lost that land, it belongs to the homeowners,” said Michael Abdullah, who owns a fastidiously renovated corner house on East 18th Street and Avenue V. “And even if the railroad owns it, what would they do with it?”
After searching its tax records, the city’s Finance Department declared last week that the right-of-way was an ownerless “alley,” even though, unlike most alleys, it was not publicly navigable. A spokesman for the department said, however, that access from the alley to the block’s interior lots increased their value, which means their assessed valuation and property taxes were probably higher than if the lots were not accessible.
“The trains were gone a long time ago,” said Sally Freedman, who bought a mock Tudor house at 2130 East 18th Street in 1957, “but we absolutely knew about it when we moved in.” Two years later, she and her husband joined other homeowners in formally recognizing each other’s right of access to the section of the railroad corridor that abutted their property.
“We closed the right-of-way,” Mrs. Freedman recalled. “Other people have been building on it and expanding their houses.”
In 2007, the Freedmans sold their house for $595,000 to Phoebe Wu and Wei Sen Chen, who filed the recent lawsuit — invoking a version of squatters’ rights known legally as adverse possession — against the New York, Brooklyn and Manhattan Beach line. Through their lawyer, Peter E. Sverd, they declined to say why they decided to sue now or whether when they bought the house they were aware that a railroad still owned a slice of their backyard, where they have installed a brick patio and a mammoth above-ground pool.
“I had no idea,” said Dimitri Andreenko, 23, who grew up down the block from Ms. Wu in a house his parents still own. “There are no remnants of it whatsoever. My father built an awning over the backyard so he can park his car there.”
The existence of orphaned properties similar to the abandoned railroad right-of way could be a bonanza for title searchers, who assume there are many more undiscovered ones. “There very well may be, and in a city the size of New York with as varied and complicated a history, I would have to assume it is highly likely,” said Brian D. Tormey, executive vice president of TitleVest, which conducted a title search of the right-of-way for The New York Times.
According to TitleVest’s search, the right-of-way and adjacent property was purchased from the Stillwell family in 1877 for a narrow-gauge railroad to speed guests from ferry landings in Bay Ridge and Greenpoint (through East New York) to the spectacular Manhattan Beach Hotel (its dining rooms could accommodate 4,000 people simultaneously) and bathing pavilion being built by Austin Corbin, a railway baron who would consolidate several labyrinthine lines, including his new Manhattan Beach branch, into his Long Island Rail Road.
Thirteen trains a day carried passengers on the Manhattan Beach line south from Flatbush to the hotel and a race course in Sheepshead Bay on tracks that ran just west of East 18th Street and about three blocks east of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railroad (which eventually became the Brighton elevated line, now served by the B and Q subway trains; a phantom staircase to its platform still stands at Avenue V and 16th Street).
The Manhattan Beach Hotel was razed in 1907. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the branch’s tracks were removed in 1910. Most of the branch’s land, including most of the block on East 18th Street between Avenues U and V, was sold by the Long Island Rail Road in 1924 to a developer, the Lezbern Building Company. The two-story homes were built the next year.
The 12 lots on the west side of East 18th were only 28.44 feet deep because, for whatever reason, the railroad apparently retained the right-of-way, the title report showed, so the semi-detached houses had virtually no backyards. (A typical lot is 80 to 100 feet deep.) A spokesman for the transportation agency speculated that the strip adjoining the East 18th Street lots might have been acquired for a station platform or some other purpose that was abandoned.
Meanwhile, owners of the neat, brick, mostly one- and two-family homes all but appropriated the right-of-way. In 1959, the Freedmans joined 11 other property-owners in a legal agreement recognizing “the right of each of the other parties to possess and enjoy by right of adverse possession, that part of the said 20-foot strip immediately to the rear of or abutting the lot owned by each of the other parties.”
The strip is barely big enough for a model train, much less a real railroad (the tracks at the New York Botanical Garden’s holiday train show are more than twice as long).
This month, after a reporter brought the property to the Long Island Rail Road’s attention, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Aaron Donovan, said it believed it still owned the right-of-way and was considering what to do with it.
“We can’t comment on potential litigation,” he said, adding, “It’s safe to say that we have no plans to reactivate service on the Manhattan Beach Branch.”
Model trains stolen from Betws y Coed museum
NewsWales: Model trains stolen from Betws y Coed museum
Railway memorabilia worth thousands of pounds was stolen during a burglary at the Conway Valley Railway Museum in Betws y Coed between 5pm on Wednesday and 10am on Thursday.
An offender or offenders gained entry into the museum at the Old Goods Yard on Station Road, which is near the Riverside Camp site and the local graveyard, by forcing the rear doors of the building.
PC Andy Davies said: “Numerous model railway engines, including Hornby and other make models were stolen. Some of these items are of a very high value and would be of interest to enthusiasts.”
Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area or who may have information relating to the burglary.
Anyone with information is urged to contact PC 659 Andy Davies at Llanrwst Police Station on 101 if in Wales, 0845 6071001 (Welsh line), 0845 6071002 (English line). Alternatively text 66767 or call Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555111.
Railway memorabilia worth thousands of pounds was stolen during a burglary at the Conway Valley Railway Museum in Betws y Coed between 5pm on Wednesday and 10am on Thursday.
An offender or offenders gained entry into the museum at the Old Goods Yard on Station Road, which is near the Riverside Camp site and the local graveyard, by forcing the rear doors of the building.
PC Andy Davies said: “Numerous model railway engines, including Hornby and other make models were stolen. Some of these items are of a very high value and would be of interest to enthusiasts.”
Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area or who may have information relating to the burglary.
Anyone with information is urged to contact PC 659 Andy Davies at Llanrwst Police Station on 101 if in Wales, 0845 6071001 (Welsh line), 0845 6071002 (English line). Alternatively text 66767 or call Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555111.
Aboard the world's largest model train collection
I'v blogged about Miniatur Wunderland before, but it's worth sharing!
CNEtNews: Aboard the world's largest model train collection
HAMBURG, Germany--Sure, Miniatur Wunderland is the world's largest collection of model trains, but to describe it that way would do it a serious injustice. What it really is is a beyond-belief collection of fantastic dioramas depicting scenes from the Swiss and Austrian Alps, Germany, the United States, and Scandinavia throughout which run 900 trains on the more than eight miles of tracks.
I had planned to come here as part of Road Trip 2011, because I'd read that Miniatur Wunderland had recently added a giant scale model of a working airport. And when I looked into that, I discovered the bit about it being the world's-largest model train collection. That seemed like a no-brainer. But as I approached the building in Hamburg where it's located, I had a feeling that I would be disappointed.
I was deeply wrong. The minute I walked inside and saw the collection (see video below), I was blown away. If there was an entry in the dictionary for "detail-oriented," this would be the perfect example: this collection is built around incredibly well thought-out depictions of hundreds upon hundreds of little scenes, and meanwhile, all throughout the trains work their magic, weaving in and out of alpine mountains, into and out of myriad train stations, and through countless tunnels and over endless numbers of bridges.
Miniatur Wunderland was the brainchild of two German brothers who decided in the late 1990s to ditch their successful nightclub and record label business in order to build the world's largest model train collection, explained their younger brother, Sebastian Drechsler, who does communications for the collection.
The two older brothers got the reaction you might expect, Drechsler said, which was a lot of skepticism. But they did manage to convince a local bank to lend them 2 million German marks--this was before the advent of the Euro--and in 2000, they opened their doors. Initially, they had 20 employees and were hoping to get 100,000 visitors in their first year. Instead, 300,000 people showed up, and they were off and running. In 2010, he said, more than 1 million people showed up, making Miniatur Wunderland the second-most popular attraction in Hamburg--after the city's zoo--but the one that lures in by far the highest percentage of people from out of town.
Today, there are 210 employees who manage the 14,000-square-foot collection, which in addition to the 900 trains also includes 5,000 model cars, trucks, and other vehicles, and an astounding 250,000 miniature people, all of whom have been added to scenes by hand, and all in such a way as to further one story or another.
That, in fact, is one of the reasons the collection doesn't just attract men, who might seem the natural audience for a giant model train collection, Drechsler said. Women seem to enjoy the little stories that are depicted throughout the collection. But members of both gender frequently come and spend hours wandering around, trying to discover as many of the stories as they can, he said. Some are easy to spot--like a giant concert with 21,000 "people," and others are extremely subtle, often hidden below the main surface of the collection, or even in the floorboards or rafters.
For example, in the American section, there is a scene that is clearly supposed to be Roswell, N.M., where aliens supposedly landed. In the scene, a group of aliens are taking over a military plane. But it's below the surface where the truly delightful detail emerges: a hidden UFO and several levels of a secret military station geared around the aliens.
Still, despite countless numbers of these little scenes, it's the trains that are the true champions: and they do dominate. There's a single track climbing through the Swiss Alps. There's a giant representation of the Hamburg Central Train Station, complete with 14 platforms, and trains rushing in and out at all times. There are rail bridges, tunnels, cargo trains, express trains, and much, much more.
Airport
The biggest new attraction at Miniatur Wunderland is its airport. And for good reason. This 1:87 scale model of Hamburg's airport took the oldest brother six years to build, and cost 3.5 million euros and 150,000 working hours. According to Drechsler, it is an extremely realistic representation of the airport, as well it should be since it was built using the airport's actual construction plans.
The airport features 32 planes, each of which move around automatically, and autonomously. And here's where some of the true magic of the airport kicks in: The planes, as well as the many cars and trucks, buses, and support vehicles that move around on the tarmac, all do so independent of each other, yet almost never collide. That's because the oldest brother designed a system--using 80,000 lines of code--in which a tracking system automatically monitors the planes and vehicles and keeps track of their whereabouts at all times. Occasionally, there's a collision, but it's very infrequent.
These little vehicles are even smart enough to know when they need to have their batteries recharged, and when that happens, they drive themselves into a little garage and then go behind the walls to a charging area where they dock themselves at a little station and proceed to recharge. When they're done, they back out and return to wherever the program tells them they should be.
And being an airport, there should be takeoffs and landings, correct? I had assumed that this would be a missing element, much as is the case with the airport at the Legoland in Billund, Denmark, which I visited a few days earlier. But at Miniatur Wunderland, there's no such thing as such an important element not being there. Here, the planes do indeed take off and land (see video below), all because of an ingenious system in which the planes automatically taxi onto a runway, and while they roll towards getting airborne, little metal sticks pop up through slits in the surface and raise the planes up in the air. They gradually ascend until they disappear behind a flap in the wall. Landings work the same way, except in reverse.
Doubling in size
As if Miniatur Wunderland wasn't already big enough, Drechsler said the plan is to double the layout by the year 2020. To make that a reality, they've already rented another 10,700 square feet of space in which to expand. Among the geographies that will be added are an Italian section and more of the United States.
I wondered how it could all work since they don't own the building: after all, with such an amazing collection, if they lost their lease, the whole thing would come crashing down.
But he explained that Miniatur Wunderland has a 25-year lease. And anyway, he said, their landlord is the city of Hamburg. "And the city likes us," he said. It's the world's-largest model train collection and a million people come to see it each year. How could Hamburg not love it?
CNEtNews: Aboard the world's largest model train collection
HAMBURG, Germany--Sure, Miniatur Wunderland is the world's largest collection of model trains, but to describe it that way would do it a serious injustice. What it really is is a beyond-belief collection of fantastic dioramas depicting scenes from the Swiss and Austrian Alps, Germany, the United States, and Scandinavia throughout which run 900 trains on the more than eight miles of tracks.
I had planned to come here as part of Road Trip 2011, because I'd read that Miniatur Wunderland had recently added a giant scale model of a working airport. And when I looked into that, I discovered the bit about it being the world's-largest model train collection. That seemed like a no-brainer. But as I approached the building in Hamburg where it's located, I had a feeling that I would be disappointed.
I was deeply wrong. The minute I walked inside and saw the collection (see video below), I was blown away. If there was an entry in the dictionary for "detail-oriented," this would be the perfect example: this collection is built around incredibly well thought-out depictions of hundreds upon hundreds of little scenes, and meanwhile, all throughout the trains work their magic, weaving in and out of alpine mountains, into and out of myriad train stations, and through countless tunnels and over endless numbers of bridges.
Miniatur Wunderland was the brainchild of two German brothers who decided in the late 1990s to ditch their successful nightclub and record label business in order to build the world's largest model train collection, explained their younger brother, Sebastian Drechsler, who does communications for the collection.
The two older brothers got the reaction you might expect, Drechsler said, which was a lot of skepticism. But they did manage to convince a local bank to lend them 2 million German marks--this was before the advent of the Euro--and in 2000, they opened their doors. Initially, they had 20 employees and were hoping to get 100,000 visitors in their first year. Instead, 300,000 people showed up, and they were off and running. In 2010, he said, more than 1 million people showed up, making Miniatur Wunderland the second-most popular attraction in Hamburg--after the city's zoo--but the one that lures in by far the highest percentage of people from out of town.
Today, there are 210 employees who manage the 14,000-square-foot collection, which in addition to the 900 trains also includes 5,000 model cars, trucks, and other vehicles, and an astounding 250,000 miniature people, all of whom have been added to scenes by hand, and all in such a way as to further one story or another.
That, in fact, is one of the reasons the collection doesn't just attract men, who might seem the natural audience for a giant model train collection, Drechsler said. Women seem to enjoy the little stories that are depicted throughout the collection. But members of both gender frequently come and spend hours wandering around, trying to discover as many of the stories as they can, he said. Some are easy to spot--like a giant concert with 21,000 "people," and others are extremely subtle, often hidden below the main surface of the collection, or even in the floorboards or rafters.
For example, in the American section, there is a scene that is clearly supposed to be Roswell, N.M., where aliens supposedly landed. In the scene, a group of aliens are taking over a military plane. But it's below the surface where the truly delightful detail emerges: a hidden UFO and several levels of a secret military station geared around the aliens.
Still, despite countless numbers of these little scenes, it's the trains that are the true champions: and they do dominate. There's a single track climbing through the Swiss Alps. There's a giant representation of the Hamburg Central Train Station, complete with 14 platforms, and trains rushing in and out at all times. There are rail bridges, tunnels, cargo trains, express trains, and much, much more.
Airport
The biggest new attraction at Miniatur Wunderland is its airport. And for good reason. This 1:87 scale model of Hamburg's airport took the oldest brother six years to build, and cost 3.5 million euros and 150,000 working hours. According to Drechsler, it is an extremely realistic representation of the airport, as well it should be since it was built using the airport's actual construction plans.
The airport features 32 planes, each of which move around automatically, and autonomously. And here's where some of the true magic of the airport kicks in: The planes, as well as the many cars and trucks, buses, and support vehicles that move around on the tarmac, all do so independent of each other, yet almost never collide. That's because the oldest brother designed a system--using 80,000 lines of code--in which a tracking system automatically monitors the planes and vehicles and keeps track of their whereabouts at all times. Occasionally, there's a collision, but it's very infrequent.
These little vehicles are even smart enough to know when they need to have their batteries recharged, and when that happens, they drive themselves into a little garage and then go behind the walls to a charging area where they dock themselves at a little station and proceed to recharge. When they're done, they back out and return to wherever the program tells them they should be.
And being an airport, there should be takeoffs and landings, correct? I had assumed that this would be a missing element, much as is the case with the airport at the Legoland in Billund, Denmark, which I visited a few days earlier. But at Miniatur Wunderland, there's no such thing as such an important element not being there. Here, the planes do indeed take off and land (see video below), all because of an ingenious system in which the planes automatically taxi onto a runway, and while they roll towards getting airborne, little metal sticks pop up through slits in the surface and raise the planes up in the air. They gradually ascend until they disappear behind a flap in the wall. Landings work the same way, except in reverse.
Doubling in size
As if Miniatur Wunderland wasn't already big enough, Drechsler said the plan is to double the layout by the year 2020. To make that a reality, they've already rented another 10,700 square feet of space in which to expand. Among the geographies that will be added are an Italian section and more of the United States.
I wondered how it could all work since they don't own the building: after all, with such an amazing collection, if they lost their lease, the whole thing would come crashing down.
But he explained that Miniatur Wunderland has a 25-year lease. And anyway, he said, their landlord is the city of Hamburg. "And the city likes us," he said. It's the world's-largest model train collection and a million people come to see it each year. How could Hamburg not love it?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Maine: Fathers Get In Free at Railway Village June 19
Freepress.com: Dad's Get In Free at Railway Village June 19
On Father's Day, Sunday, June 19, Boothbay Railway Village offers free admission and train rides for all fathers when accompanied by their child. Fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers are invited to enjoy "Maine as it used to be" through the museum's exhibits.
Steam train rides on the two-foot-gauge railroad and rides in an antique Model T car are planned. Visitors can view the model railroad exhibit that will be open especially for Father's Day, with the trains running on the massive new layout under construction.
The Village has buildings dating from the 1840s, and a collection of over 50 antique, classic and vintage automobiles. Included are cars such as a 1929 Chevrolet AC Coupe, an outstanding 1938 Packard Club Sedan and a 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.
Boothbay Railway Village, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of rural life, railroads and the automobile in Maine and New England, is located on Route 27 about seven miles south of Route 1, and is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 633-4727 or visit www.railwayvillage.org.
On Father's Day, Sunday, June 19, Boothbay Railway Village offers free admission and train rides for all fathers when accompanied by their child. Fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers are invited to enjoy "Maine as it used to be" through the museum's exhibits.
Steam train rides on the two-foot-gauge railroad and rides in an antique Model T car are planned. Visitors can view the model railroad exhibit that will be open especially for Father's Day, with the trains running on the massive new layout under construction.
The Village has buildings dating from the 1840s, and a collection of over 50 antique, classic and vintage automobiles. Included are cars such as a 1929 Chevrolet AC Coupe, an outstanding 1938 Packard Club Sedan and a 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.
Boothbay Railway Village, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of rural life, railroads and the automobile in Maine and New England, is located on Route 27 about seven miles south of Route 1, and is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 633-4727 or visit www.railwayvillage.org.
Families, model train lovers flock to Annual Father's Day Train Show
YourHoustonNews: Families, model train lovers flock to Annual Father's Day Train ShowDads, their kids and train enthusiasts alike can enjoy an educational and fanciful journey through the world of model railroading at a Father's Day Weekend Train Show at Memorial City Mall on Saturday and Sunday, June 18 - 19.
Members of local model train clubs will be running trains on their modular layouts and will be available to chat, answer questions and point out the details of the train displays. There also will be a scale working model of a roller coaster that the kids will be able to operate with their parents. The event is free and open to the public.
WHEN: Saturday, June 18 - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 19 - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Memorial City Mall, 900 Gessner Road, Houston, 77024. The train show will be across from the Ice Skate USA rink. Easiest access is via the west mall entrance between California Pizza Kitchen and Panera Bread.
WHY: Model railroading is among the most popular hobbies in America and
is a great way for families to spend quality time over Father's Day weekend or anytime. According to the National Model Train Association, the list of celebrity dads who have enjoyed model railroading includes Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, Neil Young, Michael Jordan, Joe DiMaggio, Tom Hanks and Tom Brokaw.
Members of local model train clubs will be running trains on their modular layouts and will be available to chat, answer questions and point out the details of the train displays. There also will be a scale working model of a roller coaster that the kids will be able to operate with their parents. The event is free and open to the public.
WHEN: Saturday, June 18 - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 19 - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Memorial City Mall, 900 Gessner Road, Houston, 77024. The train show will be across from the Ice Skate USA rink. Easiest access is via the west mall entrance between California Pizza Kitchen and Panera Bread.
WHY: Model railroading is among the most popular hobbies in America and
is a great way for families to spend quality time over Father's Day weekend or anytime. According to the National Model Train Association, the list of celebrity dads who have enjoyed model railroading includes Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, Neil Young, Michael Jordan, Joe DiMaggio, Tom Hanks and Tom Brokaw.
Neil Young - Young Invented Model Train Device To Help His Disabled Sons
ContactMusic.com: Neil Young - Young Invented Model Train Device To Help His Disabled Sons
Rocker Neil Young invented a wireless remote control to help his disabled sons play with model trains when they were younger.
Both of Young's boys were born with severe limitations - Zeke has cerebral palsy and Ben is a quadriplegic - and their disabilities prompted the Heart of Gold hitmaker to help them find ways to improve their quality of life.
And the rocker reveals, when his kids were young, he designed the TrainMaster Command Control system so they could more easily enjoy their favourite hobby.
Young later submitted his design, as well as six others, to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in order to properly own the creative rights to his invention.
A slew of other stars have patented their ideas in recent years, according to the National Enquirer.
Supermodel Christie Brinkley created an educational system of alphabet toy blocks, actress Jamie Lee Curtis devised a baby diaper with a built-in pocket for anti-bacterial wipes, and rocker Eddie Van Halen invented a device for his guitar, which would prop the instrument into a flat position, allowing him to play with both hands.
Rocker Neil Young invented a wireless remote control to help his disabled sons play with model trains when they were younger.
Both of Young's boys were born with severe limitations - Zeke has cerebral palsy and Ben is a quadriplegic - and their disabilities prompted the Heart of Gold hitmaker to help them find ways to improve their quality of life.
And the rocker reveals, when his kids were young, he designed the TrainMaster Command Control system so they could more easily enjoy their favourite hobby.
Young later submitted his design, as well as six others, to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in order to properly own the creative rights to his invention.
A slew of other stars have patented their ideas in recent years, according to the National Enquirer.
Supermodel Christie Brinkley created an educational system of alphabet toy blocks, actress Jamie Lee Curtis devised a baby diaper with a built-in pocket for anti-bacterial wipes, and rocker Eddie Van Halen invented a device for his guitar, which would prop the instrument into a flat position, allowing him to play with both hands.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
“Tracks Ahead” makes stop at the Greeley Freight Station Museum
GreelyTribune (Colorado): “Tracks Ahead” makes stop at the Greeley Freight Station Museum
The Greeley Freight Station Museum has a starring role in an upcoming episode of the PBS series Tracks Ahead. The show, in its eighth PBS season, came to Greeley on Monday to film introductions for the show and a nearly nine-minute segment on the museum.
The museum features more than 2,500 model cars and has dispatcher functions similar to those used by real trains. It took more than 300 volunteers more than 27,000 hours over the course of five and a half years to build the exhibit. The museum is located between two actual railroad properties, the Union Pacific on the east and the Great Western on the west, so visitors can see actual trains during their visit.
Executive Producer and Director of the show David Baule could not say when the show would air, but he said the museum will be the first segment of Episode 802.
“The train community is very connected and if someone sneezes, we hear about it. We’ve heard great things about this model train museum, and we knew we had to film here,” Baule said.
Starting at 8 a.m. the crew filmed throughout the day in various parts of the museum to recite introductions of future train stories from around the world. The introductions were frequently interrupted by the constant noise from several trains, a plane and traffic. Spencer Christian, the show’s host since 1995, remained focused, finished his readings and described his love for trains.
“There is something about railroads that has universal appeal, because they are so relaxing and you have time to enjoy your surroundings,” Christian said. “I enjoy reading the stories of people’s lives relating to trains and seeing model trains like this one in Greeley. There are not too many models like this layout. This is probably the greatest one I have ever seen.”
Michelle Kempema, executive director of the museum, said the museum offers plenty of hands-on opportunities for train lovers.
“The museum is unique because the visitors are able to interact with the trains rather than walking down a hallway looking behind glass,” she said.
“The museum is one of Greeley’s best-kept secrets because we get many people from all over the world, but the locals aren’t coming. Greeley makes up 15 percent of our tourists,” said museum manager David Trussell. “We hope ‘Tracks Ahead’ will get more people from the surrounding community to come in.”
The Greeley Freight Station Museum has a starring role in an upcoming episode of the PBS series Tracks Ahead. The show, in its eighth PBS season, came to Greeley on Monday to film introductions for the show and a nearly nine-minute segment on the museum.
The museum features more than 2,500 model cars and has dispatcher functions similar to those used by real trains. It took more than 300 volunteers more than 27,000 hours over the course of five and a half years to build the exhibit. The museum is located between two actual railroad properties, the Union Pacific on the east and the Great Western on the west, so visitors can see actual trains during their visit.
Executive Producer and Director of the show David Baule could not say when the show would air, but he said the museum will be the first segment of Episode 802.
“The train community is very connected and if someone sneezes, we hear about it. We’ve heard great things about this model train museum, and we knew we had to film here,” Baule said.
Starting at 8 a.m. the crew filmed throughout the day in various parts of the museum to recite introductions of future train stories from around the world. The introductions were frequently interrupted by the constant noise from several trains, a plane and traffic. Spencer Christian, the show’s host since 1995, remained focused, finished his readings and described his love for trains.
“There is something about railroads that has universal appeal, because they are so relaxing and you have time to enjoy your surroundings,” Christian said. “I enjoy reading the stories of people’s lives relating to trains and seeing model trains like this one in Greeley. There are not too many models like this layout. This is probably the greatest one I have ever seen.”
Michelle Kempema, executive director of the museum, said the museum offers plenty of hands-on opportunities for train lovers.
“The museum is unique because the visitors are able to interact with the trains rather than walking down a hallway looking behind glass,” she said.
“The museum is one of Greeley’s best-kept secrets because we get many people from all over the world, but the locals aren’t coming. Greeley makes up 15 percent of our tourists,” said museum manager David Trussell. “We hope ‘Tracks Ahead’ will get more people from the surrounding community to come in.”
Monday, June 13, 2011
Orland [Maine] club encourages love of model trains
BangorDailyNews: Orland club encourages love of model trains
ORLAND, Maine — In a quiet corner of Orland, off the beaten track, a group is working to re-create the golden age of rail — in miniature.
At a nondescript building on the Back Ridge Road, the members of the Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club work each week on a large HO scale model train layout replicating a number of Maine towns that were once, and in some cases still are, stops on a railroad line: the Bucksport mill, the Bangor steeples, the bridge on the approach to Brownville Junction, among others.
The miniature engines lean heavily on Maine railroad tradition, Maine Central Railroad, and Bangor and Aroostook, along with the club’s fictional railroad line, the Katahdin Valley RR. The cars the engines pull are replicas of those that have rolled along the tracks of Maine.
In a display case in the meeting room, there are cars that have been custom designed by the club members and produce for the club for sale. Some, like the Bangor and Aroostook chip car, were hand-made in the club workshop, and some represent fictional companies, such as Maine Lobster, and Nate’s Round Tuit. The sale of those cars has been a major source of funding for the club, and has raised enough funds to build its headquarters and pay off the mortgage on the land.
The club has been in existence since 1978, according to member Geoff Anthony, who, on a recent Saturday sported a T-shirt bearing the message: “Still plays with trains.”
“There so many different things involved in it,” Anthony said of his interest in model trains. “You can go to one of those model railroad conventions, and you can learn a lot of different things. The educational piece, is one of the things I like about it.”
Just working on the layout involves a lot of different skills, carpentry, art, wiring. At their regular Monday night meetings, some member may spend the night laying track, wiring switches, or painting scenery, while others relax in the meeting room, researching details of locomotives or ideas for layouts, or just talking trains.
And sometimes, they just come in to play with the trains.
Dave McDonald, the club’s president, said he likes creative part of the hobby.
“I like the process of trying to make it look real,” he said.
At the same time, he said, the hobby provides an opportunity for a fantasy life.
“You get to step away from the daily issues, the pressures of life and focus on something you’re creating in your mind and then creating it in your garage,” he said.
Model railroading is sometimes considered an old-time hobby, and, in fact, many of the current club members are retired. It is sometimes hard for this type of hobby to compete with video games, he said.
At the same time, model railroading has changed. Anthony picked up a locomotive and pointed to a small digital receiver inside which serves as the throttle. Using a digital controller, he said, you can control one engine or multiple engines at a time.
“It allows you to do a whole lot of different things,” he said.
McDonald, who in his other life is a director of information services, said he uses his day-time computer skills in his hobby. The controllers can interface with computers and it is often easier to do the programming on the computer, he said. Also, the computer serves as a controller itself, directing the engines and operating switches.
The club has a long history. It started in 1978 in the Bangor area when a group of model railroad hobbyists got together. They created a fictional history of the Katahdin Valley Railroad, the club’s own line, and created a layout that, for a time, had a home in the basement of a building owned by one of the members.
When they lost that home, they looked for land in Bangor, but eventually, another member’s family offered land in Orland. They built the building in 1992. The 15 current members work on the different parts of the layout, creating often highly accurate replicas of the Bangor skyline, or the Bucksport mill, and some that step away from reality, such as the stop at Searsport that is being designed as if a container port had been built there years ago, complete with the container ship, SS Sierra Club.
The club hasn’t held an open house, Anthony said, mainly because the members haven’t felt that the layout was ready.
“We’ve never felt that we’ve gotten to the point where it’s been finished enough to be presentable,” he said. “It’s still a work in progress.”
On the other hand, they do put on a show every November, where they set up a smaller layout. And they encourage the public to come in for visits during the regular Monday night meetings. McDonald said they hope that some of those visits will encourage someone to get involved in the hobby and the club.
“The best way to get involved is to come in and see if there’s something there that inspires you, or excites you,” he said.
ORLAND, Maine — In a quiet corner of Orland, off the beaten track, a group is working to re-create the golden age of rail — in miniature.
At a nondescript building on the Back Ridge Road, the members of the Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club work each week on a large HO scale model train layout replicating a number of Maine towns that were once, and in some cases still are, stops on a railroad line: the Bucksport mill, the Bangor steeples, the bridge on the approach to Brownville Junction, among others.
The miniature engines lean heavily on Maine railroad tradition, Maine Central Railroad, and Bangor and Aroostook, along with the club’s fictional railroad line, the Katahdin Valley RR. The cars the engines pull are replicas of those that have rolled along the tracks of Maine.
In a display case in the meeting room, there are cars that have been custom designed by the club members and produce for the club for sale. Some, like the Bangor and Aroostook chip car, were hand-made in the club workshop, and some represent fictional companies, such as Maine Lobster, and Nate’s Round Tuit. The sale of those cars has been a major source of funding for the club, and has raised enough funds to build its headquarters and pay off the mortgage on the land.
The club has been in existence since 1978, according to member Geoff Anthony, who, on a recent Saturday sported a T-shirt bearing the message: “Still plays with trains.”
“There so many different things involved in it,” Anthony said of his interest in model trains. “You can go to one of those model railroad conventions, and you can learn a lot of different things. The educational piece, is one of the things I like about it.”
Just working on the layout involves a lot of different skills, carpentry, art, wiring. At their regular Monday night meetings, some member may spend the night laying track, wiring switches, or painting scenery, while others relax in the meeting room, researching details of locomotives or ideas for layouts, or just talking trains.
And sometimes, they just come in to play with the trains.
Dave McDonald, the club’s president, said he likes creative part of the hobby.
“I like the process of trying to make it look real,” he said.
At the same time, he said, the hobby provides an opportunity for a fantasy life.
“You get to step away from the daily issues, the pressures of life and focus on something you’re creating in your mind and then creating it in your garage,” he said.
Model railroading is sometimes considered an old-time hobby, and, in fact, many of the current club members are retired. It is sometimes hard for this type of hobby to compete with video games, he said.
At the same time, model railroading has changed. Anthony picked up a locomotive and pointed to a small digital receiver inside which serves as the throttle. Using a digital controller, he said, you can control one engine or multiple engines at a time.
“It allows you to do a whole lot of different things,” he said.
McDonald, who in his other life is a director of information services, said he uses his day-time computer skills in his hobby. The controllers can interface with computers and it is often easier to do the programming on the computer, he said. Also, the computer serves as a controller itself, directing the engines and operating switches.
The club has a long history. It started in 1978 in the Bangor area when a group of model railroad hobbyists got together. They created a fictional history of the Katahdin Valley Railroad, the club’s own line, and created a layout that, for a time, had a home in the basement of a building owned by one of the members.
When they lost that home, they looked for land in Bangor, but eventually, another member’s family offered land in Orland. They built the building in 1992. The 15 current members work on the different parts of the layout, creating often highly accurate replicas of the Bangor skyline, or the Bucksport mill, and some that step away from reality, such as the stop at Searsport that is being designed as if a container port had been built there years ago, complete with the container ship, SS Sierra Club.
The club hasn’t held an open house, Anthony said, mainly because the members haven’t felt that the layout was ready.
“We’ve never felt that we’ve gotten to the point where it’s been finished enough to be presentable,” he said. “It’s still a work in progress.”
On the other hand, they do put on a show every November, where they set up a smaller layout. And they encourage the public to come in for visits during the regular Monday night meetings. McDonald said they hope that some of those visits will encourage someone to get involved in the hobby and the club.
“The best way to get involved is to come in and see if there’s something there that inspires you, or excites you,” he said.
Canada's biggest model railway, a masterpiece built over decades, will be dismantled
The Canadian Press: Canada's biggest model railway, a masterpiece built over decades, will be dismantled
MONTREAL — In a warehouse in Montreal's historic Griffintown neighbourhood, model train enthusiasts have spent 38 years engaging in a labour of love.
Inch by inch, they've constructed what is believed to be Canada's largest fully operational model railway.
More than 300 people have participated over the years, devoting thousands of hours to building life-like models across an eye-popping, detail-laden, 1,493-metre masterpiece.
And it's about to be detroyed.
The reason for the imminent dismantling is not without irony: the make-believe trains are about to be forced away by a real train company, dealing with real-life issues like rising property costs.
Canadian National owns the 9,000-square-foot warehouse space and wants to lease it out at a higher rent, starting next year. It warned the model-train association five years ago that its time was up.
As a result, opportunities for members of the general public to see the project are about to run out. Twice a year, visitors have been allowed in to see the display as it's grown with time.
One final open house is expected to be held this October, at which point the last train will pull into the station.
"When people come here, it's like a wonderland," said Pierre Lalanne, president of the Montreal Railroad Modellers Association.
"This is the largest fully operational layout in Canada — one of the few I'd say, even in North America, that's fully operational."
The periodic rumbling of real trains can be heard just above the model railway, which is a scaled-down representation of 4,400 kilometres of track across several Canadian sites.
Some of the numbers are staggering. The project includes: 6,000 square feet of space, six train yards, 527 switches, 18 bridges, 17 tunnels, 12 major industrial areas and 68 medium-sized industries represented.
It takes up to 40 minutes for a train to loop through the entire track.
And the builders didn't skimp on the details: there are tiny people in the tiny houses inhabiting the tiny towns.
Along the way are odes to real-life Canadian towns, with depictions of places as diverse as Georgian Bay, Mont-Joli, Grande Prairie, Stoney Creek Ridge and Montreal's stately Windsor Station.
What can be salvaged, will be — some of the buildings, trees and bridges might be carried off elsewhere.
But about 70 per cent of the layout — the mountains, the roadbed and the rest — will be have to be trashed.
"Three-quarters of the layout is made of plaster and you can't move plaster," Lalanne lamented. "Even if it was movable, we'd have to find a place exactly like here to be able to move the thing."
After 38 years, CN said it had little choice.
"CN had a long-standing relationship with them, it was a good relationship. But basically we had to re-evaluate the lease and come to a decision," said Julie Senecal, a spokeswoman for CN.
"It is a business decision."
The group hasn't been able to find a new home.
"Trying to find another area as big or as large as what we have with the price of real estate today — nobody can pay $4,000 a month to be a member. It's impossible," Lalanne said.
When the project began, decades ago, the Griffintown district just west of Old Montreal was gritty and industrial and home to the railroad.
Today, it's filled increasingly with high-end lofts and condos.
"It's sad because it is a masterpiece of many years, with hours and hours of work. But it's ending — and that's how it is," said Robert O'Shaughnessy, an association member and former president.
"We would have liked to stay but you see the development around this neighbourhood and it gives you a good idea of what's happening."
Space wasn't an issue when they started. Five men toiled away in the sprawling basement of an apartment complex in 1950. One of the members was the concierge and he lent out the space.
In 1973, the group moved to its current locale and elected to build big.
There are about 40 active members left, ranging in age from 23 to 83. Most never had anything to do with the railroad — the group includes lawyers, administrators, police officers and firefighters.
Their common passion was trains.
Everyone had a different interest, whether it was designing towns, tracks or creating the increasingly complex, electronic model trains, said Denis Guerin, a long-time member.
"It's a hobby that's pretty sophisticated but it's still accessible to everyone. Some people say it's probably the most diverse hobby there is," Guerin said.
If and when they find a new home, the next step will be to rebuild. All current members expect to take part.
"That's part of the hobby," said Bernard Carez.
"The trains won't roll right away, it'll take a minimum of two years, depending on the size of the space and how many people are willing to help."
As for what's being lost — thousands of square feet of handiwork, dreamed of and crafted over thousands of hours — O'Shaughnessy is somewhat philosophical.
He said the group can always take pride in what it achieved, over a span of just under four decades.
"It is disappointing because lots of hours have been put into the layout," said O'Shaughnessy.
"But nothing is eternal, so it has to end sometime. It's sad that it's going, but it's like everything in life: it doesn't last forever."
MONTREAL — In a warehouse in Montreal's historic Griffintown neighbourhood, model train enthusiasts have spent 38 years engaging in a labour of love.
Inch by inch, they've constructed what is believed to be Canada's largest fully operational model railway.
More than 300 people have participated over the years, devoting thousands of hours to building life-like models across an eye-popping, detail-laden, 1,493-metre masterpiece.
And it's about to be detroyed.
The reason for the imminent dismantling is not without irony: the make-believe trains are about to be forced away by a real train company, dealing with real-life issues like rising property costs.
Canadian National owns the 9,000-square-foot warehouse space and wants to lease it out at a higher rent, starting next year. It warned the model-train association five years ago that its time was up.
As a result, opportunities for members of the general public to see the project are about to run out. Twice a year, visitors have been allowed in to see the display as it's grown with time.
One final open house is expected to be held this October, at which point the last train will pull into the station.
"When people come here, it's like a wonderland," said Pierre Lalanne, president of the Montreal Railroad Modellers Association.
"This is the largest fully operational layout in Canada — one of the few I'd say, even in North America, that's fully operational."
The periodic rumbling of real trains can be heard just above the model railway, which is a scaled-down representation of 4,400 kilometres of track across several Canadian sites.
Some of the numbers are staggering. The project includes: 6,000 square feet of space, six train yards, 527 switches, 18 bridges, 17 tunnels, 12 major industrial areas and 68 medium-sized industries represented.
It takes up to 40 minutes for a train to loop through the entire track.
And the builders didn't skimp on the details: there are tiny people in the tiny houses inhabiting the tiny towns.
Along the way are odes to real-life Canadian towns, with depictions of places as diverse as Georgian Bay, Mont-Joli, Grande Prairie, Stoney Creek Ridge and Montreal's stately Windsor Station.
What can be salvaged, will be — some of the buildings, trees and bridges might be carried off elsewhere.
But about 70 per cent of the layout — the mountains, the roadbed and the rest — will be have to be trashed.
"Three-quarters of the layout is made of plaster and you can't move plaster," Lalanne lamented. "Even if it was movable, we'd have to find a place exactly like here to be able to move the thing."
After 38 years, CN said it had little choice.
"CN had a long-standing relationship with them, it was a good relationship. But basically we had to re-evaluate the lease and come to a decision," said Julie Senecal, a spokeswoman for CN.
"It is a business decision."
The group hasn't been able to find a new home.
"Trying to find another area as big or as large as what we have with the price of real estate today — nobody can pay $4,000 a month to be a member. It's impossible," Lalanne said.
When the project began, decades ago, the Griffintown district just west of Old Montreal was gritty and industrial and home to the railroad.
Today, it's filled increasingly with high-end lofts and condos.
"It's sad because it is a masterpiece of many years, with hours and hours of work. But it's ending — and that's how it is," said Robert O'Shaughnessy, an association member and former president.
"We would have liked to stay but you see the development around this neighbourhood and it gives you a good idea of what's happening."
Space wasn't an issue when they started. Five men toiled away in the sprawling basement of an apartment complex in 1950. One of the members was the concierge and he lent out the space.
In 1973, the group moved to its current locale and elected to build big.
There are about 40 active members left, ranging in age from 23 to 83. Most never had anything to do with the railroad — the group includes lawyers, administrators, police officers and firefighters.
Their common passion was trains.
Everyone had a different interest, whether it was designing towns, tracks or creating the increasingly complex, electronic model trains, said Denis Guerin, a long-time member.
"It's a hobby that's pretty sophisticated but it's still accessible to everyone. Some people say it's probably the most diverse hobby there is," Guerin said.
If and when they find a new home, the next step will be to rebuild. All current members expect to take part.
"That's part of the hobby," said Bernard Carez.
"The trains won't roll right away, it'll take a minimum of two years, depending on the size of the space and how many people are willing to help."
As for what's being lost — thousands of square feet of handiwork, dreamed of and crafted over thousands of hours — O'Shaughnessy is somewhat philosophical.
He said the group can always take pride in what it achieved, over a span of just under four decades.
"It is disappointing because lots of hours have been put into the layout," said O'Shaughnessy.
"But nothing is eternal, so it has to end sometime. It's sad that it's going, but it's like everything in life: it doesn't last forever."
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Model train makers converge on Lubbock, June 11&12
Fox34News: Model train makers converge on Lubbock
More than 100 train aficionado flocked to Lubbock for the Texas Model Railroad Convention, as people from all over the state bring their decades of passion and experience.
Upon entrance to the convention, model train lovers can see a model put in place by Lubbock Model Railroad Association's original members.
"This layout over half of the sections were made by the original members, and most of them are already gone," Al Fox, a long-time member of the LMRA, said.
Bill McPherson, president of the National Model Railroad Association's Lone Star Region says the trains seen at the convention replicate locomotives that were pivotal in the nation's development.
"The railroads were so instrumental starting back in the early 1800's," he said. "Maybe, we're recreating a life as it used to be."
For Fox, the hobby has never lost its appeal.
"I would recommend this hobby for anyone at any time, anywhere. My wife would tell me 'Hey! You know it's 2 o'clock in the morning?? And, I say no I do not, I do not realize that.'"
As much intricate details go into constructing the miniature railroads, the trade requires a wide range of skill.
"Some people are interested in building scenery. Some are interested in wiring, electronics.," David Barrow, a lifelong track builder from Austin, said. "Some are interested in building buildings, cars and locomotives."
McPherson agrees.
"To build a model railroad, you need to become a pretty good carpenter, a electrician, a electronics expert," he said.
As the tracks are ever-expanding Barrow says the seasoned vets in the trade are always glad to help those looking for experience.
The event goes until Sunday at the Holiday Inn Park Plaza. To attend, you must be a member of the National Model Railroad Association. You can register at the event
More than 100 train aficionado flocked to Lubbock for the Texas Model Railroad Convention, as people from all over the state bring their decades of passion and experience.
Upon entrance to the convention, model train lovers can see a model put in place by Lubbock Model Railroad Association's original members.
"This layout over half of the sections were made by the original members, and most of them are already gone," Al Fox, a long-time member of the LMRA, said.
Bill McPherson, president of the National Model Railroad Association's Lone Star Region says the trains seen at the convention replicate locomotives that were pivotal in the nation's development.
"The railroads were so instrumental starting back in the early 1800's," he said. "Maybe, we're recreating a life as it used to be."
For Fox, the hobby has never lost its appeal.
"I would recommend this hobby for anyone at any time, anywhere. My wife would tell me 'Hey! You know it's 2 o'clock in the morning?? And, I say no I do not, I do not realize that.'"
As much intricate details go into constructing the miniature railroads, the trade requires a wide range of skill.
"Some people are interested in building scenery. Some are interested in wiring, electronics.," David Barrow, a lifelong track builder from Austin, said. "Some are interested in building buildings, cars and locomotives."
McPherson agrees.
"To build a model railroad, you need to become a pretty good carpenter, a electrician, a electronics expert," he said.
As the tracks are ever-expanding Barrow says the seasoned vets in the trade are always glad to help those looking for experience.
The event goes until Sunday at the Holiday Inn Park Plaza. To attend, you must be a member of the National Model Railroad Association. You can register at the event
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Manassas Railway Festival draws thousands
InsideNova.com: Manassas Railway Festival draws thousands
This report is from June 4, so you've all missed it. Just mark it on your calendars for next year!
Blessed by a beautiful, sunny day with comfortable temperatures, throngs of people came into Old Town Manassas for the 17th annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival.
The festivities included elaborate model train displays, the VRE Excursion Train to Clifton and back, live entertainment, food concessions, rides and vendors of “railroadmania."
The temperature was in contrast to last year when temperatures got into the high 90s and crowds left early.
Debbie Haight, executive director of Historic Manassas, Inc. summarized the day.
“It’s a great day for people to come out and have a lot fun — and the weatherman certainly cooperated with the nice weather.”
She estimated that upwards of 30,000 people would come out for the free event.
As usual, one of the most popular spots for the spectators were the model trains.
Brion Boyles, a member of the Prince William County Model Railroad Club, said he enjoys coming out each year to the festival.
“‘We are a real informal group of about 70 members who all love working with model trains. (The group has a permanent display set up in the Quantico Train Depot.
“We encourage children to get real close up looks at the trains... and even allow them to run them,” he said.
Seven-year-old Noble Tousha was among those fascinating by the trains.
“This a special day for me every year. I love trains, particularly the steam engines,” he said.
“We all love coming out every year, seeing the trains and taking a ride on the VRE,” said Alan and Robin Tousha.
Also riders on the VRE were Ron and Cindy Jacobs who brought their grandson Eli Mathis for his first train ride.
“He really had a great time... hearing the whistle and looking our of the window,” said Cindy Jacobs.
Ruth Gorgas of Manassas said she always made a special effort to get the festival “mainly to see the Lego train outfit.”
A children’s stage with both professional and local talent performed for the youth.
For those that wanted carnival-type games and food, the place to be was the Boy Scout Troop 670 area.
The troop, with about 35 Boy Scouts, manned booths that included ball toss, wac-a-mole, putting green, Q-ball and sponge toss.
The food available included popcorn, soda, juice and cotton candy.
Jim Sealock, assistant Scoutmaster, was overseeing the activities. He said the troop usually nets about $5,000 to $6,000 which is used to support the troop with needed supplies and scholarships to camps.
A separate area set up with traveling food kitchens included barbecues, crabcakes, shrimp, fried fish, Gyros, Italian Sausage, shaved ice, iced tea and lemonade.
Dave Hutton, owner of Nathans Dairy Bar said, “We have been selling a lot of ice cream cones and sundaes. “We always like to come out to events such as this and become a part of the community."
Mark Ingram, owner of Kona Ice of Virginia, echoed his thoughts.
His stand was offering 40 flavors of shaved ice — with customers able to cover their ice with any flavor they wanted by themselves.
“Ninety percent of our customers prefer to do their own topping ... with blue raspberry the most popular favor,” he said.
Vendors selling all types of railroad memorabilia were scattered through the area.
Among those was Travis Merickle who came all the way from Nashville to sell his railroad-themed T-shirt, mugs and hats.
“This is our fourth year we have been here. We enjoy coming... there is always a good crowd. Everyone seems super nice.”
A group of women dressed in period garb patrolled the grounds promoting the upcoming 150th Commemoration of the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run in July.
They included Sarah Harrover, Kathy Strauss, G. C. Scout, Sharon Owen and Nora Jewell.
The festival begins a season of events and activities planned in Manassas, including the seventh annual Wine and Jazz Festival on June 19, Fourth of July celebration and the 150th Civil War commemorations activities in July.
This report is from June 4, so you've all missed it. Just mark it on your calendars for next year!
Blessed by a beautiful, sunny day with comfortable temperatures, throngs of people came into Old Town Manassas for the 17th annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival.
The festivities included elaborate model train displays, the VRE Excursion Train to Clifton and back, live entertainment, food concessions, rides and vendors of “railroadmania."
The temperature was in contrast to last year when temperatures got into the high 90s and crowds left early.
Debbie Haight, executive director of Historic Manassas, Inc. summarized the day.
“It’s a great day for people to come out and have a lot fun — and the weatherman certainly cooperated with the nice weather.”
She estimated that upwards of 30,000 people would come out for the free event.
As usual, one of the most popular spots for the spectators were the model trains.
Brion Boyles, a member of the Prince William County Model Railroad Club, said he enjoys coming out each year to the festival.
“‘We are a real informal group of about 70 members who all love working with model trains. (The group has a permanent display set up in the Quantico Train Depot.
“We encourage children to get real close up looks at the trains... and even allow them to run them,” he said.
Seven-year-old Noble Tousha was among those fascinating by the trains.
“This a special day for me every year. I love trains, particularly the steam engines,” he said.
“We all love coming out every year, seeing the trains and taking a ride on the VRE,” said Alan and Robin Tousha.
Also riders on the VRE were Ron and Cindy Jacobs who brought their grandson Eli Mathis for his first train ride.
“He really had a great time... hearing the whistle and looking our of the window,” said Cindy Jacobs.
Ruth Gorgas of Manassas said she always made a special effort to get the festival “mainly to see the Lego train outfit.”
A children’s stage with both professional and local talent performed for the youth.
For those that wanted carnival-type games and food, the place to be was the Boy Scout Troop 670 area.
The troop, with about 35 Boy Scouts, manned booths that included ball toss, wac-a-mole, putting green, Q-ball and sponge toss.
The food available included popcorn, soda, juice and cotton candy.
Jim Sealock, assistant Scoutmaster, was overseeing the activities. He said the troop usually nets about $5,000 to $6,000 which is used to support the troop with needed supplies and scholarships to camps.
A separate area set up with traveling food kitchens included barbecues, crabcakes, shrimp, fried fish, Gyros, Italian Sausage, shaved ice, iced tea and lemonade.
Dave Hutton, owner of Nathans Dairy Bar said, “We have been selling a lot of ice cream cones and sundaes. “We always like to come out to events such as this and become a part of the community."
Mark Ingram, owner of Kona Ice of Virginia, echoed his thoughts.
His stand was offering 40 flavors of shaved ice — with customers able to cover their ice with any flavor they wanted by themselves.
“Ninety percent of our customers prefer to do their own topping ... with blue raspberry the most popular favor,” he said.
Vendors selling all types of railroad memorabilia were scattered through the area.
Among those was Travis Merickle who came all the way from Nashville to sell his railroad-themed T-shirt, mugs and hats.
“This is our fourth year we have been here. We enjoy coming... there is always a good crowd. Everyone seems super nice.”
A group of women dressed in period garb patrolled the grounds promoting the upcoming 150th Commemoration of the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run in July.
They included Sarah Harrover, Kathy Strauss, G. C. Scout, Sharon Owen and Nora Jewell.
The festival begins a season of events and activities planned in Manassas, including the seventh annual Wine and Jazz Festival on June 19, Fourth of July celebration and the 150th Civil War commemorations activities in July.
New York: Salamanca Rail Museum
TheSalamancaPress.com: Salamanca Rail Museum
Visitors to the Salamanca Rail Museum will find that over the winter many improvements and repairs have been made to the property both inside and outside.
The Salamanca Rail Museum, located at 170 Main St., is a fully restored passenger depot constructed in 1912 by the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway.
Acquired in 1980 as a vandalized shell, it was brought back to its original appearance using a combination of private donations, government funds and volunteer labor.
The museum exhibits nostalgic railroad pieces with an emphasis on the three railroads that served the region — the Erie, the Baltimore and Ohio (BR&P), and the Pennsylvania Railroads. Through artifacts, photographs and video presentation, visitors can experience an era more than 90 years ago, when rail was the primary means of transportation from city to city.
Visitors to the Salamanca Rail Museum will find that over the winter many improvements and repairs have been made to the property both inside and outside.
The Salamanca Rail Museum, located at 170 Main St., is a fully restored passenger depot constructed in 1912 by the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway.
Acquired in 1980 as a vandalized shell, it was brought back to its original appearance using a combination of private donations, government funds and volunteer labor.
The museum exhibits nostalgic railroad pieces with an emphasis on the three railroads that served the region — the Erie, the Baltimore and Ohio (BR&P), and the Pennsylvania Railroads. Through artifacts, photographs and video presentation, visitors can experience an era more than 90 years ago, when rail was the primary means of transportation from city to city.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
All aboard for Trainland (Colfax, Iowa)
DesMoinesRegister.com: All aboard for Trainland
Colfax, Ia. - Red Atwood seems to be having too much fun.
"Do you want to see the fireworks again?" he asks a visitor.
He reaches under a railing, pushes a button, and, just as planned, a cluster of three separate animated lights flicker in the darkness - giving off a fireworks special effect - as a toy train whirs around on metal tracks below.
Not far away, strobe lights ripple along the side of a miniature airport's runway. He presses the button again. The pretend fireworks flash once more in a make-believe night sky. He cracks a smile, surrounded by dozens of the 600 tiny lights that twinkle and glow here in the small world he and friends built more than a generation ago.
Atwood, a lifelong farmer who turned 77 on Memorial Day, is living proof that there are grown men who will always find delight playing with toys.
As the owner and founder of Trainland U.S.A., he presides over a sprawling, homespun toy train museum celebrating its 30th season this summer as a just slightly off-the-beaten path roadside attraction.
While the focus of Trainland has been on toys and models for the past three decades, Atwood and his wife, Judy, rescued a full-sized Civil War-era train depot two years ago from Calamus, which is west of Clinton in eastern Iowa.
They have begun the process of restoring the small depot and hope to have it open before Labor Day, when Trainland closes for the season.
Until then, the lure of this place is the nearly 25 classic toy train sets that roll along over about 4,000 feet of track that meanders in and around about 200 model buildings, most of which light up when make-believe night falls. Scenery is hand-painted; glass protects the custom-made basement display built in the late 1970s with the help of dozens of friends.
"We get a lot of young kids who come in here and almost can't contain themselves," Judy Atwood said. "We also get quite a few baby boomers who come in here and get to relive their past."
All the trains and accessories are part of a classic collection of Lionel O-gauge trains that Atwood began assembling in the early 1960s after he finished a tour of duty with the U.S. Army. The vintage pieces function as they did when they came out of their boxes.
"I wasn't smart enough to start my collection earlier, during the 1950s," he said, harkening back to the immediate post-war years when the most sought-after toy trains were still manufactured in the United States.
Trainland has consistently attracted visitors from every state since it opened in 1981, Judy Atwood said.
Yearly attendance has declined from pre-1995 highs because tour buses that once stopped at Trainland now pass the attraction on their way to the casino at Prairie Meadows.
But thousands of visitors still pull off the interstate spontaneously, lured by the Trainland signs just before Exit 155, she added. Trainland opened with a full parking lot on Memorial Day weekend.
The fact that the season opened with noticeably large crowds might suggest that both Iowans and out-of-state tourists have become increasingly interested in taking paths less traveled, said Jessica O'Riley, communications manager of the Iowa Tourism Office.
"We often tell people the best way to experience Iowa is to get off the interstates and explore," she said. "That's where they're likely to find hidden gems of attractions."
There are larger toy train museums, such as the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, with 27,000 square feet of display. But Trainland has more than enough atmosphere and hardware to remind many adults of the golden age of trains and introduce youngsters to a world they never knew.
Visitors can see three eras of time; frontier, steam and diesel. Dozens of depictions of well-known American landmarks and scenes of Americana are part of the display. Look closely to see gun fighters in the Old West, a moonshine still in Missouri, an operating drive-in movie theater, or San Francisco trolley cars.
In a way, Trainland reflects Atwood's lifetime of interest. Although he did all of his serious toy train collecting as an adult, his tie to toy trains goes back to a 1930s childhood Christmas.
"Santa brought me a Marx train set when I was a kid," he said, a train he still owns.
After Atwood and friends finished Trainland in 1981, they had an American original - a place to visit that some might regard as off-beat. Now, when he speaks of his homemade museum, there's a lilt in Atwood's voice. He moves around it, having fun, perhaps too much fun.
"Sometimes, you can get a little burned out," he said. "But I am probably going to keep doing this until the day I die."
Colfax, Ia. - Red Atwood seems to be having too much fun.
"Do you want to see the fireworks again?" he asks a visitor.
He reaches under a railing, pushes a button, and, just as planned, a cluster of three separate animated lights flicker in the darkness - giving off a fireworks special effect - as a toy train whirs around on metal tracks below.
Not far away, strobe lights ripple along the side of a miniature airport's runway. He presses the button again. The pretend fireworks flash once more in a make-believe night sky. He cracks a smile, surrounded by dozens of the 600 tiny lights that twinkle and glow here in the small world he and friends built more than a generation ago.
Atwood, a lifelong farmer who turned 77 on Memorial Day, is living proof that there are grown men who will always find delight playing with toys.
As the owner and founder of Trainland U.S.A., he presides over a sprawling, homespun toy train museum celebrating its 30th season this summer as a just slightly off-the-beaten path roadside attraction.
While the focus of Trainland has been on toys and models for the past three decades, Atwood and his wife, Judy, rescued a full-sized Civil War-era train depot two years ago from Calamus, which is west of Clinton in eastern Iowa.
They have begun the process of restoring the small depot and hope to have it open before Labor Day, when Trainland closes for the season.
Until then, the lure of this place is the nearly 25 classic toy train sets that roll along over about 4,000 feet of track that meanders in and around about 200 model buildings, most of which light up when make-believe night falls. Scenery is hand-painted; glass protects the custom-made basement display built in the late 1970s with the help of dozens of friends.
"We get a lot of young kids who come in here and almost can't contain themselves," Judy Atwood said. "We also get quite a few baby boomers who come in here and get to relive their past."
All the trains and accessories are part of a classic collection of Lionel O-gauge trains that Atwood began assembling in the early 1960s after he finished a tour of duty with the U.S. Army. The vintage pieces function as they did when they came out of their boxes.
"I wasn't smart enough to start my collection earlier, during the 1950s," he said, harkening back to the immediate post-war years when the most sought-after toy trains were still manufactured in the United States.
Trainland has consistently attracted visitors from every state since it opened in 1981, Judy Atwood said.
Yearly attendance has declined from pre-1995 highs because tour buses that once stopped at Trainland now pass the attraction on their way to the casino at Prairie Meadows.
But thousands of visitors still pull off the interstate spontaneously, lured by the Trainland signs just before Exit 155, she added. Trainland opened with a full parking lot on Memorial Day weekend.
The fact that the season opened with noticeably large crowds might suggest that both Iowans and out-of-state tourists have become increasingly interested in taking paths less traveled, said Jessica O'Riley, communications manager of the Iowa Tourism Office.
"We often tell people the best way to experience Iowa is to get off the interstates and explore," she said. "That's where they're likely to find hidden gems of attractions."
There are larger toy train museums, such as the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, with 27,000 square feet of display. But Trainland has more than enough atmosphere and hardware to remind many adults of the golden age of trains and introduce youngsters to a world they never knew.
Visitors can see three eras of time; frontier, steam and diesel. Dozens of depictions of well-known American landmarks and scenes of Americana are part of the display. Look closely to see gun fighters in the Old West, a moonshine still in Missouri, an operating drive-in movie theater, or San Francisco trolley cars.
In a way, Trainland reflects Atwood's lifetime of interest. Although he did all of his serious toy train collecting as an adult, his tie to toy trains goes back to a 1930s childhood Christmas.
"Santa brought me a Marx train set when I was a kid," he said, a train he still owns.
After Atwood and friends finished Trainland in 1981, they had an American original - a place to visit that some might regard as off-beat. Now, when he speaks of his homemade museum, there's a lilt in Atwood's voice. He moves around it, having fun, perhaps too much fun.
"Sometimes, you can get a little burned out," he said. "But I am probably going to keep doing this until the day I die."
Friday, June 3, 2011
Beaverton, Oregon: Aloha Rail open house June 4 and 5th
OregonLive.com: Aloha Rail open house
http://www.aloharail.org/
Model Railroad Club Open House: Aloha & Western Oregon Lines model railroad club presents its family-oriented Spring Open House and Operating Session, with HO-scale trains depicting the west side's rail heritage. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Aloha Rail, 12755 S.W. Beaverdam Road, Beaverton; $1-$2; or 503-318-2558
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)