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!

Here we are in November, National Model Railroad Month, and the schedule of events is extremely busy. Following a torrid building month in October, FUNTRAK members are now preparing to attend some of the larger shows with the new modules ready for display. First up is Syracuse where FUNTRAK will debut the new mountain module section of the N scale t-trak division. Club members worked diligently throughout October getting these modules ready to be displayed to the world. Three work sessions and numerous nights were devoted to making everything operate properly. John Fleming then worked his magic on the scenery to ensure the modules would be at least presentable for the shows. Hopefully, all goes well at Syracuse with FUNTRAK and the other participants. The planned layout will be over five scale miles around and should present an interesting layout. The main line is set to operate with DCC while the remaining loops will use conventional DC power. This arrangement will allow everyone to have a chance to see how mixed power can be applied to a layout and operated successfully.

Following Syracuse comes Fulton the very next weekend. FUNTRAK is scheduled to bring both N scale and HO scale t-trak layouts to this show. Again, work sessions in October enabled the club to construct six new HO modules, four standard and two doubles. Greg Brockway, FUNTRAK’s resident HO guru, has been charged with getting track put down and fellow club members have committed to helping him in the scenery department. The only glitch may come in the area of space that is allocated for the layout in Fulton. FUNTRAK will fill whatever space is provided.

With Christmas right around the corner, the annual show at Oneida County Historical Society is currently in the works. Clayt Farrall is doing his usual coordinating with the administrators to confirm dates, show times, space available, and details for the show. Anticipated dates this year are Wednesday, December 26 for setting up and running through Saturday, December 29. More information will be announced as it becomes available. Pictures of some of the new modules expected to be in the previously mentioned shows are on the next page. A well deserved “Thanks for a Great Job” goes out to all the club members who donated their time and effort to making these new modules possible. It is wonderful to have such enthusiastic individuals to associate with for such a great common cause. Next year will bring new challenges, different opportunities, and even more fun for our club as we move on to our twenty first year. Come on out and support your club!

Brian

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

FUNTRAK continues to expand the size of the club layouts displayed for the public. Again this year the t-trak layout got larger and the new HO t-trak layout was included at the Fonda Fair, thanks to one of FUNTRAK’s newest members, Greg Brockway. The week-long train display draws many visitors and fascinates observers as they watch multiple trains traverse the many routes available on the numerous different scale layouts on display. The hard work of the members of the clubs involved pays off in the many smiles from the public to the people presenting the great model railroads at the fair.

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

WOW! What else can be said? The annual PicNik this year was a rousing success. The crowd was large, the trains were great, the weather was acceptable, the children were well behaved, everyone had fun, and, as always, the food selection, quality, and quantity were fantastic. Well over fifty people were in attendance for what has become the premiere event of the summer for FUNTRAK. Visitors from Albany, Rochester, and Canada brought diversity to the PicNik and kept things lively. David King did his usual wonderful job of providing chef service, club members John Fleming, Greg Brockway, and Lorenzo Franchi set up the trains, and My family provided the facilities and services necessary for another great PicNik. Watch for next year as it will be very special celebrating numerous different remarkable events. See you there!

Check out photos from the PicNik.

Brian

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.

Our newest club member has proved to be most industrious

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