Pics from our basement work session, May 10.

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

Here are a few pictures of the handiwork of our Canadian friends, Justin Parry and David King. As with most model railroad layouts, these are all a work-in-progress. It is always interesting to follow the progress of a layout as it grows, and moves toward completion. Of course, no layout ever seems to be “complete!” Justin’s layout is a large N scale layout with numerous modern features that are being developed. The electronics involved are truly mind-boggling, but they sure make operation interesting! David’s layout is a smaller On30 layout with a reduced version of similar controls to Justin’s. David usually tries something on his layout and then incorporates into Justin’s after testing and evaluation. The smaller layout provides a “test bed” for trying new things before going upscale to the larger layout. David is doing all these electronics while at the same time scratchbuilding most of the structures for his layout. Retirement contributes to much of the time required to do all these things, but even then things do not go as quickly as one might imagine. FUNTRAK will continue to follow the evolution of these railroads as we overtake the future.