Page 14 - January February 2008

REPORT FROM IRELAND
Des Browne
The local team combined at the end of September to present our first “ALL AMERICAN MODEL RAILROAD TRAIN SHOW”. Arrangements were only started last May, so we were glad to be able to get the local community hall at relatively short notice. We had already got verbal promises for six lay- outs, and all came up trumps, though not without some nail-biting changes. We also had six traders who made the show viable and, I am sure, also more attractive to our visitors. We had a “Best Layout in Show” competition to which the traders contributed prizes. The win­ ning layout was Eagle Rock, with Sykesville a close second. Nobby Clarke had sent the NMRA stand which formed the feature at the entrance. The layouts were described in the programme as follows:
Sykesville – ‘N’ scale. This layout, built by John Turnbull and Ron Crangle, members of the First Bangor Model Railway Club, has been constructed on the “Modular” principle, which allows various sections built to a common specification to be assembled in a variety of shapes to suit the space available. At some conventions in the USA, over 100 modules have been run together. A single or group of modules can be built to the owner’s design as long as the end connections are compatible with the standard chosen.
North Bay, Ontario – HO scale. The City of North Bay lies 350 km north of Toronto, on the shores of Lake Nipissing. It is home to the headquarters and main workshops of today’s “ON Rail”, formerly “Ontario Northland Railway” and originally the “Toronto & Northern Ontario Railroad”. From here, lines go north to Moosonee on the edge of the Arctic, east to Rouyn­ Noranda, Quebec, south to Toronto and west to Hearst. While freight is the main lifeblood, there is also a north and south daily passenger train, linking Toronto to Cochrane to the north. In addition, a daily mixed train, “The Little Bear”, one of the last in Canada, runs from Cochrane to Moosonee, to which there is no all­ weather road. The layout, built by NMRA members Eric White and Brian Neville from Dumfries, bears no similarity to the real place, but is simply a way of showing as much as possible of the rolling stock as seen on ON Rail.
Eagle Rock – HO scale. This locally well­ known layout, built and operated by NMRA member Peter McVicar, won “Best in Show” most recently at the Erne Model Railway Exhibition, and portrays a short industrial line shared by two railroad companies – the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Scenery is typical of the Western USA. Many detailed scenes are scattered round the layout. Can you find the cat up a tree being
rescued by the local firemen? Watch out also for the amazing slow running of the freight trains and listen to the sounds of the hard­working locos. Control is by DCC.
South Plains – HO scale. Standard NMRA modules are built as 4 ft × 2 ft bases, with tracks joining the boards at a standard distance apart and from the front edge. The builder is free to build his own design, so different builders do not have to have a matching theme. Inspired by David Barrow’s articles in Model Railroader magazine, George O’Rorke and Allen Lawler, members of the Dublin Club, Model Railway Club of Ireland, built initially a two­module set, but with scenic ends, so that the whole was a proper lay­ out with a Texas desert theme and called South Plains. It has now three modules plus ends. The design depicts a joint Union Pacific and Santa Fe route, but especially at exhibitions, other railroads’ trains can be seen. Mark Ricard, also an MRCI member, will be helping to operate today.
Canal Street, Chicago – HO scale. At this, its first showing at an exhibition, Allen Lawler’s layout depicts a Chicago oper­ ation including double­deck commuter coaches. MRCI member Ron Crampton will operate the layout today, as Allen has to keep up with the “day job”.
Broken Hill – HO and On30 scale. Built by NMRA members Norman Adamson and Des Browne, to demonstrate DCC control, this layout represents a desert region of USA but, by some means, seems to have also Australian trains! (Norman wanted to run his and fellow NMRA member Bren­ dan Curran’s Beyer Garratt articulated locos! These will look and sound amazing when double­headed! Model railroading is meant to be FUN!) On30 as a scale portrays narrow gauge trains using 16.5 mm gauge track, the same as HO and OO. As a result, On30 trains can run on HO/OO track. Clearances must allow for the larger O scale models, hence the wider parallel line than usual for HO. However in the wide open spaces of western USA (and Australia), widely spaced tracks are common, as land is plentiful. The layout is operated by DCC, using reversing modules to allow the two reversing sections to operate smoothly. Analogue DC­controlled locos can also be accom­ modated. These will not have on­board sound effects.
The traders were:
Jonny Jameson. Jonny has a wide range of N scale models including USA, British and Continental products. That is not to say there won’t be other scales and cars as well!
Modellers’ Nook. Joe specialises in scenery items and caters to the popular “War Gaming” hobby. Scenery is a very enjoy­
able side of the hobby and is not difficult
in its basic forms.
Gareth McLaughlan. Second­hand items
in both British and USA profile will be available.
Sean Ryan. Sean has a fascinating range of Continental, Japanese and other N scale models available.
Graham’s Toymaster. New to the toy fair scene, Seamus from Port Laoise has a wide range of Hornby, Bachmann and other makes available. Of special interest to many is his interest in Irish prototype, and he hopes to have samples of some new items to offer.
Belfast Caboose. Still Ireland’s largest stockist of US items, Des will have the 2008 Walthers HO Model Railroad Refer­ ence Book available. Sound­equipped US locomotives are now readily available, both new and some second­hand bar­ gains. Des is offering the basic Bachmann “Easy Command” DCC system as well as the more advanced Gaugemaster “Prodigy Advance” system and Lenz systems. Stan­ dard decoders and sound decoders are also available. Installation can be arranged for suitable models. Des will also visit your layout if necessary to demonstrate how to convert your existing layout. Many other products are also available including some British and Continental items.
Café Kina. The Canteen is being operated by this well­known Holywood establish­ ment. Hot snacks and beverages will be available for sale. For a break from trains and a wider selection of food, visit their restaurant at 81 High Street. Turn right when you leave the hall and left at the High Street. Café Kina is a short walk past the Post Office. The admissions desk will give you a “pass­out” if you ask nicely, so that you can return later if you wish. Hopefully this will give a flavour of the show. We had many compliments so we must have done something right. We have three new members with some other “possibles”, which will put pressure on our current cosy meetings at each other’s homes.
None of this would have been possible without the help of our team who helped man the doors, layouts, tidy up, and all the other details that go to a successful meet. So thanks to Norman Adamson, David Chambers, Brendan Curran, Peter McVicar, Derek Manson and Brian Warrington who, though not a member, was with everyone else a tower of strength.
Happy New Year to all.
1 rOuNDHOuSe