Scale Model Railroad Trains

2009 National Train Day

31 days to National Train Day. It will be celebrated on May 9, 2009.  This can be a fun event that gets people interested and excited about riding full-sized trains. Last year I participated in the National Train Day celebration in New York  City. It included a running scale model train display, celebrity autographs, Harlem Globe Trotters, free gifts including T-shirts, goodie bags, and lots of information booths and displays for the whole family.

The organizers of 2009 National Train Day includes Amtrak which has issued a general press release:

Amtrak will celebrate America’s love for rail travel with events across the country at its second annual National Train Day, May 9, 2009. Marking 140 years of connecting travelers from coast to coast, National Train Day commemorates the day the first transcontinental railroad was created and looks toward the future of rail travel with large scale events in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, and many more locally organized events in communities nationwide.
“Train travel is deeply rooted in American culture and it shows great promise to become a growing part of our country’s transportation future,” said Emmett Fremaux, vice president marketing and product management, Amtrak. “National Train Day gives the public a glimpse into how the train shaped the country and how it will continue to do so through exhibits showcasing how train travel provides greener travel options with clean technology and greater efficiency through high-speed rail travel.”
On May 9, Amtrak will host complimentary events in four of its gateway stations across the U.S., Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles from 10am to 3pm. An experience for the whole family, National Train Day allows Americans to Discover the Rail Way while enjoying live musical entertainment, interactive green exhibits, VIP appearances, a Kids Corner, and train exhibits from the past, present and future. In addition to the four major market events, communities across the country are encouraged to develop and host their own National Train Day events, which nearly 100 local sponsors participated in hosting for the first National Train Day in 2008.
In honor of National Train Day, Amtrak is offering members of its loyalty program, Amtrak Guest Rewards, the ability to earn double points for any trip taken between March 16 and May 8, triple points after their fifth trip taken during this timeframe, and quadruple points for
any trip taken on National Train Day, May 9. Amtrak Guest Rewards enables frequent train travelers to earn points redeemable for free Amtrak travel year round in addition to a variety of other rewards.
For more information about National Train Day events, promotions and information about the opportunity to host a National Train Day event in your city, visit www.nationaltrainday.com.
About Amtrak
Amtrak has posted six consecutive years of growth in ridership and revenue, carrying more than 28.7 million passengers in the last fiscal year. Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.

Have fun!

Trainguy

Model of the Future

Scale model railroading and trains can give people a glimpse of the future. How would the future look on your railroad? William Gibson said that, “The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed.”

Would the future be the present slightly run down and warped by shrinking energy supplies and effects of global warming?  Cars and tractor trailer trucks would be abandoned or reused because they use far more energy than trains. Bridges might have less clearance between the top of water and the rail trestle due to rising waters.

Items may be more rusty and dusty because the economy continued to slump. Maintenance of equipment is deferred. Schedules might be reduced and slowed to handle smaller volume of business with greater energy efficiency.

Another future scenario that could be modeled is the clean-green rising economy with a combination of biology and technology bringing prosperity. Natural systems and human systems, such as railroads could work together to enhance each other. Human activity could work together with natural cycles and systems creating a healthy and prosperous future society.

Fuel for trains could be derived from plants. Trackside solar panels (like those used in Switzerland now) provide heat and electricity for trains and other processes.

Wind turbines and river turbines are shipped on special train cars across the nation to provide power. Solar panels cover the flat roofs of buildings, green roofs,  constructed wetlands, and greenhouses used to grow food, process waste, and create habitat for birds, bugs, and animals.

You could model parks and recreation with fishing, kayaking, sun bathers, runners, and swimming.

Businesses in the downtown reflect the new prosperity and shift in work and marketing.  Local eateries making meals with local food crops. Walk-to-work shared offices and business conference centers where people walk-to-work and telecommute daily. Skilled artisans make custom products from natural materials that are grow and harvested nearby. Local deliveries are made by bikes and pedal carts. Regional deliveries are made on the monorail. Long distance deliveries by train.

Zero energy homes and commercial buildings. Or buildings that produce MORE energy and food than they consume, process water and waste, and provide shelter are shipped on board the trains for the stable human population (like Sears homes were in the 1940’s).

Car free cities and various car free transport. Elevated, monorail human-powered train lines are used for mass transit and regional travel. A system of tubes would reduce wind resistance. Mag-lev monorail vehicles and sloping tubes would reduce friction and utilize gravity for power. Bikes and walking dominate below. Canals and rivers handle large goods. Cars are very few and aerodynamic and energy efficient (like the Aptera  ). Cars are used on a very limited basis for special purposes such as ambulances or transporting fire fighters. Although buildings and fire-fighting robots could be designed to fight fires. Personal transport pods are another approach entirely.

Sleek, modern trains fill the twin rails of the railroad (like the bullet train).

As long as you keep everything in a single scale, to match the people, buildings, and track, your future model railroad could be very realistic. It would create quite a “buzz” of excitement.

Have fun!

Trainguy

Railroad Gauge Defined

Gauge in the context of railroads is the distance between the rail heads of railroad track.

Standard Gauge track has its rail heads a distance of 4 feet 8-1/2 inches (1435 mm) apart.

Broad Gauge track rails are more than 4 feet 8-1/2 inches (1435 mm) apart.

Narrow Gauge is any gauge track or distance between rails less than 4 feet 8-1/2 inches (1435 mm). Common narrow gauges in the United States are 3 feet 6 inches (1067 mm) and 3 feet. Common narrow gauges in Europe are 1 meter (1000 mm). Less common narrow gauge, though modeled, is 2 feet.

Narrow gauge track was used in connection with mining, lumber, quarying, limited local service and limited passenger service. Narrow gauge track was particularly useful in mountainous areas.

Modeling and Gauge

Standard gauge is modeled with the standard track of a given scale.

Many modelers either hand lay their own narrow gauge track, purchase track that is specifically engineered and manufactured to scale for narrow gauge in a particular scale, or simply use the next smaller standard gauge track of another scale. Some manufacturers have ignored scale completely. They have created their own track and trains and have left it for the modelers to sort out on their own. Some have even mixed one scale with another gauge in a single product. In certain of these instances, otherwise fine equipment will never run as scale model railroad trains unless each and every item is modified by the modeler. Be especially wary of these practices and products. Look elsewhere for your modeling needs and make it clear to the manufacturers that this is a disservice to the entire field.

The greatest fun is when you have narrow gauge and standard gauge tracks and trains interchange or running on dual gauge tracks. This is often the peak of scale model railroading experience and should not be missed.

The large scale field started by modeling narrow gauge to match one manufacturers products and placed a variety of scale and out of scale products on that size track. Relatively recently the confusion and disarray caused by this helter-skelter development and competition is being addressed by creating F scale that scales out correctly to have LGB be a true narrow gauge for F scales standard gauge. It is too early to tell if this will become popular. For now, be very careful when modeling narrow gauge in large scale and ask about both the scale and the gauge being modeled.

Have fun!

Trainguy

What Does “Code” Mean in Model Railroading?

“Code” is a way of expressing the height of the model rail used in model railroading. The rail is measured from the bottom (or foot) to the top (or head) when the rail is oriented in an upright position. This is the position that rail is usually oriented for running model trains on. It is also an incomplete way of expressing the physical size of the rail. (It leaves out such dimensions as the rail width, etc.) Even though it may be an incomplete way of decribing the size of the model rail it is still useful to modelers as a general way of describing how big and to some extent how bulky the rail is. This is useful to modelers who want to model lightweight rail for some purposes (such as branch lines) and want to model heavy weight rail (for main lines).

Because model rail is made from various materials (such as aluminum, brass, nickel-silver, and stainless steel) modelers can not use the practice of the prototype to express how heavy the rail is directly in pounds per three foot lengths.

When railroads in the United States started in the early 1830’s they purchased iron rail from Britain. The weight and general size of the rail was about 40 pounds per three foot section. The steam engines of the day got heavier as they grew in power and size. The railroads quickly ordered heavier rail in the same basic shape. It weighed as much as 70 pounds.

Today it is common for rail to weigh 110 to 150 pounds per three foot length.

We define “Code” as an absolute measurement in thousandths of an inch. Therefore, the definition of code 80 rail is 80/1000 inch tall, and the definition of code 55 rail is 55/1000 inch tall.  NOTICE There is NO mention of scale or gauge. Code refers to a measurement of the height of a piece of rail. It does not directly apply to either a scale or gauge.

There are many “code” rails for each scale and gauge. The height or code allows for the flange of the wheels on the engine to run without hitting the spikes holding the ties and the rails together. Unfortunately, if the “code” height of the rail is too high it soon looks unrealistic and is out of proportion with the train and engine.

This creates a trade-off between trouble free running trains and scale precision. Fine scale precision rail is certainly possible with railroad cars and engines designed with smaller flanges. The whole operates as a system.

Check with experienced modelers to find out which train equipment and track works best for your purposes. If you want track that is able to take out of scale loads and abuse (such as accidental footsteps in an outdoor railroad) you may want appropriate scale rail, in your favorite gauge,in the highest “code” number that fits your budget. If you are trying to match prototype practices with scale precision, then determine the height of full size rail and divide it by your scale and find out the code (size in thousandths of an inch). Afterwards, check to if your engines and wheel flanges will clear the spikes. Make sure the manufacturer offers compatible switches. Compare several manufacturers for price, availability, and quality.

Have fun!

Trainguy

Scale Model President-Elect Obama’s Train Ride to the White House

President-elect Obama is taking a train ride to the White House this week. You can collect newspaper stories, press photos, and web sites as source material to add this historic train event to your model railroad.

Presidents and Presidential candidates have used “whistle stop” train tours since railroads first started. Regardless of the era that you are modeling there is probably a President or candidate for high office that you can add to your model railroad layout. There is no doubt, in this age of jet airplanes and high speed trains the President-elect could have gotten to Washington in far less time with far less arrangements. The point of a “whistle stop” train trip is to offer an organized, predictable opportunity to make stops and be in contact with crowds of people.

President-elect Obama is using a portion of the train route followed by Abraham Lincoln. He is consciously using the trip to evoke references to the President who hailed from his home state. He is also using it as an opportunity to create more public contact. More news and commentary cycles. Focused on his anticipated arrival. Trains work well for this because they have a predictable sequence, and route. Crowds can be assembled and to a large degree controlled.

For the modeler a “whistle stop” can be staged in a passenger station. Even if your railroad is far from Washington, DC you can model a Governor or Senator from your home state. A crowd of well wishers can be assembled. It’s a great opportunity to create a special train. One that is painted and lettered for the occasion. Modern equipment fans can use this as an opportunity to bring out a one of a kind piece of equipment. You can even step outside your usual era and use something with a historic flair for the event.

Bleachers for a band and local officials can be assembled with a few flat sticks. Banners of paper or cloth can be hung for the event. The train can sit at the platform as the honored guest makes speeches. This is one of this rare instances where the train is supposed to sit still for a while. You can add a sound loop with the band playing, applause, and then some speeches. Your train does not have to have an open platform or lighted drumhead.  Just have the special train sit next to the stage, crowd, and bleachers.

This scene is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

The switching crews can use this event to divert rail traffic and handle orders that work around the President’s train.

Have fun!

Trainguy

How To - Use Genealogy and Historic Research to Add Spark to Your Model Railroad

The most believable and fun model railroads have a well-constructed story about the railroad, it’s purpose and the people who made it all possible. Genealogical and historic research can be used to add a spark of life and personalities to your model railroad.

Once you have identified an era, railroad, and place that you are modeling you can use the results of research to fill in the background and the story for your railroad. Railroads are more than equipment and scenery. They are the outcome of decisions and personalities of people.

Find out about the people who owned the railroad and what motivated them. Were they building an empire? Were they building the railroad business fast and cheap to bring in massive profits, or were they building a railroad with the finest equipment and practices know in their day? How did they react to competition? Did they crush it at all costs, or get taken over, or completely ignored?

Genealogical research tells a family story. Many of the railroads were family enterprises. Many families would have generation after generation working for the railroad in various roles. The homes in the town, local businesses and government, were tied together through their connection with this major employer. As you learn more about the families your story for your model railroad becomes more and more believable. Imagine having a father who helped build the railroad who has passed on and son who works as an engineer. The widow is running a boarding house to keep things together financially. They all can be reflected in your model railroad with a cemetery including a head stone memorial to the deceased husband, engineer son in the cab of an engine, and mom’s boarding house. Go a step beyond the ordinary. Consider putting reproductions of vintage photographs, maps, and objects near your model railroad (along with suitable labels). A visit to your model railroad could be a doorway back into time.

History and genealogy can be reflected in how the structures were built, how the tracks and trains were maintained. It also reflected on the traffic on the line. Was the railroad the bridge between two other railroads? Did it serve local interests and deliver goods only locally? You’ll put entirely different trains and structures on your model railroad for each purpose.

Were the people innovative? Did they experiment and try things first? Were they conservative and last to adopt certain practices and equipment?  Your railroad will reflect these approaches.

One of the railroads in our area had contests between the various stationmasters on the line for the best looking station. Historic photographs and old newspaper articles would chronicle which station won and which stationmaster did the best job. The winner of the contest regularly planted flowers near the station and kept it well painted and clean. Your model railroad can do the same (have its own little contest).

Have fun!

Trainguy

National Railway Historical Society and Model Railroading

There are railroad historical societies in every nook and cranny of the nation. They specialize in local railroads and railroad related interests. The modeler can find a wealth of information, photos and stories that can be used to bring your model railroad to life. If there is no society near you give the National a try.

National Railway Historical Society was founded in 1935 and incorporated as a non-profit, educational organization in Maryland in 1937. The primary purpose of the Society is to preserve historical material and information pertaining to railroad transportation, to issue publications relating to the subject, and to encourage the use of rail transportation.

The Society has more than 15,000 members and over 174 Chapters. 

Contact with these local enthusiasts and experts is worth the price of membership alone.

Chapters usually concentrate on local railroad history and items of interest to the local members. If you have questions, this is the place to ask. You are surrounded by experts and people willing to find out if they don’t know already. Make sure to listen before you speak. Get a feel for the personalities and the culture within the group. Do as much homework as you can in advance. When you do ask for help, try to be specific, and frame your questions from a historic or prototype perspective. Don’t waste time with silly questions like, “Tell me all you know about ‘X’”. Keep your eyes and ears open for past issues of newsletters, past lectures, tours, books, maps, tours, and trips. Many of these historical societies cover the most important question once in a great while (ten years or so) and delve into new topics to keep it interesting for long term faithful members. If the area that you are interested in was covered a while back they may say that they “have been there and done that”.  That’s O.K.  Don’t be discouraged. Ask for access to the old materials or the speakers who pulled the presentation together.  Ask questions that will make a difference in your railroad. Ask open-ended questions that are designed to gather a response, not simple “Yes’s” or “No’s”.  Don’t waste time with silly questions ‘like tell me all you know about “X”‘. You may need to translate the information and comments into something you can use on your model railroad. Remember these aren’t modelers, they are into the history of railroading.

The National Society publishes a bimonthly journal, The National Railway Bulletin, containing articles of historical, educational, and topical subjects of railroad interest. A subscription to this journal is included with all Regular and Associate memberships. Membership is open to all persons sixteen years of age and older who are interested in railroads and their history.Many of the local chapters have an open to subscribe to local newsletters and professional quality books on railroads of local interest. Many of these chapters also maintain libraries of photos, documents, and other primary source material that will help the railroad modeler. Some chapters conduct exclusive tours and field trips.they also conduct special photo opportunities. These tours and opportunities are by special arrangement providing access to “behind the scenes” operations and up-close views of the railroads that are often off-limits to the general public.

 Have fun!

Trainguy

How To - Use Prototype history to Improve Your Model Railroad

Many model railroads are based on a particular railroad at a particular day in history. You can improve the realism and fun of your model railroad immensely by learning and applying prototype railroad history to your model railroad.

Most major railroads have a related railroad historical society. If your prototype railroad does not you can still do historical research on your own. Check with libraries, archives, museums, businesses, and genealogy groups in the areas your model railroad serves. You may find local experts and enthusiasts that have already collected and preserved photographs, equipment rosters, newspapers, and books that you can access and use to improve your railroad.

What are you looking for? Ask basic questions that will have an impact on your model railroad. Use this list as a start:

Has the terrain changed significantly over the years? (Dams, logging, mining, farming, etc.) (Your basic setting and terrain for your models.)

When did the railroad start, expand, contract, and end? (Limits to railroad operations and locations.)

What passengers and industries were served over time? (Relates to motive power, rolling stock, signs, and structures.)

When were certain roads and bridges (crossings, competitions, and landmarks) built in the area? When were they improved? (paved, widened, re-aligned, etc.)

When was electric, telegraph, and telephone service started, expanded and upgraded?  (Telephone and electric poles and wires.)

Who worked on the railroad and profited from it? (Look of train crews, local mansions and businesses.)

Once you have some of the broad basics you can corelate this information to railroad information of the same era and region. Unless your prototype railroad was known for some unusual, or pioneering practices, it is highly likely they followed the common practices of the day.

There are also books on Google Books that were written for railroad operators of the day. Google is scanning and allowing searches on books and some government reports that are out of copyright (usually over 75 years old). You can access many of these online for free.  I found a marvelous book published in 1898 Buildings and Railroad Structures of American Railroads.

Have fun!

Trainguy

Early Rail-Roads

Back in the 1700’s  (and before) most roads in the United States were dirt roads. These roads often followed the winding trails left behind by the native Americans (”indians”).  These trails were not intended for wide wagons, heavy loads, and wheels. The roads were so rough and difficult to maintain and necessary for the local economy that private individuals and companies would maintain some roads in exchange for money or “tolls”. In some special situations, some of these companies would cut down trees and place them across the road for the wagons to travel on (rather than have wagons sink in the mud) these “corderoy” roads created a bone shattering ride, but the wagons rarely got stuck. The roads were further improved by putting down gravel or planks (sawn or split wood). The planks would fill the full width of the road. They ran along the path of travel (rather than cross-wise). These “plank” roads and the “corderoy roads” were expensive to maintain. They were painful to ride on. But, they worked.  Even though these kinds of roads for wagons predate what we normally think of as “rail-roads”. They relate to railroading in that these very same methods were also used in the forests, and back-woods, were logs and rough sawn lumber (often carried by railroads) was cut. If you are modelling a narrow gauge lumber railroad it is VERY likely that your railroad will be near  some of these early-style roads in a forest.

In the early 1800’s these dirt roads, plank roads, and corderoy roads,  allowed stage and wagon travel. It was slow, hard, and unreliable. Many of the roads were aligned along the interiors of the country to avoid crossing marshes and wide rivers or creeks. Each river or creek crossing meant expensive bridges were needed, or delays to transfer to a ferry or ship.

The British had created “rail-roads” in the early 1800’s. These roads were made of two finished wooden beams that were attached by way of bolts to supporting blocks of stone called “sleepers”. The tops of the wooden beams or “rails” had flat iron strap attached to the top to reduce wear between the wheels and the wooden rails. The wooden rails needed “chairs” to attach them to the stone “sleepers”. The stone “sleepers” did NOT go underneath the two rails (as wood ties do today). They were two separate stone “sleepers” each with a rail attached by means of “chairs”. The gap in between left room for the horse that was pulling wagon to walk. Yes, indeed, early “rail-roads” were an improved road for horses or other animals to pull a loaded wagon on. The addition of steam engines to pull the wagons came a few years later.

In 1830 Robert Livinston Stevens, of New Jersey was President of the new Camden & Amboy Rail-road and Transportation Company.  America did not manufacture steam engines or locomotives for rail-roads at that time. He left the port of New York, New York to travel to England to purchase the first locomotive and rails for the first railroad in New Jersey. While on board ship he was considering what he was shopping for in rails and engine to be manufactured. He realized that the steam engines being produced in England at that time were very heavy and would quickly wear out or break the standard wooden rails with a thin strap of iron on top. While on board ship he carved from wood an example of an entirely new rail. Stevens invented the all-metal “T” rail. This is the design of rails that has been used by thousands of railroads worldwide ever since. When he arrived in Great Bittain, he secured the services of a Welsh Iron Mill and had the rails made to his new design.

23 ship loads of rails were ordered and delivered by ship to Bordentown, New Jersey.

The rails were originally mounted on stone sleepers, in New Jersey, following the Brittish style. However, the Camden & Amboy could not get enough large stones fast enough to meet their schedule for building the new rail-road. Stevens then came up with the invention of the wooden tie. The wooden ties could be cut from local trees quickly. The rail road was completed on time. They found that the wooden ties worked even better than the stone sleepers. The same methods are still in use railroads around the world today.

Have fun!

Trainguy

History, perception, art part of model railroading
Sarah Deeth, from the Peterborough Examiner makes some great points in her recent article -

There is much more to model railroading than watching a miniature train travel along miniature tracks.

It’s combining history, perception and art in a realistic, three-dimensional form that accurately captures a town or rail line as it stood decades ago.

For people like Larry Murphy, a member of the Lindsay Model Railroaders Club, there’s a certain joy in the tireless collection of maps, historical documents and pictures that eventually lead to the successful completion of a model railroad.

Murphy was one of many model railroaders at the Canadian Canoe Museum yesterday afternoon, proudly showing off his work and answering questions during the museum’s open house event.

Murphy had created a model of Fenelon Falls, as it stood in the 1950s.

Everything he used, from the homes to the model cars that lined the miniature streets, was to scale and reflected the era.

“We’ve let everything go, historically,” Murphy said. “People can see, at a glance, how it used to be.”

Most of his buildings on his railroad are made from scratch. His projects always begin with a large amount of research, and as many photographs as he can find. “And if I can’t find them, I go knocking on doors, to see if anyone else has photos,” he said.

Sometimes he’s successful, he said. Sometimes, he finds someone he can speak to about what the area used to look like.

Ted Rafuse is fascinated by rail lines, and has written several books on the subject.

His model railroad depicted two eras. One side showed Cobourg as it stood in the 1880s, the other Rice Lake as it looked in the 1850s.

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“This is all long gone now,” Rafuse said, gesturing to the sparse beginnings of the town.

Part of the rail track was once designed to travel over Rice Lake, he said. But within a week of the rail line opening, the track was washed away by ice.

Rafuse is a retired education, and once taught Canadian history.

For him, model railroading is another tool to teach people about Canada.

He’s designed his railroad to be portable, so he can bring it to events.

He’s been interested in trains for most of his life, he said, beginning when his uncle gave him a Lionel train set.

“The only time I wasn’t interested was in adolescence, when I discovered football and girls,” he laughed.

He’s met fascinating people through his hobby, he said.

Jim Burchell, host of the event and a member of the Peterborough Model Railroaders Club, greeted and chatted with fellow enthusiasts while explaining the complex hobby to curious onlookers.

Most model railroad enthusiasts have been interested in trains their whole lives, he said, except for a brief period that covers college and the first few years of marriage.

“But once we became established the trains came out again,” he said with a smile.

About three years ago the model railroaders were invited to the Canadian Canoe Museum’s open house to bring something a little different to the day, he said.

The response from the public, he said, was overwhelming.

“All of a sudden, instead of a couple of hundred people, there were 1,500,” he said.

The Peterborough club showed off a model of Ontario in the 1950s and 1960s, so they could run both steam engine and diesel-powered trains on the track.

The trains travelled down the middle of the two-foot wide display, and along a looped, 16-foot track.

It was designed that way, he said, so people would get a sense of peering through the trees, the buildings, and the rocks, just as they would in reality.

“It’s as realistic a model as possible on a miniature scale,” Burchell said.

Anyone looking to start a model railroad should get in touch with a local club and find a good hobby shop, he said.

Members of the Peterborough Model Railroad club will go to a new member’s home and help, he said.

You also need to ensure you have lots of room, he said, because your railroad will inevitably expand.

Have Fun!

Trainguy