SNIPINGS

by Jim Foster, King Snipe

The recent news of the imminent sale or closure of the Stone Creek Brick Company (the entire plant, not just its narrow gauge railroad) came as I was preparing a column on another subject. It seems to me that this illustrates just how critical it is for all of us to visit and document rail-related sites before they go away. We must be realistic and recognize that the purpose of railroads is “not just display of the equipment,” to paraphrase Lee Rainey. I experience this professionally as our transit agency is one of five in the country that operates electric trolleybuses. I have one electric route that is simply unproductive, and I am seriously considering cutting service; yet there are trolleybus supporters here that maintain all electric routes are sacred and must be operated for the “display of the equipment.” No. Our buses are not toys and must do a job, and so it is, too, with railroads and their appurtenances. So, when we seek out rail-related sites, we sometimes have successes. In my own case, my brother Don and I can honestly say we have seen an operating narrow-gauge common-carrier, as we stopped in Alamosa, Colorado in 1966 and in Durango in 1967 on family vacations (a huge indulgence on our parents’ part, as I look back on it). In 1975 we stumbled onto a steam-powered work train ascending Cumbres Pass. We climbed up to, and located, the Corkscrew Gulch turntable in 1978 after being told it was gone. We were able to visit and ride the entire length of the Graham County, albeit not in a Shay. I was fortunate to live in upstate New York from 1969-72 and was able to see the physical plants of the NYC Adirondack Division, the WAG, the Coudersport & Port Allegheny and the former Pittsburgh & Western in Allegheny National Forest, all as functioning railroads. Don and I once explored Ohio’s most needlessly outrageous mountain railroad, the DT&I between Bainbridge and Waverly. We have, as have many of you, taken advantage of numerous steam excursions. We also have failures. I am too young to have experienced “big steam” (in the context of remembering it), being just past my ninth birthday when the last N&W articulated operated out of Williamson. I would have had no reason to be in Williamson, either, at that time. I did not realize loggers were still operating in West Virginia, especially the Meadow River in Rainelle, the last spur-logging railroad in the country. I know now my family drove right by the mill and main line in 1964; we could have also visited Elk River Coal & Lumber in Swandale and the Ely-Thomas standard-gauge operation in Fenwick, had I known. I also wish I had visited the Little Giant (NKP) main line from Delphos north across the infamous Auglaize River bridge. In the early ‘70’s Don and I, on the strength of a photo in TRAINS, went to Russell, Kentucky to locate three C&O steam locomotives stored in the yards there. They were gone, but at least all three fortunately went on to better things. So don’t take buildings, grades, equipment or even functioning railroads for granted. Visit and document narrow gauge artifacts, or even volunteer to help maintain them. Ride steam excursions as those engines won’t last forever. Visit even endangered main lines; I would argue that the former B&O West End would fall into this category, as it traverses unbelievable terrain for railroading and mostly serves extractive industries. Extractive industries by their nature are temporary and therefore so are the standard gauge and narrow gauge railroads that serve and once served them.

Railroading can be an industry characterized by disinvestment, so go now, and tell your friends to go!

His Royal Snipiness, 

Jim 

Spring Mini-Bunch Meet

Gary Kohler is sponsoring the Midwest Narrow Gauge Meet on April 7 - 10 in Greenford, OH. He is planning on a Thursday evening session as well as adding a tour on Sunday.

The enclosed registration form has up-to-the-minute information. Registration is $6.00 for one day or $10.00 for two days. For additional information see the registration form or visit the meet website: www.narrowtracks.com/oh2foot/ You can also email Gary at m2fq@aol.com The meeting will include the usual banquet at Timberlanes in Salem, OH on Saturday evening.

The Mini-Bunch will be collecting an additiional $2.00 to help defray the cost of this newsletter. Registration for the Mini-Bunch continues your subscriptiuon for two more years. At least two Mini-Bunch members will have their layouts open on April 10, so, you can visit these on your way home. One is Michael Yoakam’s layout near Columbus and the other is John Chlebowski’s Sn3 layout in Macedonia.

OR&W Meet on May 27 - 29

Bill Logan has organized a tour of the OR&W during the Memorial Day weekend (Note the motel rate goes from $59 to $79 per night if you make your reservation after April 14th!!!) The meet will conclude with a dinner on Sunday evening at the Union Street Station in Bellaire, OH. You will find a registration form in this newsletter. By registering in advance you will be guaranteed to receive a detailed itinerary and map of the OR&W.

National NG Convention nearby:

Don’t forget the 2005 National Narrow Gauge Convention will be held in our backyard in Dearborn MI. The meet will be at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency from August 31 to September 3, 2005. On Tuesday evening there will be a special trip on the Huckleberry Railroad near Flint MI. The K-27 464 will have a special run and there will be a tour of the shops at the railroad.

Registration forms are available. Website is www.25nngc.com

Registration is $75 before the end of July, 2005. Send to Bob Haar, Registrar at: 19948 Pollyanna

                                     Livonia, MI 48152

Railroads of Members:

Michael Yoakam sent us the following story on his railroad:

 The Muskingum Valley Central and the Hamm River Timber Co. are located in the southeastern region of Ohio. The MVC began its life when some local business men purchased the abandoned right of way of the former OR&W from the Pennsylvania RR in 1934 with the hope of reviving the line.

.....To read the full story on Michael's layout click here!

RGS Rotary 02

Although Jan Rons is best known for his watercolors of railroad (and automotive) scenes, he is also a model-.builder of some repute in Sn3. About ten years ago, he offered to build about 25 copies of RGS Rotary 02. Two Sn3 modelers from the Cleveland area signed up, and then waited ‘patiently’ from that time until the models were delivered just before Christmas 2004. There are two photos on the cover of the newsletter.

The Rotary has a complete interior, the doors open, there is a battery driven motor for the blade and complete underbody detail. The Rotary tender and the auxiliary tender are also included

NMRA Convention in Cincinnati

The members of Cincinnati Division 7 of the MidCentral Region of the NMRA are preparing to host the 2005 National NMRA Convention, Cincinnati Limited.  The event has many activities of interest to the model railroader and family.  These events include layout tours, prototype rail tours, clinics, contests, non-rail tours, the national train show and more.  The convention activities run July 3rd-9th and the National Train show is July 8-10th.  For registration information go to: www.cl2005.com (letters c & l before 2005)

Mini-Bunch member, Sam Swanson’s HOn3 Lost River section under construction.  Backdrop is painted Masonite with hills cut from 2" insulation foam and scenicked with puffballs.  Tunnels lead to two 3-track sector plates for off-layout staging. Landforms and track risers are foam, and rock outcroppings are a combination of carved foam and water putty castings. Photo by Richard Davoust.

--Roadside fish market, based on a Walker Evans photo (c. 1936, Birmingham, Alabama - http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/ppmsc/00200/00239r.jpg One of the many G&LR mini-scenes, worked into dioramas distributed over the Sam Swanson’s layout, based on interesting and unusual prototypes.  Sam’s layout is one of seven layouts on the narrow gauge layout tour in Cincinnati.  Photo by Nancy Windes. 

Overhead shot of David Keith’s Sn2 SR&RL layout.  Many of you are familiar with Dave’s display’s at the Midwest Narrow Gauge meet.  The NMRA National Convention will be an opportunity to see how Dave has incorporated those sections into a 24’x 24’ layout featuring 6 locations from the SR&RL.  Besides the NG layout tour, Dave’s layout will be open for operating sessions and the LDSig tour.  For more on Dave's layout click here!

Jim Amato’s freelanced HOn30 WW&RL Railroad is inspired by the Maine Two-Foot railroads.  The layout will feature coastal and inland scenes of the wonderful state of Maine.  Take the narrow gauge tour during the Cincinnati Limited convention to Jim’s layout along with six other narrow gauge layouts.