Join us for our annual get-together! Bring a dish to pass and something for the grill, bring the whole family, and bring your questions and ideas for the club.

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

Funktrak found itself at Fisher Elem School again, the weekend of April 27-28.

This year’s Valley Rail Sights was better than ever! We gained a new vendor and a new club member. The show was a great success and we look forward to returning to the Ilion Masonic Lodge in 2014.

FUNTRAK‘s usual interesting layouts were the center of attention again this year at the annual Valley Rail Sights show in Ilion. In addition to the layouts this year, FUNTRAK also had vendors with trains and supporting equipment for sale. The vendors were pleased and promised to return next year. Attendance was good and everyone had a great time.

Everyone – visitors and participants alike – had a great time at the train show this weekend. Our thanks go out to Fischer Elementary School for welcoming FUNTRAK back again. Read more from The Little Falls Times.

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.

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.