So as I sit here contemplating what to write for the new year, everyone is anxiously awaiting what is going to happen in the coming year financially and politically. Will these events affect FUNTRAK’s future and if so, how? Let me review what has transpired for FUNTRAK over the past twelve months and see how it relates to what we can expect over the next twelve months.

Up first is the FUNTRAK website. This has been ADDRESSED AND UPDATED OVER THE PAST YEAR. The website has been fairly well maintained and updated on a regular basis to keep folks apprised of what is happening with FUNTRAK and the model railroading hobby. Thanks to our webmaster, Anna K.Amendolare, who shamelessly gives herself credit for these accomplishments. So much for the website.

Successes and failures over the last year have also been a part of FUNTRAK’s ongoing endeavors. Unfortunately, not every venue continues to be a success as was the case with the Chocolate Train Wreck show in Hamilton and the Christmas display at Preswick Glen. However, along with less than desirable results, we also had some successes in our involvement with other shows. Of particular interest this past year was Fisher Elementary School where FUNTRAK displayed layouts on various occasions throughout the year and FUNTRAK’s involvement with the Genesee ‘N Ontario group and others at a giant T-trak display in Syracuse. These activities prove the viability of both FUNTRAK and the T-trak concept. These shows also point to the decline in the presentation of full sized N-trak layouts as they become less popular and T-trak rises in popularity, mostly because of transportation issues. The compromise between available space for scenery and the ability to transport the modules is being won by the smaller T-trak modules. N-trak advantages are longer trains and more scenery, while T-trak has the advantage of easier setup and transportation. There is certainly room for both concepts, but currently, T-trak appears to be ahead in the popularity arena. To support this claim, FUNTRAK recently finished a mountain division of the T-trak concept and is continuing to expand with more mountain modules on the way. Additionally, FUNTRAK is now fully engaged in HO T-trak with our newer members carrying the responsibilities for this expansion.

Other ideas for the N scale T-trak are utilizing current modules in new and innovative ways to create such fascinating layouts as the double bubble and triple bubble concepts and modules being constructed to support the one-trak concept. In the HO realm, an inside corner is in the works as well as many new double modules. Most of these ideas were displayed at FUNTRAK’s most recent show at the Oneida County Historical Society with both HO and N scale layouts being displayed for the public. This was FUNTRAK’s largest HO layout so far and was well received by the community. Supplementing the HO, the N scale T-trak layout was the longest club only layout at over two and three quarters scale miles long on the red line. Not bad for a small club!

Finally, FUNTRAK wishes to welcome our newest member, Paul Boehlert into our midst. Hopefully, FUNTRAK can contribute to Paul’s interests and he in turn can help FUNTRAK move forward in its endeavors to promote the hobby. It should also be noted that our other new member this year, Greg Brockway, has contributed significantly to the club, especially with the HO T-trak modules. Greg’s efforts have greatly enhanced FUNTRAK’s image as well as its abilities to attract new members by increasing the field of scales being presented to the general public. FUNTRAK really does appreciate your efforts, Greg. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to a great new year, keep on training.

Brian

The display at the Amsterdam Riverfront Center was deemed a success!

The presents are opened, the toys are set aside. And there’s still another week of vacation. Now what? Come out and see trains!

Bring the whole family. FUNTRAK runs trains at the Oneida County Historical Society Thursday, December 27 through Saturday, December 29.

Christmas is right around the corner as we leave November behind. This past month has been a busy one for FUNTRAK. The first weekend found club members in Syracuse with numerous other clubs running one of the largest t-trak layouts assembled in the area. The double bubble made for some very interesting running. Besides the double bubble, FUNTRAK also had its first showing of the newly constructed mountain division on the t-trak layout. As expected, this ran exceptionally well and provided even more interest and comments from spectators. The red line was set up to accommodate DCC while the remaining loops were all conventionally powered. The main red line was over five and a half scale miles long and took well over nine minutes to traverse. John Allen from Canada put a miniature camera on one of the trains and set out on a journey around the layout.

Overall, the show was a great success for all involved. The two day event allowed everyone to have a chance to run trains and acquire new equipment for their railroad kingdoms.

The next event was the following weekend in Fulton with the Oswego Valley Railroad Association sponsoring their annual holiday show. FUNTRAK again showed up this time with a new and exciting “triple bubble.” Additionally, FUNTRAK club member Greg Brockway managed to bring the new HO t-trak layout. Both layouts were big hits with the public. The next weekend found club members at Brian’s building more HO t-trak modules for future shows. These included four double modules and plans for a new regular outside corner and a new two piece inside corner. This will allow for more diversity in the HO layouts as more and more modules are constructed. The N scale one track modules are still in the works and should be completed soon. One of the newest modules for the N scale t-trak was built by Tim Brien, one of our newer members. Tim’s beautiful work can be seen here. Great work, Tim!

New specialty modules for both scales are being planned for the future. Expansion is the word of the day for FUNTRAK as new modules, concepts, and shows evolve for the club. FUNTRAK’s next endeavor is a show at the Amsterdam Riverfront Center on Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2, 2012 where the HO layout will again be displayed for the public’s enjoyment.

Finally, to close out the year, FUNTRAK will again be displaying the t-trak layout at the Oneida County Historical Society from December 27 through December 29. Both of these shows are open to the public and FUNTRAK welcomes all to come and enjoy the trains! So, in the holiday spirit, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. See you next time and keep on training.

Brian

FUNTRAK shows off its newly constructed mountain division of the T-Trak layout. We were delighted to participate in one of the largest T-Trak layouts assembled in the area!

We had a great time. Check back for more details.

FUNTRAK had a great time at the Fonda Fair! See our video below: A local freight traverses the FUNTRAK t-trak layout at the Fonda Fair on August 30. A full recap coming soon.

As Labor Day approaches and the end of summer is nigh, I reflect on the activities of the past month. Model railroad wise, there was not too much going on. FUNTRAK members managed to assemble a rather large N scale t-trak layout in my basement in preparation for the PicNik as well as a smaller HO t-trak layout. The HO layout was compliments of one of FUNTRAK’s newest members, Greg Brockway. Greg did an outstanding job of finishing, scenicking, and detailing this small layout. The N scale layout used nearly all of FUNTRAK’s available modules and consisted of five separate loops. With the crossovers in use, a train was able to traverse four of the five loops making a total running distance of over three scale miles! See trains in action below.

Other activities include the ongoing construction of new t-trak modules in both N and HO scales. Specialty modules are the order of the day for the N scale modules with two being constructed to accommodate a new one track line and plans for a reverse loop addition to the one track line utilizing standard corners for the return side of the loop. All these are currently a work in progress. Hopefully they will be completed soon and allow FUNTRAK to use them in the upcoming fall model railroading season. More HO modules are underway to expand the size and scope of the HO side of the hobby with FUNTRAK. Specialty modules are being considered as well. Transportation, as always, seems to be posing the biggest obstacle to the expansion of the HO portion of the hobby. All of these issues will be addressed and eventually a solution will be derived and acted upon to solve these problems.

Problems aside, the N and HO modules are being assembled for display again this year at the Fonda Fair. A full review of this event will be forthcoming. Following the fair, FUNTRAK has a fairly rigorous schedule for the fall season. September 8-9 will see FUNTRAK in Clayton with the West Winds group. October will see the annual dinner and then on to November with Syracuse the first weekend and Fulton the following weekend. December may see FUNTRAK back at the Oneida County Historical Society. T-trak in all scales is becoming more and more popular and appears to be on the way to becoming a staple of the model railroading scene. FUNTRAK fully supports this effort and is looking forward to a bright future with many shows and lots of interaction with the public.

If model railroading is one of your interests, this is one of the easiest ways to get involved. The modules are small, inexpensive, and simple. Most important, they are easily transportable. This makes them ideal for people with limited space and transportation means. If you build it, they will come! Keep on training.

Brian