Scale Model Railroad Trains

Planning Your Outdoor Garden Railroad - Part 15 - Rocks

Outdoor garden railroads usually have rocks. Rocks for mountains, rocks for the edges of water features, rocks under bridge supports, rocks for mine entrances, decorative rocks, and many more.

In addition to natural rocks you can use cast cement to make your own rocks. Portland Cement is works under and around water. You have to be wary of using cenment in direct contact with water if you are going to have plants r fish in the water. Cement will give off certain chemical elements into the water. It is possible to kill or damage your plants or fish with new cement. it is better if you can give a year or so without water fish and plants. This allows the cement to fully cure and reduces the leaching of chemicals. It is also to speed up the process by allowing the cement to cure for a few weeks and then using a sealant on the cement. Wait for the sealant to cure (usually a few days) before adding water. Let the water cycle for a few days and do chemical tests for pH, etc. for trace elements that are harmful to fish or plants. It usually works out just fine. Add fish or plants one at a time. If they are affected by the chemicals (you may have not detected with your tests) only one or two will be harmed.

Gravel and crushed rock is another key component of garden railroads. Gravel and crushed rock provide coarse drainage under your soil or dirt. Drainage is critical to controlling water on or near the railroad.

Pea-sized gravel can be very useful in creating a bed for drainage pipes. Pea-sized gravel can also be used in the bottom of your water features. It provides a place with lots of surface area for bacteria that help to clean the water to grow. It’s also easy to scoop out and clean every few years.

Have fun!

Trainguy

Planning Your Outdoor Garden Railroad - Part 14 - Water

When you are planning your outdoor garden railroad most people consider a water feature. Here’s what you should be planning on -

Outdoor garden railroads are ideal settings for water features. Consider these questions and alternatives as part of your garden railroad plan:

Where is your water going to come from? Are you going to fill the water feature once in a while with water from the hose or a use dedicated water supply pipe? Plan on an installation that can handle weather changes throughout the year. If you are in a region that experiences frost and frozen temperatures, you will need to plan on having a frost-free supply pipe.

What is the water  going to do while on your railroad? Outdoor water attracts birds, bugs, and animals.  Plan on keeping it moving so that it does not become a breeding area for mosquitoes and other bugs. Plan on having a dark colored net nearby to prevent birds and animals from falling in at night. You can drape the well-fastened netting over the water feature at night time and when the railroad is not being used. Include a water pump, water  filter and aeration device or bubbler to add oxygen to the water. This will slow down the growth of algae and keep the water fresh smelling. You may want an automatic filter and skimmer to remove items from the water.

Where’s the water going next? Plan on having to drain the water feature from time-to-time for maintenance or repairs. Plan on building in a drain system with a screen to filter out large items like leaves. It’s very time consuming to siphon or pump water out by hand. TIP: A proper drainage arrangement will increase your eperience with water on the railroad tremendously.

Have fun!

Trainguy

Planning Your Outdoor Garden Railroad - Part 13 - Foundation

Planning to build in stages. Your outdoor garden railroad will be built in stages starting from the ground up. Plan on moving dirt. Sometimes it’s necessary to bring in “dirt for your garden railroad. I recommend that you use “builder’s foundation mix”. It is a mix of sand, and clay, and soil that is stable enough to hold the foundation of a home. It is especially formulated to drain water and provide a firm foundation for your railroad or home. It can be used for massing areas below fertile soils mix for plants and plantings. Topsoil, clay, or sand, alone is not the best choice for the foundation of your railroad. Topsoil erodes easily and tends to settle over time. Clay absorbs water then shed it. Clay also dries out and changes shape drastically. Sand drains too quickly. Sand shifts easily, also provides a poor foundation for the railroad.

Have fun!

Trainguy

Planning Your Outdoor Garden Railroad - Part 12 - Electricity

Most model railroads need electricity to power trains, run signals, general lighting, and sound systems. Electricity in the outdoors takes some extra effort to get right.

Ground fault interrupt circuit breakers cause the flow of electricity to be stopped. These special GFI circuits  are helpful in damp areas. It stops the flow of electricity from the source and “ground”. Usually, the electricity flows through a person on its way to the ground. This is especially true when the person is standing on damp or wet soil or is making contact with a wet surface and the source of the electricty. That’s dangerous and can cause injury or kill. You need to plan for proper grounding of all outdoor circuits. A ground fault Interrupt circuit breaker is best. These are not usually standard in homes outside of kitchens, or bathrooms. You will need to have licensed electrician make changes to your circuit breaker box and add special outlets outdoors.

All electric wiring should be shielded in outdoor situations. Waterproof electrical conduit (usually metal tubing) can protect wiring from gnawing teeth of outdoor creatures the elements.

Low voltage DC train signals, model building lighting,  and power to switches should be wired with waterproof stranded wiring. Multi-stranded wiring holds up better than solid single strand wiring. Select wire that can be used in direct contact with water, soil, etc. Indoor, telephone, speaker, or computer wiring may not be good enough. Your wiring should have anti-Ultra Violet (UV) coating. Exposure to sunlight can cause some coatings for wiring can start to break down in a few months if exposed to UV sunlight rays.

All controls, controlling switches, and speed controllers should be in outdoor enclosures with proper water-resistant gaskets, covers, and switching mechanisms designed for the outdoors.  If you have a power going to your speed controllers or switches make sure that you have proper grounding, fuses, and circuit breakers. put down an electrically non-conductive pad with plenty of holes for drainage, where you would normally stand. (Try to break the flow of electricity to ground using by standing on the non-conductive mat.)

Do not make connections to power sources, while building your railroad, unless you have properly terminated and protected the circuits and yourself FIRST. Use insulated tools. Wrap tool handles with high quality electrical tape and wear electrically non-conductive gloves while working. Before working on a circuit, check wires and boxes with a continuity probe that either makes a sound or lights up. Electricity can show up in surprising places when circuits are being installed and are only partially complete. Check first, check every time.

Use high quality materials to handle electricity outdoors. This is NOT the place to save a few dollars.

If you are confused, hire an electrician. It’s well worth it.

Be safe and have fun!

Trainguy

Early March, 2009 - Model Railroad Train Calendar - Shows, Conventions, and Events

Arizona, Phoenix — The Arizona Division/PSR/NMRA Spring Division Meet will be held on March 7th, at the First Southern Baptist Church, 3100 W Camelback. Hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission: $7.00, members; $3.00, under 21; free if joining NMRA/PSR at registration. For more information, contact: Art Carlton, 1898 S. Private Drive, Casa Grande, AZ, 85294; (520) 723-9212.

California, Bakersfield — The Golden Empire Historical & Modeling Society will be holding a Model Train show on March 14th & 15th, at Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 South P Street. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Attractions to include over 100 vendor tables, thousands of square feet of model train layouts, and Live Steam Train Rides. Admission: $6.00, adults; ages 12 & under admitted free when accompanied by paying adult; admission good for both days. For more information, contact: Doug Wagner, 14008 Tierra Blanca Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93314; (661) 331-6695; e-mail: carldw@aol.com

California, Buena Park — Sunshine Models’ Prototype Modelers Meet will be held on March 8th, at the Buena Park Holiday Inn 7000 Beach Boulevard at Riverside Freeway (CA 91). Hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Meet to feature five nationally noted speakers on historical and modeling subjects, as well as prototype vendor sales. Admission: $25.00 with pre-registration; $30.00, at door. Pre-registrants will receive a proprietary decal set of 22 load limit/light weight values, reweigh location/dates, and repack stencils in the railroad’s type face. Pre-register with: Sunshine Models, Box 4997, Springfield, MO 65808-4997.California, Indio — The Coachella Valley Model Railroaders will be hosting an Open House on March 14th, at the Riverside County Fair National Date Festival Fairgrounds, 82-503 Highway 111. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attractions will include their fully scenic HO Scale layout with over 2,500 feet of track, and over 500 feet HOn3 layout operating with DCC. Admission is free. Enter at Gate 1 in front of the fairgrounds and follow the signs. For more information, contact: Jim Hundley, (760) 347-6218; e-mail: jim@cvmrr.com; or visit: www.cvmrr.com or www.datefest.org

California, Livermore — Sunshine Models’ Prototype Modelers Meet will be held on March 15th, at La Quinta Inn, located on I-580 at Greenville Road exit. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Meet to feature five nationally noted speakers on historical and modeling subjects. Admission: $25.00 with pre-registration; $30.00, at door. Pre-registrants will receive a proprietary decal set of 22 load limit/light weight values, reweigh location/dates, and repack stencils in the railroad’s type face. Pre-register with: Sunshine Models, Box 4997, Springfield, MO 65808-4997.

Indiana, Indianapolis — The Naptown and White River Model Railroad Club will be presenting a Model Railroad Train Show and Open House on March 7th, at the Manual High School Gymnasium, 2405 S. Madison Avenue. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission: $5.00, adults; children under 6 admitted free. Attractions to include operating layouts, clinics, and tours of the Club’s Clubhouse, a mile from the show. For more information, call: Steve Handly, Club President, (317) 786-8627; or visit: www.naptownrr.org

Indiana, Nappanee — The Elkhart Model Railroad Club will be having their Annual Show and Sale on March 14th, at Borkholder Dutch Village, located 1/2 mile north of U.S. Highway 6 on Tomahawk Trail (CR 101). Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attractions to include operating layouts, video presentations, door prizes, and railroad products in all scales. Admission: $4.00, adults; 12 and under admitted free with paid adult admission. For more information, contact: Paul Ewing, (574) 287-0908; e-mail: emrcc@yahoo.com; or visit the club web site at: www.trainweb.org/ew

Indiana, South Bend —Saint Joe Valley Model Railroad Club’s Show and Sale will be held on March 15th, at South Bend Elks Lodge, 3535 E. McKinley Avenue. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attractions to include operating layouts, including LEGO model railroad, seminars, and refreshments on site. Admission: $4.00, individuals; $8.00, family. For more information, contact: Mr. David Korkhouse, P.O. Box 6591, South Bend, IN 46660; (574) 272-6436; www.sjvrr.com

Iowa, Ottumwa — The Great River Railway Club will be holding their annual Railroad Fair Weekend March 7-8, at the Quincy Place Plaza Mall, located at the intersection of Highway 34 and Quincy Avenue. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, contact: Tom Morgan, 2075 235th St., Mount Pleasant, IA 52641; (319) 931-3034; e-mail: psmorgan@iowatelecom.net

Maryland, Arcadia — The Maryland Steam Historical Society’s Third Annual Train Show will be held on March 7th, on the show grounds of the Arcadia Fire Company. Hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission: $3.00, adults; children under 12 admitted free. For more information, contact: (410) 374-1332; or visit: www.marylandsteam.org

Massachusetts, Taunton — The NMRA HUB Division will be holding its Spring Training event on March 7th, at the Holiday Inn, 700 Myles Standish Boulevard. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission: $5.00, adults; under 14 admitted free. Attractions to include clinics, dealer tables, and layouts. Featured clinician will be Allan McClelland. For more information, contact: Peter Watson, (508) 378-3582; e-mail: Spingtraining@hubdiv.org

Missouri, Saint Louis — The Boeing Employees’ Railroad Club will be having a Railroad Swap Meet on March 14th, at the Greensfelder Recreation Complex, located at Queeny Park, 550 Wiedman Road. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission: $3.00, adults; children under 12 admitted free. For more information, contact: Wayne Schimmel, 733 Hwy. Y, Winfield, MO 63389; (636) 668-6313 after 6:30 p.m. CT; e-mail: wwhtehrse@aol.com

New Jersey, Edison — A Greenberg Train & Toy Show will be held March 14-15, at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, 97 Sunfield Avenue. Show hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days. Show will feature a huge marketplace of train, toy, and hobby dealers, operating model railroads, and instructional presentations. Admission: $7.00, adults good for both days; children under 12 admitted free. For more information, contact: Greenberg Shows, P.O. Box 34, Elmhurst, IL 60126; (630) 279-4087; e-mail: Staff@Greenbergshows.com; www.greenbergshows.com

North Carolina, Greensboro — The Carolina Model Railroaders will be holding a Train Show and Swap Meet on March 14th, at the J. Douglas Galyon Depot (formerly southern Railway Station), 236-C East Washington Street. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attractions to include dealers, and the Club’s operating N scale layout, and HO layout (under construction). Admission: $5.00, adults; children under 12 admitted free. For more information, contact: Bob Love, 5926 Firewood Trail, Greensboro, NC 27410; (336) 665-1517; e-mail: Boblove1@bellsouth.net or Ben Stemkowski, (336) 540-1543; e-mail: stemjobe@bellsouth.net

Ohio, Cleveland — The World’s Greatest Hobby On Tour will be held March 14-15, at the IX Center. Show hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Attractions will include entertainment, operation model layouts, manufacturers, and hobby shops. Admission: $10.00, adults; children under 16 admitted free; admission is good for both days. For more information, contact: World’s Greatest Hobby On Tour, P.O. Box 11, Elmhurst, IL 60126; (630) 279-5094; fax: (630) 214-4113; www.wghshow.com

Oregon, Clackamas —The 24th Annual Willamette Model Railroad Club Swap Meet will be held on March 7th, at New Hope Church, 11731 SE Stevens Road. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attractions to include over 100 tables of sellers of all gauges, books, tapes, memorabilia, and accessories. Refreshments will be available on premises. Admission: $3.00, adults; children under 12 admitted free. For more information, contact: Rick Andrews, (503) 642-3298; e-mail: drdrews1@verizon.net

Pennsylvania, Fenton — The Maryland Steam Historical Society’s Third Annual Train Show will be held on March 7th, on the show grounds of the Arcadia Fire Company. Hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission: $3.00, adults; children under 12 admitted free. For more information, contact: (410) 374-1332; or visit:

Utah, Ogden — The Hostlers 20th Annual Model Railroad Festival will be held March 6-8, at the Ogden Union Station, located at 25th Street and Wall Avenue. Hours will be from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday; from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission: $5.00, adults; children 12 and under admitted free. For more information, contact: Mike Murphy, (801) 394-4952; or John Grubb, (801) 476-9351; or visit: www.hostlers.info

Virginia, Manassas — Boy Scout Troop 964’s 11th Annual Model Train Show will be held on March 14-15th, at Saunders Middle School, 13557 Spriggs Road. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission: $7.00, adults; $3.00, students and children; under 5 admitted free. For more information, contact: Jill Palermo, (703) 583-0239; e-mail: jillpalermo@comcast.net; www.troop964.com

Wisconsin, Appleton — The Paper Valley Model Railroad Club will be hosting their annual Spring Swap Meet on March 14th, at the National Guard Armory, 2801 West Second Street. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Refreshments will be available. Admission: $2.00, adults; $1.00, ages 8 to 16; $5.00, family maximum. For more information, contact: Jim Leschke, 2608 S. Harmon St., Appleton, WI 54915; (920) 734-9290.

Source

Have fun!

Trainguy

Model Railroad Trains Events Calendar for Early March, 2009

Here’s a listing of model railroad trains events and shows, to add to your calendar for early March, 2009. Check with your local hobby shop, museums, and clubs for scale model railroad open houses, tours, shows, sales, meets, and conventions in your area. Check with internet lists, e-mail groups, web sites, blogs, magazines, and newsletters for specialty events focused on your favorite scales, railroads, and eras.

Scale model railroad train events and shows have great value to the development of your own model railroad. You get to see currently available products, materials, and techniques in person. Many of these shows have local clubs and organizations represented. These personal contacts can help you as your scale model railroad makes progress. Friendly manufacturers and representatives are always looking for ideas and trying to find if there is demand for future products. Talk with them and let them know what is missing in their range of current offerings. Some of these shows and sales have exhibits from local modular and sectional railroad groups. Check out these displays. Traveling modules need to be moved repeatedly, set up, and taken down again. They need to be durable and reliable to present at shows. Find out what really works, and, just as importantly, what doesn’t.

Hostlers Model Railroad Festival 2009

Ogden, Utah (March 6-8 )

Space Coast Train & Toy Show

Melbourne, Florida (March 7 )

Spring TRAINing Show

Taunton, Massachusetts (March 7 )

sHOw Club’s 8th Annual Train Show and Sale

Bowling Green, Kentucky (March 7 )

The Great Train Expo

Tulsa, Oklahoma (March 7-8 )

Carolina Coastal Railroaders 14th Annual Train Show

New Bern, North Carolina (March 7-8 )

Milwaukee School of Engineering TrainTime 2009

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (March 7-8 )

Great Midwest Train Show

Wheaton, Illinois (March 8 )

Wayne Train Show

Wayne, New Jersey (March 8 )

Youngstown Model Railroad Association 2009 Model Railroad Flea Market

Niles, Ohio (March 8 )

Great Lehigh Valley
Antique
Toy & Collectible Show

Allentown, Pennsylvania (March 14 )

Source

Have fun!

Trainguy

2009 Events Calendar - National Model Railroad Train Conventions

A national model railroad train convention is a super experience. It is well worth advance planning and registration. Many loyal convention goers make their plans and reservations years ahead.

It can be a bit like going to the world’s fair. It’s both wonderful and overwhelming. It’s a movable feast of exhibits, prototype tours, reunion, and trade show all rolled into one intense experience. Usually the national organization works in cooperation with local groups in finding and sometimes even creating once in a lifetime experiences that show off the region at its very best. Nationally famous modelers who have books, magazine articles, videos, and awards already to their credit will open their displays to the conventions tours after spending months and months making their model railroad even better.

The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) National Convention is in Hartford, Connecticut July 5 -11, 2009. Details are available at http://hn2009.org/home.html This is an ALL SCALES event.

Future NMRA National Conventions

* 2009: Hartford, CT http://www.HN2009.org
July 5 - 11, 2009
* 2010: Milwaukee WI - (75th anniversary of the NMRA.) http://www.nmra75.org
July 10 - 18, 2010
* 2011: Sacramento, CA.
July 3 - 9, 2011
* 2012: Grand Rapids, MI.
July 29 - August 4, 2012
* 2013: Atlanta, GA
July 14 - July 20, 2013

Source

TIP: Register as FAR in ADVANCE as you can possibly manage. Rooms, tours, even favorite sessions fill up many months and weeks ahead of the event. Arrange train trips (and flights if you must) FAR in advance to lock in low fares and limited accommodations. If you are going, go for the full experience. Sign up for dinners, limited access activities, and limited-run commemorative trains and souvenirs.Budget some additional money for deals on specialty equipment and unexpected bargains on the trade show floor.

Have fun!

Trainguy