The Monthly Newsletter of the Wichita Toy Train Club Established 1986 Visit us on the web at www.wichitatoytrainclub.org January 2015 - Volume XXX Number 1 For the public, admission is $4.00 with a hand stamp from the Wichita Train Show. Pass this message to the person that shops and bakes at your home. Need shredded cheese, crackers, pop and desserts donated. Mike Shockey will serve his chili at 6:00 pm. Chili $4.00, pop $.75, desserts $.50-$1.00. Come enjoy and help raise money for WTTC. February 7-8, 2015 Wichita Train Show, Sat. 9:00-6:00, Sun. 11:00-4:00 2744 George Washington Blvd, Wichita, KS Two-Day Admission: $8.00. Save $1 with non-perishable food item. Children 10 & under free with paid adult. Scouts Free. Operating Layouts Home Layout Tours Clinics Over 100 Dealer Tables Model Contests Kid s Play Area Switching Contests Hourly Door Prizes NOTE: Since is not a WTTC sponsored train show, you will have to pay admission if you re not running trains. WTTC will not be taking any layouts to the Wichita Train Show. Thank you to Javen Schmucker who will furnish his modular layout at the show. A run schedule and overall track plan was sent to the membership. Equipment is limited to 042 curves and O gauge 3-rail trains only. The layout will operate conventional, TMCC or DCS trains. Two trains can be operated at the same time on this layout using TMCC and/or DCS.
Wichita Train Show Continued THE SEMAPHORE Contact Javen at 316-253-5918 or javen1927@gmail.com to schedule. Run Schedule: Wichita Train SATURDAY, FEB. 7 SUNDAY, FEB. 8 Show Time Slot Operator System Operator System 9 to 10 Mike Shockey 10 to 11 11 to 12 Jim & James Jones 12 to 1 Gary NIcholas 1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5 Rex Stevens 5 to 6 Javen Schmucker Frank Provenzano Gary Nicholas Rex Stevens Javen Schmucker FUTURE TRAIN SHOWS/SWAP MEETS February 21, 2015 (Sat 9am-3pm) - Payne County Model Railroad Club Winter Train Show, Payne County Expo Center, 4518 Expo Cir E, Stillwater, OK February 21 & 22, 2015 (Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 9am-3pm) Lawrence Model Railroad Club Train Show and Swap Meet, Douglas County Fair Grounds, Building 21, 2120 Harper ST, Lawrence, KS. Admission Adults $5 Donation & Children 12 & under Free. Information: www.lawrencemodelrailroadclub.org February 21 & 22, 2015 (Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm) - Lincoln Area Historical Railway Train Show, Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St., Lincoln, NE, Adults $7 Children 12 Free Seniors (60) $6 Contact Charles Buswell (402)-419-3988 buzzmmr@windstream.net, www.larhs.org February 28, 2015 (Sat 9am-4pm) - 12th Annual Great Northwest Arkansas Model Train & Historical Memorabilia Show, Holiday Inn & NWA Convention Center, 1500 S. 48th St., Springdale, AR New Item in the Gift Shop! JT s Mega-Steam Smoke Fluid, 2 oz. bottles $6.00, 8 oz. refill bottles $18.00 Various Scents 2
FEBRUARY ACTIVITIES! FEBRUARY 7, 2015 (Saturday) WTTC Business Meeting, 8:30 am Membership Renewal Special Open House Chili Feed, 3:00 8:00 FEBRUARY 12, 2015 (Thursday) WTTC Future Forum, 6:30 pm Discuss future that is important to WTTC membership, results of Permanent Layout Survey for O & S Gaugers regarding the layouts in Cohen Hall and adding the Cohen Layout Exhibit in 2015. FEBRUARY 14 15, 2015 (Saturday and Sunday) WTTC Open: Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 1 to 5 FEBRUARY 28 AND MARCH 1, 2015 (Saturday and Sunday) WTTC Open: Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 1 to 5 Parties/Tours February 14 (Saturday) Boy s Birthday Party, 2:30 DALLAS AREA TRAIN SHOW Submitted by Javen Schmucker On Saturday January 17 th Beth and I headed to Plano, Texas to attend the Dallas Area Train Show. This has been an annual event for many years and is one of the premier shows in Texas. The two day event pulls in from 2,200 to 4,200 in paid attendees. All of the vendors I spoke to on Sunday said they did very well on sales Saturday. This show has plenty of vendors selling scales from N to G. The G gauge layout and vendors were pretty much in one of the large meeting rooms of the facility. I don t recall seeing that much G gauge equipment for sale at any show I ve been to in five or six years. There was a lot of Lionel postwar, HO and N gauge trains for the taking. This show usually has one of the largest and best overall group of vendors in attendance. In my opinion this show is one of the best places to find O gauge 3-rail trains. Now let s review the layouts that were on display. If you come to this show be sure to bring your camera. There must have been twenty layouts there. They were difficult to count as they were in different parts of the facility. I guess I needed to make a list as my train of thought kept changing as I went from room to room. 3
Dallas Area Train Show Continued THE SEMAPHORE Two layouts that really caught my eye were the Texas Special group and the Texas Outlaws group. The first was the Texas Special Modular Group from the Dallas area. Their layout was eight feet by sixteen feet. They used Lionel 072 track and switches. The layout was very detailed with a very interesting track plan. Members of this group also build layouts for commercial display as well as individuals. They are currently building a custom layout for an individual who lives in Wichita, Kansas. I have included three photos for your review. The second layout was one that was just about beyond belief. This was a group that operates On30 gauge trains. They call themselves the Texas Outlaws On30 and I had a blast talking with them. On30 defined is O scale, quarter inch to the foot, with a track gauge of thirty inches. If I was ever to get into another gauge, but would probably end up divorced, this would be it. I have included a number of pictures of the downtown scene. The O scale buildings all had detailed interiors. The corner building had a model of their modular layout on the second floor. I tried my best to get a good picture of the detail. All along the layout were various scenes. One of my favorites was a small creek running under a wooden trestle. If you got up close you could actually hear the frogs singing. This layout was just awesome. 4
Dallas Area Train Show Continued THE SEMAPHORE These two layouts are generally at this show ever year. If you can make the trip it is well worth it. Not to leave out anyone there are two large S gauge layouts at this show as well as numerous HO and N gauge. Oh yes, one more thing. Augie said to say hi to everyone up in Kansas. He was there like always selling the latest from American Models S gauge trains. Editor s Note: Augie has his priorities correct: loves trains and Packers. Home School Learning Center On January 21, 2015, WTTC was visited by a Home School Learning Center. Renee Knoblauch with two other mothers and six children enjoyed learning about trains. The visitors were divided into three groups according to age. There were three sessions with two parts for each to attend. 12:30-1:00 General Visit Walk through tour. Rhonda Cubbage, Children s Room. Mike Shockey, timer. Session 1 - Bob Neill, Switching/John Flinn and Jim Hickman, Engines For switching, students shall learn how to switch tracks. For engines, students shall learn about steam and diesel engines and be able to identify differences. Pictured are Bob Neill, Jim Hickman and John Flinn with visitors. Session 2 Rolling Stock - Freight Cars, Adolph Weigant and Ron McLeran/Passenger Cars, Rich Meister and Jerald Cubbage For freight cars, students shall learn the types of freight cars used and their differences. For passenger cars, students shall learn the types of passenger cars and their differences. 5
Home School Learning Center Continued Pictured are Rhonda Cubbage, Jim Hickman, Adolph Weigant, Ron McLeran, Jerald Cubbage and Rich Meister. Session 3 - Railroad Safety, Tresa Miller/Engineer, Charley George For railroad safety, students shall learn the safety signs for trains, cars and pedestrians. For Engineer, students shall be able to ask questions regarding being an engineer. Pictured are Tresa Miller and Charley George. 1:00-1:30 Session 1/Group 1: Session 2/Group 2: Session 3/Group 3 1:30-2:00 Session 1/Group 2: Session 2/Group 3: Session 3/Group 1 2:00-2:30 Session 1/Group 3: Session 2/Group 1: Session 3/Group 2 2:30-3:00 Open visiting For the future visits from schools, WTTC now has a teaching plan to present to classroom groups. Learning was fun. Thank you to everyone that was able to help. Stories about your travels, a great train ride, layouts, engines, rolling stock, please submit to mshockey@hughes.net. 6
VISIT TO CHICAGOLAND LIONEL RAILROAD CLUB Before S-Fest in November, Rich and Nancy Parsons and Mike and Shari Shockey visited Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club. We attended on a work/run night and visited with members. You enter into the gift shop then to the large room of a train layout. Under the balcony, there are tables and chairs with a small kitchen for serving hot dogs, snacks and drinks. There is a balcony that you can view the entire layout to watch the trains. More next month! WTTC BUSINESS MEETING 3 January, 2015 called to order at 8:32 AM Vice President Tresa Miller presiding. VP Tresa Miller wished everyone a Happy New Year. Approval of December, 2014 minutes: Discussion regards Birthday Party costs. Motion to approve minutes by Weigant, 2 nd by R. Meister passed. 7
WTTC Business Meeting 3 January, 2015 Continued Treasurer s Report: Read by Treas. S. Pfannenstiel. Total accounts $30K. O gauge fund $420.42; S gauge fund $327.20. Income of $2,233 consist in part of admissions $242; dues $633; donations$1,000. Expenses of $928; consist in part of gift shop supplies $123; Utilities $321; supplies $88. Net income for December, 2014 $1,295. Motion to approve by Weigant, 2 nd by Hickman passed. 1. Budget: This is our 3 rd year and serious fund raising (to the tune of $8,000 + over what we have raised in the past) needs to be done in order for this building to be turned over to WTTC. Grant writing was discussed as well as businesses (Kohl s, Hallmark) that donate. WTTC also needs to get sponsorships. Good start with dues adjustment. 2. WTTC 500 Club: This proposed by J. Schmucker who presented. Would amount to a yearly pledge to be fulfilled in addition to membership. Might also be based on time donated to Club. Need to do presentations to other groups to get dollars. T. Cooper says get ideas to BOD. 3.New Members: Sec. Gable read application of John and Jennifer Miller. Motion to approve by Schmucker, 2 nd by M. Miller passed. Welcome to WTTC John and Jennifer!! 4. Cohen Layout: Viewing by membership on 12 January, 2015 at 6:30 PM. E-mail to be sent as important for membership to see this layout. 5. Home School Learning Center: Visit scheduled for 14 January, 2015 from 12:30 PM to 3 PM. Want to create learning stations for WTTC members to staff similar to the Scouting Merit Badge. Students will rotate to different stations around the Club. 6. Antique Auto Hot Chocolate Run: This group to stop at WTTC on Saturday, 24 January, 2014. Group rate of $4 per head will apply (+/-30 people). This is courtesy of Joe Stout (owns building across alley). 7. Gift Shop: Now selling JT s Mega Steam and we will be on company web site. 2oz. bottle sells for $6 tax included. Refill bottles (8oz.) Sell for $18 tax included. A caution was offered about how the smoke may affect some people and may want to use a neutral scent on open days. 8. Website: Sec. Gable and J. Schmucker now have access to site. So forward items to them. 9. Permanent layout survey for O and S Gaugers: Javen Schmucker to conduct survey one on one in person or by phone. Survey was sent out and some have been returned. Trying to complete by mid January. 10. Kadison rolling stock maintenance and display: M. Miller to coordinate cleaning of rolling stock. Dr. Kadison has stipulated the members be allowed to check out items and run them. 11. Birthdays: Tresa Miller, 16 th ; Mike Miller, 23 rd ; Mason Pfannenstiel 26 th. Tresa and Mike Miller, Anniversary on 1 January. Congratulations to all!! 12. Open discussion: A Wichita Train Show at Cessna Activity Center on 7-8 February. 2015. WTTC to have open house afternoon of the 7 th with Chili Feed. B Great American Train Show on 7-8 March, 2015 at Century II. C Motion by R. Parsons to have a table at Wichita Train Show to sell products (smoke fluid, cars, etc), place brochures etc. Also to allow up to $300 to purchase additional smoke fluid. 2 nd by T. Cooper. Motion passed. Crew Roster: M. Gable, T. Miller, M. Miller, R. Meister, C Meister, E. Gable, R. Parsons, Weigant, Hickman, J. Jones, Schmucker, Rodee, Nicholas, Alliston, S. Pfannenstiel, Madison Pfannenstiel, Perrier, T. Cooper. Respectfully submitted, Mike Gable, Secretary 8