News for July 12, 2019

A lot of happenings at EMRRC as we coast through the middle of July.   Installation of the new computer is completed. We have some small items to clean up but JMRI is residing happily atop a blistering fast computer running phone throttles and programming with no problems.  We coupled it with a Digitrax PR4 to handle the programming track and the first new roster member is Jeff Cain with his BLI switcher. Just to forewarn everyone you will have to enter your engine back into the roster if you want to program on our system  We still have a copy of the old roster but after 5 years it was disorganized and we decided to go with a clean start. 

A  new dam is taking shape on the Elkhart River thanks to Ron, Jerry, and Charlie. It's a small area but with a lot of detail. Still to come, a walkway, fishermen, and more detail items. 

 Member David Menges got his hands on a set of Walther's Great Circus Train releases a rare HO Scale 1:87 kit series offered in twelve very limited individual monthly releases beginning in 1989. David has been kind enough to let members of EMRRC follow along on FaceBook as he puts together this set.  I am planning on showing all of his work in our Tech Files area but here is a sampling from David.

"John E. Strates immigrated to the United States in 1909 from Greece. He had many odd jobs until he joined a carnival in 1919 as a wrestler taking on any challenger. He acquired the Southern tier shows in 1923 and changed the name to John E. Strates Shows in 1932. He built and managed the carnival up until his death in 1959. His son E. James Strates assumed responsibility of the carnival that still operates today. 

This car was the 6th release in The Great Circus train made by Walters. Stock and elephant cars were 72' in length and unloading ramps were carried on the underside of the car. Stock and elephant cars were coupled directly behind the locomotive to minimize jolting and possibly injuring the animals. Elephant cars are very similar to stock cars but were built to accommodate the weight of the elephants. Also, a larger door, solid walls, and smaller windows or ventilators because elephants are susceptible to pneumonia and must be protected from the cold and drafts. One elephant car could carry up to 13 adult elephants or "bulls" in circus slang regardless of gender. A show with a smaller herd would outfit the extra space with bunks for the handlers. 1/4 of early circus trains would be stock cars. As technology advanced tractors became available and elephant and stock cars became surplus and converted to flat cars".

Of course, after all of this, we had to run some trains I mean we have this huge layout just made for running multiple trains with lots of cars so why not?  One engine that showed up was a Scale Trains GE TIER 4 GEVO, ET44C4. Originally a GE demonstrator it was modified and repainted in Erie, PA.  Here's a shot of the engine on our layout and the real thing passing through Goshen, Indiana.

One interesting note the Navajo Mine is a private railroad and ordered 2 of the engines.  The mine has no connection to the national rail network so the engines had to be trucked the last few miles to the mine's tracks. Click Here for all the action for Friday Night Running at the Club. If you want to see more pictures of trains and members from Friday  Click Here.  For a schedule of train shows and swap meets in the area Click Here  (this is the latest list) courtesy of the Grand River Valley Railroad  Club in Wyoming, MI.  For 2018 Past Announcements at EMRRC  Click Here. The 2020 Train Show information has been added to the site   Vendors make sure you check as there are applications and information for vendors on the page.   Also, 2020 is the Elkhart Model Railroad Club's 70th anniversary. An open house and other events are being planned to celebrate this occasion.  Watch for future news on this.  Have some fun with model railroading.