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Trains On The Crab And Winkle Line
Roy sent in this tale from his days growing up in the UK:
Just a little tale about the old days. I live in a little harbour town on the south east coast of England. About sixty years ago we spent many happy hours on the fishing boats and sailing barges even playing hooky from school to do so. To carry the cargoes away to other destinations we had the old steam trains, horses to pull the trucks along the harbour tracks for loading and an old victorian station with gas lighting.
Being normal mischevious boys we were often chased by the harbour master; mr couchman; he had a long stick and a big boot. The line ran from whitstable to canterbury and was known as the famous “crab and winkle line” with the oldest railway bridge in the world; sadly no more. Progress!! The line is now a cycle route. Those were the days!
Transformer For 2-3 Lines?
Arthur has a question he is hoping someone will be kind enough to answer:
“I purchased last year a train set for my grandson aged 5. I have been busy collecting some trains over the year and I am about to start on the layout.
Hoping to either have 2 or 3 lines going plus some sidings. Could one of your knowledgeable readers advise what can of transformer to obtain. I dont think the one I have is suitable (probably only for 1 line).”
To advise Arthur on transformers please use the green Comments & Feedback link below his posting. If you haven’t already done so you will need to register first (it takes only 2 minutes) – and then you can participate in future model train discussions.
Pennsy 2-10-4 Double Headers
Roger has sent in these great memories of watching Pennsy 2-10-4 double headers hauling hoppers:
The steepest pull in Ohio was from Westville west to St. Paris in Ohio.
In the early 1900’s brakes were poor and thus many wrecks occurred in the eastbound lanes. Westbound there was the long, hard pull up the hill and almost always had two 2-10-4’s on the point pulling about 100 loaded N&W hoppers.
I remember the hard chugging which was at times synchronous and at others not.
When diesels came on the scene you could tell they were coming because the ground would vibrate. Also the soot from diesels would not brush off the car but would smear its blackness into a nasty smear.
I do have one picture of a 2-10-4 on the point with a three-unit (ABA) diesel running second. Sadly I have no photos of the double steamers but the memories persist.
As a side note all the Pennsylvania tracks were removed approximately early 1990’s. The old DT&I (aka Grand Trunk) is still active running from Detroit to Springfield which passing under the Pennsy.
My father operated a grain elevator located on the old DT&I. I think he developed railroading in his blood and passed it on to me.
Trains I Have Known
B has sent in some fond memories of trains from his childhood and writes:
As I am in my mid 60’s most of my memories are bits and pieces.
Friday nite my aunt came down from Montreal. The train would arrive at 8:15 PM My Corgie dog would hope up on the sofa and look out the window at 8:05 even before we could here the whistle [yes it was steam]I was 5 at the time and my aunt always brought my 2 comics.
We always took the Train up to Montreal [about 2 hours] for Christmas to see the Santa Claus parade and to go to Eaton’s for there Christmas toy show. It was a whole floor with a train to ride on ,elves passing out toys and candy and of course Santa at the end to hear what I wanted for Christmas.
I remember how different it was when the Diesels came in. The horn was really weird.
Big Model Railroad in Germany On 6.8 Miles Of HO Track
Jim has sent in this info about a Model Railroad in Germany:
The “Miniatur Wunderland” model railroad in Hamburg, Germany is the largest in the world, covering 16,146 square feet of space with more than 10,000 train cars running around its 6.8 miles of HO scale track.
Now, the makers of this huge model RR layout have created a video that gives you a jaw-dropping look at the vast scope of this intricate work of art. Its construction started in 2000, and is still underway, with a tiny airport due for completion by the end of 2009. This is just the beginning — there are plans to double the layout by 2014.
I especially like the Las Vegas portion, complete with dazzling LEDs lighting up the night. You have to watch the new video above to get the full impact of this remarkable achievement, which has taken in excess of 500,000 working hours to build. There’s good reason why this is Germany’s most popular attraction, already visited by more than 5 million flabbergasted tourists.
Trains At RR Crossing
Keith sent in this story of climbing aboard a loco at age six:
I remember as a small child stopping at a RR crossing in the car and watching this monster go by shaking the ground. The loco was the hissing, there were huge clouds of black smoke, and the train wheels made a clacking sound on the tracks as the train went by. When the cars passed by, it seems as if they would never end. I would always watch for the caboose.
It was during WW2 and there were few places to eat. When we did eat, it was with friends and it always seemed to be near a RR track, and when the train passed by the place would shake and rumble.
The highlight of my young life was the day I got to stand next to the biggest (to me) train that I had seen in my life. I didn’t stand to close as the heat from the loco was to much (ouch!).
One time I was about to leave my Mother and she stopped me and said that the engineer was talking to me and was asking me if I would like to climb aboard and see what goes on inside the cab?
I think at that point I nearly wet myself with shock and excitment ,but I didn’t, or my Mother would have said something to me. Anyway, up I went in to the train cab. I just stood there in amazement ,not knowing what I was looking at. The one thing I did know was that I was hot(ouch ouch), but I stood there asking questions and not understanding a thing the engineer told me. I was only six at the time.
S.A. Rail & Habour Company
Chris from South Africa send in his memories of working on the Railways:
I’m from South Africa and work 31 years for the S.A. Rail & Habour company. Although I work in the clerical departments I’ve also work for 6 years on various stations, where I had to attend the load & offload of traffic from goods trains. These trains were steam, electrical and diesel engines with trucks from hopper, parcels, grain, farm animals, mass load etc. I’ve also deal with mainline & suburb passenger trains.
In the early years of the rail road service to and from Cape town the train (steam/diesel) had to zigzag on a single rail from the bottom to the top of a mountain (visa versa) before continue to the north/south of the country. In later years they changed this route only for tourist. Ever since this route has been closed.
Booster Units Create Power Districts On Layout
Malcolm contributes these thoughts on DCC:
Power loss can be a problem on large layouts with a large amount of track to feed when using DC control.
On a digital layout booster units solve this problem. A booster unit can create a power district with its own power supply. The booster unit takes the digital signal data and adds the new power supply across the layout.
Accessories such as turnout motors can be powered from a booster unit making their operation independent to the track.
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Robert adds:
If you have knowledge of model trains and would like to help others get started in the hobby, then please add your best tips or suggestions at http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/train-tips.html
Please don’t be secretive and keep your ideas to yourself. You can really help and encourage others by sharing.
Ballasting Tips From Ben
Ben has sent in these suggestions for giving ballast a realistic look:
Be careful when applying ballast if you want to avoid track damage or poor running of trains. To get a tidy finish take your time ballasting and revisit areas as the adhesive dries to ensure a good, clean finish.
You can then add general grime and oil marks (using an airbrush), over the ballast, to make it look like trains have used the track.
Oil stains would be deposited from standing locomotives and general grime would accumulate, in different amounts, in certain areas over time.
Use your airbrush lightly to add the appearance of track grime over most of the ballasted area. Then apply a heavier application on where more dirt may accumulate.
I usually blend several ballast colors together, to make it look authentic, rather than just a plain gray mix. Use a quality ballast, like Woodland Scenics, and be sure to choose the right grain size (fine ballast for N gauge, medium ballast for HO/OO and coarse ballast for O).
I then wait for the airbrushed grime to dry properly before I weather the rail faces with a rust paint. I then wait for the paint to thoroughly dry before cleaning.
Send in your best model train tip and have it publish. Go to http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/train-tips.html
Model Train Tips And Railroad Memories
Your railroading memories continue to flood in. So much so, that I have been flooded (excuse the pun) with stories to publish.
I am also getting lots of amazing feedback from others in the hobby who are thoroughly enjoying the series. It seems that the articles have bought back many great memories for everyone.
If you have sent in your railroad memories…
PLEASE NOTE it will take a while to get them all published. So keep watching the blog as it is updated frequently and your memories will be published (provided they meet the publishing guidelines).
In the meantime I would like to hear some more from those of you that can help others with model train tips and advice. After all, that is the main purpose of this Model Train Help blog. So, if you can please send in your best model train tip it would be a big help to others in the hobby. Please submit your best model railroading tip at http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/train-tips.html
That would be a big help. Thank you.
Pulling Out Of Tampa Union Station In 1950’s
Ron has sent in these railroad memories from the 1950’s:
The call to board. The pulling out of Tampa Union Station around 9:00. The smell of diesel smoke coming through the closed gate of the converted cattle car. The aroma of cooking hamburgers on the grill while you waited – how good they tasted as I stood by the gate watching the Florida pineywoods roll by – how excited all the people were knowing they were going to watch their Florida Gators play.
My father would get free train tickets since he worked for the railroad. That meant we didn’t have an assigned seat but who cared. Stopping in Waldo and moving the engines to the other end of the train arriving in Gainesville around 12:30 and detraining to awaiting buses for the ride to the stadium. Reversing this process for the return trip to Tampa.
All these and more are profoundly etched in my memory from childhood. The people were so excited after a Gator victory but so down after a loss. But everyone was in agreement that this Gator Special was a wonderful way to experience college football in the 50’s.
The Seaboard ran these trains for a long time and I can’t begin to tell you how much fun they were. The Seaboard was one of the forrunners of CSX, and I guess, as with all good things, it had to come to an end. I regret that I couldn’t carry my kids and grandkids but am so grateful for my father who did carry me. Thanks for the memories, Dad.
Steam And GG1s
Ken shares these memories of GG1 locomotives:
Whenever my family visited my uncle in Bayonne, N.J., I could watch numerous GG1s across the street in a RR yard, moving in or out of the facility. Also when I was young my father would take me to the train tracks two blocks away to watch and smell a steam engine move a consist of pigs to a nearby slaughter house.
Pennsy 4-4-4-4 Steam Engines
Roger has sent in this “Class Trip ’54” story of a train journey with school friends:
We had graduated from Johnson-St. Paris High School and were on our way to Washington and New York. Our power was two Pennsy 4-4-4-4 steam engines. My fellow students immediately turned the seats facing each other so they could chatter. This act infuriated our conductor and the battle was on.
I then struck up a conversation with said conductor and asked him when we would hit Horseshoe Curve. He then wanted how I knew about the curve so I shared some railroad stories my father had shared with me.
Having reached a common ground I then suggested that this is our last outing together and if it did not break any big train rules, it would be a fond memory for us if he would suspend the seating rules just for this trip. He agreed to do so and made the announcement to a cheering group – and behaved very well the rest of the trip.
The conductor wakened me at about 0230hrs to let me know we were approaching the legendary horseshoe curve. We watched it excitedly as we could see both ends of the 25+ car train especially the two engines, the 2 4-4-4-4 Pennsylvania streamlined steam engines passing through the curve at night – a sight I will remember forever
Our Train Trip to Virginia
Jackie from Oklahoma would like to share her train travel memories with others and has sent in this article (and photos) for publication:
The trip of a lifetime finally took place when my best friend and I traveled from Oklahoma City to Culpeper, Virginia. We departed Oklahoma City on the Heartland Flyer and headed south to Fort Worth, Texas where we caught the Texas Eagle to Chicago.
We had a bedroom, which was located on the upper level of the Superliner Sleeping Car. We enjoyed getting to have our meals in the Dining Car where we met and chatted with interesting people from different parts of the country, who also shared a love for rail travel.
I was impressed with the way that the bedroom was set up, like the different light switches for regular use and the blue lights for use at night. The room was very comfortable and well worth the cost. After all, meals are included in that cost, which is a real plus.
We traveled east out of Fort Worth to Dallas and Texarkana. Heading north, we passed through Arkansas and Missouri, then crossed the mighty Mississippi River after passing the awesome St. Louis Arch. The huge expanse of Midwestern farm land reached out as far as the eye could see as we traveled through Illinois. The spectacular skyline of Chicago could be seen for miles away as we approached the city.
After a layover in Chicago, we boarded the Cardinal, which would take us to our destination of Culpeper, Virginia. Our bedroom on the Cardinal was very much like the one on the Texas Eagle, except that there is, a second row of windows on the Viewliner Sleeping Cars, so that the person sleeping in the upper bunk can look out and see where they are at night. Great feature — it makes the room seem spacious.
As we traveled east, the scenery became more and more beautiful. We traveled through Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and into West Virginia. After passing through several tunnels, we ended up on the eastern side of the Allegheny Mountains in Virginia. We passed under the New River Gorge Bridge, which is quite spectacular. Our Cardinal wound its way through the mountains, along rushing river rapids, and over spectacular bridges.
We were in awe of the beauty of Virginia. We walked through the woods, went through the Graffiti House, which served as a hospital after the Battle of Brandy Station during the Civil War, enjoyed great German cuisine in Madison, Virginia, had a couple of jam sessions and attended a school play in Gainesville, Virginia.
We hated to have to leave to go back home, but, there was the excitement of getting to board the train for our return trip. We had the same three days and two nights on the train and loved every minute of it. We had traveled a total 4,164 rail miles through 10 states and were sad when it was over.
This long awaited train trip was indeed magical, as it not only brought us to our dear friends for a wonderful visit, but allowed us to experience the magnificent scenery of our great nation, that can only be seen from a train. It is the only way to travel.
There is a spirit in those trains that seems to work its way into one’s heart and soul. It certainly did with me. The feel of the train going along the tracks is such a wonderful and comfortable way to travel. I am grateful that we have Amtrak to carry on the passenger rail service. Our country needs it desperately. I am indeed ready for the next rail journey, wherever it may go.
One photo is in the Amtrak Superliner Sleeping Car and the other photo is taken in Texarkana, TX during a short stop.
Berkshire To Kent On British Rail
Peter remembers learning to drive a locomotive and riding the last steam powered service from Berkshire to Kent in the UK:
The Mid-Hants Railway, is a preserved steam railway, running from Alton to Alresford, in North Hampshire, England.
After spending a birthday dinner on a Saturday evening, I was presented with an ‘Activity Day’ coupon that gave me the opportunity to learn to drive a steam locomotive.
It was a great experience. After learning the safety rules and line protocols, rights of way etc., we went onto the footplate.
I was assigned the role of Fireman for the first part of the trip, being shown how to keep the fire, red hot, to maintain sufficient steam power to drive the loco. It did not come easy at first, both the shovelling and the positioning of the coal was quite difficult, but I was able to keep up a reasonable heat.
The second part of the experience was to learn how to drive the locomotive. Adjusting the steam, power and speed regulators was hard work, but was as exciting as I thought it might be. I did quite well, but for one thing, I overshot the ‘Halt’ signal and entered the single-track section illegally, and dangerously. Thankfully there were no other engines on the line and I was able to return to the station at Ropley, home to all the engines and workshops.
It was a really great morning and satisfied a dream of many years, from my time as a teenager, riding on the last steam service, running from Reading (Berkshire) to Tunbridge Wells (Kent) on the old Southern Region of British Rail.
Pennies On The Rails
Sterling remembers doing something many of us would have done when we were kids and writes:
“I grew up in a small town in Nellis, W. Va. Our house was real close to the rail road. The train pulled coal cars up and down the rail. More often than not the enginer would throw candy to us from the train. Needless to say we spent a lot of time watching for the train. We would also put pennies on the rail so the train would flatten them. That was a long time ago, but I still have the memories.”
DCC Controllers
Frank is using a Digitrax Zephyr and has a question for readers who might be able to help him:
“At the present, I am using a Digitrax Zephyr controller. I do not have a permanent layout. If I do, I gather that the Zephyr system would not be enough? Can someone advise me? Before investing, what system would other model railroaders suggest would be advantageous for me to purchase in moving upward towards more power and flexibility?
Below is a video about the Digitrax Zephyr Controller.
My Dad and Grandfather Were Great Railroad Engineers
It’s easy to see why so many people share an interest in Model Trains after hearing so many wonderful railroading experiences from years gone by. Here is an interesting recollection from Elbert:
I was born into a railroad family. My grandfather had been an engineer for the East Carolina Railroad for many years. He lived in Goldsboro, NC. I have fond memories of him later in his life after he retired. He and my Dad (also an engineer for the Atlantic Coast Line) would sit for hours and tell stories. I was priveleged to sit nearby and listen. It was wonderful and exciting.
My grandparents lived in a house on a slight hill that overlooked the switching yard near the passenger station. On the cold winter day, I would sit by my grandmother’s bedroom window and watch the steam engines switching cars around and often the long columns of smoke which rose high above the steam engines were very white, especially when the wind was still and the air was cold. I loved to hear the sounds of the engines. I recall that in the passenger station there were restrooms and water fountains labelled either for black or colored. Even at age ten, I thought that was pretty ridiculous.
My Dad used to take me to the train yard in Portsmouth, VA often to help him “fire up” an engine on a Sunday afternoon. Sometmes he would sit me on his lap at the throttle and I would “help him” switch a few cars. Of course, he was very careful to do this on a Sunday afternoon when it would be less likely for a railroad detective to be snooping around the railyard. He would tell me he could get in trouble if caught with me in the engine. I recall having to duck my head a few times.
My grandfather was once praised in the newspaper as being the most talented engineer in Eastern N. C. because he could stop a passenger train exactly where he should at the station; thereby not using extra coal and water to back the train up. The paper said, “He could stop a train on a dime”.
I have always loved trains and I deliberately slow down at a crossing to watch a train go by. But the smells, sounds, and the feel of the ground shaking under your feet from a steam engine (and later diesel) passing by was always something very special!
These are the best memories of my childhood.
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