From the Editor

Welcome to March! Spring is getting so much closer, we are getting the itch to do things outside, which is GREAT if you have a Garden or Large Scale Railroad (Hint - check out Division Happenings)!

This month we have lots of exciting Division 1 items to read about. Larry Hickman has provided a very inspirational look back at how he has developed as a model railroader and what he did to keep the hobby alive for him. I think several of us can take some ideas from him! We also have several Division 1 layouts appearing in multiple publications! Check out Division Happenings for those!

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Train Order!

View from the Cab

Clinic Corner

The clinic this month IS the Bar Mills Kit Build Challenge - PART II. Everyone who got a kit, and did not show in February, should bring their kit in and show what they did. Good, bad or ugly, that was part of the deal, you had to do something. It's not a big deal if they are not done, you just have to show what you have done so far. We should have 8 kits to review this month.

See you there,

Brian Burr,
Assistant Superintendent

March 14th Meeting Agenda

Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect at the meeting:

• Rip Track Table - Have items you want to sell or just give away? Put them on the table
• Business
• Q&A - Ask our members about anything
• Show and Tell - other than Bar Mills kits
• Break
• Door Prizes
• Clinic - Bar Mills Build Challenge - Part II
• Closing Remarks - Announcements and Open Discussion Points

Doors open at 6:00PM, Meeting Starts at 7:00PM
Proclaim FM Community Center
7112 Angola Road,
Holland, OH 43528.

The lighter side of the hobby

Open House - Saturday, March 22nd

Our layout open house this month will be on March 22nd. On that day Jerry Sahagian will open his Great Northern, Kalispll Division for viewing.

Jerry Sahagian's Great Northern, Kalispll Division
March 22nd
12:00PM to 4:00PM
2025 BLUFFS
Toledo OH 43615

February Meeting Highlights

OBSERVATIONS - by Larry Hickman

I have been in and out of this hobby for over fifty plus years. During this period I have noticed other people's layouts built, torn down or become a catch all for everything not wanted or used anymore. My question is WHY? In some cases it maybe financial, while for others it becomes family issues, but for those issues that don't come into play, what happened? The layout you dreamed of for so long fell by the wayside. If it wasn't one of the above, there has to be another reason. Many of the answers I have heard include the layout had become boring and no longer fun. I have known a couple of people that jumped into this without thinking what they really wanted. I know one for example, me. I had this big idea of having a HOn30 railroad modeled after the Maine Two Footers, but there wasn't much around and almost everything had to be scratch built during the 70s. I tried a small shelf layout using N Scale Track and even purchased a brass engine making payments and scratch building a couple of cars. I even kit bashed a small N Scale engine, but I was in over my head. Many years later after moving close to Bowling Green. I got back into the hobby with a friend. He had already started a layout in his basement and between the two of us; it was starting to come together. We began buying various building kits and I started kit bashing buildings for the layout and together we purchased track, switches, wire and the Dynatrol Command System, which was one of the earliest command systems. One morning after arriving at his home I received the bad news cancer had invaded his body. As the months passed it became progressively worst and an agreement was made that I received all of the buildings, while he paid me half the money for the Dynatrol System. He took the track, switches, etc., so his grandsons could still run trains. As I began removing structures and boxing everything up my dream of having a layout and losing a great friend came crashing down.

My old garage, built in the late forties or early fifties, was starting to fall apart so we decided to build a new one on the opposite side of the house. I had just gotten my house paid off, but in order to build a new garage it had to be put up as collateral with the bank. We found a contractor and an estimate was received. My wife asked the contactor the cost of building a second story. She stated "If you think I am going to listen to my husband complain and moan about not having a place for his railroad. You have another thing coming, build it." God Bless Her, she went back to work and we paid the outside shell off in record time. Our son who was now working installing flooring helped me finish off the inside.

A year and a half later the garage was finished and I began the process of building the River Falls & Eastern Railway. It was to be a shelf type layout, with a middle peninsula and double stacked modeled in the late 50s in West Virginia with staging yards at both ends. I began using chalk and marking everything on the floor and it looked great, except there were very few articles in the model magazines on double stacked layouts. Today this is not a problem, but back then, most layouts were built on one level. My question was how the layout was going to be built. I started using open grid construction, with quarter inch plywood as a base for my roadbed, with homasote board cut and screwed onto the roadbed. The roadbed would be screwed to half inch wood risers, while the left over scrap pieces of wood would be use underneath screen wire so mountains and valleys could be formed. Today I would have used various thickness of foam board for scenery, except for the roadbed. This would still be half inch plywood. When I was building the layout I tried to buy in bulk to save money. I had been saving money for buying Atlas code 100 track and some Peco # 6 left and right hand switches and an order was placed with Atlas and Peco. Later I started doing this at train shows and on line hobby shops. I had no track plans but relied upon my knowledge of prototype railroading to get me through. I finished the top and bottom framework with seventeen inches between each section so mountains could still be made. Before laying the track I purchased eighth inch masonite to be used for painting the background. After laying the track and soldering feeder wires around screws according to all the books at that time. This was a big mistake and when I rewired the layout I had a can full of screws. I pulled out my trusty MRC power supply and put power to the track and believe it or not it worked. I ran an RS3 from one end to the other with no problems. I stopped building framework and began making mountains with screen wire and stapling the wire a quarter inch from the track. I overlaid this with a mixture of plaster and paper towels our daughter purchased in fifty pound bags, while living in Dublin, Ohio. Today I would use plaster cloth.

Once all of this was installed I decided to try painting the backdrop. Today I would try to purchase photo backdrops. I used Dave Fairy's book and followed his instructions and soon a backdrop was beginning to take shape. Our son came over to see how things were progressing and I asked his opinion. He stated "It didn't look right.", so I told him to come back later before going home. I redid some sections with more painted background trees and it passed the test. As I got better at painting the backdrop it took less time each time this was done. I continued building as time and money allowed, until I have what I have today. One thing I forgot was isle width. I forgot the older we become the larger we become in many cases. Today my isle width would not be less than four feet minimum and instead of using #6 switches for the mainline. Today they would not be less than #8.

I built my layout strictly to give people some idea how operation was handled in the prototype and for many, I have succeeded. The layout wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the model railroad community gliding me and giving their expertise. As far as I know no one in this hobby knows everything about building a model railroad. I know I didn't so I started reaching out to those that did. I have had many trials and tribulations over the last twenty five years from rewiring the layout twice to having eight decoders burn up from my stupidity and using various command control systems, but I never gave up. I am not rich by a long shot, but as I stated before; I learned to buy in bulk when possible and over time saved myself a lot of money. I also started to learn how to scratch build and kit bash structures. They weren't the best in the beginning, but I kept at it. Each of you can do this and don't be afraid of failure. We learn from our mistakes and you will to. I studied nature and begin to learn how to do scenery. As time progressed I have what I have today. I threatened to tear down the layout many times over the years. Ask anyone who knows me. I still have problems and especially with electronics, but over time I used the expertise of those who have this knowledge.

The Toledo area is blessed with a great many layouts and Division 1 is no exception, but I'm confused as to why many of you haven't taken the opportunity to pay a visit to these open houses or at least contact a layout owner for a chance to talk one on one with them and ask questions. If you are going to build your dream layout, DO IT NOW as this hobby isn't getting any cheaper and we aren't getting any younger. I don't care if it is a small shelf or even a four by eight. The knowledge you gain laying track, ballasting, scenery, wiring etc. will be useful if you decide to build a larger layout. Those already having layouts will guide you through the rough spots, so you don't make the same mistakes and waste time and money. You, like me, will have many false starts and disappointments, but keep at it. If you can't build a layout join a model railroad club. Contact the modeling community and don't be afraid to ask for help. If I didn't the River Falls & Eastern Railway Company wouldn't exist.

Enjoy the hobby and have fun.

Bar Mills Build Challenge Reveal - Part 1

We had 8 models shown during our February meeting. Each person showed what they had done and gave some insight on how the felt the kit went together. It was all very insightful.

Division Happenings

Things have been very busy out there!! We have had a number of Division 1 layouts showing up in magazines everywhere, especially on the COVER! We also have some winter railroading excitement to share.

Upcoming Events

If you know about an event happening in our division (or nearby), please let us know so we can make everyone aware. If a club is having an open house, setup, or other activities, we could help promote it!