Sheldon Harrison Report on NMRA Annual National Train Show in Orlando

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Mitchell Hubbard
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August 2017 Volume 22 Number 8 Sheldon Harrison Report on NMRA Annual National Train Show in Orlando From former BBMRA Vice President Sheldon Harrison For the first time in four years, the National

I was fortunate enough to have the time to visit the Orlando show on the 5 th and the 6 th of August and spent quite some time browsing around.

1 August 2017 Volume 22 Number 8 Sheldon Harrison Report on NMRA Annual National Train Show in Orlando From former BBMRA Vice President Sheldon Harrison For the first time in four years, the National Train Show revisited the Southeastern United States, being held in Orlando, FL this year. The last show in our region was the excellent Atlanta show in I was fortunate enough to have the time to visit the Orlando show on the 5 th and the 6 th of August and spent quite some time browsing around. There were several layouts on display ranging in size from the new Nano scale desktop arrangements to a 1/8 scale static display of what I think is a GP40 powered by deep cycle lead acid (golf cart type batteries) along with a tank car. I have seen this display at other regional shows. *** BBMRA Meetings *** August 15, 2017: 7:30 p.m. Third Tuesday BBMRA Meeting: Post-Transition Railroading, Andy Millott. Special 7 p.m. planning session for HO folks. Old Antique Car Museum, 3550 Mahan Drive. September 19, 2017: 7:30 p.m. Third Tuesday BBMRA Meeting: Running Trains. Old Tallahassee Antique Car Museum, 3550 Mahan Drive. As usual, there were spectacular displays of miniature craftsmanship at all scales with no shortage of mountains, trestles, tunnels, industries, rivers, ports, prototypical diorama scenes etc. on display. The highlights in my mind were the large layouts from Southeast Florida in both N and HO scales depicting themes like the Florida East Coast line (and associated scenes along the entire stretch from Bowden Yard to the Port of Miami, complete with containerships, gantry cranes etc.) I saw numerous small Z and N scale layouts as well, along with a large Lego layout using a mix of track and battery powered rolling stock. As usual, there was a full complement of vendors selling all manner of model train related items and a few non train related items. Everything from Z scale up to G was on sale along with accessories like hats, shirts, micro Continued on Page Four Large Scale: No Sunday Sessions for 2 Weeks; New 0-27 Layout From Large Scale Coordinator Sam Miller Thanks to all you for your cards and calls and other expressions of kindness about the passing August 1 of Linda s Mother, Gladys Medlin. Linda is doing very well and we are going ahead with our cruise to Canada out of Boston August Because of our trip, we won t have the Lionel Group Sunday get-togethers August 20 and August 27, but it will be business as usual beginning Sunday, September 3, even though that is Labor Day Weekend. Many of you have also been traveling this summer and it will be great to get everyone back together in September.

2 Doug Gyuricsko has been planning a lighter, new 0-27 setup which we will use during BBMRA meeting operating sessions. Let s have a workday sometime in September at Doug s house near Lloyd. More on this later. Sometime this fall, we will return to the Big O Layout near Crawfordville. More on that later. The Dothan train show is September and I am a vendor, working with George Allen of Eastpoint. I have quite a bit of Lionel and MTH items which I got from Paul Malek. I will be loading up Friday, September 15, and encourage anyone interested in seeing it all and not able to go to Dothan to drop by. Come between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. if you can. Paul has lived in Panama City the last year and was sometimes over here for our Sunday sessions. He also was a vendor at the June BBMRA show. He has returned to Phoenix, AZ, to work for at least two years toward his retirement benefits. We will miss Paul, but hope he comes back to Panama City after he retires, which is likely if his son and granddaughters continue to live there. Steve Pollach and Joe Furiato have returned after summer travels, and some medical procedures before that. Jack Herzog is still in California and Mel McCarty is still in North Carolina, but both are coming back in September. Cal Ogburn s daughter, Ruth, fell and broke a hip and had surgery, but she is recovering well. 27 th HO Planning Session August 15, 7 p.m. From HO Coordinator Art Wilson: We want as many HO people to come early, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, August 15, for a planning session. We would like to discuss new ideas and plans for our group. Thanks a million. 2017/18 Officers Elected July : BBMRA Officers (All were incumbents and were elected to another term.) President: Andy Zimmerman. Vice President: Paul Schnieder. Secretary: Ed Schroeder. Treasurer: Drew Hackmeyer. HO Coordinator: Art Wilson. Small Scale Coordinator: Garth Easton. Large Scale Coordinator: Sam Miller. BBMRA Dues - Time to Pay Up Annual dues of the Big Bend Model Railroad Association are due now and will be delinquent after August 31. Dues remain at $20, which is pretty darn attractive. Members can renew during the July and August meetings or by mail through: Drew Hackmeyer, Treasurer 3201 Hawks Landing Tallahassee, FL 32309

BBMRA Important Events in 2017!! Help make this calendar complete email items to smiller@flains.org BBMRA Meetings: 3 rd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Old Antique Car Museum, 3550 Mahan Drive.

3 BBMRA Important Events in 2017!! Help make this calendar complete items to BBMRA Meetings: 3 rd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Old Antique Car Museum, 3550 Mahan Drive. Lionel Interest Group Operating Sessions: Sundays, 1:30 p.m., resuming September 2, Sam Miller s house in Woodgate. Call for more information. August 15, 2017: 7:30 p.m. Third Tuesday BBMRA Meeting. August 19-20, 2017: The Villages Summer Train Show, 9a to 4p on Saturday, 10a to 3p on Sunday. The Villages near Leesburg. September 16-17, 2017: Wiregrass Annual Model Railroad Show & Sale, National Peanut Festival and Fairgrounds, Dothan, AL. September 19, 2017: 7:30 p.m. Third Tuesday BBMRA Meeting. October 17, 2017: 7:30 p.m. Third Tuesday BBMRA Meeting. October 2017: Celebrate the Halloween Season at Veterans Memorial Railroad in Bristol. Many of the special Halloween trains will be powered by VMRR s two-foot gauge Crown Live Steam Locomotive. Dates to be announced November 21, 2017: 7:30 p.m. Third Tuesday BBMRA Meeting. December 9, 2017, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tallahassee Museum Fall Farm Days; details of BBMRA setup still being planned. December 15, 21, 2017: 6:30 p.m. BBMRA Holiday Reception, Sam Miller & Linda Medlin, Woodgate. December 2017: Winter Tampa Model Show, Saturday & Sunday, Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL. Dates to be announced. December 2-3, 2017: 2017 Winter MRC Train Show, Pensacola, Hadji Shrine Temple, 800 North Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL , 9 to 5, Saturday, 10 to 4 Sunday, Central. Admission $6 for adults. December 2017: Celebrate the Winter Holiday Season with the Polar Bear Express at Veterans Memorial Railroad in Bristol. Dates to be announced. January 27, 2018; 35 th Annual Children s Day, Museum of Florida History, Capitol Complex; Details of BBMRA setups being planned.

Joe Furiento attended last year and says it is an outstanding event. Roy Mantooth used to go to this one.

4 Villages, Dothan Train Shows Two major model train shows not too far from Tallahassee are coming up soon. This weekend, August 19-20, is the Villages Summer Train Show, in the Villages near Leesburg; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Joe Furiento attended last year and says it is an outstanding event. Roy Mantooth used to go to this one. September 16-17, 2017: Wiregrass Annual Model Railroad Show & Sale, National Peanut Festival and Fairgrounds, Dothan, AL. On Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (This is Central time.) Many of our club members are regulars at this fine show which is two hours from Tallahassee. The FSU- Miami football game is that Saturday night, but there is time to get back, either to Doak Campbell Stadium or home television. Sam Miller from our club will have three tables over there. NMRA 29 th Annual National Train Show (Orange County Convention Center) From Page One tools etc. I noted Porky and Avon Bacon presence. The show appeared to have been well attended (Hard not to when in Orlando in the summer with lots of families seen.) Overall, I found the show very interesting, but probably a bit less so than Atlanta four years ago and it was nice to see the NMRA back in the Southeast.

7 Big Bend Model Railroad Association Minutes for Meeting of July 15, 2017 President Andy Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 7:34 P.M.; about 30 were present. The Secretary s minutes for June 20, 2017 were accepted as presented. Treasurer s report: Drew Hackmeyer reported that we are in the black; dues of $ 20 for are now payable; at the train show new memberships were received. 44 have paid dues so far. From the show we netted approximately $ 650. Report was accepted as presented. President s Report: 520 paid by cash; by arm band count 530 were admitted; the paid gate was slightly better than last year, i.e., 520 vs President Andy and Treasurer Drew shared comments about non-member, non-vendor roaming the buildings on Friday, buying out all Drew s stuff and then walking off to the BBMRA s detriment. Drew had been led to believe the guy was a vendor. vendors were down by 2 from 2016; Trains by Johnson was the big loss but vendors all seemed happy with their sales. some disappointment about lack of support by Democrat s Limelight. appreciated club members help, especially the show committee President Andy especially appreciated getting home by 6 P.M. Saturday evening Reports: Large scale - Doug Gyuricsko (for Sam Miller) said that Sam s mother-in-law is not well. HO - Art Wilson - expressed appreciation the T-Trak crew swork at show Timesaver Layout - Joe Haley Increased number of kids, at least 75 to 80 Rewiring worked just fine N Scale: Garth Easton Thank everyone who helped with layout Work party scheduled for weekend of 12 August Education coordinator: Lisa Blair - schedule conflict, absent Good of the group: Barrett Johnson - reminded members of NMRA show in Orlando July 30 to August 6. New members Gary Edwards - Lionel and N Scale Kelly Elliott - secretary does not know scale and if first name is accurately reported. Election: officers and division coordinators were elected unanimously. The business meeting ended at 7:55 P.M. Program: Show pictures taken by Sal Martocci and Dave Blodgett were shown by President Andy. I.e., BBMRA live steamers; Pensacola HO & N scale layouts, Sam s Disney layout, the time share layout, Doug Gyuricsko s aircraft carrier and other layouts. The slide presentation ended around 8:35 Respectfully submitted. August 7, 2017 Ed Schroeder, Secretary

Show Committee Getting to Work on BBMRA 27 th Annual Show & Sale June 23

March 2018 Volume 23 Number 3 Show Committee Getting to Work on BBMRA 27 th Annual Show & Sale June 23 Andy Zimmerman and the Show Committee have kicked off full-scale planning for the 27 th Annual Show