| Volume 40 Issue 5 | January 2001 |
| Volume 40 Issue 5 | January 2001 |
We’ve nearly reached the end of the dreaded “Y2K”, and for the most part we’ve emerged unscathed. No airplanes dropped out of the sky, no massive power outages, and aside from the occasional virus, no computers crashed. We’ve had a mixed year in Division 3, though.
Most importantly, we close the year with all the members that we started with. There have been years where it seemed that all I did was go to funerals, and fortunately we haven’t had any of that this year.
Also on the plus side, we have a number of new members. I haven’t had time to meet all of you yet, but the next time you come to a Division meeting, please introduce yourself. You’ve joined a truly remarkable organization!
We’ve had some great clinics this year, providing us with new insight into modeling techniques and the prototypes we’re trying to replicate. Some of these clinics have been presented at regional and national conventions, so even if you’ve been unable to attend these events, you’ve had the benefit of seeing some of the material the conventions have to offer.
This year hasn’t been without its down side, however. We continue to struggle with finding enough volunteers to continue to offer you the program you want, but that’s the nature of a volunteer organization. We’re pleasantly surprised when there are enough volunteers, but manage to find a way to get it done regardless.
The most disturbing thing this year was the loss of two of our most noted (notorious?) model railroads. Bob Fink pulled up the rails on the Dayton, Duluth, and Western this past summer. I had the pleasure of running one of the last trains on the DD&W (thanks, Bob!), and look forward to seeing Bob’s new layout once he and Marcy decide on a new home.
Allen McClelland is also ceasing operations on the Virginian and Ohio. He and Sharon have the layout up for sale, and they’ll throw the house in on the side. Allen has told me that he will be modeling the division of the V&O that is immediately west of the currently modeled portion of the road. He’s already planning the new layout, so fears of losing both the Allegheny Midland and the V&O out of the Appalachian Lines System are unfounded.
With the loss of the V&O and DD&W, I believe that most of the model railroads from the 1975 convention are now gone. Of the ones that I know about from that convention, the Grand Valley and Durham & Southern are long gone, and the Ohio, Michigan and South Shore shut down a few years ago. It will be extremely difficult to fill the void left by losing model railroads built by these master builders.
But, these things tend to run in cycles. Although we’ve lost some famous roads recently, we have as many layouts in the Dayton area right now as I can remember. There were 29 layouts open this fall, and I know of at least a half-dozen more that weren’t open for one reason or another. While I’m sure that people coming here to the regional convention will be disappointed that the V&O, DD&W, and OMASS won’t be in the tour book, there will be more than enough for them to see.
For myself, knowing that we won’t have the V&O and DD&W to fall back on as major drawing cards for the regional convention has motivated me to redouble the efforts on my own pike. I know that Fred Schneider, Dave Holl, Steve and Mike Hood, Rich Davoust, and Brian Petroziello are making tremendous progress on their own layouts. Allen and Bob have given us the torch to carry for the next few years - it’s our time to shine. I know that our visitors won’t be disappointed!
Lone Eagle Payne gave a terrific talk on the history of Division 3 at the November meeting. Among the material he brought with him were vintage copies of the Pike Registries and NMRA membership rosters. One thing I didn’t know was that he was the first national chair for the Achievement Program - for many, many years. We are truly blessed to have L.E. among our numbers.
One of the comments that L.E. made really struck home - that today we tend to think of the NMRA as more of a business now than as a hobby. Rather than thinking of the NMRA as a forum for us to get together and help our modeling efforts, we’re wrapped up in finances and planning. While a some of that is necessary, we need to make certain we don’t lose sight of why we’re here - because we all share a love for flanged wheels and rail.
That love is not conditional on scale or the type of car or locomotive that sits on the trucks. It manifests itself in any number of ways, from chasing trains trying to get a good photograph during a railfanning trip, to reading the bevy of magazines on both prototype and modeling, to building and operating a layout.
The most important thing is to have fun. As Lone Eagle said, it’s a hobby, not a business. Sometimes it’s good just to sit with your children, or by yourself, and watch the trains chase themselves around the layout, even if it’s just a circle of track thrown down on the carpet. It’s a hobby. Have fun with it!
Gerry Erickson gave an excellent multimedia presentation on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, including slides, video, books, and some commercially available models. We had about fifteen or so of us brave cold temperatures and make it to the meeting.
One of the things that concerns the Board is the attendance at the monthly meetings. We view that meeting as one of the things that we owe you as part of your NMRA benefits.
Right now, we are averaging about 25 people at a meeting, or something just over ten percent of the total membership. The question we have is, where are the rest of you?
Is there a reason you aren’t there? Is it too far to go? Does the program not interest you? Is there something you’d like to see at the monthly meeting that you’re not?
I’d love to hear from you and find out what would make it worthwhile for you to join us each month. Please write me at the address in the newsletter, or email me at Division E-Mail
Happy Modeling!
Ray
© 2000, 2001 Division 3, MCR, NMRA