Salem man is building bridges with scale model train hobby turned business

From Statesman Journal:  Salem man is building bridges with scale model train hobby turned business


Preparations are being made, in a backyard 2,100 miles away, to install a 10-foot-long replica of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The bridge was made by Johnny Hanson of West Salem, and his craftsmanship will be on display during the upcoming 2012 National Garden Railway Convention in the Chicago area.



“I hope more people see what I do,” Hanson said. “Right now it’s only been word of mouth.”



That’s how I learned about Hanson and his hobby-turned-side-business. A source from one of my recent columns lives in the neighborhood, had seen some of his handiwork, and thought I might be interested in his story. She was right.

Hanson makes custom bridges for G scale train enthusiasts. G scale is a scale for model railways and, because of its size and durability, often is used outdoors. They call these installations garden railways.


If you’ve ever visited The Oregon Garden in Silverton, you might have seen Hanson’s work. He donated the bridge that is part of the train garden there.



Hanson has been building these bridges since around 2006. He initially learned how to make them through a fabricator he became acquainted with while working for Industrial Welding Supply.



“It started out as something to do,” Hanson said, “and the hobby got out of hand.”



The hobby did help him heal during a difficult time when he lost his parents and brother in a span of a couple of years.


“I just crawled in the shop and started building these things,” he said. “It was my space.”



Hanson taught himself to weld years ago while working as a mechanic on a dairy farm in California. After moving to Salem in 1993, he took a couple of summer classes at Chemeketa Community College.



He’s not a professional welder — he’s a mechanic for Emory & Sons Construction — but prides himself in his craftsmanship and attention to detail.


All the welds on his bridges are ground down to look smooth. And if you look down a row of beams on one of his bridges, or a row of cables, you can see the perfection.


“It’s his artistic eye, that’s what makes them different,” wife Eileen said.

 

Florida: All aboard! Authentic model trains on display in Cocoa

Well, it's a day late. But it'll doubtless be an annual thing, so set your calendar for next year.

From Florida Today:  All aboard! Authentic model trains on display in Cocoa

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Trains, Trains, Trains
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Central Brevard Library, 308 Forrest Ave., Cocoa
COST: Free
INFO: Call 321-633-1792.
THE STORY: For those who love model trains, put your engineer’s cap on, grab your train whistle, and hop aboard the Trains, Trains, Trains

Trains program at the Central Brevard Library in Cocoa on Saturday.

The event will feature speakers from the FECR Society, history buffs and a junior engineer program.
“It’s something that draws a lot of interest,” said Jan Erickson, adult program coordinator at the library. “There are a lot of people who are interested in trains as a hobby.”

“Caboose Mikey” will explain the ins and outs of how trains operate.

“He dresses up in an old engineer’s outfit, and he walks around and talks about what the trains are doing, as well,” Erickson said.

Jerry Groothouse, director of the Steam Locomotive Association No. 253, will discuss antique and toy trains. And if you bring your model and antique trains, he’ll give you an appraisal.

The displays you’ll see at the library on Saturday are modeled after actual train depots.

“Model trains are painted to be like real train cars,” Erickson said. “If you stop at a train track and notice the engine number, the cars are painted exact. They’re very authentic.”

Model train enthusiast and program organizer Tom Chaffee knows all about authenticity. His group — FECNtrak — models the Florida East Coast Railway Society. They’ve hosted the event at the library since 2006.

“We try and model the Florida East Coast Railway prototypically. We try to do the same kind of train cars you would see, the same locomotives,” he said. “The track we use is right down to the simulated rail ties, just like the real railroad.

“They’ll be modeled after the trees and buildings that are in Jacksonville or places in between Jacksonville and Miami,” he said.

He’ll explain the role of a dispatcher, too. Train engineers communicate with each other and the dispatcher is “the middleman.” They discuss their routes, and the dispatcher can tell you whether it’s OK to move forward.
“Just like the real railroad, the real engineers don’t know 20 miles down the road and around the bend. The dispatcher can see everything and where everything is, like, ‘I can let you go this far, etc.,’” Chaffee said.
“We’ve actually tried to do it,” he said. “We actually put the dispatcher out in the hall one year” in which they could see the trains and the engineers couldn’t see the other trains. “It worked very well. We didn’t have any head-on (crashes).”

This, of course, is where kids and adults become junior engineers.

The best part about this event for Erickson?

“It’s watching the kids get so excited to run the trains,” she said. “They really enjoy it. And the adults who set this up get a lot out of it themselves.”

UK: Children on right track with model rail layout

From This is Kent:  Children on right track with model rail layout

PUPILS at a Tonbridge primary school went full steam ahead in a bid to create the best model railway layout in Kent.

Years 5 and 6 children from Long Mead Community Primary School travelled to County Hall in Maidstone on July 16 to represent their borough after winning the Tonbridge and Malling heat of a competition run by Kent County Council and Hornby.

The youngsters' creation, a 2m by 0.75m cardboard representation of the end of a branch line, complete with sidings, light industry and agriculture, finally clinched fourth place among the 11 finalists.

Teacher Richard Palmer said building the layout had been an enjoyable exercise for the nine children involved, none of whom had ever played with model trains before.

Mr Palmer said: "They started the layout in February and worked on it every week.

"We all went into this not knowing anything about model trains, but we had a lot of support from members of the Tonbridge Model Railway Club who came down every week to help us, and the school caretaker.

"It was a real team effort."

The layout will go on display at a model railway exhibition at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge, in February.

 

Wilmington, NC: Train Camp kids end journey at Wilmington Railroad Museum

From WWayTV.com:  Train Camp kids end journey at Wilmington Railroad Museum

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- All aboard for Train Camp at the Wilmington Railroad Museum.
Kids are treated to a tour of rail sites. They also build train cars and buildings, run model trains and design and build a take-home scene... all on their own scale.

A group of grown railroad enthusiasts share their hobby with the train fans of the future.

About 10 kids completed this session.

The final session of summer is August 13-17. Sign up at the Wilmington Railroad Museum, and don't miss the train.

LaCrosse, WI: Rail Fair raises money for Copeland Short Rail Display

From WXOW.com: Rail Fair raises money for Copeland Short Rail Display

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - Whistles blew and rails clacked as train enthusiasts from across the region gathered for the 22nd annual La Crosse Rail Fair.

The event was hosted by the 4000 Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and restoring the La Crosse Short Line Railroad Display.

All proceeds from today's Rail Fair go towards the upkeep.

The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for the group, bringing in about $6000 each year.

Foundation President Mark Hamre says it's a chance to show people what the display is all about.

"It's an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal with the display," Hamre said. "We like to use it as really our annual showcase of the display. And people can come and see firsthand what it's all about and learn about the history. "

Each year, the Rail Fair brings in nearly 2000 railroad enthusiasts from across the region.

Attendees buy, sell and trade everything from models to magazines.

Henry Bangsberg is one of 200 vendors who brings memorabilia to the rail fair.

He's been coming to the swap meet for four years, and he says the appeal of railroading is different for everyone.

"We have quite a few members who really like the fact that our club building is right next to the tracks in Sparta, so there's a bunch of guys who like to watch the trains," said Bangsberg, President of the West Central Model Railroad Club. "There's a bunch of guys who like to have the simulators on their computers so they can pretend they're driving trains. I really enjoy the modeling parts of it so I build a lot of kits."

Organizers say that the railroads played a large part in La Crosse's history, and the rail fair is a way to celebrate that history.

Union Pacific Railroad Celebrates 150 Years

From OBP.org: Union Pacific Railroad Celebrates 150 Years


The Union Pacific Railroad Co. celebrated its 150th birthday at Union Station in Portland on Friday.

Lucila Cejas Epple / OPB

 

Usually the sound of a train means you should be careful; one of Oregon’s many freight trains is going over a crossing nearby. But this is the sound of a train simulation, a model engine parked outside Portland’s Union station as part of Union Pacific’s birthday celebrations.

Inside the station, booths displayed model trains and vintage prints, alongside brochures for modern, high-speed bullet trains.  Mayor Sam Adams says Union Pacific is still crucial to Oregon’s economy.
"In the last five years, this company has invested a half a billion dollars in its systems throughout Oregon. There are very few companies that have invested that much in improving their competitiveness in Oregon," Adams says.

Scott Moore with Union Pacific focused on the future of rail in Oregon. He says trains were "green" before it was trendy.

"It's interesting how 18th century technology of steel rail on steel wheel is the most environmentally friendly, and most efficient way to move freight, so we think our future is very bright," Moore says.

The Union Pacific Railroad company was formed when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway act in July of 1862.
 

 

Taiwan: Train festival opens in Nantou

From Focus Taiwan: Train festival opens in Nantou

Nantou, July 15 (CNA) A vintage train model, dubbed "the king of steam locomotives," pulled into Jiji Station on the railway branch line Sunday to kick off the Nantou County Train Festival, which features both antique trains and popular cartoon characters.

To mark the official opening of the festival, Nantou County Magistrate Lee Chao-ching departed from Zhuoshui Station on the DT668, a steam-powered train, and arrived in Jiji Station to hundreds of awaiting railway fans.

The DT668, manufactured in 1941, was retired in March 1984 and reactivated in November last year on the Neiwan Branch Line in Hsinchu to promote railway tourism.

The 20-meter train had the largest tonnage and cylinder tractive power of any Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) train during the era it was in use, the festival's organizers said.

The DT668 and CK124, another steam locomotive that has been featured at the festival in previous years, will rotate in taking tourists for rides on the Jiji Line until the festival closes on Aug. 12.

The festival also showcases characters from famous cartoon series, such as Thomas and Friends, Pingu, Bob the Builder, Sesame Street, Deko Boko Friends and Tamagotchi.

Three exhibition areas have been set up by organizers. One of them, at Zhuoshui Station, is dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine, the festival's "spokesman." The second, found at Jiji Station, is dedicated to the other cartoon characters.

The third is a 10-meter-long mobile exhibition hall -- built from a container truck -- that will display models of Jiji Line stations and attractions at different venues around the festival.

In addition to the festival, the county government has created a tourism promotion event giving visitors the chance to harvest pineapples in Mingjian Township. It has also introduced package tours that will take visitors to different townships in the county.