August 2007

New Members for 2007:

Voting Members: Ryan Mearse, Jim Mearse, Thomas Konczal, Mark Ochoa and Dennis Peterson

Associate Members: Jason Douts, Kenneth Naujoks and Rob Wilkinson

Youth Members: Jacob Hirjak

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Model Railroad News by Greg Kelley

New Products Update August 2007

Athearn: The MP15AC's are almost ready! After almost 3 years some technical difficulties have been overcome and the first release should be out late this year. Please confirm any reservations for this run with your dealer. Subsequent runs will have a higher retail price.

The first run iof the F45/FP45 lcoos should be available late summer /early fall . Athearn will be doing SD60I and SD60M versions sometime in the future also. New autos and trucks as well as the Maxi I well car are coming too! An HO UP 4-8-4 is also in the works. Do you like small steam? With sound? 4-6-0's and 2-8-0's are coming in the Roundhouse line at a reasonable price. If you ever have tried putting sound in a small locomotive you definately will appreciate these little beauties.

Intermountain: THe U18B's are further along the release path,early next year? Any ATSF fans out there? The Carswell gondola has been released. Also a MILW Road ribside box is coming as well as new and re-release roadnames for their various cars. The Maxi IV platforms should be here next year.

Atlas: The first run of the C-420's are out and the second run has been announced with Monon, SAL,L&HR among the roadnames in the next run. Get your reservations in soon! Several new freight cars are coming in both Trainman and regular lines. The RS-3 is being re-released as a Master series loco. Rock Island is among the roadnames. See their summer/fall 2007 catalog for all their current and future release info.

BLMA: This little company is producing many interesting items. The latest arrival is a Port-a-potty! You modern guys with construction zones or party zones on your layout need a few of these little items. They also are releasing a modern cantilevered signal bridge with working lights. At $99 retail it is about 1/3 thecost of comparable brass construction without working lights. Additional styles may be available in the future.

Walthers: Hiawatha- The train- The station- The shed. Awesome looking stuff! A MILW ribside caboose also!. Proto F7's with road specific details also are coming. Good reviews about the Empire Builder F7's might make you want to check these engines out. Various roadnames in the first release. ALso coming are Superliner I and II cars again. Also new styles of heavyweight and lightweight passenger cars will be coming.

Bachmann: Diesels will have Sharks!!!! Steam will have the N&W 4-8-4 among the releases.

Broadway/Precision Craft: More Blueline releases of previously offered sound locomotives but the new SD9 has just arrived.

Stewart/Bowser: is rumored to be working on the Alco C-636 for release in 2008/2009 time frame. Canadian versions also are being considered.

Soundtraxx purportedly said at the NMRA show in Detroit that they WILL be doing the TSNUMAI sound decoder in a diesel version.

Narrow Gauge Trip (Bernie Levine)

For the narrow gauge enthusiasts, there are three wonderful narrow gauge sites for you to travel to. The Durango and Silverton (ex D&RGW branch) is a beautiful trip with spectacular scenery up the Animas Canyon to the old mining town of Silverton. Durango was the hub of the D&RGW narrow gauge circle. The yards and engine facilities are much the same as in the past.
         East of Durango is the New Mexico town of Chama, The western terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic RR. (ex D&RGW Cumbres Pass Route). Chama is in a time warp back to the 1950s. Black and white film is a must. The trip up Cumbres Pass, a steep 4% grade, is narrow gauge railroading at its best. The eastern terminus is Antonito, Colorado. Rides can start at either end.
         Forty miles west of Denver lis the Georgetown Loop Railroad (ex C&S). The twisting, climbing grade between Silver Plume and Georgetown is spectacular, as is the ride over "Devil's Gate" bridge, rebuilt as the original Georgetown Loop high bridge.
         For the non-narrow gauger, the Canon City and Royal Gorge follows the trail of the old D&RGW famous "royal Gorge Route" and the "prospector" over the old hanging bridge at the famous Royal Gorge. Open cars or cab trips (ex C&NW F-7) are available.
         All four railroads have web sites