(Volume 25, No. 3)
President's Soapbox
Last month on the third Saturday, I again visited the Pocatello Model Railroad club layout on their open house day and while there did a little railfanning. After my January visit there, I reported on their construction of a new engine facility. This facility will include a 48 stall roundhouse with a turntable, and Wayne Roderick was more than happy to explain the details with us. His methods of construction have been developed and proven themselves during his development of the Teton Shortline which he has built in his home. One of his building construction methods used to build large structures like the planned Roundhouse deserves an explanation and one which we should take note of. Wayne's method of constructing a large structure like a Roundhouse is to build a solid frame made of metal and attach the light material ("gingerbread” he calls it) to the metal frame. He has also built his own indexing system under the table, a very useful and functional addition to their layout.
John Barrows of Dillon, who was our Dinner speaker in 1999, has been organizing a group of interested modelers and has obtained space in the Dillon Station, now a museum, to create a model railroad. He has contacted me looking for information about standards, club organization, etc. They have requested a private visit to our club on the 11th of March to observe our layout in operation and I am making a Crew Call for that date. The Sunday date is necessary due the fact that some of them are real time railroaders and Sunday is their only available day. They will notify us beforehand of their planned ETA.
We should recognize that there is both much to be learned from other modelers and much to be shared as well, and be willing to share that information when the opportunity arises. We have many projects to be considered to complete the development of our own layout and each of us may have a skill or bit of knowledge we could glean or share with others. We also have the obligation to use the best recognized standards on the projects we undertake on club modules. I encourage each member contemplating a module project to consider using the "Action Plan" form available before beginning any new module or modifying an existing one.
Leo Harker
Timetable
March 1................. Business Meeting
March 8................. Work Session
March 11............... Club Visit by Dillon Modelers
March 15............... Work Session
March 22............... Operating Session
March 29............... Video Watch
April 5.................... Business Meeting
Ogden Meet
This weekend, March 2, 3, and 4, is the Hostler's meet at the Ogden Union Station. This is a big event, and probably the closest one to our area. There are lots of operating layouts, hobby dealers, and many other displays. There is even a hobby shop (Warren's Train Shop) permanently in the station. A good restaurant in the depot provides a view of trains passing through the Ogden yard. With no hobby shop featuring trains in the Idaho Falls area, it is also a chance to go and spend money for all those little things you need.
Admission to the show includes the three museums which are located in the station. There is a railroad museum, the Remington Arms museum, and a display of antique automobiles. So it is really worth a visit.
Several members are planning to go. If you want to go along, perhaps something can be arranged. We will be leaving about 8:30 AM on Saturday, March 3. We may also have a layout tour set up for just us. Talk to me or to Phil Hartung.
Doug Herrmann
Ogden Meet - Web Information
This years Festival will include an All New N-Scale layout, plus many other operating layouts in most scales. There will also be 1.5" scale outside for the children to ride, weather permitting. Door prizes every hour, Clinics & Videos, and all the Museums at Ogden Union Station will be open and included with your Festival Ticket. See the Awesome Union Pacific 10,000 horsepower Gas Turbine Locomotive on display, and the worlds largest Diesel Locomotive The Union Pacific Centennial. Also many caboose and smaller diesel and steam locomotives are on display as well as the UP 833 Steamer that was moved from SLC. We have heard rumors that this is the Best Club Show in the West.
Clinics Saturday
10:00 AM - Wheels & Couplers by Floyd Jarvis - He is a long time (over 10 years) member of the Hostlers Model Railroad Club and a very experienced Model builder.
11:00 AM - Detailing Diesel Locomotives by Andy Lester - He is a student at the University of Utah. A experienced Model builder, has published articles in Model Railroading.
1:00 PM - Painting Model Figures (People) by Bob Gilmore - he is an active member of the N-Gagers and a very experienced Model builder, an accomplished photographer of models, he won first place in the Model Railroader photo contest. He is very accomplished at modeling and painting models of people.
2:30 PM - Fiber Optics Lighting by John Laser - He in a member of the Hostlers Model Railroad Club, experienced in model railroading and the use of fiber optics and electronics in model building.
Clinics Sunday
11:00 AM - What's New In the Model Railroad Industry by Randy Lee - Randy is the Editor/Publisher of Model Railroading Magazine. He is a very accomplished model railroader.
1:00 PM - Module Construction by Jerry Johnson - He in a member of the Hostlers Model Railroad Club, experienced in model railroading and module construction. He also has had an article on the Coldwater Gulch modules published in Model Railroading Magazine.
Material Needed
Please send any material you would like to have placed in the Eagle Tracks newsletter to the editor. We need more stuff!