Model Train Exhibit in its 21st Year

In celebration of its 21 years of conducting Model Trains shows, the Baron Arts Center at 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, NJ, will once again fascinate people with their diverse model trains and layouts on December 2 through 29. All are invited to see and be amazed. 

No registration required | Free

Halloween Themed Model Train Show

A model train show will be held at South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Califoniaon Saturday, October 29 2011 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Kids at all ages are invited to come and enjoy the spectacle of halloween inspired trains and layouts.

Price: $8 Adults, $6 Students & Seniors, $3 Kids 5-12, Under 5 free

Weathering Your Car’s Roof

Most of us spend an awful lot of time looking at our model freight car roofs than the actual model itself. So, basically, it just follows that we spent extra time weathering these areas. It’s true that although some real boxcars have roofs that are painted, most have none. And most of the time, paint sprays from the car can be seen all over the roof’s edges.

http://modeltrains.about.com/b/2011/10/12/cool-trick-modeling-paint-overspray.htm

Soo Line Boxcars from Fox Valley Models

Is your boxcar fleet wanting of a little diversity? Then you should never miss seeing the latest release from Fox Valley Models. Their cars are a replica of Soo Line models from 1964 to 1979 made in road’s shops.

The "7-Post" boxcars wore many colorful paint schemes on the Soo. With a great number sold to Wisconsin Central in 1984 and the remainder transfered to Canadian Pacific during the takeover, some can still be seen on the rails today.

The models are nicely detailed and beautifully painted. They will make an interesting addition to any fleet. An N scale version will be arriving early next year as well.

Model Train Aficionados Mix Classics with Innovations

If you happen to be an enthusiast of trains, possibly even somewhat passionate with these, Jim Sullivan of the Black Hills Railway Society would like you to learn that you're in no way on your own.

Many people who visited the semi-annual model train exhibit put on by the Black Hills Railway Society on Saturday discovered that there are still boys who engage with model trains in their basements. Perhaps the "boys" are at present mainly in their retirement age, the "basement" is the lower tier within the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association building at 426 St. Joseph Street, and "playing" today implies managing the pace, route and sounds of the trains by using a pc.

The Black Hills Railway Society is comprised of nearly 25 "model train aficionados" coming from the Rapid City locale.

"We are the men that rate the trains, cruising along with them just so we can observe them move, draw our arm upwards and downwards to have the technicians blow the whistle, the ones who follow 'Extreme Trains' in the History Channel, " Sullivan stated of the associates of the club, which had been organized in 1985 and integrated in 1988.

Throughout the initial 10 years, the associates met in different venues, like the Rapid City Public Library, a school room at Rapid City Stevens High School, and in 1993, the underground room of a pizza diner, whereby for the very first time, the associates can build just about all their modules. Prior to that time, members created and kept modules in their own houses or in leased storeroom facilities and taken them out of safekeeping every year for yearly displays at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Around 1995, the club transferred into the basement of the Stockgrowers Association building, whereby they meet two times a month to create, exhibit and operate trains on their particular modules, making use of wireless control and the conventional transformer technique. Designs depicting the Rapid City locale, such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, the scenery of the Black Hills, and different furnishings in "old town Rapid City" just like Hubbard Mill and Knecht Home Center climb above the rails that run around the space that is finished with wall murals, mirrors to boost the aesthetic experience, and computer terminals to aid run the trains.

Community member Jim Stewart stated he really is without idea why he enjoys trains very much. His dad was a banker who did not expose Stewart into the hobby, even though his parents got him a Lionel train set when he was a kid. A self-described computer geek who works for IBM, Stewart believed the latest digital command control approach that has combined operating model trains along with computer and digital control is most likely what helped bring him back to the hobby about six years back after loving it as a kid.

"I am excellent at programming, while others love landscaping and constructing a good deal of our sets. There exists a lot that goes into it apart from actually operating the trains -- which pretty much becomes supplementary. "

Fellow club associate Val Manes have agreed.

"There is scenery, carpentry, electronics, sound systems, painting and sculpting -- model railroading is a hobby for everyone. "

The club began operating their trains by means of computer around five or six years ago, and have gone wireless four years ago. Virtually all the locomotives are numbered, and small computer chips are set in each to ensure that their actions and noise could be controlled by radio transmitters."

(Digital command control) generally converts the tracks into a computer system, " Manes claimed.

Not like the classic transformer method, ın which all of the trains ought to run in the exact same course, digital command control makes it possible for the locomotives to operate forward or backward, even on the exact same track, and two locomotives to operate side by side like a matched set.

"We may have head-on collisions, which we have experienced, " said Stewart, "and derailments are fairly usual, since we can regulate the pace and propel them as high as we would like. I'm recognized as the derailment king. "

For club associate Tracy Heeter, the audio was the catch.

 "What blew me away was basically the audio, " he mentioned of the many pitches and volumes of whistles emanating throughout the atmosphere. "It truly is similar to HD TV; once you have it, you just can't go back. "

In addition to whistles, digital command control permits modelers to imitate the noises of the railroad landscape and also farm animals.

Though model train kits may still be bought, virtually all club members acquire their locomotives, cars, track and some other accessories already put together from a variety of model firms or by way of web pages such as eBay and Craigslist and enhance them to accommodate their desires.

"We call that kit-bashing, " Stewart stated. "Getting (set to run) packages and hitting them up a bit with graffiti, and scratches, to ensure they appear weathered and much more genuine. "

Stewart admits railway modeling is usually a costly hobby.

"You could invest as much or as little cash and time as you choose, " he said. The club makes use of donations, membership fees, and money obtained by way of fundraising to pay for models and some other equipments. Manes stated the group sometimes gets contributions from family members of departed people who compiled model trains.

"We are not waiting around for people to pass away so that we can divvy up their things, however, we'll consider it, " he joked.

Stewart said the chief challenge confronting the club is a shortage of fresh members. "It's really tricky to compete with online games, and the club absolutely needs new blood, " he said. "There's a good deal of gray hair around here. "

He recommends anyone intrigued in trains to visit the club.

"We're going to help fulfill your railroad passion, " he stated. "This is a total subculture that a lot of people do not even realize still exists. "

Inspiring Images for Kids

Most people fear that Model train as a hobby is at its last breath. So they are fervent to involve kids into the hobby. However, if attendance in the World’s Greatest Hobby shows was the measure of how a hobby is active, then Model railroading is never near its end.  All around the world, a new breed of passionate model railroaders are emerging.

My recent trip to Model Railroading Days at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania provided one of the best examples of getting kids involved that I've seen in a long time however. The Somerset County, New Jersey 4-H club has developed within it a model railroading club. This is not your typical club. During the 5-year program, kids work with their parents and with volunteers to build their own O-Gauge module. Beginning with the general module construction (to national standards allowing interchange with other groups) to scenery and even on up to operations, the kids learn the art and fun of model railroading.

All together, more than 40 modules made up one of the largest layouts on display at the event. Two things struck me about the layout and the group. First, each section was unique and matched the personality of the builder. Some were based on real scenes while others were complete fancy like this "Sponge Bob" module. Regardless, the creativity was refreshing. Who would have thought of using an aquarium background on a model railroad? Needless to say, this layout was a huge hit with visitors of all ages.

The other element of the club that deserves recognition is the way everybody worked together. I think the group set a speed record for teardown. The kids worked hard and showed real enthusiasm for the project the entire weekend. Equally as important, the adults were too. This was not a case of "We want a train club so let's let the kids play too." The parents and chaperones made sure that the kids did the playing, the work, and the learning. It was their layout. 

I'll be doing a larger write-up on the group in the near future. If you would like to get involved with a project like this, contact the 4-H in your county and see if they have a program. If not, they'll probably be happy to let you get involved and start one!

Past and Present Bachmann Model Trains

Bachmann History

One of the top sellers of model railroad equipment globally is Bachmann. Aside from manufacturing model trains at economical prices, their train sets are of superior class. The “Spectrum” line, their top of the line set, is also available to those who could afford to spare extra cash to see the marvel of this line. The company was established by Henry Carlisle in Philadelphia during the 1800’s. Today a Chinese company based in Hong Kong owns it, and all of their products are being manufactured in China.

A merger of the original firm and a firm headed by Henry G. Bachmann in 1899 brought about the new firm which was called the Bachmann Bros. This was the first American firm to manufacture sunglasses, which were eventually used by the men in the US Army and Air Force during the Second World War.

Soon after the war ended, Bachmann Bros. made “Plasticville USA”.  This was a do-it-yourself kit consisting of homes, stores and structures for creating layouts for model trains. The O scale was used in the original kit, and it was constructed in Philadelphia. Collecting Plasticville soon became a hobby for most people, and then in 1999 the Plasticville Collectors Association was founded. The line also included HO and N scale kits soon after.

Bachmann Model Trains

In 1968, Bachmann commenced to produce model trains in N scale. And in 1970 they also started to produce HO scale model trains.

By 1981 they went global, starting with the European model train market. And all their  train cars were manufacture in China in 1992.

The popular G scale sets called the “Big Haulers” were launched in 1990. The famed Emmett Kelly Jr. Circus trains from this set came out later in 1993.

The “Spectrum” line of equipment, a premium line which includes modern motors, realistic paint schemes and finer details was produced in 1988. And the Spectrum HO scale 2-8-0 Consolidation was chosen as “Model of the Year” by Model Railroader magazine readers in 1998.

Now, 0n30 scale trains are being produced by Bachmann as well.

They have designed DCC modules and systems in partnership with Lenz Elektronik which follow germane standard and are suitable with other manufacturers engines.

The scales that Bachmann produces are as follows, HO scale, N scale (1:480 and 1:160) 0n30, 00 scale, Hon30 ( which is a HO scale on N gauge tracks) and G scale.

Figures and landscaping materials are also available from Bachmann in O and HO scales.