So, summer is well on the way to the halfway point and so far it has proven to be a rather pleasant one. Much needed rain has arrived recently and the weekends have managed to escape torrential downpours despite the overall precipitation. None of the weekends have ended up as a complete washout, anyway. With the rain through the week, this leads to a reason to stay inside and, naturally, work on much needed model railroad items. Of course, I haven’t been taking advantage of this “free” time to accomplish the myriad of necessary things, but fortunately, one of FUNTRAK’s newest members, Greg Brockway, has been industriously employed and assembled the newest FUNTRAK addition in the form of a new HO T-trak layout.

Greg has managed to finish and scenic four corners and four modules in record time and make it all work. He displayed his handiwork at the most recent club meeting held at his home. The layout was up and running when we arrived and all looks wonderful. Everyone commented on Greg’s remarkable progress and the way the layout ran. This layout will be up and running at the PicNik this month. Do not miss this opportunity to see Greg’s craftsmanship in action. Speaking of craftsmanship, Brian Curry has given us some good news and some bad news. First the bad news. Brian will not be at the PicNik because of some other family obligations. We certainly will miss him and all the expertise he would bring to the event. On the other hand, the good news is to supply his T-trak module for the layout at the PicNik. As mentioned last month, we are all anxiously awaiting its arrival to see what the rest of us should be doing! Thank you Brian for your time, efforts, and consideration. Next year’s PicNik will be on the fourth of August. Don’t say you haven’t had enough time to plan ahead!

Other events this month include the Fonda Fair where FUNTRAK will be setting up a large T-trak layout in addition to the other layouts already there. Greg may bring the HO T-trak division as well. Plans are incomplete at this writing, but intentions are to have the new layout at the fair for everyone to enjoy. More future plans are in the works such as a show in Mohawk over Columbus Day weekend supported by the local schools and PTO. More details will be forthcoming as soon as they are available. Since this will be an inaugural show, it is difficult to predict how it will go, but FUNTRAK always hopes for the best and enjoys displaying trains for the public regardless of the obstacles that may present themselves.

Next on the agenda for FUNTRAK will be the annual show in Clayton the weekend after Labor Day. Again this year FUNTRAK anticipates bringing some N-trak modules and a T-trak layout. The rest of the West Winds group has promised to supply a few modules to enhance the T-trak layout with some new and exciting scenery. Come on out and support your local model railroad club. See you at the shows!

Brian

The unofficial summer has arrived! Memorial Day weekend has come and gone and FUNTRAK members Greg Brockway, John Fleming, and I have begun a new chapter in FUNTRAK’s future. The HO division has been revived in the form of T-trak HO. The first of eight planned modules were constructed over the weekend, so there are now two corners awaiting track and electrical connections. Plans down the road include finishing two more corners and then building four straight modules. This will provide a minimal layout in HO of approximately four by eight feet. Club members are eager to support this new effort and look forward to the completion of the first layout. As usual, there are some minor issues that accompany any new endeavor. The first is transportation. Although HO is not really huge, it is considerably larger than the N scale modules used in T-trak. The larger size of these modules makes them more difficult to transport, but this is a problem that will eventually have a solution. Hopefully, it will be a simple solution!

Greg has volunteered to be the HO coordinator for the T-trak division and everyone in the club has promised to help him with whatever he may need to get things up and running. If you are interested in the HO side of the model railroad effort, get in touch with Greg or any club member and information, guidance, and help will be forthcoming.

In other FUNTRAK news, Golden Spike Day, May 10, saw FUNTRAK setting up an interesting layout back at Fisher Elementary School. Over four hundred “visitors” got to see FUNTRAK’s handiwork on Friday with more visitors on Saturday when the school hosted a PTA family fair. One of FUNTRAK’s newest members, Tim Brien, provided a beautifully scenicked Lionel layout for the students to enjoy alongside the FUNTRAK T-trak layout. Both of these displays were big hits for everyone from toddlers to senior citizens. This was a great learning experience for the students as well as adults as the importance of railroading was acknowledged in America’s history, both past and present. The miniature world of model railroading provides a hands on experience as well as an academic challenges for all the participants. It is a great way to learn about a myriad of skills, information, and history for both student and teacher alike. If you want to try a new approach to having fun while learning a variety of new things for yourself, your children, and your friends, try model railroading. You won’t be disappointed!

Brian

FUNTRAK’s annual “Valley Rail Sights” show in Ilion has come and gone. This year proved to be a rousing success. Attendance was up, manufacturers were available, food was plentiful, and trains of all sizes were up and running. Much of this success is attributable to the club’s efforts at advertising the show this year. This helped promote better attendance and more interest from the community as well as other clubs. Train buffs from Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany all showed up to support the show in various ways. Everyone involved was elated at the way things ran so smoothly.

The N-trak layout was downsized somewhat this year to accommodate the larger T-trak layout, which was a huge success. The main T-trak layout consisted of five loops including a large over three scale mile long mainline along with the double bubble. This kept everyone fascinated with the trains as they made their way around this complex arrangement. The N-trak layout provided more trains to keep the public happy. Additionally, there were G scale trains running and Z scale trains on a small layout. For the younger set, there was the Lionel layout on another floor where the trains could be operated by the visitors. This always piques their interest as they are able to actually run the trains and blow the horn.

Parents and children alike appreciate the opportunity to interact with the trains. Most of FUNTRAK’s trains are set at a level that allows the youngest visitors to see the trains without having to find some means of rising up to a higher level to observe the trains. This makes it much easier on parents and grandparents since they do not have to pick up the children. Hopefully, these little things will help keep the smaller visitors interested and influence their decisions later to join a model railroad club.

Brian