2015 Layout and Club Visits, End of 2015

This year was a good one for model railroading for a lot of us!  Since this is most likely my last post for the year, I think it appropriate to show off some of the local layouts and clubs and showcase their talents.

First up are some images of the local layouts.  Yes this is a picture heavy post...  Sorry mobile users.

Next are images from my favorite club, the Byan College Station Model Railroad Society!  (Yes some of these are my trains).

And on the SRR layout front, I have gotten the second module out of storage.  Some plans have changed at home and we aren't moving for a little while, so I got the corner out of storage.  It definitely needs some sceney!  I also used some birthday funds and purchased some non-working signals.  These are from Atlas and are the type G signals that are prevalent on SP trackage like the SRR runs on.  There are several surviving even on the Sunset line between Beaumont and Houston!  While they do not work, they still look great andhelp set the stage!

Finally, the random image.

This is the Conrail heritage locomotive by Norfolk Sourhern.  I had seen her once before but only technically.  This time she was out in the open wanting to be photographed, so I obliged.

Until next time, have a great rest of the year!  See you in 2016!

A Visit to The Bryan/College Station Model Railroad Society

Well I don't know about y'all but I had a fine Thanksgiving vacation and a great visit with the family.  I hope everyone out there had the same or better!

This is a club owned SD40-2 painted in the freelance Gulf, Texas & Western scheme of the layout.  Here number 1000 idles (loudly I might add) waiting for a new train during the open house.

 

The weekend before the turkey day I found myself up at the train club in Bryan, Texas.  I was a member of this club for nearly two years while in school, and I always wish I had more time as a member there.  These are the guys who really got me hooked back into the modeling world, and I can never thank them enough for that.  And because they are that cool, they invited me to come run during their annual open house!

The club is called the Bryan/College Station Model Railroad Society, or BCSMRRS for short.  They have a website here (EDIT: this link is to their Facebook, more updates and pictures there!) with plenty of pictures and general information.  The layout is a freelanced idea focused on operations with the ability to handle and run long trains across many different scenes and towns.  The local line is called the Gulf, Texas, and Western Railroad.  There are operating sessions and regular run nights, with open-to-the-public general meetings every Monday evening.  If you want to visit, do not hesitate!  The members are very friendly and very experienced in different facets of model railroading.

I arrived a bit after the opening time of ten AM.  The weather was not looking good, thunder and rain on a direct course to berate the area all day, but that could not stop the open house!  The guys had setup a large outdoor covering to allow visitors to arrive and dry off before entering the layout building.  All day long people came to visit and oooh and ahhhh at the many different trains running around, and take in the details of the world that has been created on the layout.  All day long, these guys kept the signals green, the trains a rollin', and kept the attention of visitors young and old.

Personally, I had the best time imaginable.  I hope to attend the whole weekend next year, including helping setup on Friday and cleanup on Sunday night.  It is always a blast to see all of the improvements they have made to the layout and building, as well as catch up with friends.

So if you get the chance, go check out the GT&W and be sure to say hi for me!

And now for the random picture of the day:

 This is a perfect example of old power helping out in the modern world.  BNSF 1607 is an old Santa Fe SD40-2 in the classic "yellow bonnet" paint scheme that has been updated to modern requirements (ditch lights, enviornmental readers, etc).  She has been hanging around the Pearland Yard for a few weeks now helping in switching duties.  Apparently, the Gensets are not very reliable and it takes two of them to do what this one loco can do.  So this old girl has been pushing and pulling the long autorack and intermodals into the loading facility.  It is always great to see this one rumbling by!

Clubs and Club Visits

There are two things that, in my opinion, have made model railroading as big as it is today. One is the internet. Between personal blogs and forums and online magazines, sharing ideas and products has never been easier. It is astounding to see people from across the planet coming together to talk about their hobby and ways to enjoy it more.

But for me the most important thing is the model train club. Before the internet had even been thought of, people gathered together to build massive modular traveling layouts or detailed permanent concepts that are amazing and a true sight to behold. Clubs keep hobbyists talking and thinking, with different viewpoints and interesting experiences (younger folks will recognize this as a "real-life forum).  Recently I had the opportunity to visit a few.

First is a layout that is a part of the San Jacinto NMRA club. The Almeda Terminal & Gulf is a point to point permanent layout that focuses on operations with detailed structures and stock. It is a beautiful and fun layout, and the owner is quite nice and helpful.  Click the links for more info. I got to see the AT&G on the annual open house tour, and even got to run a local switcher!  It was a total blast!

The AT&G loco facilities.  I got to operate the pair closest to the camera.

Second is an old club I was a member of a few years back. While I was in college I finally came into my modeling. I built a few small N scale layouts I could hide under my bed in the dorm and tried some simple weathering, but I never got very far. Two years before I graduated I found a flyer at a local hobby store for the Bryan/College Station Model Railroad Society. I went to visit the layout and was hooked. After being accepted as a member, I converted back to HO and started going to the regular meetings. Not only were these some of the best people I have ever met, they opened my eyes as to what there really is in the world of model railroading. They gave me insight and guidance, and if they didn’t know something, they could get me in touch with people who do.  I owe these guys a lot and if you get a chance to go visit, it will be well worth your time! 

Next up is a few pictures of my SRR locos on their visit to the BCSMRRS layout, the Gulf, Texas, and Western. This visit is what I was working so hard for in October. It went well and it is always fun hanging out with old friends.

Lastly is a shot of beautiful SP Daylight GS-4 (owned by another club member) and my modern day TRE commuter loco.  It was too good to pass up!

 

So get out and look for a model railroad club in your area!  Google searches and the NMRA guides are a good way to look.  Not only will you learn a lot more than going it alone, it is always a great time to hang out with others who like the same things as you!