Page 3 - July August 2010

After roaming, yet again, around small town Georgia back in May, I was struck once more by the attraction of modern short lines. Many modellers (and non- modeller railfans) regret the passing of steam – both heavy mainline giants and the chunky short line peddlers. It is particularly amongst the latter that fictional ideas can take charge and be much more believable than trying to invent a fictional equivalent of the Union Pacific, using very well known prototypes with made-up names (but, as usual, “each to his own”!).
To my mind, the nearest present-day equivalent of the obscure steam short line, trundling from mill to silo to freight house in the backwoods of 1930s USA, is the deregulated diesel- ised road operating with third-hand locos, often painted in a scheme reminiscent of past glories. Or, alternatively, so short of cash that the livery appears to be a tasteful pastiche of rust and dirt.
It seems to me that these roads are often run by one or two enthusiastically pro-railroad bosses – perhaps they’d have to be fans to get involved in such ventures! On our recent holiday we came across at least three examples. Just north of Orlando Fla. I revisited the Florida Central, a Sam Pinsly railroad with smart old rebuilt geeps, CF7s and so on. Up in Cordele Georgia we visited the Heart of Georgia RR, known locally as HOG, whose geeps also operate a local tourist passenger train known as SAM Shortline, run by the State.
HOG runs east towards Savannah and links up with Georgia Central, who seem to possess only a small group of hi-hood B23-7s that look almost Norfolk Southern except for the rust! Georgia Central also runs transfers past Savannah Amtrak station, between the several Savannah yards, and these make a welcome change
from the continual parade of CSX and NS.
Such short lines obviously interchange with major roads and this opens up any number of possible options, especially for modelling in a small space. If you like to model present day but still like old RS Alcos, or even cab units, you can get away with them by representing one of the scores of short lines still around, or making up your own, but tacking it onto a real road at an interchange.
Alternatively, of course, you can always go back to steam!
Although it might seem far ahead at present, the next “Roundhouse” will be the October Special for the 65th Anniversary of British Region. It is hoped that it will take a somewhat different format, so please submit any pictures or other information that you feel could make the issue really special. If your material relates to BR’s history (or, for that matter, National’s history, as it is also their 75th anniversary) please let us borrow it. I would appreciate an SSAE if your submission is something you wish returned.
Regarding the Benson meet, a good quality blue 240v extension and a grey ELCD were left behind. Please contact Mike Ingham if they belong to you.
Corrections:
1) Please note an omission, that the item in June’s “Uncoupled Cars” about setting up an Ops-SIG chat group, should have been credited to Nobby Clarke.
2) The caption and “Port Washington” picture on p. 27 (top left) do not match! Correct picture is in this issue.
Martin Boyask
CUPOLA
...FROM THE EDITOR
ROUNDHOUSE AUGUST 2010
CONSIST...
CUPOLA 3 PRESIDENT’S CAR 4 DIVISION DIARY 5 UNCOUPLED CARS 6 BEANERY 6 PIKE REGISTER 6 SCALE GAUGES 6 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 6 WHAT’S ON AND WHERE 8 KCS – WADE, ARKANSAS
Kenneth Williamson 10 NMRA SCOTTISH DIVISION MEET
Niall Smith 10 BRIEF NOTE ON THE BENSON MEET
The Editor 10 THE REGION T-SHIRT Nobby Clarke 10 A DISPLAY TO PROMOTE THE NMRA
Des Browne 15 CONTEST ENTRANTS AND JUDGES
Terry Wynne 15 NEWS FROM NATIONAL 15 ROAD AND RAIL IN 1983 W A Corkill 18 REGISTRAR NEWS 21
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