From the Editor

February is here and we have a new contributor to the Train Order - Mike Bruss has provided a short article on changes to his Union, Santa Fe & Southern layout. We also have an equipment update from Ray Huber on his Toledo & Maumee Valley Railroad. Thank you both for contributing!

Usually this time of year is great for staying indoor and working on our favorite hobby. With the consistent cold weather and snow I would think most are making great headway on their projects. As for me, not so much. I still work for a living and our department of three is down to just me! We have a new hire in finally but that makes my available time even worse and i train them and check all their work.

Anyway, please take a moment and share what you have going, either at the meeting or send me a quick photo and text like Mike did. it is all much appreciated!

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Train Order!

View from the Cab

Why do trains never get cold? Because they always have plenty of steam! Well, the better trains have steam in my opnion. Cold and snow is the name of the game for the last month. I shutter to think what the prototype train crews have to deal with. On a recent business trip to an Allentown PA industrial park, I could see where crews had dug out several switch points in an effort to keep them clear. The temperatures during my visit ranged from 10 to -10. Not fun conditions for working outside. Hopefully everyone reading this has a nice warm space to work on their trains.

Have you started your Flat Car Build Challenge? The final is due at the March 27th meeting! See the rules in the 2026 Build Challenge section below.

Spring Modelers Meet - 2026 - Our Spring Meet is coming fast! We will need volunteers to help with setup again but most of all, we need as many people as possible to bring an item to share at the event. It is imperative that we have a good showing of items that will showcase the hobby. This year's event is being advertised far and wide. We have the attention of the community and this year's event is looking to be better than ever.

Division 1 Swap Meet/Train Show - Steve Kellogg will be hosting a planning meeting for the event on February 28th at 2PM-4PM at 4036 Wreford Ct., Toledo OH. If you are interested in being involved please attend the meeting. If you have questions, Steve can be reached at (atsfmktrock@yahoo.com) Right now Mid October 2027 is the target time for the event.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the February 13th meeting!

Marshall Stull,
mstull@marshallstull.com
Superintendent

Clinic Corner

For February we are hosting North Central Region President Rich Mahaney. He will be presenting his clinic on Five Busy Railroad Traffic Locations For Your Layout (Interchanges, Freight Houses, Team Tracks, Bulk Transfer Facilities and Rail Car Repair Facilities)

This clinic looks at five busy locations that can be built on your layout to increase rail car operations, can use any kind or type of car on your layout, create rail car traffic and operations, can be used to support industries that don't have a railroad spur and can fit into a small space on your layout.

See you there,

Brian Burr,
Assistant Superintendent

2026 Build Challenge

Last year went so well we decided to try another challenge for 2026! This year you have to make a flat car with a visible load. This can be any scale! Instead of providing the kits (difficult for multiple scales) this year, we will provide a $15 gift card for materials. The gift card will only be provided AFTER the finished model is displayed. Participation will also put you in a drawing for an additional $25 visa gift card. It is recommended that you consider the load and weight restrictions as printed on your car. In other words, make sure you are within the load capacity posted on the car. Here are the rules for the challenge:

• Completed model with load must be a new build (parts can be from storage)
• Model must be presented at the March 27th meeting
• Any scale/gauge is allowed
• $15 visa gift card will be awarded to each participant
• All entrants will be entered into an additional raffle for an extra $25 visa gift card

The goal of this challenge is not to be a contest but to inspire as many members as possible to do a model and share it with the group.

February 13th 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
• Break
• Door Prizes
• Clinic - Busy Railroad Traffic Locations
• 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

It's that time of year!

The following link was provided by Dave McMullian. It features some very aggressive snow fighting trains. I hope you enjoy it!

January Meeting Highlights

The following items were brought for Show and Tell in January;

Steve Glass Displayed 2 covered hopper cars each having a different Anderson logo.

Steve Kellogg Displayed a new Athearn Genisis FP-45 locomotive.

Bill Vollmar Displayed a customized On3 tank type (T-040) locomotive.

Marshall Stull Displayed house kits that depicted war damage. To be used in a WWI mini layout.

Paul Kemner Displayed a HO model of the NYC Commodore Vanderbilt locomotive – very nice.

John Gardener Displayed 6 different locomotives he reconstructed from parts during recovery from surgery. He also showed how he attaches Tortious switch machines to the bottom of the switch ties with glue rather than to foam or plywood.

Steve Richwine Displayed a wooden handmade model his Dad built of a steam locomotive. He had it displayed in a nice glass display case.

Ray Huber Displayed a flat car, with load, that he was going to use in his Clinic on car loads, yet this evening.

Dave McMullian Displayed the results of his first ever try at 3-D printing using his very own 3-D printer. You guessed it, potato barrels and a side frame for a diesel loco.

Toledo & Maumee Valley RR Equipment Update - Ray Huber

The latest addition to the my Caboose fleet. It started as a Christmas gift from my Son. It was a Bauchman undecorated model that ended up in the T&MV paint shop. I believe the crew did a creditable job.

Changes on the Union, Santa Fe & Southern - Mike Bruss

The Union, Santa Fe & Southern has been around for 34 years now and has also been expanded three times and like most railroads it was starting to show its age. In 2020 I was getting bored sitting around the house because of Covid and decided to make some small changes and I ripped out a corner section of the layout and put in a new industry, and it's worked out well. Fast forward to the present once again the layout needed some improvements. With layout being modeled from the mid 1970's to the mid 1980's, the cattle industry was coming to a close with the shipping of cattle by rail. It was not economical for the railroad or the cattle companies, so the railroad tore down the cattle pens at Omaha yard and had a contractor build the Omaha Freight Depot in its place. At the same time the slaughter house at Lincoln was sold off to the Kellogg's company and was rebuild as a cereal plant. The addition of these two new structures gave the railroad more freight service and more fun for operation. The building of these two new structures gave me a chance to do some kit bashing and scratch building. It took a lot longer than I thought it would. It seemed like every night after I was done working on the buildings, I would be watching TV and come up with another idea. Like I said earlier, I have added more locations for switching cars and also made the yard at Omaha a little tighter with less track space for the yard master to store extra cars out of his way, he will get over it. The railroad will possibly see some more changes in the future but for right now, I am just going to have fun with the operation.

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!