ETMRC  RAILNEWS

September 2015 http://etmrc.org

Up On the Roof – Paul F (left), Bob E (center), and Rob D (right) try to identify possible leaks before starting to reccoat the roof. They discovered that yes, there were multiple pinhole leaks, and worse, the silicon membrane applied to the roof sometime about 10 years ago was detaching from the roof. The job was finished August 22, and the roof didn’t leak anywhere during the storm two days later.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Lots happening, but not all of it has anything to do with the layouts, at least not directly. President Paul has again aimed efforts at trying to make the aging and leaky Commerce Municipal Gymnasium, the home of the Junction, weathertight. The first phase was caulking a gap that developed, possibly from the building settling, between the window lintels and the brick siding above the tops of the windows. in some places, this gap was a half inch wide. Now, this probably isn’t a serious problem for normal rains, but could be a problem during heavy Texas rains, especially when accompanied by strong, gusty winds. But somehow, brand new ceiling tiles are already water stained. Anyway, Paul poured a case or so of tubes of caulking compound into the cracks, especially along the east side of the building, and plans to repeat the process along the south wall. Meanwhile, a rooftop reconnaissance mission showed that the persistent leak on the corner of the south end storage area was likely due to damage to the roof protective membrane, which was applied by the city nearly a decade ago. So we started to fix that too.

This job got bigger, as patchwork fixes were likely to be counterproductive — water could wick under the surface membrane from leaks anywhere on the roof. Not good. There were pinhole leaks everywhere. Worse, cost for the silicone sealing materials to do the whole roof were estimated to be about $300. And this at a time we are paying nearly that much for a new main door, and still have expenses ahead as we continue to rework new room 2.

Now for some good news: the city has agreed to cover the cost of all the sealant we need to resurface the whole roof. This idea came out of a gab session during a Tuesday evening meeting. Might we be able to convince the city to exchange our roofing sealer receipts for rent to perhaps as much as $300? Well, the city didn’t want to do that, but agreed to reimburse the club for all the materials used to reseal the roof. All they need are receipts when the job is done. All this happened because the city Parks and Recreation Manager thinks we are good guys. He likes the fixes we have made, that we do what needs to be done without fussing at the city incessantly, and he also likes our layouts. All we have to do is to keep up the goodwill — and keep the receipts for the roof fixes. And better — the job was finished with two coats before the end of August.

The fixes to the N-gauge layout are much further along not quite done, mostly because the idea of “done” is a poor fit with the realities of model railroad layouts. But the curve in the southeast corner of the layout is slightly greater radius then before, most of the kinks and humps and dips are fixed and the approach to the bridge and tunnel will now accommodate most 6-axle diesel locomotives. Unfortunately, there is still a problem with E-units. The curves on several parts of the layout as still so sharp that the trucks on E-units foul on the steps, especially those to the cab entry. Ron’s N-gauge PCC streetcar can go pretty much anywhere without trouble, but that’s not exactly a train, much less a 6-axle locomotive.

We all need to focus on the upcoming show season which will be on us at the end of September. That means that we need to ensure that we have a variety of consists, freight and maybe even a passenger train or so, with local road names in evidence, and maybe even some steam outline locomotives, that are reliable. And after the roof and the installation of the new main door (yes, it is stored on the floor, but is very heavy — it weighs three LeRoys — and will take a group effort to install. Layout presentation is the next most important priority.

Does this edition of Railnews Look different to you? Editor Tom B’s computer crashed just after the August edition was sent, and all the files were lost — except for the attachment to the email distribution. But that was a .pdf file, the content of which could be copied, but the formatting was lost. Since as a computer operator, he ranks in the monumental incompetence category, reformatting became an “almost but not quite” exercise, especially with the new computer with a new upgraded but different operating system.

Maybe if — Resident track work expert Bob T and Bob A attempt to fit the yard lead turnout into the revised alignment. It was all for nought, however, as the need for a yard lead, especially at the extreme edge of the layout, was questioned, as the existing yard tracks could easily serve as a lead if more yard is desired later. The turnout was deleted, and the resulting curve became much smoother.

MEETINGS

The official weekly club work sessions are 9:00 to noon on Saturdays. The business meeting is the first Saturday of the month at sort of the same time. Some members are often present for work sessions, or just plain lollygagging on Wednesday and Friday mornings, about the same time as the Saturday schedule. but lately this has become a bit uncertain. If you want to come on a weekday morning and don’t have a key., it is best to call someone For those not yet retired, a group meets starting about 7:00 pm on Tuesday evenings for a couple of hours. 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.

September BUSINESS MEETING

The next scheduled business meeting is 9:00 am, Saturday, September 5, 2015..

August BUSINESS MEETING SUMMARY

Robert E, Secretary

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 9:20 am, August 1, 2015

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

PROXIES: None

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Accepted as published.

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

A new milestone this month: for the first time since anyone can remember, delinquent dues were only two digits! That’s gotta be progress.

COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: Paul F, Council Representative
The council has $deleted in bank; $deleted to be deposited; $deleted total deposits.

Table Sales to date are about normal for this time: Reservations for the Fall Show stand at 188, with advance sales for the Spring Show at 181. Most Work Assignment requests have been met, required hours work out to be 17.4 per club. We are signed for one share. To earn our share, our hours must be worked. Please sign up if you haven’t already done so. Advertising is being studied. Several billboard possibilities are being considered. One possibility at $deleted a month. Another at $deleted a month on Highway 75. Announcements included news that the Silver Spike Hobby Shop in Denton is closing, and the owner will retire. The Temple Show is scheduled for September 19-20. Next meeting 18 August 2015.

OLD BUSINESS: The new main entrance door has been ordered, with delivery in about two weeks. The original quote was $178.00; however, with the custom work required the price jumped to $278.00. Paul has started to purchase the silicon based roof coating. It is a bit pricey, at about $75 for 10 gallons. Membership voted to reimburse Paul for his expenses — he has paid for the door and the roofing material with his own credit card. Coating of the roof membrane will begin after the meeting today. The N-gauge layout renovation is coming along. Bob T added that if there will be space added for the yard someone needs to make a plan. Also, someone needs to decide if there will a reversing loop. Need to know for purposes of the control panel. Rob D suggested that if there is a loop, it should be constructed with a somewhat larger than minimum radius. Bob T said minimum radius would not be useful.After some discussion, the members present decided that a reversing loop was not needed, which simplifies Bob’s electrical design significantly.

NEW BUSINESS: Tom wanted to know if there is any interest in another operating session. The response was that there is indeed an interest, but there is so much going on there has been no time. Rob is interested in a more sophisticated process, building trains and and planning the drops using car cards, instead the tape on top of the car gimmick. Paul received a mail advertisement for electronic speed monitoring of trains. He passed the letter around the membership so that members could decide whether they would be interested. Rob said that he and Paul saw a demo at a train show and were asked if the club would like to participate in some Beta Testing. They had not heard from the supplier until now, but the beta testing idea has evidently gone away. He went on to say that speed can easily be calculated by hand and a calculator. Bob T quickly read the letter and determined that a computer dedicated to speed monitoring using the advertised program would be needed needed. It took little time to decide that it is not for us.

Bob T reminded Paul that there had been a discussion our continued participation in the council shares program. He said at the beginning our participation was important because the club needed the money. Currently the club costs are down, and monthly dues income is almost on schedule, so we have a substantial bank account. The question becomes since our need has declined, do we want to keep our share? Rob Dove agreed that all Bob said was true; however, we still have major expenses coming up; therefore, he thinks we should stay for another year. Bob E asked if we drop from the Share Program can we re-enter in the future if we choose? Bob T said yes, so long as we remain a member of the Council. Rob added that show shares could allow the club to remain solvent should membership drop in the future. The discussion concluded that we were already signed up for the upcoming show season, we would continue for this. Beyond that, this point will be taken up in the future.

Tom B expanded on Paul's Council Report on the Denton hobby shop closing. He had visited the Silver Spike recently and talked to the owner. The story was familiar: expenses are up; he has to renew his store lease and commercial license. His income has declined by 50% since 2004. The closing is inevitable. It is sad, because nation wide, the hobby is losing the kinds of services Silver Spike offered. Bob T said that he has been doing business with a shop in New England which offered similar services and they have closed as well.

Paul said there are storage cabinets available to the club. Rob said we need them. Paul will contact the person with the cabinets.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:02 am.

WHAT THE %*##% --?

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

No layout problem this time. With all the facility projects, it has seen little use. Certainly the bugaboo of dirty track is still with us, but this isn’t a problem unless the layout is used. We’ll probably find them in bushels as we prep the layouts for the upcoming open houses.

INFORMATION:

The following web sites are excellent sources of supplies (1) and technical data (2). (3) Is Rob D’s blog on the Model Railroad Hobbyist website. It is updated almost daily. Two of our members also have personal web sites (4) and (5). Site (5) is BobTeeter’s summary of northeast Texas railroads. Site (6) 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://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/18644?
4. http://www.coslar.us for Ed M's personal web site
5. http://geusnet.com/~rteeter/ for Bob T's personal web site
6. www.tamu-commerce.edu/library/collections/digital for Commerce Texas photos

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

September 12, 2015 — NMRA LSR Division 3 — Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Allen

September 15, 2015 — North Texas Council of Railroad Clubs, Irving.

September 26–27, 2015 — NTCRC Plano 1 Show (AKA Ft Worth memory), Plano Centre

October 10–11, 2015 — Texas Western Show, Texas Western Show, Forest Hill Convention Center

November 14, 2015 — Cowtown Show, Handley Center, Ft Worth

January 16–17, 2016 — NTCRC Plano 2 Show (Dallas) Plano Centre

February 28, 2016 — Allen Show probably in station along the old and mostly nonexistent former H&TC (SP) line to Denison

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.

Austin Steam Train SP 786 Restoration Update Work continues of the SP Mikado restoration. Obviously they will miss the 2015 vacation season, but there’s always 2016. Here’s a summary of the major tasks completed and the next phase:

• The trailing truck, now with the new bushing welded in, has been painted.
• Trailing truck pivot has been aligned and tack welded into the support strap and will be attached to the frame with tapered bolts.
• All the wheel restoration work is complete.
• Pilot retrieved from the parts pile, cleaned a nd primed. Some welding work is required and then it will be finish painted and on display at the passenger platform until installed on the frame.
• The main driving boxes are being machined at Strasburg using a vertical slotter with a rotary table. Once machined, the crown brass and babbeting will be added.
• An Ohio foundry is recasting the other six driving boxes. Once cast, Strasburg will machine them as well.
• Remaining parts inventoried, springs and rigging laid out in the yard.
• Appliances such as the turbine, power reverse, cold water pump for the feedwater heater, cross compound air pump, air jacks and air motors for the reamers have been lubricated and operated as part of our periodic maintenance program.
• Periodic cleaning and coating the rods with a moisture resistant coating which has held up well considering all the rain we have received in the Spring months.

Next up on the project list will be:

• Installing the studs on the new cylinder saddle, fitting the new valve and piston head castings, blanking off the exhaust ports and running a hydro test on the cylinder saddle.
• Begin drilling and tapping holes for remaining studs on the lower half of the smoke box as well as installation of the lower hinge so the face can be mounted on the smoke box.
• Spot re-priming and painting the frame.

Not quite yet – The ASTA SP Mike 786 will look like this someday, but right now, it is mostly only a partially built kit. (photo and data from ASTA)