ETMRC  RAILNEWS

March 2014 http://etmrc.org

I’m famous! – LeRoy H proudly displays his Spirit of Model Railroading award from Rob D on the occasion of his first return to the Junction January 25. LeRoy broke his hip in a home accident just after Christmas and has been pretty immobile since. We hope that his visit is the first of more or less regular attendance.

MEETINGS

The official weekly club meeting time os 9:00 to noon on Saturdays. Club members are usually present for work sessions, or just plain lollygagging Friday mornings, about the same time as the Saturday schedule. For those not yet retired, a group meets starting about 7:00 pm on Tuesday evenings for a couple of hours. We sometimes also have members present on Wednesday mornings, but lately that has sort of become a hit-or-miss time, so it is best to call someone if you want to come on a Wednesday and don’t have a key. Many meet at 8:00 Saturday mornings at McKay’s Restaurant on 1113 Main Street, Commerce for breakfast, and extend an invitation to any who care to join them.

People

We lost another former club member in late January: Dick Schroth passed on Thursday, January 30, at his home in Celeste. Dick was a long time member and excellent craftsman. He left the club about 5 years ago, because he felt that he was becoming a “crabby old man” and didn’t want to be remembered that way. A couple of club members were attendance for his memorial service in Celeste on Sunday, February 2. He was 81.

CLUB ACTIVITY

Bob T has almost finished his curved crossover to go at the south end of Chyrokes yard. Paul applied the finishing touches to the water pipe repair project, but it was mostly in the city occupied room next-door, so few members noticed it. The less cluttered workroom tables have encouraged a lot of individual effort to apply DCC to personal locomotives, most of which have been successful. We may even develop a cadre of DCC competence. The rest of the membership has mostly just supervised those doing something. Sometimes the supervision even had something to do with the project at hand. Amazing.

The water is back on — President Paul Fogle replaces the first piece of wall paneling around the repaired water line, so we have water in the workroom sink, and maybe more importantly, to the toilet. We can rest easy now.

March BUSINESS MEETING

The next scheduled business meeting is 9:00 am, Saturday, March 1, 2014. Our business meeting is usually on the first Saturday of each month, unless it isn’t. We had two business meetings in February, and both were amazingly well attended. Sometimes we have a trouble with getting a quorum. But not this February.

February First BUSINESS MEETING SUMMARY

Submitted by Secretary Bob Erwin

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 9:33 am, Feb 1, 2014

PRESENT: Paul F, Bob A, Tom B, Rob D, Bob T, Ron M, Bob E, George W

PROXIES: None

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Approved as published.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Submitted by Treasurer Ron M
This section is redacted. The In Arrears figure is troubling — the figure is higher than our total income in months past. True, it is not a problem now, but it represents a healthy sum to those who are behind, and it won’t get better with the passage of more time. C’mon, folks. It’s time to get current.

COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: Submitted by Council Rep Paul F
The January meeting was just before the Plano Show. All positions were filled and ready for opening. Preliminary reports indicate that attendance was 25% greater than last year, vendors were happy with sales and the number of tables was up by 20. All indications are that we had a good show season this year. Payout will be February 18.

OLD BUSINESS: Tom Bailey said that he had given thought to a project work list, but so far had come up with no ideas on how to make it known to membership. He asked for suggestions. Paul said that a projects list could be posted on the white board. Rob suggested it be placed in the newsletter.

NEW BUSINESS: Ron talked with Easy DCC re: our system. Suggestions made by Easy DCC rep included: Ground our system, take the programming track off the system, and understand that our system is fourteen years old, many parts are no longer manufactured. The programmer is probably burned out. The Rep also told Ron how to reset the system. It probably can be repaired, but the club would be without the system for a month or more, and it might be more prudent to buy a new system. A similar system can be purchased for $429.00.

Rob wanted to know if we are using 12-volt boosters, he was told that we are using 16 volt, 10 amp boosters. Ron said that the rep could not explain why we are able to program in the workroom and not on the layout. Rob wanted to know if we could buy just the Command Station, Ron said it doesn't look like it. Rob also wanted to know if we could update for radio control, Ron didn’t know, but said he didn't think so.

Ron stated the Basic System could be purchased for $279.00. The wireless starter system is $529.00 plus the cost of throttles. We can also use our boosters with the basic system. If we purchase a new system we can probably have it within a week. If we repair our old system we will be without DCC for a month or longer. Rob wanted to know if we wanted to check EasyDCC competitors. Bob T responded that a different system would probably be incompatible with the throttles we have, which would nullify cost advantages.

It was suggested that if we move the programming track, as the rep suggested, we should move it on top of the console. Bob T moved that we purchase a new system. Rob D seconded the motion. Rob suggested we consider radio control. Bob A wanted to know if the system under consideration would work with cell phones. It was thought not. Final suggestion was that membership check out the information on the systems available so that a vote can be taken next weekend.

Paul announced that Tony Casper passed away and that a memorial service would be that afternoon at New Hope Baptist Church. Tony Casper was a member for many years. Paul also donated a work cradle, a quart of acetone and a short power strip to the club. George W distributed photos of the Sprague stern-wheeler with two steam locos in the background as well as a photo of the bridge in Vicksburg where he watched trains as a child with his dad.

With an admonishment to keep the place picked up, the meeting was adjourned.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:00 am.

Moving on to the second February meeting: The rest of the story.

February Second BUSINESS MEETING SUMMARY

Submitted by Secretary Bob Erwin

MEETING TO DISCUSS A CONTROL SYSTEM PURCHASE

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 9:33 am, Feb 8, 2014

PRESENT: Rob D, Tom McC, Paul F, Bob T, Bob A, George W, Ron M, Bob E, Tom B, Ray Y

PROXIES: None

EASY DCC PURCHASE OPTIONS SUMMARY:
Submitted by: Ron Means, Designated Researcher

Basic system includes:

1 CS2B Command Station $199.00
1 Modular Cable 7ft. $3.50
1 DCPS 120 Power Supply $55.00
1 CS2B 12VAC Transformer
1 Zone Master Single Booster (7 amp) $79.95
Total, if Purchased Separately $377.45

CVP's Price for Basic System $279.00
Savings if Basic System Purchased $58.45
_____________________________________________________________

Command Station May Be Purchased Alone $199.00
If purchased alone, we would save $80.00, but pass up $138.45 worth of accessories
_____________________________________________________________

A wireless receiver can be added to the basic system at any time. To do so we will need:

Wireless Receiver $99.00
Wireless Throttles $159.00 each for 1-8, or
$127.00 each for 9 or more.

The moral of this story is that if we purchase the Basic System, we have all new accessories (cable, power supply, transformer, booster) to replace the old ones. If we decide to purchase the Command Station only, we have to use old accessories. That is not a problem yet. It could be down the road, however. It might well be that we would be better off purchasing the Basic system over the Command Station only. A wireless receiver can be added at any time.

OLD BUSINESS: Bob A wanted to know if he had a radio throttle, would it work on his layout? The consensus was probably not. Ron M’s report generated a lot of discussion. It was mostly ended when Rob D moved that the club purchase the EasyDCC Basic System. George W seconded. President Paul, then, in a moment of weakness, called for a vote. Motion passed.

After deciding that we are going to do it, discussion of how to pay for the new system followed. Although Ron promised to have the equipment ordered as soon as he was authorized to write a check for it, the members present decided to wait for the show check from the Council. That would provide the cash for almost the entire purchase. Ron said that order forms were available on the Internet. Paul suggested that Ron download an order form, complete it and send the order with a check for the Basic System as soon as we receive our check from the Council show is received. The suggestion did not receive a formal vote, but everyone present seemed to think that it was the best course of action. Rob passed the final question of the meeting: how many members would purchase a radio controlled throttle? Only three were willing to commit, so the option of a quantity purchase to get the lower price seems out of reach, at least for the time being.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:30 am

WHAT THE %*##% --?

A section to list strange happenings that really should be tracked down and fixed:
Anyone? Anything?

We discovered a wiggly track in the tunnel below the museum in the middle peninsula. This is likely the result of the general settling of the floor and the contraction of the layout structure withthe extreme temperature swings we’ve had so far this winter. But that is just a guess. Unfortunately, the location makes correction a challenge, especially for those antique members who don’t fold up under the table very easily. Maybe it really isn’t an issue, as trains have passed through the problem area without problems, even locomotives with long rigid wheelbase trucks in the case of diesels and steam locomotives with as many as 5 coupled axles. But they sure look funny doing it.

It looks worse than it is — really. – The misaligned track under the middle peninsula looks worse than it is, at least operationally. Big locomotives have had little problem with the wiggles so far, but who knows when that might change? In any case, we should probably seek to straighten it out somehow.

INFORMATION:

The following web sites are excellent sources of supplies (1) and technical data (2). Two of our members also have personal web sites (3) and (4). Site (5) has some interesting photos of Commerce area railroading over the years.

1. Cyberspace World Railroad for supplies
2. http://www.geocities.com/budb3/index.html for technical data
3. http://www.coslar.us for Ed M's personal web site
4. http://geusnet.com/~rteeter/ for Bob T's personal web site
5. www.tamu-commerce.edu/library/collections/digital for Commerce Texas photos

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

March 8 — Northeast Texas Division, NMRA – – Nicholson Library, 4845 Broadway Blvd, Garland.

REGIONAL RAILROAD PROTOTYPE NEWS

This is just a sampling of that’s going on in our area, which is defined to be whatever I think interesting, so the area can be fairly large. Or not.

Maybe a Tourist operation in Bonham? — The possibility that a tourist train on the old, railbanked T&P line at Bonham has been floating around for some time now, and member Bill LeRosen decided to check into it. First Bill joined a work crew clearing underbrush off the line east of Bonham as far as Dorr City, about 5 miles. Then he attended the February meeting of the Fannin Rural Rail District (FRRD). It now looks as though such an operation might happen. The owners of the Reader Railroad in Arkansas have a vintage , operational steam train and submitted a proposal to the FRRD to use the track and run the train. The FRRD accepted the proposal at the meeting, but there is much more to be done before anything can run. Bill plans to attend as many of the monthly FRRD meetings as he can schedule. Stay tuned for future developments.

Maybe in Bonham – This antique Mogul and train might move to Bonham for a tourist operation. It is owned by the Reader Railroad and has been in several movies. It looked like this for the movie True Grit. Interested? If you have internet access, check out the story online. If you don’t, well, too bad.