New Info in the President's Cab ...
--- NO meeting on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 --- Annual Club Picnic and Layout Tour will be Saturday, July 12 ---
--- More information is available on the President's Cab page. -- (posted June 28, 2008) ---
DCC News !!!
For the benifit of those who might not have seen or heard about this news. This is good news for model railroaders the world over. This press release was copied from the Model Railroader Magazine weekly news letter.
Patent holder for DCC sound does not respond to NMRA challenge
June 10, 2008
The National Model Railroad Association has announced that Real Rail Effects has not responded to the NMRA's challenge of a patent awarded for Digital Command Control (DCC) with sound technology.
Real Rail Effects was granted its patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office based upon its claim that the company invented technology for using sound with DCC. To protect its patent, Real Rail Effects subsequently filed lawsuits against some model railroad manufacturers that use DCC sound technology.
The NMRA, with the technical and financial support of a number of DCC manufacturers and hobbyists, filed the challenge stating that the patent was granted for technology that was already in existence.
Based on the NMRA's filing, an examiner at the patent office determined that the position of the NMRA had merit and compelled a new analysis of the patent. Real Rail Effects had two months to respond to the re-examination request.
The deadline to respond to the NMRA's patent challenge passed with no response from Real Rail Effects, attorney Robert J. Amsler Jr., who is representing the NMRA, announced on June 6.
The matter now awaits a decision from the patent office.
-- (posted June 13, 2008)
Minutes Posted ...
--- The minutes of the June meeting are available on the Meetings page. --
(posted June 11, 2008)
--- The minutes of the Board of Directors March meeting are available on the Meetings page. --
(posted April 4, 2008)
--- The order of the meetings has also been reversed --- the most recent are now at the top. -- (posted November 25, 2007)
Modeling in Styrene
--- Thanks to Jim Thompson for writing up his presentation on Modeling in Styrene. --
(posted April 12, 2008)
This presentation was made at the April 2, 2008, meeting and is also linked to on the Meetings page.
DCC Basics
--- Thanks again to John Thut for writing DCC Basics - Installment 3 - Decoder Types. -- (posted February 22.2008)
This is the third part in the series John is writing on DCC Basics.
--- Thanks to John Thut for writing DCC Basics - Installment 2. --
(posted March 15, 2007)
This is the second in a series
of articles John intends to write as a followup to his June 2006 meeting presentation.
--- For the intrductory article, view DCC Basics. --
(posted June 2006)
Rex Beistle's "Hilltop Station" Featured in Carl Arendt's Website
Rex Beistle is not only an author in the January 2008 Model Railroader this month !!!
His "Hilltop Station" module is featured in Carl Arendt's website -- Take a look at the Elegant Simplicity page of Carl Arendt's website.
Carl Arendt features "Micro Layouts for Model Railroads" and is part of our Model Railroad Links page.
New Pictures in the Gallery ...
--- Here is a magnificent one-square-foot scene ! -- Take a look at Jack Heier's Cabin. -- (posted November 30, 2007)
--- Greeley Freight Station Museum pictures will be available soon. -- (posted August 14, 2007)
--- Cookout / Picnic pictures are available on the Picnic 2007 page. --
(posted August 14, 2007)
--- Mining Museum pictures are available on the Mining Museum 2007 page. --
(posted August 14, 2007)
View some pictures of the 2007 Rails in the Rockies X Train Show event !!
--- Library Story Time -- (posted August 25, 2006)
--- Kitbashed Critters -- (posted July 14, 2006)
--- Layout Tour at Jack and Linda Heier's home in Loveland -- visited on July 7, 2006.
--- Layout Tour of Mike Broadstreet's On30 model railroad. --
(posted June 1, 2007)
--- Modeling with the Modelers -- the first session held June 14, 2006.
Rails in the Rockies XI ...
--- Module and Vendor Forms are now available for Rails in the Rockies XI - 2008. -- (posted October 11, 2007)
Black Canyon / Curecanti Nat'l Park D&RG Display Update
RR Buffs:
Black Canyon / Curecanti National Park will most likely be pulling the train off the trestle at Cimarron this coming summer to repair the trestle and perform maintenance work on the train.
After repair, the train goes back on the trestle and will probably not be available for a close inspection again for many, many years. The dates when it will be available for visitation have not been set at this time. However, it is important that you express interest to the park for "getting up close and personal" so that arrangement can be made.
If you are interested in having access to the train while it is off the trestle, please write (Black Canyon NP, NPS, 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230) or email Forest Frost at the park (forest_frost@nps.gov).
The static display on the original steel deck Pratt Truss trestle (1895) includes Baldwin C-16 (2-8-0) # 278 (1882) and tender (1935), box car #3132 (1904), caboose #0577 (1886). Other remains in the immediate area include portions of the original D&RG grade, the junction town of Cimarron with track and reconstructed stockyards, stock car #5620, work car (sleeper) #04414.
See also: http://www.nps.gov/blca/historyculture/cimcanyonexhibit.htm
Bill Butler -- (posted December 6, 2007)
Update on C&TS #489 ...
-- The following is from an e-mail by Fred Carlson on June 14, 2007 ...
I was in Chama today looking around. The 489 is now projected to be ready to run in October. She has the new front flue sheet installed, but the flues and tubes have not been installed, and the superheater units still have to be made. In addition, many parts have been lost to other engines, so some fabrication of new parts will be necessary. The new driver tires are installed, but the engine is still a boiler on a bare frame, with no spring rigging, brake rigging or wheels. They were boring out the left valve chamber when I was there.
According to the shop crew, the next engine to undergo a rebuild might be the 483 or the 463! The shop forces think these two are the most economical to rebuild. According to the machinist I talked to, the boiler on 483 is in great shape. I was surprised that 497 or 493 were not mentioned, even though management would prefer a K-37.
I also noticed a lot of fresh ballast between Chama and Los Pinos. They've really been working on the railroad!
Lastly, the steakhouse at Los Pinos is once again open for business.
And an interesting tidbit. Soni Honneger was running the 488 today, and they made it from Chama to Cumbres with six cars in 1 hour and 10 minutes! I asked him if they had installed a supercharger over the winter! He told me the 488 was the strongest engine, with 484 second and 487 third. The 487 is down on power due to blowby, probably due to worn piston rings. It goes to show that three steam engines all of the same design do not have the same power. They're all individuals!
For a .PDF file containing photos CLICK HERE.
-- Fred Carlson -- (posted June 15, 2007)
Another Wonderful Critter ...
 |
 |
 |
Here are three pictures of an On30 critter Left click on any picture to enlarge. -- (posted April 2007) |
||
Micro Layout Ideas
--- Visit our Related Links - Model Railroad page for a list of links with a batch of ideas for micro layouts. -- (posted June 19, 2006