Eight & Sand Special Edition Amherst Railway Society 1130 South Main Street Palmer, MA 01069 amherstrail.org a regular publication of the Amherst Railway Society The mission of the Amherst Railway Society is education regarding and the promotion of hobbies related to railroading Special thanks to the following Amherst Railway Society members who contributed to this special edition of the newsletter. Wayne Allen Steve Belforti Clark Huber Phil Johnson Tom LaRoche Greg Maas JB Mentzer Gary Munsey Alan Rice John Sacerdote A Tribute to Sudro Brown 1938-2018 It is impossible to capture all the contributions Sudro Brown made to the Amherst Railway Society in a few paragraphs. However, there is a common thread that runs through everything Sudro did for Amherst, and the larger railroad community. And, that thread is this: Sudro Brown was a difference-maker He had the intellect, work ethic, and perseverance to get things done. He had the ability to see around corners - envision what could be, not just what is. And, as a professional educator, he had the ability to lift others. He knew how to mentor, how to guide, and when needed, he knew how to give a gentle push. But above all, Sudro Brown was a respected friend. He earned that friendship by being a good listener, offering sound advice, and just plain being fun to be around. Memorial Service A memorial service will be held for Sudro Brown on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at the Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley, Massachusetts. Calling hours begin at 10:00 am, and the service at 11:00 am. 1
Amherst Belt Lines For all the other things Sudro did for Amherst, his heart resided with the Belt Lines. Sudro was a Belt Lines coordinator for 25 years, and a key figure in developing the modular model railroad system we have today. The Belt Lines started as a small modular model railroad in 1979. The layout would be set up each year at the fledgling bring & buy swap meets held on the University of Massachusetts campus in Amherst. When the event moved to the Eastern State Exposition fair grounds in 1982, the group had room for a larger layout, and the ability to run more trains. Except - direct current electronics could not support the club s ambitious growth plans. 2 Sudro Brown was instrumental in switching layout operations to Dynatrol in 1983. He learned the system, developed a strong working relationship with the manufacturer, and helped work out the bugs and limitations of the system. When the club outgrew the capabilities of Dynatrol in 1999, Sudro was there again, promoting the value of Digital Command Control (DCC) as the future of model railroad operations. DCC allowed modelers to operate trains like prototype railroads operate. And that was important, because Sudro saw model railroads as a means of educating audiences about real railroad operations. Trains have a purpose, and Sudro built that purpose into Belt Lines model railroad operations. Today, Belt Lines trains can be run from an iphone thanks to Sudro s addition of JMRI software to the DCC system. Sudro was a module builder, too. His first module, Fiasco Creek (later renamed to Amherst Junction), started as a 4-foot section and, over time, grew to a 14-foot module set. In addition, Sudro was a key contributor to the construction of Conn River Yard, and designed the reversing blocks installed in Bolton Junction.
Sudro also saw the Belt Lines as an important promotional tool for model railroading, the Amherst Railway Society, and the Railroad Hobby Show. He realized that the Belt Lines had to participate in other shows to maximize that potential, and started the process of integrating Belt Lines layouts into other model railroad shows. Today, the Belt Lines is a major attraction at six or seven railroad shows each year, and one of the most sought after model railroad organizations in New England. Finally, Sudro appreciated the entertainment value of model railroads, too, - the pure fun of running trains. He enjoyed handing a throttle to a youngster in the audience and teaching him or her how to guide a train around the Belt Lines layout. Amherst Railway Society In addition to his responsibilities as a Belt Lines coordinator, Sudro filled key leadership positions with the Amherst Railway Society. He served approximately five years as Treasurer, and another eight years as President of the organization. Sudro was a strong believer in railroad education and built that component into the mission of the organization. Sudro Brown - Sudro Brown II 3
He was also influential in setting up the relationship between the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts and the Amherst Railway Society for rail-fan trips. National Model Railroad Association Because of his strong interest in model railroad operations, Sudro was a regular participant in the NMRA Operations Special Interest Group (OPSIG), and would attend operating sessions throughout the Northeast, He would also host OPSIG sessions at his home. Sudro was often called on to present clinics on a variety of topics at NMRA conventions, including model railroad operations and the installation and use of JMRI software. Home Layout Sudro was a Wisconsin native, and his full-basement home layout was based on his experience with the Soo Line and Wisconsin Central railroads - and it was all about operations. The layout has very little scenery. He developed a rigorous operating scheme following time table/train order operations with both an AM and PM schedule, run against a 3:1 fastclock. In addition, the trains would change with the seasons - grain trains and ore trains would come and go throughout the year. His track work was impeccable. Derailments were rare. Prototype Railroading Sudro was an active member of the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society, regularly attending their annual conventions. He was also a Car Host on Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts excursions, and used that role to promote the Amherst Railway Society and the Railroad Hobby Show. And, he made several rail-fan trips with fellow Amherst Railway Society members. 4
Life Membership At the March 14, 2018 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Amherst Railway Society honored Sudro Brown with Life Membership in the organization. Life Membership recognizes extraordinary service to the Society over an extended period of time. Sudro Brown is only the fourth member of the organization to receive the Life Membership award. Inspiration Sudro Brown was a difference-maker for the Amherst Railway Society, and the larger railroad community. His knowledge and enthusiasm for railroads and model railroads has been an inspiration for many. Thank you, Sudro Brown. Lucia Brown - Sudro Brown 5