Nov. 2009 Newsletter
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THE FIRST STATE MODEL RAILROAD
CLUB, INC. NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2009
NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting of The First State Model Railroad Club, Inc. will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at 7:30 P.
M. at the Jarrell Station at 1282 McKee Road (the Old REA/Magnum Building) in Dover, DE. From Route 1 or Route
13, go west on Scarborough Road about two miles and the building is on the right. From Dover, off Route 8, take
Salisbury Road north, which turns into McKee Road and the building is on the left next to Kenton Child Care Center.
Come early and run some trains. If lost, call 302-222-7552.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
The last meeting was short, but a lot of topics were discussed. It was brought up to have a home round robin for the
meetings but then we voted to have it during the summer when the weather is better and more day light to find the
homes.
The White Elephant Table is doing fine with numerous items sold or traded or free.
The Open House for November 7, 2009, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. was discussed and a lot of projects need to be
accomplished on Thursday night. Jim Valle and Reggie Finch are working diligently on the Horse Shoe with
mountains and a farm scene. Les Souder and Kevin Herrmann are fine-tuning the New Yard and I guess the new
Harrington. Bill Benzin, Dick Lush, Jim Reed, Paul Roy and Ed Mace are sprucing up modules. Richard Stockslager
has done it again. He has fabricated a lift bridge so we don’t have to duck under the modules. Track was laid by
Richard, Jim Valle and Reggie Finch. Jim Thompson is to wire the module by Thursday, he hopes. Stop out and see
it. It is to replace Bob Fluke’s wave module for the present time.
The Boy Scout Merit Badge Project was discussed and as of the meeting and this printing, no entries have been
received. It was mentioned to set up a committee to contact the Boy Scout Council and possibly have a program at
one of the Boy Scout events locally.
The Eastern States Exposition Train Show in West Springfield, MA. is scheduled for January 29, 30 and 31, 2010.
Paul Buckley is possibly setting up something for Friday with a train layout. More information will be provided at the
upcoming meeting. Dick Lush is in charge of reservations, so if you are interested in attending this event, please
contact him soon. This is a weekend for husbands and wives in a wonderful five-star hotel.
The website set up by Ed Mace is running smoothly with a lot more hits. Check it out and see some of the Club
layouts. www.fsmrrc.org
There was an interest in a “dinner train” ride. The Wilmington and Western Railroad was suggested. We are looking for
a coordinator and suggestions when to take the trip. Call 302-998-1930 or e-mail the website www.wwrr.com for dates
and times. Let your thoughts be known at the next meeting.
The Club Picnic at Bill and Kathleen Schrodel’s was a great success, even though the weather did not cooperate.
Approximately 18-20 people showed up. Bill had his garage set up for the 22-feet run-off track and numerous table set
ups due to the rainy day. Bill also had his “O” gauge layout up and running. The kids and adults spent lots of time
enjoying his full basement and about eight trains running at one time. David McWethy brought out an “O”gauge train
to run, but the wheel flanges wouldn’t go off the switches. I guess new is better! Kathleen’s mother had been taken to
the hospital that morning and we felt terrible that she had stayed to host the picnic. I got back with Bill and he said
she seemed to be doing okay. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill, Kathleen and her Mother. I forgot, but between
the raindrops, newcomers were taken out to the Schrodel’s fish pond to see the largest gold fish that I have ever seen.
Several of the fish are over two feet long. And everyone had to take a stroll through the Japanese Garden. The food
was never-ending and just about every dish you could imagine was there to enjoy. Then the Locolympics began.
There were lots of entries and eleven categories to compete in. The First category was the Fastest Pocket Rocket with
five units and the fastest speed was 6 seconds until Les Souder put his Little Switcher on the track. It went twenty feet
in 3 seconds, now that is super fast!!! The Second category is the Slowest Steam, with Jim Valle going 20 feet in 21
seconds. The Third category was Fastest Steam with Jim Valle going the distance in 12 seconds. The Fourth
category, the Steam Pull, went to Jim Valle’s Steam Loco pulling 3 spikes 10 feet 9 inches. The Fifth category was
the Slowest Diesel. We all thought Jim Thompson had it made going 20 feet in 32 seconds until Les put his slow
diesel on and it went 20 feet in, are you ready for this, 20 feet in 4 minutes and 8 seconds. Yes, I said 4 minutes. The
Sixth category was Fastest Diesel with Jim Valle going the distance in 8 1/2 seconds. The Seventh category was
Fastest RDC/GG1 with little Kenny Haltom’s RDC going the distance in 9 seconds. The Eighth category was Diesel 4
Axle Pull with Jim Thompson’s Hobbytown pulling 3 spikes 8 feet. The Ninth category was the Six Axle Pull with
David McWethy pulling two spikes 10 feet. The Tenth category was the Single Motor Pull with Les’ standard old
Hobbytown pulling 5 spikes 9 feet 6 inches -- which has yet to be defeated. The last category and new this year is an
Open Pull not to exceed 3 Engines, with 3 of Jim Thompson’s Hobbytowns pulling 5 spikes all the way for a full pull.
As you can see we need new winners, so pull out some of the old stuff which is slow or fast and upset this year’s winners
next picnic. All in all, it was a great day even with the rain. Again, thanks to Bill and Kathleen Schrodel for hosting
the picnic and Locolympics.
See you at the meeting on November 10, 2009. Jim Thompson, President
UPCOMING SHOWS:
November 7, 2009 Glyndon Vol. Fire Dept., 4812 Butler Rd.
Rt. 128, Glyndon, MD. POC: 410-833-1262.
November 8, 2009 Wayne Train Show, Wayne P.A.L. Hall,
Wayne, N. J. POC: 732-845-5966.
November 8, 2009 Plumbers Union Hall, 2791 South Hampton
Rd., Phila., PA. POC: 856-784-0038.
November 14, 2009 Northern Virginia Model R/R, 231 Dominion
Rd., Vienna, VA. POC: 703-938-5157.
November 14-15, 2009 Allentown Train First Frost, Allentown Fair-
Grounds Agricultural Hall, Allentown, PA.
POC: 610-821-7886.
November 21, 2009 Hartly Fire Hall, Hartly, DE.
POC: 302-492-3755.
November 21, 2009 Keystone Train Collectors, St. Philip Apostle
Catholic Church, 2111 Millersville Pike,
Lancaster, PA. rontrain@ptd.net
November 22, 2009 Abington Train Show, Bryner Chevrolet
NOTE: Used Car Showroom, 140 Old York Road,
(THIS IS A SET-UP) Jenkintown, PA. POC: 215-345-5017.
( FOR FSMRRC )
November 22, 2009 Westminster Agricultural Center,
Westminister, MD. POC: 410-848-4929.
November 28, 2009 Tall Cedars #45 Hall, 2501 Putty Hill Ave.,
Baltimore, MD. POC: 443-841-8022.
November 29, 2009 Memorial Hall, York Expo Center, 334
Carlisle Ave., York, PA. POC: 717-424-4004
November 29, 2009 Independence Division-TTOS, Green Lane &
Radcliffe St, Bristol, PA. POC: 215-788-5353.
December 6, 2009 Gilbertsville Fire House, 1454 East Phila.
Ave., Rt. 73, Gilbertsville, PA. 215-657-2477.
December 6, 2009 Whistle Stop Train Show, Woodward Fire
Hall, Rt. 220, Williamsport, PA.
POC: 570-326-4280.
December 20, 2009 St. Joseph High School, 40 Chestnut Ridge
Road, Montvale, N.J. POC: 732-845-5966.
CLUB, INC. NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2009
NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting of The First State Model Railroad Club, Inc. will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at 7:30 P.
M. at the Jarrell Station at 1282 McKee Road (the Old REA/Magnum Building) in Dover, DE. From Route 1 or Route
13, go west on Scarborough Road about two miles and the building is on the right. From Dover, off Route 8, take
Salisbury Road north, which turns into McKee Road and the building is on the left next to Kenton Child Care Center.
Come early and run some trains. If lost, call 302-222-7552.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
The last meeting was short, but a lot of topics were discussed. It was brought up to have a home round robin for the
meetings but then we voted to have it during the summer when the weather is better and more day light to find the
homes.
The White Elephant Table is doing fine with numerous items sold or traded or free.
The Open House for November 7, 2009, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. was discussed and a lot of projects need to be
accomplished on Thursday night. Jim Valle and Reggie Finch are working diligently on the Horse Shoe with
mountains and a farm scene. Les Souder and Kevin Herrmann are fine-tuning the New Yard and I guess the new
Harrington. Bill Benzin, Dick Lush, Jim Reed, Paul Roy and Ed Mace are sprucing up modules. Richard Stockslager
has done it again. He has fabricated a lift bridge so we don’t have to duck under the modules. Track was laid by
Richard, Jim Valle and Reggie Finch. Jim Thompson is to wire the module by Thursday, he hopes. Stop out and see
it. It is to replace Bob Fluke’s wave module for the present time.
The Boy Scout Merit Badge Project was discussed and as of the meeting and this printing, no entries have been
received. It was mentioned to set up a committee to contact the Boy Scout Council and possibly have a program at
one of the Boy Scout events locally.
The Eastern States Exposition Train Show in West Springfield, MA. is scheduled for January 29, 30 and 31, 2010.
Paul Buckley is possibly setting up something for Friday with a train layout. More information will be provided at the
upcoming meeting. Dick Lush is in charge of reservations, so if you are interested in attending this event, please
contact him soon. This is a weekend for husbands and wives in a wonderful five-star hotel.
The website set up by Ed Mace is running smoothly with a lot more hits. Check it out and see some of the Club
layouts. www.fsmrrc.org
There was an interest in a “dinner train” ride. The Wilmington and Western Railroad was suggested. We are looking for
a coordinator and suggestions when to take the trip. Call 302-998-1930 or e-mail the website www.wwrr.com for dates
and times. Let your thoughts be known at the next meeting.
The Club Picnic at Bill and Kathleen Schrodel’s was a great success, even though the weather did not cooperate.
Approximately 18-20 people showed up. Bill had his garage set up for the 22-feet run-off track and numerous table set
ups due to the rainy day. Bill also had his “O” gauge layout up and running. The kids and adults spent lots of time
enjoying his full basement and about eight trains running at one time. David McWethy brought out an “O”gauge train
to run, but the wheel flanges wouldn’t go off the switches. I guess new is better! Kathleen’s mother had been taken to
the hospital that morning and we felt terrible that she had stayed to host the picnic. I got back with Bill and he said
she seemed to be doing okay. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill, Kathleen and her Mother. I forgot, but between
the raindrops, newcomers were taken out to the Schrodel’s fish pond to see the largest gold fish that I have ever seen.
Several of the fish are over two feet long. And everyone had to take a stroll through the Japanese Garden. The food
was never-ending and just about every dish you could imagine was there to enjoy. Then the Locolympics began.
There were lots of entries and eleven categories to compete in. The First category was the Fastest Pocket Rocket with
five units and the fastest speed was 6 seconds until Les Souder put his Little Switcher on the track. It went twenty feet
in 3 seconds, now that is super fast!!! The Second category is the Slowest Steam, with Jim Valle going 20 feet in 21
seconds. The Third category was Fastest Steam with Jim Valle going the distance in 12 seconds. The Fourth
category, the Steam Pull, went to Jim Valle’s Steam Loco pulling 3 spikes 10 feet 9 inches. The Fifth category was
the Slowest Diesel. We all thought Jim Thompson had it made going 20 feet in 32 seconds until Les put his slow
diesel on and it went 20 feet in, are you ready for this, 20 feet in 4 minutes and 8 seconds. Yes, I said 4 minutes. The
Sixth category was Fastest Diesel with Jim Valle going the distance in 8 1/2 seconds. The Seventh category was
Fastest RDC/GG1 with little Kenny Haltom’s RDC going the distance in 9 seconds. The Eighth category was Diesel 4
Axle Pull with Jim Thompson’s Hobbytown pulling 3 spikes 8 feet. The Ninth category was the Six Axle Pull with
David McWethy pulling two spikes 10 feet. The Tenth category was the Single Motor Pull with Les’ standard old
Hobbytown pulling 5 spikes 9 feet 6 inches -- which has yet to be defeated. The last category and new this year is an
Open Pull not to exceed 3 Engines, with 3 of Jim Thompson’s Hobbytowns pulling 5 spikes all the way for a full pull.
As you can see we need new winners, so pull out some of the old stuff which is slow or fast and upset this year’s winners
next picnic. All in all, it was a great day even with the rain. Again, thanks to Bill and Kathleen Schrodel for hosting
the picnic and Locolympics.
See you at the meeting on November 10, 2009. Jim Thompson, President
UPCOMING SHOWS:
November 7, 2009 Glyndon Vol. Fire Dept., 4812 Butler Rd.
Rt. 128, Glyndon, MD. POC: 410-833-1262.
November 8, 2009 Wayne Train Show, Wayne P.A.L. Hall,
Wayne, N. J. POC: 732-845-5966.
November 8, 2009 Plumbers Union Hall, 2791 South Hampton
Rd., Phila., PA. POC: 856-784-0038.
November 14, 2009 Northern Virginia Model R/R, 231 Dominion
Rd., Vienna, VA. POC: 703-938-5157.
November 14-15, 2009 Allentown Train First Frost, Allentown Fair-
Grounds Agricultural Hall, Allentown, PA.
POC: 610-821-7886.
November 21, 2009 Hartly Fire Hall, Hartly, DE.
POC: 302-492-3755.
November 21, 2009 Keystone Train Collectors, St. Philip Apostle
Catholic Church, 2111 Millersville Pike,
Lancaster, PA. rontrain@ptd.net
November 22, 2009 Abington Train Show, Bryner Chevrolet
NOTE: Used Car Showroom, 140 Old York Road,
(THIS IS A SET-UP) Jenkintown, PA. POC: 215-345-5017.
( FOR FSMRRC )
November 22, 2009 Westminster Agricultural Center,
Westminister, MD. POC: 410-848-4929.
November 28, 2009 Tall Cedars #45 Hall, 2501 Putty Hill Ave.,
Baltimore, MD. POC: 443-841-8022.
November 29, 2009 Memorial Hall, York Expo Center, 334
Carlisle Ave., York, PA. POC: 717-424-4004
November 29, 2009 Independence Division-TTOS, Green Lane &
Radcliffe St, Bristol, PA. POC: 215-788-5353.
December 6, 2009 Gilbertsville Fire House, 1454 East Phila.
Ave., Rt. 73, Gilbertsville, PA. 215-657-2477.
December 6, 2009 Whistle Stop Train Show, Woodward Fire
Hall, Rt. 220, Williamsport, PA.
POC: 570-326-4280.
December 20, 2009 St. Joseph High School, 40 Chestnut Ridge
Road, Montvale, N.J. POC: 732-845-5966.