The On-Line Clearboard

Model Railroad Club News.

March, 2000

Club News

Benchwork Started!

On Saturday, February 19, 2000 benchwork for the next section of the HO Scale layout officially started.  The first supporting structures are up.  A busy crew was working faster than the primer paint on the lumber could dry.  Whitewashed hands on many of those that helped out were the proof.  Thanks to the entire construction crew.

HO Department News

DCC Update:
By the middle of March only DCC equipped motive power will be allowed to be used during operating sessions on the HO layout.  Mixing DCC and conventional DC equipment has proven to be a hindrance.  Operator confusion, potential damage to the decoders, and a sense of let's just get on with it led to the decision by the HO Department.

The TN had its first two-man helper operation on Tuesday, February 1st.  A single box motor was unable to pull 22 loads of cement out of Northampton and through Slope.  Luckily a work extra motor was available for use in Northampton.  It coupled onto the rear of the train and helped push the train back through Cattasauqua.

Wrecks on the Railroads:
The last few operating sessions have seen wrecks on the HD&O and Trenton Northern.  The big hooks have been kept busy clearing the damage and MOW crews are grumbling about all the overtime they are getting.

On Tuesday, February 15, 2000 an HD&O passenger observation car jumped the tracks and landed in the gulch just east of the Pittsburgh tunnels.  Injury and damage reports are unavailable at this time.  It seems all the crews wanted to get to the diner, not the damaged obs.

On the Trenton Northern, a cornfield meet resulted from inexperience with the new DCC system.  Quick application of the brakes by the motormen turned a potential disaster into a hard coupling of the two trains involved.  Inspection of the motors involved found that the light bulb from the headlight of motor 415 slid perfectly into the headlight housing for motor 411.  Other than a few comments about close coupling, the trains were able to continue without much further delay.

Jersey Shore & Western News
The N-Scale Report
By Jack Grasso

The old meeting place is now the official N-Scale Headquarters.  What was once the Gallery railroad will become the upper deck of the Jersey Shore & Western connected to the lower deck by a helix.  Now that the show is over, work on the gallery level is moving in earnest.  In spite of on going construction, operating nights still see action.  

The HO people have given the N-Scalers great support.  Cooperation between the departments is at an all time high.  One small example illustrates this cooperation.  The example being the operation of Trenton Northern equipment on the N-Scale trolley-subway-interurban.  

Speaking of the trolley-subway, the paved over shopping area has been designated "Central Avenue --- East Orange."  There is a long range plan to extend the trolley line to an underground section with a subway station.  A viewing glass would make it possible to see the station, which will probably be named "Broad Street."

Although the JS&W is first an overland freight railroad, commuter service may be operated.  Budd RDC's are on the roster.  It is hoped that Comet push-pull equipment comes out in N-scale as it has in HO.  

It is a great year for the JS&W as it is for the HO railroads.  Just keep your eye on what is going on.

Back Issues
2000
February, 2000 January, 2000

1999
December, 1999 November, 1999 October, 1999 September, 1999

The One-Line Clearboard contains excerpts from the Model Railroad Club's membership newsletter The Clearboard.  All information published in The One-Line Clearboard is unofficial and is for reference and informal information.   No information contained within The One-Line Clearboard can be used without the express consent of The Model Railroad Club, Inc.