Newsletter January 2017

Prez Pic The Prez sez —

This is the end of the year and it has flown by. By the time you read this, it may already be next year. Nevertheless, I wish and hope that everyone has or had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The progress the club has made is staggering. We have accomplished so much. Next year, yep that’s 2017, should be so much easier. We have a new room, more than one toilet which gets used together often and a new area for meetings. Surprised? Well, for sure, 2017 will have a lot more, and I’m confident they’ll be good. Thanks — Paul

A First – The December meeting was the first to be held in the new room. It was much more roomy and comfortable than in the old new room, but the curse of a horizontal surface is already evident with all the stuff on the left rear countertop. In rapt attention are (left to right) George W (legs only), Tom B, Bob A, Ron M busily working on accounts, President Paul, Tom McC, Ray Y, (Bob T hidden left of Ray). (R. D photo)

THE ROAD AHEAD

We are way along, but there are still things to do. We will still need to buy some paint, a toilet, and an air conditioning unit for the new room. There are also the on going repairs to the building that require things like caulking, typically by the case, insulation, lights, and repair parts for all of these items as they need attention. Paul and Rob typically work on the clubhouse every week on Saturday and Sunday, usually a full day on Saturday and at least half a day on Sunday. This past Saturday a small leak was discovered in the roof in the area between the Roy King Layout and the area Bob T presently occupies on the table. Saturday afternoon Rob and Paul were on the roof finding and patching the area that might be responsible for the leaks. A section of roof fabric may need to be added in this area to act as flashing to prevent reoccurrences.

The main reason for mentioning these things is to make members aware of things that since they are not involved in they may be unaware of. This is not an attempt to shame members not involved into doing these things. Somethings are best left to specific members to complete, as it is better to have it done properly, than done incorrectly by someone with good intentions but not the proper skill set. Again, this is not a put down on any members either, as our group has many different skill sets, both physical and technical.Not one of us has all the skill sets that the club utilizes, this is a true case of synergy in action as together we really are capable of much more than any of us can accomplish as an individual. (contributed by Rob D)

Unhaunted House — One of Ron M's latest efforts is this total rebuild of a nearly disintegrated house on the Roy King trolley layout. (Rob D photo)

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.

NOTICE — The next scheduled business meeting is 9:00 am, Saturday, January 7, 2017.

December BUSINESS MEETING SUMMARY

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

Discussion of the delinquent dues turned to our expenses, and why it is so very important that dues are current from all members. Expenses are high, as they have been most of the year. One thing that was brought up was the rent for our space. We pay $deleted175.00 per month. The dues cover this with a small amount left over. We have several members behind in their dues. This causes the club to go into the reserve money to pay expenses. It is important to keep up to date on this.

In addition to paying the rent other items also need to be purchased from time to time. Materials that get used up during our repairs and improvements of the facility are some of these items. Materials are scavenged, found on sale etc. and or donated by members of the carpentry club from time to time. This benefits the club a great deal. We will still need to buy some paint, a toilet, and an air conditioning unit for the new room. There are also the on going repairs to the building that require things like caulking, typically by the case, insulation, lights, and repair parts for all of these items as they need attention.

Please contact Ron if you are behind in your dues or if you are unsure and get caught up as soon as possible.

COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: Submitted by Council Rep Paul F
There was no treasurer’s report because Terry forgot the meeting, but he will go to Plano Centre to deposit the final payment for the 2017 Fall Show, scheduled for September 30 - October 1, 2017. Table sales are 233 so far and a few more may be added before the show date. Last year, 2981 tables were sold, with 292 the year before, so there is a slow decline. Several dealers who have been at past shows were contacted said they had not received email contracts, a situation that will be corrected. Advertising director reported that the advertising sticker on the front page of the Dallas Morning News was seen by 61,000 people, and was cited as the reason cited by 93 respondents as the reason they attended, significantly better than the other forms of advertising. The possibility of advertising both the fall and winter shows together which might save $3000 or more. Dealers strongly feel that the Council must advertise the shows to build attendance.

The possibility of having a credit card acceptance booth was discussed. This would require training at least two persons on the proper use of the machines at both doors, plus the cost of buying the equipment and setting up accounts. While the Council would receive 3 to 4% of each transaction processed, the consensus was that issue needed further study, and would not be attempted for the January show. Instead, folks with plastic will be directed to the nearby AT machines as has been done for the past few years. Next meeting: January 17.

ETMRC BUSINESS: Our next open house is Jan 20th and the 21st 2017. There are still two unfilled sign ups for Saturday early entry to be filled. Bob T is working on electrical problems on layout. There has been a particularly vexing problem with the inner loop by the Bird River bridge. Bob has discovered switches are not soldered and that rail joints are not soldered. Discussions included replacing stretches of track with multiple joints with longer pieces. Bridge track sections and the requirement to keep the bridge semipermanently connected with the ability to remove it for moving or maintenance complicates significant replacements. Rob moved that he do a comprehensive check and report findings at the next meeting, which was seconded by Bob T. and passed.

Bob T. also mentioned that we still have lights not working in the over the main layout. They have been out for some time and need ballasts replaced or lamps replaced. A major challenge is that many of the dead lamps are over the main yard, which makes repairs or changes difficult to avoid damage to the track and scenery below. Several alternatives were discussed for access and the possibility of moving the light fixtures over the aisles. In any case, most of the work must be done by younger members who know what they are doing, which leaves Paul, Rob and Tom M. as the stuckees. In addition to the main layout lights, plumbing and other electrical projects were discussed, including a new toilet for the second stall in the new room, possibly relocating the alarm bell to a space between the second and third rooms was discussed and agreed on, with a goal of completion before the January show open house.

When at the clubhouse during an open house, members should be up and engage with the visitors. We may attract a new member or two by doing this and will keep folks so inclined from doing damage to or stealing something from the club house. It is also important that we have at least two members in attendance all the time the doors are open for an event.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:08

WHAT THE %*##% --?

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

The Easy DCC system on the King trolley layout has joined the other DCC-related problems. On the trolley layout, Ron M. reported that sometimes the system will not power up, or will only go up part way. But sometimes, it works just fine. Example: one Saturday, everything was fine. The next Wednesday, nothing worked. The next Saturday it worked long enough to permit operation over the entire layout a couple of times, and then stopped, not to be active again. Ron has looked at all the wire joints, cleaned and reworked as many connections as he could find, but the glitches continue. Unless a miracle happens, it will be all analog DC for the open house.

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 Bob T’s summary of northeast Texas railroads. Site (6) has some interesting photos of Commerce area railroading over the years.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

January 17, 2017 — Borth Texas Council of Railroad Clubs, Irving.

January 20, 2017 — LSR Division 3 Meeting — Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Allen

January 20 – 21, 2017 — NTCRC Plano 2 Show (Dallas) Plano Centre

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 ASSOCIATION — It’s been a while since the goings on at ASTA have been noted, so here’s the status as of this past September. The Austin Steam Train Association (ASTA) Southern Pacific Mikado 786 is still a pile of parts, but is closer to operation than ever. All the wheel and bearing work is done, as is overhaul of all the auxiliaries, which have been tested and await final installation. Boiler work and hydrostatic test is done. Even the new cylinder block, two 7.5 ton iron castings, has been fully machined. What’s left? As of September, 2016:

All the work will restore the 100 year old locomotive to better than new condition (it was superheated and a feedwater heater system was added in 1941), after 17 years of repair and rework. Will 786 operate in 2017? Maybe. ASTA hopes so, but with any locomotive kit, there are a lot of parts to be assembled, and lots of challenges remain. In the interim, ASTA’s daily train from Cedar Park, 33 miles to Burnet and back, carries on behind ex Santa Fe Alco 1960- built RSD-15 “Alligator” number 442, itself a museum piece and the only operational RSD-15 anywhere.

Still a kit – ASTA’s 2-8-2 Mikado still needs hours of assembly to look like a locomotive again. (ASTA photo)

ETMRC