ETMRC  RAILNEWS

June 2014 http://etmrc.org

A much more convenient fridge – The freshly cleaned and relocated refrigerator sits in its new home in the workroom. The reversed deadbolts for the double entry door allow more convenient access to the south side of the work table.Some of the new wiring is shown by the new switch box by the hall door on the right.

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 hat 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.

CLUB ACTIVITY

Ahh, the magic month of May. Club members got more projects done this past month than in any month anyone can remember. True, some of it got started even before the May meeting. But no matter how it is interpreted, almost all the big projects proposed in the earlier meetings were started and (gasp) completed. As a result of the efforts of the facilities committee (Paul and Rob D), with the assistance of other club members, lighting in both the layout room and the work rooms now superb. two new fluorescent fixtures were installed in the northeast corner of the layout room erased chronic shadows. In the work room, arrays of new fluorescent lights over the N-gauge layout on the west side and a matching array over the King trolley layout have bathed even the darkest corners in light. Ron M was heard to remark that “with the new lights, we can see what is wrong and fix it without going blind.”

Of course, new lights would have been impossible without significant changes to the building wiring, all of which are complete. Outlets for the workroom air conditioner still to come and refrigerator in the back room were added and the refrigerator moved, according to the plans of the earlier meeting. The refrigerator was not only moved but cleaned inside and out three times. (The second and third cleanings were required when antique cans of diet Coca-Cola exploded and coated the freshly cleaned interior with a sticky, gummy mess.) And the refrigerator, an antique in itself, continues to hum merrily away in its new location, seemingly none the worse for wear or its umpteenth move.

In turn, the installation of the new wiring was simplified with the removal or the old, unused heating duct work and bales of soggy, moldy insulation removed. A dirty and messy job, but one which should improve comfort year around, and a drastic reduction of the dirt and drafts of before. Rob commented: ”We (Paul and Rob) confused memorial day with Labor Day as they were working on the holiday. We know this means double pay but two times nothing is still nothing so the club is getting a bargain. For those of you doing work in a scale other than 12 inches to the foot there will be much less dirt and dust.”

But there was even more. Outside, the hole in the roof over the Commerce police radio room, caused by the falling tree limb was permanently patched and sealed, after club members, under the guidance of the Facilities Committee, cut and removed the huge branch.

Why all the facilities work, especially with the tree removal and roof patch? Paul explained the reason succinctly: “The inside work was for us. We can see better and the layout will work better. The outside work makes us good renters of the city property, Maybe better, by helping maintain this old building, Commerce won’t have to spend the money to make repairs. It may delay their decision to tear the whole place down, and that would delay us having to move again. It is a win-win situation.”

The activity wasn’t limited to facilities. Ron M and Bob E, among others, began a cleanup and reorganization of the stuff in and around the layout, swept floors and generally improved the appearance of everything, especially important now that there is light to see everything. And the progress even extended to the layout itself. Some troublesome turnouts were repaired, including the creative repair of a Peco turnout throw bar, which avoided removing and replacing the failed unit. And the messy replacement of the streetcar track near the depot was finished, the street repaired and repainted, and the overhead trolley wire replaced. And it works better than before. Will wonders ever cease?

The ducts are gone — In the workroom, Rob D has just pushed a section of long disused ducting through the hole into the next room. On the other side of the wall, Paul F has helped pull it through to the floor where it can be removed. Removal of the ducts will reduce the dirt falling onto the layout.

June BUSINESS MEETING

The next scheduled business meeting is 9:00 am, Saturday, June 6, 2014. Our business meeting is usually on the first Saturday of each month, unless it isn’t.

May BUSINESS MEETING SUMMARY

Submitted by Secretary Bob Erwin

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 9:25 am, May 3, 2014

PRESENT: Bob E, Paul F, Bill L, Ron M, Bob A, Rob D

PROXIES: None

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Approved as published.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Submitted by Treasurer Ron M
This section is redacted

Note that after a nice reduction, the unpaid back dues went up again. It is another new month, and for those of you who are behind, PLEASE TRY TO GET CURRENT. It doesn’t get better by putting it off.

COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: Submitted by Council Rep Paul F
Meeting of April 15, 2014
Treasure's Report: deleted. Two clubs are buying extra shares, one has paid. New officers were elected. They are: President, Chris (?); Vice-President: David G; Secretary: Dave G; Treasurer: Terry B. Volunteers also introduced. Officers assume office next month.

Budget: Discussion centered around finding new location for Ft Worth show due to increase in fees which include a charge for electricity as well as an $8.00 parking fee. The Irving Convention Center is much higher. Show needs at least 50,000 square feet. Budget numbers were essentially carried over from last year with minor adjustments. All bills were paid last year with FW show revenue. All revenue from Plano show was dispersed to Council members. Results of the Survey were discussed. There were no surprises. Word of mouth is still best advertiser. Future show dates: Ft Worth November 8-9, 2014. Plano will be January 17-18, 2015. Next Meeting is 20 May 2014.

OLD BUSINESS: Paul reminded membership that three new electrical circuits have been added so that extension cords are no longer necessary in most locations. Refrigerator has been moved to the back workroom. Framing for the A/C unit in layout room needs to be painted. Window frame in back room needs repair. Lights need to be added to back workroom. Unused "stuff" throughout the space needs to be removed. Hail damage repair on the roof needs to be completed. The outside window covers need to be looked at for replacement before summer arrives.

Paul and Rob have been looking at A/C units and it would be nice to have that installed before weather makes working outside unpleasant. A heating and cooling unit is too expensive so it is proposed we continue to heat with the space heaters. Prices for the A/C units will be published in the minutes.

NEW BUSINESS: Paul's boss has donated lighting fixtures to the club. We will try to hang them over the N scale layout today. Bob E asked if a thank you note needed to written to Paul's boss. Paul said no. Ron added that we should probably try to rebuild the electrical circuit on the N scale layout. Rob said that we should keep an eye out for Tom B's article in an upcoming edition of Railroad Model Craftsman. Ron M said that he has the Digitrax manual on disc if anyone wants to see it.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:45 am.

The regular meeting was so successful that it was followed a week later by another. Since there is no reference in the regular meeting report that the second meeting was planned, we’ll assume that it just sort of happened.

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 11:10 am, May 10, 2014

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

PROXIES: None

NEW BUSINESS: Paul F stated the purpose of the meeting was to determine if the club wanted to purchase an A/C unit for the back workroom. The electrical circuits are already in place for it. Tom B, who missed the regular meeting, wanted to know if this unit would heat as well as cool. Paul said it would not heat. As reported in the regular meeting notes above, the cost for such a unit is prohibitive. We will continue to heat with space heaters. Moral of the story: attend the meetings and listen to what happens. Duh.

ADDENDUM : Results of Search for A/C Unit in Workroom

LeRoy reminded the membership that the back workroom is gratis, and we should keep that in mind as we think about improving the space. Bob T wanted to know if this is in the lease.

Paul F answered that there is no lease. Bob Mills, former Parks Manager for the City of Commerce gave us verbal permission to use the back room ensure our access to the bathroom. Bob T moved that we purchase an A/C unit for the back workroom. Rob D seconded the motion. There was no discussion. Motion passed unanimously.

Rob D said that he and Paul had been discussing the need for a new front door. The existing door was built by Paul and Ray Y when we moved into the existing facility. Since then it has warped and the outer veneer is mostly gone. Because of its size it would have to be a custom door, which makes it more expensive. Paul said that he had priced such a door a couple of years ago and the price was $160.00. Today that same door would probably run about $250.00. Rob D made a motion that the club look into the cost of a new door. Motion seconded by Bob E. Tom B wondered it it wouldn’t be faster and a lot cheaper to cover the exterior with Masonite, but Paul and Rob agreed that the existing door is inferior in too many ways to seriously consider fixing it, so Paul called for a vote. Motion carried.

LeRoy suggested that we check the lease. Paul agreed.

Rob D stated that next week we need to do major clean up outside. Roof repair needs to be finished, and grounds need to be mowed and cleaned up.

Before he adjourned, Paul stated it was nice to see nine members present for an unprogrammed meeting. Everyone present nodded in agreement, or maybe they were dozing off. Hard to tell.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 11:29 am

WHAT THE %*##% --?

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

With all the facilities activity, there was little happening on the layout, so nothing was amiss.

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:

Did anyone notice that May 3 was National Train Day, and that not only were there exhibits in Dallas, but the Frisco museum was open for business, maybe for the first time?

June 19 — 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.

Age of Steam Roundhouse — While in Cleveland, Ohio for a train society meeting, I took advantage of the opportunity to visit Jerry Joe Jacobson’s Age of Steam Roundhouse, being built in nearby Sugarcreek, Ohio. This is an awesome project, being financed by Jacobson and his wife, mostly using funds from his sale of the Ohio Central railroad to the Gennesee and Wyoming Railroad in 2008. The entire complex consisting of an 18-stall roundhouse, a backshop, functional 115 foot turntable, and coaling station and water facilities, was a cornfield just two years ago. All but the coaling station and water facilities are mostly complete, and work continues. Because it is still in construction, is is not yet open to the public.

The buildings are all new, but carefully designed to the standards of traditional architecture, including massive use of wood (all treated for fire resistance of course) in the roundhouse roof structure. It just looks and feels right. For more information, check out the website – www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com

135 Acres of Trains – This is how the Age of Steam Roundhouse appeared in April 2013. Inside the roundhouse when I was there in June were two functional steam locomotives. Five in some stage of overhaul, and five more awaiting work. (ASR photo)