Essex, CT: Connecticut River Musuem Holiday Train Show

http://www.ctrivermuseum.org

Steve Cryan has decked out his operational 26-foot model train layout with new scenery, more trains and surprises. Join the search to locate several objects buried within the landscape at the Connecticut River Museum's 18th Annual Holiday Train Show which started Friday, Nov. 18 and will run to Sunday, February 12, 2012.

An interactive American Flyer layout will be available for toddlers to view.

Tickets are $8 adults, $7 seniors, $5 children ages 6-12. Children ages 5 and under are free.

The Connecticut River Museum
67 Main St., Essex, CT
open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Mondays.

Sebring, OH: Sebring Model Railroad Club

Introducing the Sebring Model Railroad Club:

http://www.sebringmodelrailroadclub.org/

The Sebring Model Railroad Club knows a thing or two about model trains. For starters, the group has built a 3,000-foot layout in the Sebring Station, which it owns. The club is celebrating National Model Railroad Month by holding its annual open house, which started Saturday and will continue this weekend at its clubhouse, a former Pennsylvania Railroad Station. People come from across Ohio and Pennsylvania to view their exhibit, said Dennis Sautters, club president. Sautters of Canton said model trains “fascinate people. At one time, the railroad played a very important role in our country.”


By The Numbers:
63 Years the Sebring Model Railroad Club has existed. It began in a garage in Salem. The club — and the model railroad — grew. So much so, the club purchased Sebring Station in order to expand. “The garage was fine for a nice start,” Sautters said. “But more people wanted to join.”

37 Years the club has owned the train station. “One thing that’s good about our place is we own it,” Sautters explained. “We invite people to our open house each year so they can see what we’ve accomplished. Each year we are adding to it. Our club members vote on any changes we make to the model railroad.”

40 People belong to the model railroad club. “Most everyone has some kind of model train, and many of them got started from visiting our layout,” Sautters said. “We have a great place here to run model trains. It is bigger and better than my layout at home.”

1,750 Square feet the model railroad occupies within the Sebring Station. Club members meet Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings to work on the model. “Some people are good at electrical, others at scenery,” Sautters said. “It’s kind of diverse. Everyone brings something different to the table.”

WHAT: Sebring Model Railroad Club
WHERE: Sebring Station, 216 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Sebring, Ohio
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
DAYS:
Sundays - Noon to 5:00 PM
Tuesdays - 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

New posting schedule

Sorry for the long delay in posting - had some family issues.

The posting schedule for this blog - starting this Wednesday, Nov 23, will be Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Thanks for your patience!

Train News, India: Duty-free shops at railway stations

From MoneyCOntrol.com (India): Duty-free shops at railway stations


New Delhi, Oct 19(PTI) With the aim of mopping up additional income, railways is mulling to develop a revenue model to have duty-free shops and multiplex at stations.
"Our stations can be developed into a hub of commercial activities. There can be a mall, multiplex, library, food plaza and even duty-free shops at stations," Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi told the Economic Editors'' conference here today.
There are more than 7000 stations across the country.

"We have to develop a revenue model for commercial utilisation of our stations and for that we are planning to constitute Station Authority of India like the Airport Authority of India," Trivedi said.

He said the vertical development of stations as commercial hubs would create at least 50,000 jobs.

"Our core responsibility is to run trains and now the time has come to develeop a revenue model for stations.

Staions are out huge assets and it will create job opportunities."
Referring to the problematic land issue, he said "land is a big issue not only for railway but for the whole country.

Most of our land is parallel to the track. But if we could commercially exploit the land, then our earnings would jump."

Railways have identified more than 300 sites across the country for commercial utilisation of the land.

"To begin with, we are creating a land bank by digitising the land record of railways as it will help us in planning in a better to utilise those land," he said.

Train News: Passenger rail service on Miami’s FEC line faces funding barriers

From Biscayne Corridor: Passenger rail service on Miami’s FEC line faces funding barriers
Residents at a town hall meeting in the Upper Eastside Tuesday night were focused on an issue that has long been a priority for many in the neighborhood: adding passenger service to the Florida East Coast Railway line.

Florida Department of Transportation representatives believe the freight cargo route could also be used as a commuter option for residents living east of Tri-Rail—the problem is convincing residents and county politicians to sign off on the $300 million project.

“This will create a strong spine east-west to move in the tri-county area,” said Amie Goddeau, mobility development manager for FDOT, who brought a rendering of the proposed route during the hour-long meeting.

FDOT’s ultimate goal is to have a route from Miami to Jupiter—something which could take years to be achieved—but they’ve decided to divide the project into parts to see if they can seduce county politicians and residents faster this way.

“It’s a huge project. We are breaking it up so people can use it, taste it and want more,” Goddeau said.

The idea would be to start with a route from Miami to Fort Lauderdale. The Miami/Fort Lauderdale route would have six to eight stations; an extra track would have to be added to the FEC line line, at a cost of $160 million; $100 million to buy the passenger train cars; and roughly $50 million for infrastructure cost.

A total price tag of $300 million for a 30-mile trip.

While Broward and Palm Beach counties have shown support for the project, Miami-Dade County hasn’t gotten on board. The main concern of Miami-Dade officials isn’t funding the construction, which could be paid for by the federal government, but rather the day-to-day costs, which have to be paid for at the local level, Goddeau said.

People were engaged during Goddeau’s presentation.

Some of the 30-something Miami residents at the meeting argued whether the passenger train would have to adhere to the Miami’s quiet zone designation, which is expected to be acquired so that cargo freights on the FEC line won’t have to blow their whistles as the pass through crossings next year. Goddeau brushed it off saying passenger trains are much quieter.

Others were skeptical about whether the project will materialize any time soon.

“I’ve been hearing about this for 10 years,” said artist and former Biscayne Times publisher Skip Van Cel. “What do we have to do to light the fire to get the city started on this?”

FDOT will present a computerized model done in conjunction with the FEC and a study of the project to the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization to get their approval by February.

The next step would be the Miami City Commission.

All aboard! Model railroad show concludes Sunday

This show was on Oct 21, 2011. I share it here so you can put it on your calendar for next year - and I'll have it on my calendar as well so that I can share it with you in more timely fashion next year.

From Herald News: All aboard! Model railroad show concludes Sunday
y LEE BEACH H&N Staff Writer Herald and News | 1 comment

Model train enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy trains and train memorabilia at the fourth annual Model Railroad Show and Sales Event which concludes Sunday at the Klamath County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall A.

There will be operating train layouts in a variety of scales - HO, N and G - set up by two clubs, the sponsoring Klamath Rails Model Railroad Club and the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club.

"The Medford club has been very generous in coming over with their layouts," said Steve Hart, club president.

Fifteen vendors will fill 50 8-foot tables of trains, parts, T-shirts, books and train memorabilia for sale. In addition, scented candles, women's jewelry and hunting knives will be offered.

Joe Brick, publicist for the local club said Klamath & Western will put down about a 200-foot track to give children rides on their battery-powered steam train.

He added, "One of the men who helps us with the show is bringing a foot-long Thomas the Tank engine plus Annabelle and Clarabelle cars that the little kids just love. Model railroading is a hobby for all ages, and we are doing it basically for the kids of Klamath County."

Hart agreed, encouraging parents to bring their children because, "It gives us a chance to share our hobby with the kids."

Raffle tickets will be sold for numerous items from engines to cars and books to memorabilia, and door prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5. Food will be available for purchase.

The event is a fundraiser toward the goal of the club eventually having a building for a permanent home for its layouts, according to Brick.

According to Hart, this year's show is dedicated to a club member who recently passed away, Bettejeanne Clair, who, with her son, had been active helping with previous shows.

***********

If you go:

What: Model Railroad Show and Sale

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Klamath County Fairgrounds, exhibit hall A.

Cost: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors. First two children admitted free of charge with an adult, additional children $1 each.

Country Singer Martina McBride Boards Amtrak Train for Tour

From BusinessGather.com: Country Singer Martina McBride Boards Amtrak Train for Tour
Looking to boost sales, Amtrak has hired country singer Martina McBride to endorse the troubled railroad company. McBride, the self-proclaimed "Celine Dion of country," is on her way to New York to promote her 11th studio album, conveniently called, Eleven.

McBride's Cross Country Amtrak Journey
The trip from LA to New York will take McBride a total of four days to complete, but she's not concerned about the time. In a statement, Martina said, "We can travel so much further by train than bus." Amtrak trains have sleeping accommodations and onboard dining, which makes a train ride slightly more convenient than a bus ride. Although by comparison, taking a plane across the country takes just a handful of hours.

Amtrak's Cash Problems
Martina McBride's endorsement is creative, but not likely to make much of a difference for the unprofitable railroad company. Costly, government-mandate routes have cut deeply into Amtrak's profitability. In addition, Amtrak relies heavily on federal aid, but current and upcoming budget cuts are going to make operations even more difficult. Amtrak is trying to get with the times by introducing social media campaigns and connecting with celebrities like Martina McBride. However, a four-day train ride simply isn't convenient, and today's fast-paced lifestyles aren't likely to support such a sluggish business model.