Summer 2013 - ser
Transcription
Summer 2013 - ser
The Official Publication of the Southeastern Region of the National Model Railroad Association Volume 54, No. 3.5 www.ser-nmra.org PEACHTREE E XPRESS Summer 2013 JULY 14th - 20th Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 1 SOUTHEASTERN REGION OFFICERS 7/13 DIRECTORS Glen Hall, MMR (850) 982-2795 [email protected] 609 Phyllis Street, Pensacola, FL 32503-2026 Vice-President: Fred Coleman 828-699-0983 [email protected] PO Box 361, Naples, NC 28760-0361 Secretary: Rick V. Coble 770-279-2523 [email protected] 3278 Spring Wind Ct, Lawrenceville, GA 30044-4838 Treasurer: Alan Mole 770-315-7244 [email protected] 8370 Colonial Pl., Duluth, GA 30097-6635 Asst. Treasurer: **Dean Odiorne (423) 246-8998 [email protected] 2101 Saint Eric's Ct.., Kingsport, TN 37660-3393 President: Exec. Advisor: Director (2014): Director (2014): Director (2016): Director (2016): George Gilbert (615) 352-1254 [email protected] 750 Rodney Drive, Nashville, TN 37205-3016 Asst. AP Program Randall Watson 770-831-5736 [email protected] 730 Morning Creek Lane, Suwanee, GA 30024-7052 BSA Coordinator: Bill Ello 678-290-1649 [email protected] 3275 Sherman Ridge Drive, Marietta, GA 30064-2456 Contests: **George Gilbert (615) 352-1254 [email protected] 750 Rodney Drive, Nashville, TN 37205-3016 Conventions: **Fred Coleman 828-699-0983 [email protected] PO Box 361, Naples, NC 28760-0361 Education: Peter Youngblood, MMR 770-966-1661 [email protected] 3563 Memorial Parkway NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152-2435 Asst. Education: James A Black (850)914-0002 [email protected] 429 S. Tyndall Pkwy., Suite S, Panama City, FL 32404-0002 Good & Welfare: **David R Anderson 828-277-9092 [email protected] 69 Ballantree Dr., Asheville, NC 28803-2065 Historian: Joe Nichols, Sr. MMR (770) 396-6447 [email protected] 4554 Chadwell Lane, Atlanta, GA 30338-5604 Honors & Awards: Larry Smith, MMR (205) 988-5365 [email protected] 1774 Wooddale Cir., Pelham, AL 35124-1019 Legal Counsel: **Daniel R. Mason 770-928-8618 [email protected] 3000 Creekside Way, Marietta, GA 30066-2374 Member Aid: OPEN **Terry Tucker (850) 723-5390 [email protected] 1435 Harold Ave., Pensacola, FL 32514-4645 Registrar: Steve Prevette (803) 392-7684 [email protected] 356 Ashley Ct., Graniteville, SC 29829-3940 Webmaster: *Scott Povlot 770-569-4678 [email protected] 13405 Avensong Crossing, Alpharetta, GA 30004-7445 Asst. Webmaster: Steve Prevette (803) 392-7684 [email protected] 356 Ashley Ct., Graniteville, SC 29829-3940 Bob Beaty, Jr., MMR (205) 987-2385 [email protected] 741 Dividing Ridge Rd, Birmingham, AL 35244-1712 Randall Watson 770-831-5736 [email protected] 730 Morning Creek Lane, Suwanee, GA 30024-7052 Charlie Crawford, MMR 678-982-4699 [email protected] 3302 Casteel Rd. NE, Marietta, GA 30062-5309 Peter Youngblood, MMR 770-966-1661 [email protected] 3563 Memorial Parkway NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152-2435 i Mike Ferry 931-788-1828 [email protected] 8316 Cherokee Trail, Crossville, TN 38572-6336 DIVISIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AP Program: Membership: DIRECTORY 1 Mid-South: 2 Steel City: 3 Dixie: 4 Gulf: 5 Piedmont: 6 Empire: 7 Palmetto: 8 Atlantic: 9 Central Savannah River 10 Bluff City: 11 Cumberland: 12 Smoky Mt.: 13 Headquarters Co-Chairs: 14 Magnolia: 15 Land O' Sky: William (Sandy) Warrington 541-922-7489 [email protected] 281 Shortleaft Lane, Harvest, AL 35749 John Stewart 205-989-4889 [email protected] 1103 Lake Forest Circle, Birmingham, AL 35244 Phil Hutchinson (334) 272-1923 [email protected] 5743 Carriage Barn Lane, Montgomery, AL 36116-1535 James A Black (850) 914-0002 [email protected] 429 S. Tyndall Pkwy., Suite S, Panama City, FL 32404-0002 Charlie Crawford, MMR 678-982-4699 [email protected] 3302 Casteel Rd. NE, Marietta, GA 30062-5309 Bill Attaway 478-954-9200 [email protected] 118 Lenox Drive, Bonaire, GA 31005-3604 Jack Varadi (864) 968-2436 [email protected] 802 Mountain View Ct., Greer, SC 29651-6044 Dean Belowich, MMR 843-457-5661 [email protected] P.O. Box 2303, Conway, SC 29528-2303 Steve Prevette (803) 392-7684 [email protected] 356 Ashley Ct., Graniteville, SC 29829-3940 Mike Fleming (901) 467-7138 [email protected] 2676 Satelite Street, Bartlett, TN 38134-4642 Bob Hultman (615) 833-5158 h u l tm a n @ b e l l s o u th . n e t 1305 Chestnut Drive, Brentwood, TN 37207 Larry Burkholder (865) 408-9903 [email protected] 206 Coyatee View, Loudon, TN 37774-2172 **Hal Crossland 423-344-0697 [email protected] PO Box 39, Harrison, TN 37341 **Tom Shallcross 931-484-7565 [email protected] 14 Briar Court, Crossville, TN 38558-8810 Troy Lee Hight (601) 389-5370 [email protected] 10341 Highway 16E, Philadelphia, MS 39350-3730 Ken O'Brien 828-696-9436 [email protected] 550 Patterson Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739-7846 Change of Address or Email? Update your contact information online & stay connected to the NMRA There is a new service on the NMRA website that enables you to send contact information updates to NMRA Headquarters. The service is quick, easy to use, and requires only a few steps: 1. From the NMRA home page, click the Members Only link 2. On the Members page, click Member Update Form 3. Complete the form and click Submit It’s that simple! The NMRA office staff will update your membership information and send it to your region’s registrar. Questions for the office staff? They can be contacted at (423) 8922846 or [email protected] Rick Coble, SER Secretary 2 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 www.trainmastermodels.com W AY B I L L Volume 54, Number 3.5 Summer 2013 Features: 8 26 30 34 37 60 Railfanning Locations in Georgia Using the Prototype to Pattern Model OPS Saluda Diorama Come All Ye Rounders The O-Scale Layout of the Late Louis Ertz Trolley’s of Lisbon Departm ents: 2 4 7 33 52 54 56 Department Directory Editors Soapbox The President’s Car & Achievement Program Upcoming Events & Registrar’s Note BSA Scouts Corner Division News The Club Car 601 East Main Street Buford, GA 30518 678-546-3600 ON THE FRONT COVER: Clockwise from top left - a Piedmont Division “hands on” model building class; photo & model contest entries at X2011 in Sacramento; NS train action in Buford, just down the road from Trainmaster Models; a CSX train climbs out of Atlanta past NY Pizza Exchange in Vinings; new photo contests (& awards) debut at this year’s convention; a Piedmont train show at the Cobb County Civic Center; the Cobb Galleria Center and Renaissance Waverly Hotel, site of this year’s NMRA convention. Photos by the Editor; Awards photos by Bob Hamm, MMR; Waverly / Galleria photo from their website. ADVERTISING: Rates are for electronic-format or scanner-ready ads. Preferred formats are Plain Text, MS Word and JPEG. Some Text or Text & JPEG ads can be done by the editor. Include the company name, address, email address and/or a day-time phone number (email preferred). All ads must be prepaid before publication. Make checks payable to: SER-NMRA ADVERTISING RATES Page Size Full 3/4 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/12 Crawler Number of Issues 1 2 3 4 $120 $240 $360 $400 $ 90 $180 $270 $300 $ 60 $120 $180 $200 $ 30 $ 60 $ 90 $100 $ 15 $ 30 $ 45 $ 60 $ 10 $ 20 $ 30 $ 40 $ 10 $ 20 $ 30 $ 40 Pike Registry : $16 for 4 issues Deadlines For Submission Fall 2013 (Oct) - Sept. 1, 2013 Winter 2014 (Jan) - Dec. 1, 2013 Spring 2014 (Apr) - Mar. 1, 2014 Summer 2014 (Jul) - June 1, 2014 The SouthErneR is mailed to members of the Southeastern Region & interested parties who have paid the subscription rate of $10.00/year. Material for publication is welcomed! Please send materials to the proper Assistant Editor. All submissions become the property of The SouthErneR unless otherwise contracted. Please don’t send previously printed materials. The SouthErneR The Official Publication of the Southeastern Region of the National Model Railroad Association EDITOR Paul V. Voelker • • • WALTHERS LGB LIONEL • • • ATHEARN TRAINS MICRO TRAINS THOMAS & FRIENDS 11am - 7pm Tuesday thru Thursday 11am - 6pm Friday & Saturday 1pm - 6pm Sunday Closed Monday 6438 Paradise Point Road Flowery Branch, GA 30542-3143 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 770-530-0966 (cell) S TA F F Feature Articles Editor: Joe Gelmini, MMR 770-460-8873 [email protected] Advertising Department: Alan Mole 770-315-7244 [email protected] Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 3 Editor’s Soapbox OK guys and gals, it’s “convention contest time again” and this year you have the opportunity to travel a relatively short distance to enter a national contest. National has many more contests than our region has and many more contest awards! Plaques (as seen here at left) are given for first place through third place, and certificates for honorable mention (non-place merit award winners in the judged model contest). National has two judged model contests for both scratch-built models and kit-built models. The kit-built model contest allows non-scratch-builders to compete on an even footing with each other. Kit-built is a good entry-level contest designed for those of us who enjoy kit building. The more your model is super-detailed, the higher it will score. Plaques are awarded for first place through third place. If you feel the need to enter the more challenging and competitive scratchbuilt model contest, feel free to do so. The skill set needed for this contest is more challenging as the percentage of scratch built of parts approaches or exceeds 90% of the total parts the model is built with. Plaques are awarded for first place through third place. In both contests, Kit and Scratch Built, models that earn merit awards, but do not place, will also receive Honorable Mention certificates. The judged photo contest has some changes this year. Both of the slide categories have been eliminated as slide photography has died off with the rise of digital photography for publications. A new print category (first through third) has been added and in addition, three Photo Chairman’s Awards have also been added. The new category is called “Working On The Railroad” and is open to any photographic print, black & white or color, prototype or model. This category is intended to show railroad workers in action. This can be maintenance of way crews, conductors, switchman, engineers, any railroad workers in action doing what they are paid to do in either real life (prototype) or model scenes. The three Photo Chairman’s Awards are for: Best Fan Trip Photo, Best Panoramic Photo*, and Best Special Effects Photo. As with the previously mentioned contest, any photo prints in black & white or color and in prototype or model form are eligible for these awards. [*For the purposes of the Panoramic Photo contest, the print dimensions shall be a minimum of 7.75 inches and maximum of 12 inches on the short side and a maximum of 36 inches on the long side. Maximum mat size 12” x 36”.] There is also the judged railroad pass contest, two articles on which appeared in the last two issues of The SouthErneR. This contest also offers award plaques in first place through third place. 4 NMRA National Contest Events Judged Photo Contest People's Choice Awards (Popular Vote Contests) Judged Pass Contest Module Contest (At the National Train Show) Judged Scratch Built Model Contest Judged Kit Built Model Contest NMRA National Non-Contest Event Model Showcase - Bring your models & show off your workmanship! The People's Choice (popular vote) contest is a competitive event for Model, Photo, and Arts & Crafts entrants. Models and photos not entered in the judged contests are eligible along with any models or photos entered into the judged contests. Arts & Crafts (in several categories), Favorite Train, Photo Match, and Thumbs are also included under the People’s Choice contest banner. NMRA Contest Chairman Bob Hamm, MMR has challenged the SouthEastern Region & the Peachtree Express convention to exceed the large number of contest entries that were at the X2011 West convention in Sacramento! The Model Showcase is a non-judged “show & tell” type event where modelers can bring whatever project that they are working on, whatever models they have built in the past or any previous contest winning models, to show off to the membership in a show and tell type of setting. The contest entry form #901 and the contest judge’s form #902 both appear in this issue. For all contests an entry form needs to be filled out for each entry. For the judged model contest, a judge’s form #902 also needs to be filled out for each entry. For the Model Showcase only, just one entry form is needed, regardless of how many models are entered, however a list of all of your models must also be included for insurance purposes and so we will know what you brought in with you. Peachtree Express Contest Schedule Kennesaw Ballroom in the Renaissance Waverly Hotel Entry/Viewing - Monday & Tuesday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Judge's Clinic* - Monday - 3:00 pm - Bob Hamm, MMR, gives a clinic on judging contest models for those who will be judging the contest, and anyone else interested in contest judging. *Clinic is mandatory for anyone judging this year's model contest. (Galleria Room, Renaissance Waverly Hotel) People's Choice voting (popular vote) - Tues. 8 am to 6 pm, & Wed. 8 am to 4 pm Afternoon of "Meet the Modeler, Photographer & Crafter" Tuesday 1 - 6 pm Judging - Wednesday 8 am - 4 pm Open for viewing during judging; however, please no discussion. Model Contest Score Review - Thursday 9 am to 11 am Awards Ceremony - Thursday 2 pm, viewing 8 am to 4 pm Entry Pickup - Friday 8 am to Noon Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 5 6 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 The President’s Car Glen Hall, MMR As I sit at my computer pondering what I want to say, it’s the day after Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer. Everyone is starting to plan their weekends and week long vacations. The same is true with model railroad clubs and in some cases NMRA Divisions. The smaller divisions tend not to plan many or no activities/meetings during the summer months because only a few or no members show up. Yes, summer time is family time! SER Prez Glen Hall, MMR, presents the West Florida Railroad Museum with a check for $2100 from the SouthEastern Region to replace the flooring in their dining car. After Labor Day model railroading in the divisions start up again, or does it? Being a division superintendent is not an easy job, especially in the smaller ones. I know first hand having been the super of a small division, member wise, but large in area. So, I have a challenge for the SER super’s. When fall rolls around don’t stay in hibernation, don’t become complacent. Start looking for new ideas to keep your division, no matter what size, interested and glad they joined the NMRA. If you keep the members interested they will tell their other model railroading friends and hopefully they will want to join this larger group of modelers called NMRA. It has only been a few months since I took over the leadership of the Southeastern Region and things are happening, some good and some not so good. We have members stepping up to take the reins as superintendent, assistant super and secretary of a division about to go under. On the not so good side, I have received several e-mails from a few new members stating that repeated correspondence to their super has gone unanswered. I have done my best to appease them and in one case to renew their membership in the NMRA. Superintendent’s, please reread the second paragraph above, don’t become complacent! I will do my best to assist you with ideas, I will put you in touch with others who have ideas, your Board of Directors are here to assist you. Let me hear from you if there is a problem. Achievement Program Awards Master Builder Motive Power Joe Nichols, Jr. - Atlanta, GA Master Builder Scenery Joe Nichols, Jr. - Atlanta, GA As you SER members read this, some of you will be getting ready to head to the National Convention in Atlanta. Don’t forget the BoD and general membership meetings on July 18th in the Tyndall Room at 6pm and 7pm. Items of interest will be a presentation on the 2014 convention in Memphis and a MiniMeet the weekend of September 21st down south in the Magnolia Division. For those of you other NMRAers who picked up a copy, we of the Southeastern Region hope you enjoyed our hospitality. Keep a steady hand on the throttle and your eyes on the track Model RR Engineer - Civil Joe Nichols, Jr. - Atlanta, GA Model RR Engineer - Electrical Greg Scharfetter - Bartlett, TN Chief Dispatcher Lawrence Burkholder - Loudon, TN Association Official Charlie Crawford, MMR - Marietta, GA Association Volunteer Kevin R. Bush - Sharpsburg, GA Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 7 Railfanning Locations In Georgia A Photo Tour By Charlie Mason Reprinted from (now with pictures) the Spring 2008 E-SouthErneR V49 #2.5 Northbound freight stopped for a crew change 8 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Northbound freight Manchester - CSX Distance from Atlanta: 79 miles The town of Manchester has built a fine train watching facility adjacent to the CSX tracks. The facility is located on the south side of the tracks and has plenty of parking, a gazebo with picnic tables, and a scanner radio. An adjacent overpass with sidewalks also provides a good location to watch and photograph the action. Manchester is a busy division point where the main lines from Atlanta and Birmingham converge and head south to Waycross and on to Florida. All trains to and from Birmingham change crews here. Atlanta trains generally run through. There are a McDonalds and a Subway several blocks away. Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 9 Photo from gazebo showing northbound freight under overpass Southbound military movement with NS power 10 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Southbound military movement stopped for crew change More Train Watching Spots in Georgia Jesup - CSX, Amtrak Distance from Atlanta: 237 miles Jesup tries to attract train watchers. However, everyone goes to Folkston where there is a lot more action. Folkston - CSX, Amtrak Distance from Atlanta: 289 miles The town of Folkston has built an excellent train watching facility with a viewing platform complete with seats, lights, overhead fans, maps, and scanner radio. They have also provided grills, picnic tables, and rest rooms. Nearby in the old depot is a visitor center. Railfans from all over the country congregate here at the “Folkston Funnel”, named because the CSX lines from the Midwest and the Northeast converge here to funnel traffic to Florida. Track signals north and south of the platform give notice of approaching trains. Four Amtrak trains a day come through. There are fast food places a block or two away. Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 11 Austell - NS, Amtrak Distance from Atlanta: 17 miles Go to the wye, where the NS routes to Chattanooga and Birmingham diverge. Parking is available on the north side of the tracks. Action is heavy around noon time and on Saturdays. The southbound Amtrak comes through around 9:30am to 10:00am. All types of trains can be seen – intermodals with run-through power (BNSF, UP, KCS), Powder River coal, autoracks, roadrailers, grain, general freight, you-name-it. Safe and friendly location – police station and city hall are nearby. There is a Burger King across the street. An overpass with sidewalks is nearby and makes another good photo location (use the park’s paved parking lot below the bridge). Atlanta-bound intermodal from Texas Two trains inbound on the Birmingham line an intermodal passing a local freight (rare event) 12 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 View from overpass of northbound autoracks Northbound intermodal toward Whitaker Intermodal Yard Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 13 Atlanta bound intermodal from Texas Amtrak to New Orleans 14 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 CSX train (I believe) Atlanta (King Plow Arts Center) - NS, CSX, Amtrak Distance from Atlanta: 0 mile The King Plow Art Center on Marietta Street is an extensive complex with several parking lots. Park in the lot opposite the Mead water tower (an adult book store is next door). The parking lot overlooks Howell Junction. All trains going through Atlanta come past this location. There is constant train action. The location is generally safe in daylight; but avoid this area at night. Photography is better in the afternoon. There are no fast food places or rest rooms anywhere nearby. NS train heading to Inman Yard Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 15 CSX Tropicana Orange train heading toward Chicago NS train from Inman Yard 16 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 HOG westbound crossing CSX tracks Cordele - CSX, NS, HOG Distance from Atlanta: 148 miles The CSX and NS mainlines to Florida cross at grade level in the center of town. The Heart of Georgia (HOG) Railroad also crosses both the CSX and NS tracks here. Trains come by frequently, but action is heaviest on the CSX (about 40 trains per day). There is a paved parking lot right by the diamonds (SE quadrant). The SAM Shortline runs a streamlined passenger train, complete with a round-end observation car, on the weekends from Cordele to Plains (pulled by HOG diesels). The SAM Shortline’s loading platform is a block east of the diamonds. Their passenger equipment is stored at nearby Veterans State Park when not in use. Featured as a Trains Magazine hotspot: October 1992, p76. HOG westbound crossing CSX tracks Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 17 CSX southbound crossing NS mainline CSX northbound 18 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 IN THE NEWS... Piedmont Division member Joe Nichols, Jr. has turned in his paperwork for his last AP certificate. Joe is now SER Master Model Railroader #511. Congratulations Joe! Smyrna - CSX Distance from Atlanta: 15 miles Go to the Smyrna Visitors Center on Atlanta Road (at the intersection of Old Spring Road). The visitor center is a replica of the old Smyrna depot that once stood at this location. Off-street parking is provided. There are benches overlooking the tracks and clean rest rooms at the visitor center. The visitor center also serves as a Smyrna museum and has railroad-related exhibits. All types of rail traffic come by. A wide choice of eating establishments is available nearby. CSX Northbound Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 19 CSX Southbound CSX Southbound 20 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 NS Northbound Mableton - NS, Amtrak Distance from Atlanta: 14 miles Go to the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and Church Street. Look for Barnes Hardware. These tracks are the NS mainlines to Chattanooga and Birmingham. Signals to the west give indications of approaching trains. There is good visibility to the west to see inbound trains from a distance. The southbound Amtrak comes through around 9:30am to 10:00am. All types of trains can be seen – intermodals with runthrough power (BNSF, UP, KCS), Powder River coal, autoracks, roadrailers, grain, general freight, you nameit. There is a KFC across the street (busy highway) and many other fast food places are nearby. Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 21 Rear pusher unit of inbound Powder River Basin coal train Inbound intermodal 22 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Southbound Amtrak Still More Train Watching Spots in Georgia Cartersville - CSX Distance from Atlanta: 43 miles Park at the remodeled depot, which is now a visitor center, in the center of town. The CSX mainline north out of Atlanta splits less than a mile north of the depot with the old W&A tracks going to Chattanooga and Nashville and the other line going to Etowah, Knoxville, Corbin (Kentucky coal fields), and Cincinnati. There are several eating establishments near the station with views of the tracks. Featured as a Trains Magazine hotspot: September 1990, p68. Dalton - NS, CSX Distance from Atlanta: 89 miles The NS and CSX main lines from Chattanooga to Atlanta run adjacent to each other through town. Park by the old Southern depot on the west side of the tracks and set out chairs on the platform. A short walk away is an overpass over the tracks. The top deck of the Wachovia Bank parking deck provides an aerial view of the action. There is a popular down-home eating establishment just across the tracks. The Dalton Depot & Trackside Tavern Step back into an era where fine food and fine service go hand in hand. This restaurant has been a Nationally Registered Site since 1978. The building, which was begun in the fall of 1852, is one of the few depots in this area built before the Civil War. The Depot is a full service, upscale dining, casual atmosphere establishment. When you are in the North Georgia area, make the Dalton Depot your destination for a memorable dining experience. http://www.thedaltondepot.net/ Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 23 Two views of trains on the CSX mainline which runs past the patio dining area of the New York Pizza Exchange restaurant on Paces Ferry Road in Vinings. This spot is just a few miles southwest of both the Renaissance Waverly Hotel & the Cobb Galleria, the site of the Peachtree Express NMRA convention. The train seen at above is ascending the steep grade north out of Atlanta while the train shown below is coasting downhill into town. Both photos by Editor Paul Voelker 24 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Atlas N-Scale car shown here, HO-scale car shown at bottom of page 23. CLINICS O N DV D • Adding Sound to Model Railroad Scenes • Light Emitting Diodes for Model Railroads • Scratch-Building Industrial Structures • Scratch-Building a Timber Trestle DVDs sell for: $10 each OR All 4 for $35 PLUS $2 shipping for any quantity ordered! Make your check payable to: Southeastern Region Alan Mole Photo You may order your 2013 Convention Cars today and it will be reserved in your name for pick up at the Company Store in Atlanta, or you can have it shipped to your door if you don’t want to carry it home! Cars are expected to ship in May 1, 2013. For the NMRA 2013 National Convention Car the Peachtree Express has teamed up with Georgia Pacific and Atlas to make an Atlas 50 foot Master series boxcar in HO and an Atlas Trainman 50 foot Trainman series boxcar in N scale (seen here). Both cars will carry the Georgia Pacific and PTE2013 logos, as shown above. CAR PRICE QUANTITY HO Scale PTE2013 Convention Car $ 25.00 N scale PTE 2013 Convention Car $ 20.00 Shipping (if applicable)* $ 10.00 TOTAL TOTALS And Mail To: * S/H is $10 up to 4 cars, $2 for each additional car (US only) Alan Mole P.O. Box 2173 Suwannee, GA 30024 For ordering and further information, please contact The Peachtree Express Convention Car Coordinator: Alan Mole at: [email protected] Or by mail at: Alan Mole, P.O. Box 2173, Suwannee, GA 30024 NMRA / SER Membership & Subscription Application Please accept my application for membership Renewal or for New Membership in the National Model Railroad Association, which includes the SouthEastern Region and my local SER Division. New Renewal NMRA # SER # Name Scale Address Occupation City State Phone Birth Date Zip Cell Phone Email One Year Two Years Member - All rights and benefits - does not include NMRA Magazine. $44.00 $88.00 NMRA Magazine subscription - Must be an NMRA member to subscribe. $22.00 $44.00 SER The SouthErneR subscription - Must be an NMRA member to subscribe. $10.00 $20.00 NMRA Membership and/or Subscription Type (Circle the Option(s) of Your Choice) $8.00 $16.00 (each member) (each member) Student - any person 18 yrs and under or student between the ages of 19 - 25 yrs possessing valid student ID. All rights and benefits and NMRA Magazine. $32.00 $64.00 Sustaining - Mandatory for group memberships (Clubs, Associations, Businesses). All rights & benefits & NMRA Magazine. $110.00 $220.00 Family - Spouse or minor child of above member in good standing. No NMRA Magazine or voting rights. Provide family member’s name and date of birth here: Name: Total DOB: TOTAL DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS PAYMENT ENCLOSED (Make checks payable to NMRA) Credit Card: Card # Issued To (print) Master Card VISA AMEX Diner’s Club CV # Signature Check Discover Expiration Month Year Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 25 Mail To: NATIONAL MODEL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION, INC., 4121 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421-2119 Using The Prototype To Pattern Model Railroad Operations By David F. Butts “When in doubt look to the prototype,” has been a motto for me for a number of years when it comes to model railroading. The prototype can be used to pattern operations on the model railroad. Thanks to a friend of mine, Jeffery White, I discovered the Georgia Northeastern Railroad which true to its name is located in northeast Georgia. I was fortunate to observe the railroad serving one of its customers, Kemira Chemical in Marietta, Georgia, one morning in early July 2011. Learning Points: CSX Train headed north past Elizabeth Yard in Marietta, GA. • • • • Interchange Operations Plant switching Efficient track arrangements Industries within yard limits The Georgia Northeastern Railroad (GA NE RR) is a short line that runs on former L&N tracks, “The Hook and Eye”. The former L&N tracks were once owned by the CSX Railroad. The route operated by the GA NE RR stretches approximately from Marietta to Etowah, Georgia. My primary location to rail fan was Elizabeth Yard which is the southern terminal for the GA NE RR. What turns out to be a major interest item is that this yard also serves as an interchange point between the short line and the CSX Railroad. The latter has over 21,000 miles of track spanning the eastern United States. In addition to the interchange there are industries located within the yard limits, notable being Kemira Chemical. An interchange is when a railroad hands off or transfers freight cars to another railroad for forwarding. This can be facilitated at junction, yard, spur, siding or other specialized tracks identified for the purpose. At Elizabeth Yard there is a multi use siding used for set outs and pick ups of interchange traffic between the CSX and Georgia Northeastern railroads. The GA NE RR serves a number of customers, chemical plants, cement plants, metal coaters and fabricators, grain mill facilities, building supply warehouses and other industries. The car mix that I observed at the yard was heavily weighted towards tank cars and covered hoppers. I did see a small number of open hoppers designed for hauling gravel and stone. In a nutshell, the GA NE RR collects loaded and empty freight cars from its customers on line and then spots them on the interchange siding. Then the CSX picks up the freight cars that have been deposited on the interchange siding for forwarding. In reverse, the CSX sets out freight cars on the interchange for the GA NE RR to handle and forward to it’s on line customers. What I found exciting was the switching of the Kemira Chemical plant which is within the yard limits of Elizabeth Yard. The plant utilizes a single spur track with a loading/ unloading dock that can accommodate about four tank cars. The area where the cars are served is fenced and gated for security reasons. Kemira Chemical is a division (Pulp and Paper) of the Kemira Group, which is a global conglomerate specializing in chemicals used for a number of industrial purposes. At the plant in Marietta, Georgia, products are manufactured for the paper industry. Paper mills require chemicals for their manufacturing processes of pulp wood to convert it to paper and paperGeorgia Northeastern train parked on yard spur at Ter- board products like cartons, boxes, packaging, displays, minal yard in Marietta, GA brown paper bags, tissue papers, etc. 26 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Photo Above Beginning of yard limits at Elizabeth Yard headed south past Kemira Chemical. Photo Below Siding on the Elizabeth Yard, GA NE RR, used for interchange with the CSX. The way the switch job is handled is that an engineer and conductor team uses one of the railroad’s Geep locomotives (four axle type) to make up a train of tank cars to deliver and spot at the plant spur. As mentioned earlier the spur can only accommodate up to four cars so the train is limited in length. What I saw is that the train is shoved toward the plant spur from the yard, the tank cars that need to be pulled are coupled to the tank cars that need to be delivered and the train returns to the yard hauling all the freight cars. Once at the yard the tank cars that have been pulled are shoved into a yard spur, cut off from the train and then the train heads back to the chemical plant spur to spot the tank cars that need to be delivered. Each tank car is spotted precisely in front of individual loading apparatus and then the hand brakes are applied so that the cars will not roll out of position. The locomotive clears the fenced area, the conductor closes the gate, locks it, Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 27 Shot of Elizabeth Yard just past Marble Mill Road crossing gate on the Georgia Northeastern Railroad. sets the derail, repositions the switch leading to the plant spur and gets on the locomotive. Then the Geep returns light back to the main assembly of yard tracks. The final work was to add the tanks cars that had been recently pulled to the string of cars on the interchange siding per the manifest or switch list. ILLUSTRATION NO. 1 (Not to Scale) Elizabeth Yard YARD OFFICE GA NE RR - Main Route GA NE RR -Yard To yard lead/ crossovers Siding connections to CSX Kemira Group Spur Siding CEMENT PLANT (Yard Limits) CSX Track CSX TRACK North South Mile Post 22.06 Sometimes modelers can over complicate track work or not design it efficiently on a model railroad. This is an area where the prototype can provide guidance. Switches are expensive and it takes man and machine hours to deliver freight cars to on line industries, which means there is a cost in dollars and this has to be managed to ensure profitability. Thus prototype railroads take care and planning to use their resources efficiently and cost effectively. As a result, on the GA NE RR, the layout of the tracks serving the plant, interchange and yard are very clean and functional. It is worth the effort to view prototype track while rail-fanning to glean ideas for the model railroad and the Elizabeth Yard compacted a lot of operations in a relatively small space for a one to one scale railroad. 28 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Another call out is that there are two industries – chemical plant and cement plant - located within the limits of Elizabeth Yard that I saw. By definition yard limit means that a train can operate without having train orders from the dispatcher within a specified sector of track. This allows the railroad to have flexibility to operate and not have the dispatcher involved in the movements and is especially useful when industries are collocated adjacent a yard complex. In closing, the prototype can be used to pattern model railroad operations. Some of the key learning points have been highlighted in this article, interchange, plant switching, effiTank car spotted at the Kemira Chemical Plant in Marietta, GA. cient track arrangements or design, and the practice of locating industries within yard limits. The model railroader is encouraged to replicate prototype techniques to enhance operations and the enjoyment of their layout. If you happen to be in Marietta, Georgia, be sure to check out the Georgia Northeastern Railroad! NMRA Magazine Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 29 Saluda Diorama By Ken O’Brien “Could you build a display about the arrival of the railroad to Henderson County, North Carolina, in the late 1800s for the Henderson County Heritage Museum?” This was the request made to the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club (AVMRC) in early 2012. The museum was planning an exhibit titled “The Golden Age, 1879-1929: The Coming of the Train”. The club was asked to depict the railroad from Hendersonville south and east to the beginning of the legendary Saluda Grade at Melrose in Polk County. The Saluda Grade was the steepest standard gauge mainline grade in the United States at just under five percent. Railroads in South Carolina had to either ascend the steep grades through Henderson and Polk Counties or swing up to the north through Charlotte to continue to Asheville and points west. The route through Saluda and Hendersonville was selected as being the shortest and most cost effective. Due to the steepness of the grade, there were a num- Museum display with diorama, story boards and the G scale display. merce for the Henderson County area, carrying local farm produce to outside markets and bringing in tourists in the summer months. The tourists were seeking relief from the summertime heat and humidity encountered closer to the coast. One of the wrecks along this section of the railroad. ber of wrecks and fatalities on the Saluda grade; special operating instructions and two runaway tracks were finally installed on the grade to reduce the accidents. And it was an operational bottleneck, often requiring the doubling or tripling of the hill for ascents. The arrival of the railroad opened up com- The AVMRC leadership organized a small group to evaluate the project. They knew they had a twenty foot square room in which to work; the walls were reserved for artifact displays and a fairly generous aisle way was required for public access. A scale model of the project was assembled and shown to the directors of the museum. The directors gave an enthusiastic green light to the project and more AVMRC members were added to the project to begin fact finding in the four largest towns and settlements the railroad ran through. Due to the space constraints, the diorama would be built in N scale to permit the use of kits and rolling stock for the route, while still including as much of the surrounding areas as possible. With that in mind, the diorama’s time frame would be towards the later years of the museum’s title era. Sanborn Fire Insurance maps from the 1920s, historical topographic charts and Google Earth pictures were studied to lay out the track and structures. Additional research was conducted by visits to local and county historical societies in both Henderson and Polk Counties, along with both county library systems. And several live interviews were conducted with people who were involved with local railroad activities in these counties. A crew of carpenters assembled the base boxes for the diorama. The bases had to be sturdy, yet transportable. The dio- First runaway track one mile south of Saluda. The switch is set for a runaway. The switch man will set it for the main once the engineer of the down bound train signals that the train is under control, speed under 8 miles per hour. 30 A helper for part of a train going up to Saluda. Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 we did acquire a G Scale Southern Railway passenger train and installed it on a narrow shelf just above the doors and windows in the diorama room. A backdrop with photos of the mountains surrounding Hendersonville was installed behind the track and a picture of the Hendersonville depot was added as a stop. A pushbutton activates this train and it does one lap around the room each time the button is activated. The train has a sound decoder installed so that as the locomotive chugs around the room it can ring its bell and blow its whistle. A number of sensors were installed under the tracks to activate those features. The many members of the AVMRC put in a lot of time and effort constructing this diorama and display. If you have the opportunity to stop in Hendersonville, please stop in at the Historic Courthouse. It’s open from 10 AM to 5 PM, Wednesday through Saturday. And 1 PM to 5 PM on Sundays. Diorama with G Scale display showing the backdrop and Hendersonville depot. rama will eventually be moved to another room in the historic Courthouse building from its current location on the first floor. The grades and terrain were formed with foam insulation panels and set into the base boxes. A large work party began ordering and building the numerous N scale structures. The four depots were all scratch built by one of the club members. Some of the structures, primarily in Hendersonville, were constructed with a card stock modeling program due to the unusual shapes. A number of other buildings were kit bashed so that they more closely resembled the structures in photographs of those businesses. The terrain was painted and scenery added, including several apple orchards. One of the tourist camps was added on Lake Summit, south of Zirconia, to tie in the area’s tourism. Since much of the museum is interactive, push button activated lights were added around the diorama bases to tie in those locations with information on the story boards located above the diorama. One club member worked with the State Museum of Transportation, in Spencer, NC, to obtain numerous artifacts for display on the walls around the room. She was very persuasive and a number of interesting items are on loan from the state and displayed at the museum. The museum directors kept asking for an operating train; due to the constricted curves and the fact that the diorama depicts a point to point railroad, we could not make that happen. But Scratch built Hendersonville depot with the Carolina Special on the main. Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 31 Div. 4 Spring Swap Meet By Ed Dice The Old Fashioned Tailgate Swap Meet was held on Saturday, 20 April 2013. The weather was absolutely fantastic. The Friday rain was soaking all day Friday, but it did not leave soggy grounds around the RR Museum for the Saturday Swap Meet. Thank You, Mother Nature!!! Tom Walkup and Keith Rapley also on the Loading Dock did not get one). Then preparations continued at the Depot with the coffee pot set up by Art, parking lot ropes, opening buildings and more table staging. Sellers started showing up at just before 7 AM and kept arriving all morning. Swap Meet sellers and buyers in the very sunny Courtyard We had about 31 sellers. Most had heeded the advertising flyer and pre-registered for a seller spot outside in the Courtyard or inside the Freight House. Still we had a few "DriveUps" that we were able to accommodate. Advertising was a lot of work and resulted in decent coverage. Even Channel 3 put an item in their Community Calendar during their Friday evening broadcast, which is how some sellers and buyers found out about the swap meet. All of the 16 parking spots in the Depot Courtyard were filled for most of the entire morning. Plus, we had folks on the Loading Dock, outside the Depot Building, in the Freight House, and in the Baggage Room. Things wrapped up mostly by 1 PM. Everyone seemed satisfied, both sellers and buyers. All of the folks rated the swap meet as a success. All of the worry and worked paid off. Paul Karzcewski and Orlando Gomez. flatcar on right? See the new 1/8 The next swap meet is expected to be in the Fall on the third Saturday of October. When the date is locked in, it will be posted on the ECGRC and WFRM event calendars. Stay tuned. Jack Grill (light colored jacket) set up at his usual Loading Dock spot Preparations started Friday afternoon with marking off the 16 parking spots in the Depot Courtyard. Tables were staged for easier access on Saturday. Dave Ramirez of Trains By Johnson set up his two tables late Friday afternoon. Saturday morning started at 5 AM with picking up three dozen freshly baked Krispy Kreme donuts (all eaten by mid-morning; dang, I 32 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 UPCOMING EVENTS Please send info on your eve nt to the Sout hEr ne R at least 6 months prior to the next deadline f or it to appe ar in time or before your e vent takes place. LOCAL SHOWS & EVENTS GEORGIA July 14th thru 20th Atlanta NMRA National Convention - Peachtree Express Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, GA July 19th thru 21st Atlanta NMRA National Train Show Cobb Galleria Center • The World's Best Known Manufacturers • Over 144,000 square feet of exhibit space • Hands-On Demonstrations • 35,250 Sq. Feet of Modular Layouts • Ask The Collectibles Appraiser The 2013 National Train Show® (NTS®) is a separate and distinct entity from the NMRA National Convention. The 2013 NTS® will be co-located with the convention events in the Cobb Galleria Convention Centre. Convention registrants are entitled to three days of admission to the NTS® at no additional cost. The hours are: Registrar’s Note Steve Prevette Membership in the Southeast Region continues to grow. We have gone from 1,184 members in January 2011 to our current level of 1,261 members. Almost all divisions have shown an increase in membership over the past year. Thanks to all of you for choosing to join and participate in the NMRA! Please be sure to keep your email and postal mailing addresses up to date with the NMRA. If you do need to submit an address change you may either send it directly to NMRA in Chattanooga through the NMRA website, or drop me an email at [email protected] or phone 803-392-7684. Please be sure to contact me if you have any other membership or subscription questions. [email protected] or by phone at: 803-392-7684 or send a note to: DIVISION MEETS Steel City Division 2 - Regular Meeting Steel City Division meets the 3rd Thursday of every month except December, at 7 PM in Room 203 of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. Call (205) 744-0758 for meeting information Friday, July 19: 9:00am - Noon: Convention Registrants and Trade only Friday, July 19: Noon - 6:00pm: Public Show Saturday, July 20: 10:00am - 6:00pm: Public Show Sunday, July 21: 10:00am - 5:00pm: Public Show Smoky Mountain Division 12 - Regular Meeting 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month August 10th Land O'Sky Division 15 - Regular Meeting Quarterly, third Saturday of January, April, July & October. Locations vary. Call (828) 384-8045 for program information and directions. Norcross 45th Atlanta Train Show Piedmont Division 5 - Regular Meeting 2nd Tuesday of every month, Elks Lodge, 1775 Montreal Rd., Tucker (Atlanta - East Side) Website: www.piedmont-div.org Saturday, August 10, 2013 North Atlanta Trade Center, Norcross, GA November 4th Mineral Bluff Tri-State Model Railroaders - Silent Auction Fundraiser Monday Eve, Nov 4, 2013. Start time to be announced later. Mineral Bluff, GA vicinity. Definite location to be announced. Forty years separate the Peachtree 73 & Peachtree Express convention cars shown here. My first NMRA convention was at Peachtree 73 when I lived in Florida. Not shown here is the convention car for CrossRoads Atlanta (1995) which I helped put on. Now it is 18 years after CRA’95 & 40 years after Peachtree 73 - I hope y’all will enjoy the Peachtree Express! Photo by Doug Alexander Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 33 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Come All Ye Rounders! By Mike Fleming The Bluff City Division and the Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum will be hosting the combined Southeastern and Mid-Continent Regional convention in Memphis on June 13-15, 2014! Memphis is a logical choice for such a convention since is sits on the border of the two regions. Memphis historically is a railroad town and it still is, with 5 class 1’s and 2 regional railroads serving it. All of the class 1’s have done major facility improvements here in the last several years. Trolleys are represented here with the Memphis Area Transit Authority downtown trolley system bringing back memories of the Memphis Street Railway. Many facets of this history will be featured in convention events. The convention will be based at Harding Academy, a local Christian School with a wonderful facility centrally located in an east Memphis neighborhood. The clinics, model displays and contests, meetings, and an encore of our popular Friday night show from the 2006 Railin’ on the River Convention will be here. There is ample space here for many activities and will be a convenient starting point for prototype and home layout tours. The prototype tours we are working on include tours of several of these improved rail yards, a MATA trolley shop tour, a steel mill tour, and of course the Fedex Superhub tour that was extremely popular in 2006. We may extend the convention activities into Thursday to allow us to offer a third night for this tour. It is limited to 25 persons per night and will be first come first served so if you want to see one of the premier industrial tours 34 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 35 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update in the world get you registration with that request in early. We are working with MATA on including a pass to ride the trolleys during the convention in your registration. There are several high quality home model railroads available for tour including the late Louis Ertz’s West Tennessee Central Railroad, an exquisite O scale layout that has been featured in Model Railroader and O Scale Railroading magazines. We also have a unique situation in Memphis with all of the club model railroads being housed in the same building. There are seven model railroads in six scales that will be shown. For all of the OpSIG members the N scale layout modeling the L&N Memphis Sub is set up for operating sessions. It has 22 scale miles of the 210 mile division modeled. There are a couple of special events happening around convention time that will be included in the convention activities. Central Station, home of the Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum will be 100 years old and we are going to have special events throughout the year to commemorate that milestone. The convention will be one of those events and we are arranging to have a special tour of the station for the convention. The other event will be the opening of the Harahan Bridge walkway/bikeway which will allow you to walk or bicycle across the Union Pacific Harahan Bridge. The opening is scheduled close to convention time so it will be included in convention events. For the ladies, across the street from Harding Academy are Dixon Gallery and Gardens and Audabon Park and Memphis Botanic Gardens. Oak Court Mall and other fine shopping are close by and some of the ladies here are planning several other activities. The convention website will be on the Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum website by mid June and will include the ability to register on line. Be watching at: www.mrtm.org 36 The Harding Academy Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update The O-scale “West Tennessee Central Railroad” of the late Louis Ertz Photos by SER Editor Paul Voelker Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 37 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update 38 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 39 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update 40 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 41 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update 42 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 43 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update 44 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 45 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update 46 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 47 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update 48 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 49 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update 50 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Next Year’s 2014 SouthEastern Region Convention Update I hope you enjoyed this photo tour of the layout of the late Louis Ertz. After the conclusion of the SER Board of Directors meeting in Memphis, TN last February, we were allowed to view this fine O scale layout. In addition to earning Achievement Awards for both Civil and Scenery, Louis also received a Golden Spike Award. All of the track was hand laid on individually cut ties. If you have the chance to view this awesome layout at next year’s 2014 SER convention, by all means do so! And don’t forget the FedEx tour which runs late at night but is well worth your time to see. Take it from someone who has, it will blow your mind! Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 51 One of the MOST COMMON questions regarding the NMRA/BSA Railroad Merit Badge Program is “Where do we start?” This is a very logical question with a Bill Ello - SER Boy Scout Coordinator simple answer. You need to find out what a Merit Badge Consular is and what he does. Fortunately for all of us, the BSA is a prolific publisher of Materials, Guides, Pamphlets and Training Materials. Your Primary Merit Badge Counseling resource is a publication – “A Guide for Merit Badge Counseling” (SKU 34532). This single tri fold pamphlet covers the most important elements of Merit Badges, the counseling processes and procedures, adult responsibilities and requirements. Most Merit Badge Counselors have more knowledge than is required by the actual Merit badge program and requirements! The most important thing we as counselors can do is fairly simple. We need to remember the age and experience of the individual Scout we are counseling –KEEP IT SIMPLE and EASY TO UNDERSTAND. Be persistent and have patience. There are no points for overwhelming and confusing Scouts. The basic idea of Merit Badges is to introduce Scout to new subjects / interests, potential hobbies / avocations, potential careers /vocations in a friendly non pressure environment and instilling confidence in each participating Scout. As adults we need to remember our promise to present materials and guide the boys through the Merit Badge Requirements listed for the subject ---NO MORE, NO LESS. As interested parties in a subject, it is easy for use to lose sight of the purpose of the program and try to create “experts”. You can throw in additional information for understanding, but not make the process complicated and difficult. THIS IS NOT A VOCATIONAL OR APRENTICE PROGRAM! The boys need to be held responsible for the LISTED REQUIREMENTS in a fair and consistent manner ---NO MORE, NO LESS! The next questions usually are “What must be presented / taught / reviewed in the Merit Badge Program?” & “Where can I find the materials?” Again, most of the work has been done for you by the National Scouting Committee overseeing the Merit Badge Program. The National Merit Badge Program responds to the individual Scout’s interests and needs of the basic Boy Scout Program. There are usually between 110 and 130 Merit Badges being supported at any given time -- defined by needs and current interests. Each of these subject areas has its own individual pamphlet published by the Boy Scouts and reviewed on a regular basis. Each pamphlet contains all the information and requirements necessary to earn a particular Merit Badge (again – NO MORE, NO LESS). As Adults and responsible Merit Badge Counselors, it is our obligation to make sure we have and are using the latest version or current printing of the Merit Badge Pamphlet. This will require SOMEONE to check the Merit Badge rack at the local BSA Service Center or Scout Shop at reasonable intervals. As the Merit Badge version / printing changes you need to take the responsibility to read and check out the new pamphlet and insure you are presenting / reviewing and materials are up to the current program requirements. As you review the materials you may find some “inconsistencies” in the materials. As with all “committee” efforts, sometimes things will go “out of sync” and materials may inadvertently “fall out” of the new publication. In the current publication the FRED and SIGNAL materials are not complete or have adequate current examples. This is your opportunity to fill in the blanks and provide badly needed “extras” to aid in the Scouts’ understanding and knowledge. Again, you cannot hold Scouts responsible for “extras” on the testing / review phase. The Scouts need to complete the listed requirements --- NO MORE, NO LESS. As you develop your local program you will need to make decisions based on your group numbers, facility strengths or weakness, staff quality, available room and resources. Some Divisions use some Classroom presentations by necessity. If you use some of this classroom approach, please remember the Scouts go through this process Five Days a Week in their school day lives. You need to keep attention levels high by the use of videos, good “AV” materials. Keep the boys AWAKE by getting them involved at higher levels with group and individual participation through question / answer techniques and discussions. As a general rule, Scouting Programs use “Hands on Methodology” -- ”teaching by doing” in small groups. Scouts are accustomed with the use of Patrol groups and Round Robin Presentations. These familiar Scouting based approaches are more likely to get better results, higher interest levels and less “Scout interaction” problems with Scout participants. During the development of the Kennesaw Museum Merit Badge Program, our Piedmont Division group has found that the requirements listed below present a well balance program with good results. The Program requires completing various kinds of requirements. Some of the requirements are specifically spelled out with 52 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 no “choice” and some are left to “choices”. Some requirements state “DO X number of the following”. I hope that you will find the “outline /“curriculum” useful in your efforts. Current Kennesaw BSA RR Merit Badge Schedule: 1 A -Name three types of modern freight trains. Explain why unit trains are more efficient than mixed freight trains. 1 C - Using models or pictures identify 10 types of railroad freight or passenger cars. Explain the purpose of each. 1 D - Explain how modern diesel or electric locomotives develop power. Explain the terms Dynamic Braking and Radial Steering Trucks. 2 A - Explain the purpose and formation of Amtrak. Explain, by use of a timetable, a plan for making a Trip by rail between two cities at least 500 miles apart. List the time of departure and arrival at your destination, the Train number and name, and the type of service you want. 2 B - List and Explain the various forms of Public/Mass Transit using Rail. 3 A - Name four departments of a railroad company. Describe what each department does. 4 - Explain the purpose of Operation Life saver and its mission. 5 E - Tell what an automobile driver can do to safely operate a car at grade crossings and list three things an automobile drive should never do at a grade crossing. 5 F - Explain how to report a malfunction of grade crossing warning devices. 5 G - List safety precautions a pedestrian should follow at a public crossing. 6 - Explain the appearance and meaning of the following warning signs and devices; advance warning sign, pavement markings, crossbucks, flashing red light, crossing gates. 7 A - Explain how railroad signal operate and show two basic signal type using color or configuration. 7 B - Explain the meaning of three horn signals. 7 C - Describe a way to signal a train for an emergency stop 7 D - Explain the use and function of the “EOTD” (end of train device) or “FRED” (flashing rear end device) used on the last car of most trains. 8 A 3 - Name the scale of four popular model railroad gauges. Identify the scale of four model cars or locomotives. 8 A 7 - Participate in a switching contest on a timesaver layout and record your time. To support and ensure a high level of quality and consistency, the Piedmont Staff has developed an “Internal Staff Guide”. This internal document is provided to our counselors as a resource for presentations and personal information. A Staff guide goes a long way to make the program more manageable for your counselors and represents a worthwhile effort to insure an efficient and happy group of counselors. The guide is extracted from the actual Merit Badge Pamphlet and clearly addresses focus on the above Merit Badge Requirements covered in our program. Thankfully the BSA is not ”fussy” about reproducing Merit Badge materials for internal use in their Merit Badge Program. Some other “additional” or extra materials may be covered by COPYRIGHTS and require permission for reproduction and redistribution. This is especially true for materials found on the internet and current or past publications. Non BSA materials could be problematic for your use as course materials and may require additional care, investigations and follow up. You will need to do some homework before including “outside” resources. I am going to put our internal staff guide on the SER BOY SCOUT PROGRAM WEBSITE. This document will be in a read only, non-downloadable “PDF” format to meet any “legal” requirements. This is NOT A PUBLISHED AND PUBICAALLY AVAILABLE DOCUMENT! It is not provided as finished product for your use, but as an example or model so you can develop your own staff guide / curriculum. SO MUCH FOR DISCLAIMERS!!! We are in the process of developing model PowerPoint Presentations for the staff’s use and to help in developing their own presentation materials. As these model presentations are completed, they will be put on the SER BSA Program Website. These presentations will also be in a read only, non-downloadable “PDF” format. Again, these presentations are not provided as a published finished product for your use, but as a model to develop your own division’s program materials. Good Luck and Happy Counseling, Bill Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 53 Division 4 – Gul f N ews James “Buddy” Black - [email protected] www.MODELTRAINSELLER.com Officers and Directors Gulf Division officers held an impromptu meeting during the Milton Railroad Days event in April. The main discussion centered on coordinating events across the Division. We agreed to hold a Division meet in the Mobile area in the fall. 54 FULL SERVICE MODEL TRAIN COLLECTION SERVICES SALES VALUATION ORGANIZATION Membership Membership has increased by 8 since May of last year. New membership continues to be a focus area for the division. Division Events The Pensacola Section hosted the Milton Railroad Day event on 20 April. Model railroaders from across the area joined the public to celebrate railroading in the panhandle town of Milton. We are planning to have a two day Division Meet in the Mobile area the first weekend in October. The Panama City, Mobile, and Pensacola Sections all sponsored operating session events during the quarter. A number of members attended each event. Charitable and Educational Activities We continuing to work on a Railroading Merit Badge kit that will contain a complete set of the material and equipment a counselor will need to complete a merit badge for a small number of scouts. DON’T WAIT PRE-ARRANGE YOUR ESTATE! Achievement Program Activity Buddy Black was awarded the Volunteer and Chief Dispatcher certificates. PERSONALIZED AND DISCREET! Jack Rowles earned the Golden Spike. WE PAY CASH FOR YOUR COLLECTION! Future Directions Our focus for the next two quarters will be to prepare for the Division Meet in October. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AND CONTACT INFORMATION Division AP Chairman Glen Hall, MMR (left) presented Jack Rowles with a Golden Spike Award. Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Division 5 – Piedmont News Charlie Crawford, MMR [email protected] www.piedmont-div.org We’re right up against the dates for National Convention that will be held here at the Cobb Galleria Center. Our committee under Convention Chair Bob McIntyre, aided by Assistant Chairs David Gelmini and Perry Lamb, has been working diligently to make this a great convention. Many of the tours, prototype, layout and general interest have spaces available as of this printing. Check out our web-site and see if any of the open tours interest you. We also can use some volunteer help. If you can spare a couple of hours let us know when you register. With an event this large, we certainly will need the help. Many of us here in the Atlanta area (and some of you in Birmingham and Chattanooga) are working hard to get layouts ready, new modules built or those contest models done. It always amazes me how a show or tour encourages modelers to add to or improve their layout. I too, have been working on a couple of new modules for the train show. We are also happy to note that our own Joe Nichols, Jr. has completed the requirements for Master Model Railroader. He will be our divisions 5th in the last year and a half. Joe is the tenth MMR (including the late Mike Callahan) from the Piedmont Division. A couple of members are one certificate away from earning their MMR’s. I certainly encourage everyone to take part in the wonderful program of the NMRA. While the convention is taking up a lot of our attention and effort, we are also planning to participate at the Railroad Rendezvous event at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw the weekend after the Convention. We will be exhibiting our children’s O scale layout on Saturday July 27. If you’re in Atlanta that weekend come by and see us. We are already well into planning for the 10th Anniversary Piedmont Pilgrimage. It’s hard to believe ten years have gone by. It seems like only yesterday that the event was proposed. In the ten years we’ve gone from 12 layouts to over 80. It is a terrific outreach to new modelers, families and friends. Our monthly meeting attendance continues in the 100+ range and Howard Goodwin has arranged interesting clinics. Come to see us here in Atlanta in July. We’ve got a great week planned. Di visi o n 1 5 - L a nd O’ S ky Ne w s Ken O'Brien - [email protected] The Division manned a recruiting table at the Western North Carolina Model Railroad Club show at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center (WNC Ag Center) in March. We had conversations with several interested people and will have at least one Re-rail member. Several division members, who are active in the Operations Special Interest Group (OPSIG) activities, traveled to Jasper, Georgia in April to assist the OPSIG Coordinator for the National Convention in Atlanta in restarting operations on his home layout. It was a long day’s work, but our efforts were much appreciated. Our quarterly meeting was held at the Fletcher branch of the Henderson County Library on April 27, 2013. This was a week later than our usual meeting; we had to deconflict with the steam excursion being conducted in Asheville the weekend of the 20th. There were thirteen attendees at the meeting, with no visitors. Two live clinics were presented, followed by three short video clinics. The meeting opened with “Favorite Caboose Models” on display; three members showed ten different models. Well done by all involved. The show and tell consisted of one member displaying a marker light housing. This led to a discussion about whether to restore or just clean it up. Both live clinics were in the theme of using paper and card in model railroading. Ken O’Brien introduced some basics on materials, tools and techniques. Ben Bartlett demonstrated Evans Design, a computer based card design program, and a product CD of structure models from Clever Models. A good discussion on both products ensued. After a short break for resetting the computer system, the first two videos were run on the use and construction of fences on your layout. The third video dealt with photographing your models. Due to activities surrounding the National Convention in Atlanta and the following weeks, we informed the membership that we had decided to cancel the July meeting. Looking further ahead, we will also have to de-conflict the October meeting with several other activities already scheduled for October weekends. The October meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 19th, in the Enka-Candler Library. The division will also be manning a recruiting table at the WNC Ag Center on 12 and 13 October. Ke he ley L ak e South ern Connec ti ng Routes wi th Rex & Cla yton Southern and S ha mr oc k S o uther n Len Polinsky General Manager Mike Callahn, MMR Design Engineer [email protected] Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 55 T HE C LUB C AR This is a list of clubs and organizations in the South Eastern Region. Most have some NMRA members. If you have a club that is accepting new members or visitors, please send the information to the editor at: [email protected]. Please note, you must provide a contact name and phone number! If you have a website you can send us the URL as well! 6/12/13 Atlantic Division 8 Conway, SC, Dean Belowich 843-457-5661 Coastal Rail Buffs, Savannah, GA, Nate Stone, (912) 354-2606 http://www.coastalrailbuffs.org/ Charleston Area Model Railroad Club, Citadel Mall in Charleston, SC http://www.chamrc.com or Phillip E. Euper [email protected] Golden Isles Model Railroad Club, Brunswick, GA. Helio Valdes 912-261-2478 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GIMRRC/ Bluff City Division 10 Bartlett, TN, Mike Fleming, (901) 467-7138 The Memphis N-Scale Road Railers The Memphis Society of Model Engineers—The 1st Saturday Night Group meets at the Highland Street Church of Christ, at 7:30 PM contact Ned for additional information at: [email protected] Central Savannah River Division 9 Graniteville, SC, Steve Prevette (803) 392-7684 Georgia-Carolina Model Railroaders, Augusta, GA, Roy Tritt (706) 733-6870 Cumberland Division 11 Brentwood, TN, Bob Hultman (615) 833-5158 Mid-South Live Steamers, Columbia, TN, Hank Sherwood (615) 665-0512 www.midsouthlivesteamers.org [email protected] Nashville NTRAK, Nashville, TN., Mike Curtis (615) 479-7663, 4900 Rucker Christiana Road, Christiana, TN 37037 [email protected] http://www.nashvillentrak.org Nashville Garden Railway Society, Nashville, TN., Ross Evans (615) 292-6555 Tennessee Central Railway Museum, Nashville, TN, Terry Bebout, (615) 244-9001 FAX -2120 [email protected] http://tcry.org Dixie Division 3 Montgomery, AL, Phil Hutchinson, (334) 272-1933 Central Alabama Model RR. Club, Montgomery/Prattville, AL Phil Hutchinson, (334) 272-1933 MGB Model Railroad Club, Prattville, AL Visitors welcome. Meetings every Thursday evening and every other Saturday afternoon. Brett Scott (334) 799-3096 www.mgbrr.org Southeast Alabama Model Railroad Club, Dothan, AL Mike Porterfield, (334) 774-0720 [email protected] Wiregrass Steel Wheels Sub-Division, Dothan, AL Danny Lewis, (334) 803-0425 Empire Division 6 Bonaire, GA, Bill Attaway 478-954-9200 Columbus Model Railroad Club, Columbus, GA, David Cotton (706) 323-1417 Flint River Model Railroad Club, Albany, GA, Jimmy Swinn (299) 883-3517 MGMRC - Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club, Warner Robins, GA Bill Attaway (478) 328-8790 [email protected] http://www.mgmrc.org/ CGMRC - Central Georgia Model Railroad Club, Macon, GA Ken Preston, [email protected] MGRA - Middle Georgia Railroad Association, is a railroad history group that meets in Macon and Gordon, GA Bill Jones, [email protected] www.trainweb.org/mgr Thomasville Model Railroad Club, Thomasville, GA., Ben Strickland (912) 465-3730 Gulf Division 4 Panama City, FL, Buddy Black 850-624-6240 Caboose Club, Foley, AL Charles Ebert Consolidated Model Railroaders (CMRX), Panama City, FL Contact: Buddy Black 850-624-6240 [email protected] Emerald Coast Garden Railway Club monthly meeting usually on third Saturday of the month at Noon in the Diner Car of the West Florida RR Museum, Milton FL, Jack Grill (850) 994-7226 www.ecgrc.com Miracle Strip Model RR Club, Shalimar, FL Ray Follacchio 850-865-8822 http: //miraclestripmodelrrclub.com Mobile Society of Model Engineers. Dave Miller (251) 645-2296 Pensacola Model Railroad Club (PMRC), Pensacola, FL www.PMRC.us HO Division - Steve “Chip” Borona (850) 384-3206 N Division - Terry Tucker (850) 723-5390; Z Division - Glen Hall (850) 982-2795 Southwest Alabama Railroad Modelers (SWARM), Mobile, AL http://lots-trains.org/html/swarm.html/ Herb Kern (251) 660-1659 West Florida Model Railroad Club, Milton, FL Tom Augustine (850) 944-0471 West Florida Railroad Museum, Milton, FL www.wfrm.org Headquarters Division 13 www.grampas-trains.com/headquarters.htm Headquarters Division, Hal Crossland 423-344-0697, Don Johnston 352-391-4176 Chattanooga Area Model Railroad Club, www.camrc.org Ed Juaire (423) 598-9925 [email protected] Chattanooga Society of Model Engineers, Dunlap, TN http://csme.livesteamtrains.com Andy Morrision (423) 344-8502 Crossville Model Railroad Club, Crossville, TN, Mike Ferry (931) 788-1828 [email protected] www.crossvillemodelrrclub.org 56 Land O'Sky Division 15 Hendersonville, NC, Ken O'Brien 828-696-9436 Apple Valley Model Railroad Club, Hendersonville, NC, Ben Bartlett (828) 883-2799 Located in the Hendersonville Station, Open for visitors every Saturday 10 AM—2 PM, We always consider new member candidates. http://AVMRC.com French Broad e’N’pire NTRAK Club, Henderson, NC http://www.fbe-ntrak.com Chuck Place (828) 685-2726 [email protected] 1396 Spicer Cove, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Western North Carolina Model Railroaders, Fred Coleman (828) 699-0983 Magnolia Division 14 Philadelphia, MS, Troy Lee Hight (601) 389-5370 Central Mississippi Model Railroad Association, Jackson, MS Mississippi Ag and Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson MS 39216 Nils Larsen 601-432-4500 www.cmmra.org Mid-South Division 1 Fayetteville, TN., Thomas Bailey (931) 433-4207 http://www.geocities.com/mta136/ Northeast Alabama Model Railroad Club, Guntersville, AL Charles Dick (205) 878-2537 [email protected] Redstone Model Railroad Club, Huntsville, AL Palmetto Division 7 Greer, SC, Jack Varadi (864) 968-2436 Associated Model Railroads of Columbia (AMROC), Columbia, SC Clark Gregory 803-781-7912 www.amroc.org Central Railway Model and Historical Association (CRM&HA), Central, SC Jim Reece 864-855-3379 www.crmha.org Piedmont N' Southern, Greenville, SC Michael Offik 864-884-2165 www.piedmontnsouthern.org The Carolina Conspiracy (On30 modular club) Andrew Gillette (803)-316-8128 [email protected] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/carolina_on30conspiracy/ Station 187 Model Railroad Club, Greer, SC www.station187.net Piedmont Division 5 Marietta, GA, Charlie Crawford 770-565-1845 www.piedmont-div.org Atlanta Interlocking Model Railroad Club, Charlie Crawford 770-565-1845 http://home.earthlink.net/~wliles/ Chattahoochee Express Operating Group, Bob McIntyre (770) 518-8932 Georgia Association of Narrow Gaugers, Pat Turner (423) 744-0429 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/georgiangers [email protected] Georgia Garden Railway Society, Dan Michel [email protected] www.ggrs.info/ Georgia Society of Ferroequinologists, Marietta, Bob Hoenes (770) 422-0081 Jasper Roundhouse, Jasper, GA, Jim Derr [email protected] Metro Atlanta N-Scalers, Atlanta, GA, Charles Leak (404) 262-2969 Model Railroad Club of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, Terry Weldon (770) 979-0473 www.oscale-atlanta.info North Atlanta O-Gauge Railroad Club, Roswell, GA, Jeff Pergl (770) 516-6378 North Atlanta Rail Barons, Howard Goodwin 770-529-2103 North Georgia Lego Train Club, James Trobaugh (770)-844-1076 http://www.ngltc.org OR [email protected] North Georgia Modurail, Jon Cook (770) 993-9620 Northwest Georgia N Track Club P.E.P.S.I. Lines, 220 Washington Street, Gainesville, GA Railroad Model Club of Atlanta, Bob Peppel, (770) 934-4067 S-COG Southern Crescent Operating Group Joe Gelmini (770) 460-8873 [email protected] Southern O Scalers, Dan Mason, 470-385-6638 , [email protected] Tri-State Area Model Railroad, Inc., Leonard James, (423) 496-5006 [email protected] Volunteer Garden Railroad Club, Vines Botanical Gardens, 3500 Oak Grove Road, Loganville, GA 30052 Smoky Mountain Division 12 Loudon, TN, Larry Burkholder (865) 408-9903 Knoxville Area Model Railroaders, Oak Ridge, TN, Larry Burkholder, (865) 408-9903 Mountain Empire Modular Railroaders, Johnson City, TN East Tennessee State University - George L. Carter Museum Business meetings held 3rd Tuesday of month at 7pm at ETSU Campus, Brown Hall Science Bldg. Rm. 312 Dr. Fred Alsop, III (423) 929-3733 [email protected] http://memrr07.t35.com Steel City Division 2 Birmingham, AL, John Stewart 205-989-4889 Black Warrior Model Railroad Society, Tuscaloosa, AL, Bob Way 205-556-3073 Mobile Society of Model Engineers, Alabama Gulf - Chapter, NRHS 2800 Graham Rd., S. Mobile, AL Call Dave Miller (251) 645-2296 for information Wrecking Crew Model RR Club, Call Tom Cusker for information 205-621-1778 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Division 8 - Atlantic News Dean Belowich, MMR - [email protected] Carl Blum - [email protected] I would like to announce to those who do not know it yet, that Carl Blum of Johns Island has volunteered to be my Assistant Superintendent for the Atlantic Division. Carl brings a ton of experience in operating train shows and modeling knowledge to the position and I look forward to working with him in re-energizing our Division. Welcome and thank you, Carl! Summer is here! That usually means much less modeling work as we migrate to the outdoors, which is a good thing if you have a garden railway! Your season is just starting. Here along the coast of the SER, our summer begins earlier than some parts of the region, and modeling may have already been put on the back burner. One thing I would ask the Atlantic Division members to do this summer while working the usual warm weather pursuits is to think about what you would like to see our Division do for group activities. Our division is long and narrow and centered around the three large coastal areas; Savannah, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Each now has a train show in the fall or winter. In the past there have been efforts to hold Divisional meets during these shows, and they have met with some success. We would like to continue and build on that effort. Carl Blum and I have briefly discussed having some Divisional NMRA type activities during the Charleston show this November. Some of the possible activities include some simple ideas such as clinics, and model displays, and maybe more involved things such as layout visits and operating sessions. We would like you to think about what you, as Division members, would like to see as part of this show. With Charleston in the basic center of our division, this is a logical starting point for a Divisional NMRA meet. The Danny Jones Armory is a relatively small venue, and therefore we may not be able to hold too many activities at the site. We do not wish to take away from vendor space. Additionally, we want to have high quality events that people will remember and take some knowledge away with them, so fewer at first is the best start. If we spread out too many loosely planned activities, participation and enjoyment may wane. Clinics will be relatively simple to do and require only a table and a few audience chairs. This has worked well at the Myrtle Beach show for Ed Sharrett and though it is right in the midst of the show, he always has a full house! Model displays take some table space, but require security to keep models from being handled and walking off, so it would best be held off of the main train show floor. Other ideas such as layout visits and operating sessions are best held in the evening that way no one misses out on the show. If there were layouts nearby, then a shuttle for certain times could be run. Those are just a few ideas, but we want to hear from you the member! If you know any non-NMRA members that might be interested in such activities and are waiting for the Division to become active before gaining membership, please alert them. I know there are a lot of people who ask “What can the NMRA do for me?” but we need to know what you are looking for as well! Please contact either myself at: [email protected] or Carl Blum at: [email protected] Home 404.973.9566 Cell 404.217.3673 [email protected] Let’s make this next train show a new beginning for the Atlantic Division! Di visi o n 6 - Em pi re Ne ws Bill Attaway - [email protected] The MGMRC will be putting on it's annual show at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins Thanksgiving week. http://www.museumofaviation.org/planestrains.php I tried to get info about the status of the Columbus Club and its layout that was involved in the Manchester Mill fire in January, but no one with information would respond. No info on the Railroad Museum that was in the Mill or Manchester Railroad Days either. Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 57 Division 7 – Pal metto N ews Jack Varadi - [email protected] 1 2 On Saturday, March 23rd, forty people attended our spring division meeting at the Cottages of Brushy Creek in Greer, SC. Three clinics were given. The first was "Using Phones and Pads for Throttles and Panels (JMRI)" given by Steve Todd [1]. This was an overview of where new technologies are being used in model railroading. Steve will be presenting a more thorough clinic at the NMRA National Convention in Atlanta this summer. Next was “Building Cardstock Models the Modern Way” by Ed Traxler. Ed brought us up to date with new model building methods using a computer and printer. Ed had a winning cardstock model at our last division meet. “Some layout animation” was our third clinic presented by Joe Norris [2]. This clinic summarized past clinics given at other meets and locations. It was an excellent overview with working models. As usual, Joe had his excellent handouts available. We had 8 entries in the model contest [3-4]. First place went to Joe Norris for his scratch built engine house. 2nd went to Mark Parson for his refinery. Third went to Markus Weller for his German air field [5]. We also had 8 entries in our new category, tips and techniques. Joe Norris got first for his structure gluing jig. The addition of this category was well received and will continue to be a part of future meets. In another development at the meeting, several members expressed interest in exploring holding the 2015 SER convention in Greenville, SC. With the help of Fred Coleman and Palmetto Division member Ron Lown, this has become a reality. Ron has a committee formed and site selection is in progress. The dates and location will be confirmed prior to the National Convention in Atlanta this summer. More information will follow! The date for our fall division meeting has been set for November 16, 2013 at the Cottages. Looking forward to Atlanta! Jack Varadi, Palmetto Division Superintendent Division 9 - Central Savannah River News 3 4 5 Steve Prevette - [email protected] The National Convention in Atlanta approaches. Division members Don Barnes and Steve Prevette will host operating sessions through the Operations Special Interest Group (OPSIG) operating sessions program. Don's Baltimore and Ohio layout will be operated the Sunday before the convention kickoff, and Steve's Burnt Hills and Big Flats will be the Sunday after. These sessions are handled through the OPSIG, but if any group of SER members would like to come for a regular Tuesday night session or a special weekend session, that can be arranged. Many of the local operators joined the OPSIG in order to buy the new "19 East, Copy Three" publication as both Don's and Steve's model railroad sessions have been moving towards Timetable and Train Order. Kalmbach has announced the 2014 Great Model Railroads publication will include the museum display HO model railroad in the restoration of the Aiken (SC) train station. Those who came to the minimeet in Aiken last fall had an opportunity to see the station. The station is free admission and open to the public, with details on their website at http://aikenrailroaddepot.org/. Our division membership has increased by six members in the last 10 months (a 30% increase!). New members include Tuesday Night Operators Jack Connors, Don Barnes, and Walter Riechel. James Riggs and Drew James from Georgia also joined in this time period. We welcome all of our new members. The Division annual meeting will be slated for the October timeframe. No elections are due, but with new members, and renewed interest from last Fall's minimeet and the upcoming National, we need to look to see if there are activities we would like to take on as a group. I am open to suggestions for location for the meeting. See you in Atlanta! 58 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Division 12 – Smoky Mountain News Larry Burkholder - [email protected] The Smoky Mountain Division held a “mini-meet” at the Baneberry Community Center in Baneberry, TN, on Saturday, April 6th. Only about twenty-five people attended, but it was not advertised to the public and was meant to be more of a division social gathering. We had a company store operation that was quite successful, four clinics, an operating n-scale layout courtesy of the Knoxville Area Model Railroad Club, and lunch. Net-net, the division cleared $39. On May 9th the regular quarterly division meeting was held. Sixteen members and two guests attended. A slide presentation of NS and CSX train photos was presented by Scott Lindsey, President of the Southern Appalachian Railroad Museum and avid prototype railroad photographer. Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, August 8th. Of interest, a non-NMRA member in our division area (but planning on joining) Bob Noblit, had his HO layout featured in the May issue of Model Railroader. On April 28th he held an open house which was well attended by area division and KAMR club members. None of us even knew Bob's layout existed until we saw it in the magazine. It turns out he had submitted the material to MR'er six years ago and it just now got published. Bob was so disgusted with MR'er that he had canceled his subscription. Four of our division members attended the Mid-Central Region annual meeting in Dayton, OH. There were about two hundred attendees. There were the usual clinic presentations, but the emphasis was on operations. Around a dozen layouts in the Dayton/Cincinnati area offered three hour operating sessions. Many of these layouts are well known in the MR'ing world. I participated in three of them. On Sunday there was a self-guided tour of these and a number of other layouts. I stopped at three of these on the way home. Workmanship on the ones I saw was of museum quality. Truly works of art. Yours truly is happy to report that I was recently issued AP Certificates for “Association Volunteer” and “Author”. Application for “Dispatcher” has been made and is pending. Division 14 – M agnolia N ews Tr o y Hi ght - Tr Hg6@aol . c om You are invited to the Magnolia Division mini meet on the weekend of September 20-21st, in Philadelphia, MS. We will convene Friday night at a local Mexican restaurant for dinner and then gather for a layout design mock-up of the "new" Pearl River Valley & Gulf Railroad of division superintendent Troy Hight. Saturday activities will begin at 9:00 am with the first of three one hour long clinics. Presenters will cover a range of topics that will be of local interest related to the timber industry and agriculture. The fall Board of Directors meeting will begin in an adjacent room and start 9:00 am, also. The home layout tour on Saturday afternoon will include three different scales, one each in HO, O (3 rail) , and a large outdoor G. The KCS Railroad serves Philadelphia on a branch line that connects with the "Meridian Speedway" at Newton. The restored former Gulf, Mobile and Northern depot will also be open for a tour Saturday afternoon. The depot was built in 1905 and is still in its original location. It currently serves as office space for our local Community Development Partnership and Tourism Office. The railroad serves several local costumers including a local poultry feed mill, agriculture and bulk feed distributor and the Mississippi operations for Weyerhaeuser. This event is open to everyone. You do not have to be a NMRA member to attend. Please invite and bring a friend. There is no cost to attend this event. For additional informational you can contact me via e-mail at: [email protected] , or by phone at (601) 416-7617. See you in September! Troy Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 59 The Trolleys of Lisbon Photo Montage by Charlie Mason 60 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 61 62 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 Volume 54 #3.5 - E-SouthErneR - Summer 2013 63