FUNTRAK club member John Fleming assembles another t-trak unique layout at the Family Fun Center in Mohawk where FUNTRAK conducted its March monthly meeting. John has been responsible for much of the scenery work on many of the recent modules FUNTRAK has constructed. His artistic talent is truly “magic” on many of these wonderful modules. More examples of the before and after effect of John’s handiwork are illustrated inside. Keep up the great work, John!
FUNTRAK at FFC
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From the Desk: March 2014
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
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Fantastic Traintastic
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.
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From the Desk: February 2014
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
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January Train Show: TTCS Utica Train Show
FUNTRAK was delighted to participate in the 33rd Annual Toy Train Collectors Society Utica Show on January 19.
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Funtrak @ Toy Train Collectors Society Annual Show
FUNTRAK finally returned to the Toy Train Collectors Society annual train show held in Union Station in Utica, New York after an eight year hiatus. Much of the difficulty in providing the N scale N-Trak layouts that the public was so appreciative of stemmed from the fact that the N scale layout was hard to accommodate because of its size. FUNTRAK’s adoption of the t-trak concept has made it possible to reduce the footprint of the n scale layout, diversify the design of the layout, and better tailor the layout to the needs of the public. Additionally, the t-trak system is easier for the club members to transport and set up. This makes for a win-win situation for both the club members and the show promoters. The presentation of an N scale layout is also in the best interests of the vendors since they now have a venue that is visible for prospective customers to see right at hand. This year’s show was a success as expected and FUNTRAK was a big contributing factor to that success. FUNTRAK is looking forward to next year and another great show at Union Station.
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Crossing Loop
Here is FUNTRAK club member Lorenzo Franchi preparing FUNTRAK’s newest addition, a crossing loop, for its initial run. Next is the train traversing the loop as designed. This arrangement makes for very interesting operations as the train can only be a certain length so as to not cause accidents!
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From the Desk: January 2014
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
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The Annual Christmas Show
FunTrak puts on a show for the locals at the Oneida County Historical Society, over Christmas break.
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Riverfront in Amsterdam
John and Lorenzo represented at Riverfront in in Amsterdam, again this year.
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