Here it is April already! FUNTRAK’s annual Valley Rail Sights show is just around the corner. Activities leading up to this show have been hectic, to say the least. New modules in both HO and N scale have been under construction and most have been completed. Many of these new modules will be in the show at the Masonic Temple in Ilion. This is where FUNTRAK club members efforts really shine. The ingenuity, craftsmanship, and creativity all come out in the new modules. What is not so apparent is the effort behind getting all these items to the show. The setup before and the tear down after the show are not noticed by anyone except the club members. There are many hours spent doing the preparations for this show and the time and work involved is extensive. All this work is rewarded by the attendance of the public at the show. The smiles and discussions generated by the displays are the “pay” for most of the FUNTRAK members. The many questions about how this or that was made, the ideas behind many of the unique modules, and the general theme of model railroading all tend to bring out the best in everyone.

Every show brings new visitors as well as old to the displays. It is always refreshing to meet new people and reminisce with the old friends. The children always bring smiles with their excited looks and amazement at the trains. Parents are always happy to see the trains because they know there is nothing offensive about Thomas the Tank and his friends. With so many different facets to model railroading, there is bound to be some point of interest for nearly everyone. One point of interest has been watching a train go around and come back on itself in a reversing loop.
FUNTRAK has been working on an automatic reversing loop system for over a year now without any complete success. It seems the simplest problems have the most complicated solutions. This has turned into an international issue with help coming from all parts of the world. Eventually an acceptable solution may pop up, but it surely is taking a long time to arrive. Whenever the problem is solved, FUNTRAK will be there with the module for everyone to see. Hopefully, this will happen in the very near future! Meanwhile, the show must go on and FUNTRAK is preparing for exactly that at the end of this month. Come on out to the annual Valley Rail Sights show and enjoy the fun. See you there!

Brian

The second annual Fisher Elementary Traintastic Show sponsored by FUNTRAK and the Parent Teacher Organization has come and gone and has been regarded as a resounding success. Along with cooperative weather, the crowds were bigger, the layouts were different and upgraded from the last show, vendors were in attendance, the food was plentiful, the children delighted, and the adults had a great time. What more could one ask for?

This year, the show layouts expanded and included many new scenes, as well as modules for the public to peruse and enjoy. Multiple scales were represented so visitors could compare and appreciate the different model trains. The local news media came to enjoy our family-oriented activities and report on the educational value of the model railroad hobby. With the many skills necessary to construct a model railroad, the opportunity to learn a number of these skills is readily available to anyone willing to partake of the knowledge available from the experts at these shows. From art to construction, electricity to carpentry, math, history, and English, model railroading encompasses all these areas into one excellent, family-oriented hobby where everyone can participate and get hands on experience.

With today’s technology, many of these things can be accomplished with a computer. The research, development, and designing of the railroad can all be done via the many programs available, as well as utilizing the Internet to help. Videos for “how to” are available for nearly every facet of the hobby and the results of other’s efforts can be appreciated through this medium. We are truly in the middle of the “Information Age” where almost anything you want to know about can be easily found with the tools of technology we have at our disposal. Communication is remarkably fast. There is very little lag time between asking a question and getting an answer today. If you are looking for a satisfying hobby that not only can you enjoy individually, but also with friends and family, then model railroading may be the avenue you should consider. It will enhance the skills you already possess and allow you to learn new ones to keep you interested in the hobby. Help from others is always available from multiple sources and most often willingly supplied by the members of the model railroad community. Clubs always welcome new members where expertise abounds and camaraderie is the order of the day. So, in answering the question of what more could one ask for, why not a new and exciting hobby that the entire family can participate in and have a fabulous time?

Brian

FUNTRAK returned to Fisher Elementary School in Mohawk over the weekend of 22 and 23 February to support the Fisher Parent Teacher Organization. The winter weather actually cooperated for this weekend show. Saturday was a pleasant day with unseasonably warm weather which fortunately carried over to Sunday. Attendance was up over the last show
FUNTRAK did here. All the layouts were expanded from their last showing and all ran well, as expected. All the visitors were in awe of the size of the layouts and the fine details displayed. The variety of layouts in multiple scales added to the excitement for the spectators and the smallest of the observers were pleasantly surprised by the height of the layouts as this allowed them visual access which can be a problem at some shows. Everything ran wonderfully for the entire weekend. Another great show now in the books for FUNTRAK. Hope to see you at FUNTRAK’s next outing.

Welcome to winter! The weather outside is NOT delightful, as the old song goes. It has been cold for the major portion of January and does not look like it will warm up to close out the month. So what have FUNTRAK’s members been doing to counter this atrocious weather? Why, attending old shows for the first time in many moons, and continuing to build new, exciting, different, and novel ttrak modules, of course!

For the first time since 2006, FUNTRAK was invited to attend the January Toy Train Collectors Society annual show at Union Station. FUNTRAK provided a small t-trak layout for the public’s enjoyment to augment the large contingent of Lionel trains at the show. This little layout generated a lot of interest among the spectators and pleased the vendors, since now their customers interested in something other than the Lionel O scale trains could actually see something else operating. All went well and everyone had a great time. The layout ran well after some initial adjustments were made to correct for some minor oversights. FUNTRAK anticipates that we will be back again next year now that the promoters realize we no longer need huge amounts of space to accommodate our small empires.

Speaking of small empires, the newest modules FUNTRAK have been constructing involve only a single loop when assembled as a point to point layout. One end of the loop is a crossing loop while the opposite end is a balloon shaped circle. This arrangement limits the size of trains to a restricted length as well as allowable motive power that is able to traverse the small radius curves. However, it does make it easy to assemble layouts in unusual shapes if desired. This simplified design also means that one person should have no problem in maintaining the layout alone, if necessary, since only one train will usually be running around the layout. The crossing loop is visually exciting because it looks like the train is going to collide with itself, but it doesn’t! This is just another example of where FUNTRAK has been at the forefront of design for this newest venue of N scale model railroading by designing, building, and operating some of the most unique t-trak modules to be displayed anywhere.

Other areas where FUNTRAK is moving forward include the HO division, which Greg Brockway has overseen exceptionally well. His dedication and ambition have made the HO modules more and more popular and are ever expanding. Because of his efforts, FUNTRAK is more visible to the general public and able to attract more people into the fold.

Finally, January saw the annual show at Springfield have its usual huge attendance, but was noticeably missing any t-trak participation. We believe this will soon be rectified when the promoters are approached by some of the t-trak interested modelers next year. This may lead to FUNTRAK becoming a participant again, albeit not with the larger n-trak modules but rather, the smaller, more convenient t-trak modules, at this huge event. Time will tell. Next up this month will see FUNTRAK back at Fisher Elementary in support of the PTO over the weekend of February 22nd . Make a point to come out and support both FUNTRAK and the PTO. Bring the family. After all, our first name is FUN! See you there.

Brian

Welcome to the new year! FUNTRAK has had an interesting year in 2013. New members, new venues, new modules, new scales, repeat shows, and old friends.

This all began in February when FUNTRAK returned to Fisher Elementary in support of their PTO show. This was followed up in March with a rescheduled meeting at the Family Fun Center at the end of the month. This meeting saw the presentation of FUNTRAK ‘s transition tee for the one trak proposition. The reverse loop is still a work in progress but is getting ever so close to
completion. It is amazing how such a “simple” concept can turn into such a complicated project. David King from Canada ans Mark Bean from Australia have both been providing me with all kinds of help. This has turned out to be quite the project! Hopefully, the end is in sight and this concept will work as advertised.

Our annual “Valley Rail Sights” was next on the FUNTRAK agenda. This is always a popular show and 2013 was no exception. This netted the club not only a satisfied vendor, but a new member as well. Our annual fund raiser provided enough funds to support the club’s activities for the remainder of the year and some future events, too.

The summer months brought out the construction crew. New modules for both the N scale and HO scale t-trak layouts were built. John Fleming and Lorenzo Franchi pretty much finished the N scale modules while Greg Brockway tackled the HO modules. Many of these modules were incorporated into the layouts set up at the annual PicNik. This year was rather significant since it was the tenth anniversary of the PicNik as well as Brian and Roseanne’s fortieth wedding anniversary. It also marked Brian’s second retirement, this time from the teaching profession. All in all, a very special event!

Next on the agenda was the Fonda Fair. Again, FUNTRAK provided a large portion of the layouts for the public to admire. This week long event draws big crowds and keeps the FUNTRAK members busy. September brought FUNTRAK to Clayton. This year, John and Lorenzo made the trip and represented FUNTRAK with both N trak modules and a t trak complete layout. Each year, FUNTRAK brings a few N trak modules and joins up with our Canadian friends and folks from the Syracuse area. This show is laid back and enjoyable for everyone. Rich Petitto puts on a smorgasbord on Saturday evening at the motel and everyone joins in for the camaraderie.

FUNTRAK‘s annual dinner in October was a bittersweet occurrence this year. A small layout was set up with some of the recently constructed new modules for testing and the major players were in attendance for the dinner itself. Everything went well and much was learned about the “simple” automatic reversing loop. Unfortunately, after dinner, club member Jim Domser never made it home. After being taken to the hospital, Jim succumbed to his afflictions and went to the big railroad in the sky. FUNTRAK will sorely miss Jim’s help and support.

November brought the annual show in Syracuse first, then Fulton the following weekend. Both of these shows went extremely well. FUNTRAK joined up with Genesee ‘N Ontario at Syracuse for a large N scale t-trak layout running DCC on the red line. Fulton found a smaller N scale t-trak layout at the show.

The beginning of December found John and Lorenzo back in Amsterdam for the Riverfront show again this year. Then onward to the newest show for FUNTRAK , R.I.T. Again, FUNTRAK joined up with Genesee ‘N Ontario to assemble a small “C” shaped layout. Rounding out the year, FUNTRAK was at the Oneida County Historical Society for the nineteenth year! Here, both the N and HO scale t-trak layouts were set up and entertained the adoring holiday crowds for nearly a week. News coverage by the local newspaper and television stations help bring the model railroads to the public’s attention.

FUNTRAK is anxiously looking forward to a most rewarding upcoming year. Come join us for the fun!

Brian

FunTrak puts on a show for the locals at the Oneida County Historical Society, over Christmas break.

John and Lorenzo represented at Riverfront in in Amsterdam, again this year.

This year’s From The Desk is reminiscent of last year’s as many of the same events are in the news. FUNTRAK again joined with the Genesee and Ontario club at Syracuse to set up a large t-trak layout, which again utilized the red line for DCC operation, incorporated some new modules, and as always attracted large crowds of happy spectators. This year, however, FUNTRAK club member John Fleming provided his own miniature camera to take movies of the traversal around the layout. These will eventually be
edited and put up on YouTube. As usual, there was a plethora of vendors available to cater to everyone’s desires for the ordinary and the exotic. After two days of running, the show finally came to a climax, wares were packed up, and all was prepared for the next weekend in Fulton where the Oswego Valley Railroad Association sponsored their annual holiday show. FUNTRAK members John Fleming, Greg Brockway, and Brian King made the trip to Fulton on Friday evening where the N scale and HO scale t-trak layouts were set up. Provisions were made for outside participation in the N scale layout, and this occurred on Saturday when Neal Schantz showed up with two of his nicely detailed modules. These were quickly incorporated into the layout and trains were back up and running with minimal interruption. Greg’s HO layout went up without a hitch and trains were running everywhere. The weekend went by
quickly and tear down and packing up of the equipment went without any glitches. There is a lull in the schedule now until the second weekend of December when FUNTRAK, along with the Hudson Hollow Model Railroad Club, will sponsor a show in Amsterdam at the Amsterdam Riverfront Center. To round out December’s presentations, FUNTRAK will be setting up the two t-trak layouts at the Oneida County Historical Society on Genesee Street in Utica. This show is scheduled to operate
on December 24 from 10:00am until 1:00pm and then from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Thursday, December 26 through Saturday, December 29. This show is open to the public and FUNTRAK welcomes all to come and enjoy the trains! So, in the holiday spirit, Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all. See you at
the show and keep on training.

Brian

Our participation in the Fonda Fair contributes to our exposure and is fun for club members!

runnin’ trains

amazing detail

Welcome to Spring, replete with eighty degree weather one day and snow the next. At least this gives FUNTRAK members a reason to try and keep warm and build new modules. That’s exactly what members John Fleming, Jim Domser, Lorenzo Franchi, and Brian King did on Sunday, May 19th. After a highly successful meeting on May 7th, which included new members Bill Whittaker and Bill McComb, plans were finalized to construct the new reverse end loop for the N scale one trak t-trak layouts. Future plans for building more HO scale t-trak modules were decided and construction on those will begin in the near future. A general consensus found that most people favored the double length modules for HO since the single modules were more difficult to scenic. Sometimes, more is better. Construction of the N scale loop modules went well and track was laid on the three corner modules. The specialty module could not have track laid yet because all the sensors and electrical devices were not finalized at this time. This project has entailed getting help and advice from Canada, Australia, Syracuse, and Rochester. There is a lot more to automating a conventional reverse loop than at first meets the eye.

FUNTRAK will be using an Arduino micro controller to control all the necessary electrical and electronic actions involved in this endeavor. Brian has been tasked with coordinating all the programming and installation of the required devices to make this project work. Without the assistance of Mark Bean in Australia, the programming would not have progressed as far as it has. David King from Canada lent his expertise in overcoming some of the electrical anomalies while Jeff Faust in Rochester has contribute his knowledge to help out with the project. Of course, our friend Rich Pettito in Syracuse contributed to the beginning of all this when he donated a beautifully scenicked diorama that has the single track of one trak on it. This is what got most of this started. Thanks Rich!

As the pictures show, the construction went very well. The modules were cut, assembled, and the track laid down in relatively short order. Some minor adjustments and everything was ready to be tested. The small locomotives designed to be operated on the tight radius loop were tested and a few cars were run around the loop to make sure the track work was satisfactory. All seemed to work properly for the tests. Now we will see how everything goes when all the other equipment is installed. The critical part will be getting the software to do the right things in the right order. Time will tell. It seems FUNTRAK is not the only club with that ever had lenient “rules”. Club member John Quinn provided some insight into the “rules” of one of the former clubs he was a member of a few years back.

“Ties and Rail” Railroad Club Rules were as follows:

1) Anyone who loves trains, and agrees to these rules, is immediately created a vice-president.

2) Meetings are held whenever two members are sober enough to recognize each other.

3) Any member who tries to create any more rules or hold a business meeting is automatically expelled.

Seems reasonable to me. A little tongue in cheek is always nice to keep things on the light-hearted side. Thanks for sharing these rules with us, John. Maybe FUNTRAK can incorporate some of them into our constitution.

Upcoming events include a small HO setup at Dave’s Diner on June 25th. This is always a fun show for FUNTRAK since it is held outdoors and there are lots of other activities going on at the same time. The old cars, the DJ and music, the food, as well as the trains and camaraderie all contribute to a great evening of fun. Come on down and enjoy all the fun with us. See you there!

Brian