THE SIGNAL BRIDGE

Volume 16 NEWSLETTER OF THE MOUNTAIN EMPIRE MODEL RAILROADERS CLUB Number 8 AUGUST 2009 ISSUE

CLUB OFFICERS THE ROUNDHOUSE SPECIAL

President: Head for the roundhouse! ETSU’s Carter Railroad Museum adds a new exhibit Fred Alsop Carol Fox, ETSU News & Information Department August 3, 2009 Vice-President: JOHNSON CITY—East Tennessee John Carter State University’s George L. Carter Railroad Museum has added a new Secretary: exhibit—a 21-stall model railroad Art Daniels roundhouse, turntable and supporting structures. Treasurer: Duane Swank The display is the culmination of a seven-month effort by volunteers Newsletter Editor: from the Mountain Empire Model Ted Bleck-Doran Railroaders and features a see- through window, allowing visitors to Webmaster: view the inner workings and floor John Edwards details.

LOCATION Inside the roundhouse bay, the light of an arc welder can be seen as miniature work crews appear to ETSU Campus, George L. make necessary repairs on a model of a Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive. The scale Carter Museum representation honors the historic Big Boys. Only 25 of the massive engines were produced in the early

1940s, and they provided valuable service during World War II by rushing military materials across the HOURS nation. Business Meetings are rd held the 3 Tuesday of Details shown in the exhibit each month. Meetings include a tiny light lowered into start at 7:00 PM at the Big Boy’s smokestack as ETSU Campus, repairmen check for problems. Brown Hall Science Bldg, Sound chips create a variety of Room 312, noises, including bells, whistles, Johnson City, TN. coupling cars, and billowing

steam. - A social gathering is held prior to the business meeting at EL TORITO on State of Mike Buster, one of the Franklin near ETSU in the Mountain Empire Model Kroger Plaza starting at 5:45 Railroaders members, is PM. Visitors and those credited with the idea for the interested in joining MEMRR are invited to attend. project and for contributing some of the initial materials. The 70-member organization plans and builds layouts in addition to - Work nights are held weekly providing volunteer assistance during the museum’s hours of operation. on Thursday evenings starting at 4:30 PM and lasting until The new addition joins HO, N and G scale working layouts, railroad artifacts and related exhibits. ??? Admission is free at the museum, which is open every Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Carter Railroad - Open viewing and operating Museum is located in the ETSU Campus Center Building (Old College of Medicine Building and formerly layout is available every the Student Union). Saturday from 10:00 AM until For further information, contact Dr. Fred Alsop, director of the museum, at [email protected] or, after August 3:00 PM. 10, at (423) 929-3733. Mountain Empire Miniature Railroaders newsletter editor Ted Bleck-Doran may be reached at (423) 753-6056. THE SIGNAL BRIDGE AUGUST 2009 Pg. 2

News around the museum: The roadbed for the G-Scale railroad in the Kid’s Playroom has been hung from the ceiling thanks to George and Duane and the helpful hands of several others. Jim Millhorn has been bending the track for the curves with a rail bender graciously loaded for the job by Tom McKee and that part of the room is really shaping up. Soon the first will make a run. Jerry has been busy at work on the Cope Traveling Layout and he could use some additional help there with the scenery. The HO roundhouse was put in place on July 4th and the university has issued a press release to all the area media that has resulted in some additional visitors to the railroad museum. The HO wiring crew under the direction of John Edwards and Lyle Montieth, and with lots of help from Bill Hensley and others, is making some real headway towards getting that layout operating better. The G-scale track is in and ready for installation on the McKee layout and our thanks to Tom for furnishing the new, much needed rails and The View from the Engineer’s turnouts. The N-Scale gang is also continuing to make progress on rewiring and realigning track and roadbed on the Bankus layout. Side of the Cab: As indicated earlier, lots of things are going on in the museum and we can really use your help to carry them out. If you have been The view from the engineer’s side of the cab: Welcome new missing Thursday night work sessions and Saturday operating members: McCoy Davidson (full membership), Johnson City, and sessions, you have been missing out, so put those days/nights on Mike Dowel (assoc. member), Bristol, TN. At the July meeting the your calendar and come and participate in your hobby. Volunteers Club voted unanimously to grant honorary one-year memberships for Saturday public operating sessions have been adequate to to Tom McKee and ETSU President, Paul Stanton, for their meet our needs, but we can always use more club members continued support of the MEMRR and the Carter Railroad present to operate the 3 working layouts and interact with the Museum. Long-time member, Don Ramey, has recently undergone public on these important days. Our club bylaws state each back surgery and is recuperating. We wish his a speedy and full member is expected to donate one Saturday a week to help us recovery and hope to see him back on his feet and working on his meet our obligation to the university and we will welcome only half module soon. a day if that is all you can manage. It’s a great opportunity to come and run your favorite train, or test drive your newest Club Organization: There are lots of projects going on at the purchase, and to discuss model railroading with our visitors and Carter Railroad Museum these days and the MEMRR has fellow club members. Remember, if you volunteer for a day and supported an initiative to create divisions to make the work go find you cannot not make it for unexpected reasons, you still have more smoothly and efficiently. The following focus areas now an obligation to get on the telephone and find a member who can have coordinators or co-coordinators and we now our club substitute for you for that time period. We depend on everyone members to continue to sign up for one or more interest groups of being present that has made that commitment for a Saturday and their choosing (see the July 2009 issue of The Signal Bridge for when we come up short it makes it very difficult for the members some of the suggested/needed projects): HO Layout--- John Carter who are present to cover all the bases. So, be thoughtful and w/John Edwards & Lyle Montieth (electrical); Bankus N-scale—Tod responsible with our thanks and appreciation for all that you do to Evans; McKee G-scale--- Gary Cameron; Cope Traveling Layout--- make the club and the railroad museum what they are. Jerry Dennis; Rabetoy-HO/Hon3---Gary Rabetoy; Kid’s Playroom--- Duane Swank/Gary Cameron; Display Cases--- Jim Pahris; Sales--- Looking for a model railroading project? Contact one of the area Duane Swank/Gary Rabetoy; Publicity---Hobie Hyder; Events--- coordinators listed above in an area you would like to help out Hobie Hyder, Publications--- Ted Bleck-Doran. (Please advise me with while learning some modeling skills. Want to see your model of any additions or corrections; FJA). I wish to have one meeting railroading article or photos in print? Submit your materials to The monthly with the Club officers and the coordinators as a planning Signal Bridge editor and he will work with you to make it happen. board prior to each regular monthly club meeting. In order to We could use some technical folks who know how to put together avoid taking additional time from those of you who are already web pages to help construct a home page for the George L. Carter working so hard for the club and the museum I would like to have Railroad Museum that would be linked to several web sites this meeting last only 30-45 minutes and to use a time and place including the University’s home page. when most of us are already at the museum. Almost everyone listed above is now coming to Thursday night work sessions and I See you soon at the museum and/or at the August MEMRR propose that at least initially we plan to meet at 6:00 p.m. on the business meeting on the 18th. Consider coming to join us at El Thursday approximately 2 weeks prior to our regular business Toritos Mexican restaurant before the meeting for a good meal meeting (our first meeting would be on Sept. 10th). I have a and lots of friendly visiting. The view from this side of the cab meeting place we can use on the floor just above the Carter looks very good indeed. Have fun with your hobby and thanks for Museum so we won’t have to go out of the building for this. The all you do for the MEMRR. purpose of the meetings will be project coordination and planning and to allow us to suggest some agenda items for the Club’s Fred Alsop, monthly business meetings. Please plan to be present on President, Mountain Empire Model Railroad Club September 10th and we will see how this works out. Feel free to Director, George L. Carter Railroad Museum discuss it with me at any time of course and all our members are encouraged to provide suggestions to the officers and coordinators whenever they wish to do so. THE SIGNAL BRIDGE AUGUST 2009 Pg. 3

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB Gary Rabetoy requested that the ETSU-MEMRR Memorandum of MINUTES Understanding be distributed to club members. John Edwards will MONTHLY MEETING private email copies, if requested by members. July 31,2009 The agenda item “Club Railfan Trip” was skipped to conserve Call to Order: time.

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM by John Carter The agenda item “Other Old Business” was skipped to conserve time. Ted Bleck-Doran made a motion to apply Order of the Day to adjourn at 7:45 PM for clinic. Motion was seconded and passed. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Engineers’ running schedules – sharing time: John Edwards Officers’ Reports: suggested limiting individual running time to 1 hour when Secretary’s Report: Minutes from June meeting were accepted as needed by demand, etc. The Item was tabled printed in The Signal Bridge. 2. Honorary 1-year memberships: Tom McKee: Motion approved Newsletter Editor’s Report: Ted Bleck-Doran reported that the Paul Stanton: Motion approved Newsletter for July was issued 3. Other New Business: Consignment of old North Coast Equipment item was tabled Treasurer’s Report: Duane Swank reported as follows: Balance Forward: $1970.69 LAYOUT REPORTS: Income: $134.00 N-Scale: No report Expenses: $283.68 HO Scale: Wiring working. Bridge needs repair Month Ending Balance: $1821.01 G-Scale: No report Available Balance: $1340.79 Kids Room: Overhead Bridge needs modification.

Duane has increased the allocation for the Dream, Plan, Build VOLUNTEERS FOR SATURDAY MUSEUM OPERATING SESSIONS: video series. The Treasurer’s report was accepted via motion. Volunteers taken for July 25, August 1, August 8, and August 15

Webmaster’s Report: John Edwards reported that the Website is ANNOUNCEMENTS: up and functional. Tod Eaton announced that the N-scale needs to be run at speeds indicated by markings on transformers. Vice President’s Report: John Carter discussed upcoming programs for August and September. John asked for October The Watauga Valley Loco on display must stay in the museum – Program suggestions. can only be removed by Duane Swank, Jim Pahris, or Mike Tilley

President’s Report: There was no report from Fred Alsop because PROGRAM: Fred is traveling. The business portion of the meeting was adjourned a 7:45 PM OLD BUSINESS: and interested club members moved to the Museum to participate in the Airbrush Painting and Decaling Clinic, hosted by Jim The club has defined plans for the sale of the Clinchfield RR Millhorn. Prints. John Carter explained the revenue stream process set up by ETSU to insure proper tax collection and disbursement. Minutes prepared and respectfully submitted by Arthur Daniels, Secretary Club/Museum Operating Groups have been formed. Details are in the July Newsletter. During a called special July 6 meeting, various groups were set up to handle the different layouts, events and other museum/club functions. John Carter reviewed several aspects of this program, read the list of existing coordinators and volunteer leaders and asked for additional volunteers to fill the remaining coordinator slots. Slots addressed during the meeting include: HO Layout Coordinator: No volunteers McKee G Gauge Layout: Gary Cameron, coordinator Children’s Layouts: Gary Cameron, coordinator until another member steps forward

Gary Rabetoy asked about how the relationship between the club and the museum might be affected by the additional activities made possible by the museum expansion.

Ted Bleck-Doran made a motion that The Sales Committee research issues regarding products to be sold and how transactions are to be handled. Jerry Dennis seconded and the motion passed. THE SIGNAL BRIDGE AUGUST 2009 Pg. 4

SILVER COMET Pennsylvania Railroad Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Seaboard Air Line May 18, 1947

Connecting Train Number (New Haven) 176 Boston, MA (South 0.0 Ar 9 10P Station) (ET) 43.8 Providence, RI 8 08P

156.8 New Haven, CT 5 45P

New York, NY (Penn 232.0 Dp 4 00P Station) (ET) 197 Train Number 196

Daily Miles (Pennsylvania) Services Daily

Streamliners 12 New York, NY (Penn Dp 0.0 C Ar 2 50P 45P Station) (ET) • Although competing railroads in the South were reluctant to R 1 D 2 10.0 Newark, NJ C make the capital investments needed to streamline their 00P 34P fleets, Seaboard led the way in 1939 and soon R 1 D 1 58.1 Trenton, NJ C the other roads began to follow. The following 49P 45P constituted Seaboard's widely advertised, very popular "Silver R 2 D 1 85.9 North Philadelphia, PA C Fleet" of streamliners, with lightweight fluted-side stainless 19P 16P steel cars pulled by colorful EMD diesel locomotives: R 2 Philadelphia, PA (30th St. D 1 • , inaugurated February 2, 1939: Initially an all- C 30P Station) 06P coach train (Pullman sleepers added in 1941), first R 3 D12 streamliner to serve , New York to Tampa/St. 118.1 Wilmington, DE C Petersburg and Miami. Preserving its reputation as "one of 00P 32P R 4 D11 the finest [trains] in the country," the Meteor retained its 186.5 Baltimore, MD C round-ended observation cars until took over 03P 30A operation in 1971. Still in Amtrak service today with updated R 4 D10 Ar 226.6 Washington, DC C Dp equipment. 45P 45A • , May 18, 1947 - June 1969: Streamliner, coach, Continuing Train Number (Richmond, Fredericksburg & 33 34 and Pullman cars, New York to Atlanta and Birmingham. The Potomac) consist of the Silver Comet included baggage cars, coaches, 5 10P Dp 226.6 Washington, DC T C Ar 10 20A Pullman sleepers, and a dining car between New York and F 6 Birmingham, along with through coaches and Pullmans to or 280.7 Fredericksburg, VA T C 27P from Portsmouth, Virginia, connecting at Raleigh. According Richmond, VA (Main St. to Schafer and Welsh in Classic American Streamliners, 7 54P Ar 343.1 T C Dp 7 27A Seaboard had proposed the idea of a New York-Birmingham Station) streamliner in the late 1930s on the heels of the Silver (Seaboard Air Line) Meteor's successful debut. Partner railroad Pennsylvania was 7 58P Dp 343.1 Richmond, VA T C Ar 7 24A cool to the idea, in part due to resistance from their powerful 8 25P 365.8 Petersburg, VA T C 6 58A ally Southern. But after WWII, with new equipment again 9 58P 456.5 Henderson, NC T C 5 22A available, Seaboard launched its New York-Birmingham streamliner on May 18, 1947. The train would debut with 10 Ar Dp 4 40A older heavyweight sleeping cars; lightweight stainless-steel 40P 500.3 Raleigh, NC T C all-room sleepers were still on order. The new Silver Comet's 10 Dp Ar 4 35A schedule cut 4½ hours from the time its heavyweight 45P predecessor, the Cotton States Special, had offered in my 12 Ar 596.9 Hamlet, NC T C Dp 2 50A next previous issue of the Guide (January 1946). 30A • Silver Star, inaugurated December 12, 1947: Streamliner, Through Cars Portsmouth-Atlanta coach and Pullman cars, New York to Tampa/St. Petersburg and Miami. Still in Amtrak service, with updated equipment. 17 Connecting Train Number (Seaboard) 18 3 55P Dp Norfolk, VA (ET) (via Ferry) C Ar 10 30A

Although not advertised as part of the Silver Fleet, the following 4 15P Dp 0.0 Portsmouth, VA T C Ar 10 15A new train was similarly equipped: 7 35P Ar 115.8 Norlina, NC T C Dp 6 45A • Gulf Wind, July 31, 1949 - April 30, 1971: Streamliner, coach 7 Connecting Train Number (Seaboard) 8 and Pullman cars, Jacksonville to . Handled jointly by SAL and the L&N, with motive power changed at 7 50P Dp 115.8 Norlina, NC T C Ar 6 40A Chattahoochee 9 00P Ar Dp 5 30A 174.8 Raleigh, NC T C 9 10P Dp Ar 5 20A THE SIGNAL BRIDGE AUGUST 2009 Pg. 5

10 Southern Pines, NC 1050.1 Wattsville, AL T 3 43P Ar 242.8 T C Dp 3 54A 28P (Pinehurst) 10 Ar 1106.3 Birmingham, AL (CT) T C Dp 2 45P 11 45A Ar 271.4 Hamlet, NC T C Dp 3 20A 10P

12 Dp 596.9 Hamlet, NC T C Ar 2 35A LEGEND 45A Time: 1 50A Ar Dp 1 34A A - A.M. 649.5 Monroe, NC T C 1 55A Dp Ar 1 29A D - Train stops only to discharge passengers F - Conditional (Flag) stop 2 50A 694.5 Chester, SC T C 12 33A I - Customs/Immigration inspection stop 3 44A 740.2 Clinton, SC T C 11 40P M - Meal stop 4 18A 768.0 Greenwood, SC T C 11 08P N - Not a passenger stop

4 40A 783.1 Abbeville, SC T C 10 50P P - P.M. R - Train stops only to receive passengers 5 19A 814.4 Elberton, GA T C 10 08P

6 00A 848.8 Athens, GA T C 9 28P Services: 7 15A 911.4 Emory, GA 8 15P A - Auto loading/unloading facilities (as freight)

B - Checked baggage is handled 7 40A Ar Atlanta, GA (Terminal Dp 7 55P 921.7 T C Sta.) C - Coupon station (Ticket office) 7 55A Dp Ar 7 40P I - International border inspection station 9 02A 969.1 Rockmart, GA T C 6 25P M - Food service available 9 17A 981.9 Cedartown, GA (ET) T C 6 10P P - Telephone station

8 45A 1005.7 Piedmont, AL (CT) T C 4 39P R - Rental cars available T - Telegraph station 9 04A 1024.3 Wellington, AL T C 4 10P X - Checked baggage NOT handled 9 12A 1031.1 Ohatchee, AL T

9 28A 1041.0 Ragland, AL T 3 55P

THE SIGNAL BRIDGE AUGUST 2009 Pg. 6

ROUNDHOUSE INSTALLATION – JULY 4, 2009

COME JOIN THE FUN – WORK NIGHTS ARE THURSDAYS 4:30 UNTIL??? OPEN HOUSES FOR THE PUBLIC ARE SATURDAYS 10 am UNTIL 3 pm THE SIGNAL BRIDGE AUGUST 2009 Pg. 7

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This Year’s Fall Excursions Offer Day Trips to Charlottesville, Va. and Asheville, N.C. SPENCER, N.C. –The N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation noon. Passengers will have nearly three hours for an outing at and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Biltmore Village. Society offer a chance to see the beautiful fall foliage, experience a great destination and enjoy the romance of riding the rails this Established in the late 1890s as a planned community near the fall. The museum is again hosting fall train excursions. In addition entrance of the Biltmore estate, Biltmore Village stands near the to our traditional Charlottesville, Va. day trip, the museum will also entrance to Biltmore Estate. Shopping will be available in unique, offer a day trip to Asheville NC. After hosting day trips through the locally-owned boutiques. Passengers can dine in restaurants and 1990s, the museum revived rail excursions in 2007. The past two take walks along brick sidewalks that parallel tree lined streets. years have been sell-out crowds and satisfied passengers made All of this will be enjoyed alongside spectacular views of the North those excursions a great success.. Carolina mountains. Departing Asheville at 3 p.m., the “Blue Ridge Special” will return to Spencer at 8 p.m.

Several different levels of excursion tickets are available. Ticket prices are the same each day. Premium First Class tickets feature comfort seating on private rail cars restored to the height of luxury.

Premium First Class passengers will also enjoy an early continental breakfast, newspaper and dinner in the diner on the return trip. Premium First Class tickets are $240 per person.

A new offering this year, Deluxe Coach Class tickets feature spacious seating with large windows, lunch on the dining car and light snacks during the trip. Deluxe Coach tickets are $170 per person.

Coach tickets feature comfortable seating, air conditioning and

The “Virginia Autumn Special” will travel to Charlottesville, Va., heat and restrooms. Coach tickets are $140 per person. Oct. 31, while the “Blue Ridge Special” will travel to Asheville, Nov. 1. Each day’s trip will include spectacular views of fall foliage. Another new feature, an optional box lunch will allow travelers to save time for shopping in Charlottesville or Asheville. The $14 box Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., Saturday’s “Virginia Autumn Special” lunch, served in a souvenir lunch tote, includes include a half will again offer a second passenger pick-up at the Greensboro turkey wrap, pasta, chips & salsa, a cookie and drink. Amtrak Station at 8 a.m., allowing those living in the Triad a more convenient boarding opportunity. Passing through the North Carolina cities of Thomasville, High Point and Reidsville, and the Virginia cities of Danville, Lynchburg and Oak Ridge, passengers will experience beautiful views of the Piedmont and rolling hills of the Carolinas and the western part of Central Virginia. Spectacular views of the Dan, Roanoke and James Rivers will be seen as the train crosses above. The train will even pass by Schuyler, the mountain town fictionalized in the television show “The Waltons.”

At noon, the “Virginia Autumn Special” will arrive in Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia. Here travelers will have nearly three hours to explore the historic downtown area. A short walk takes you to the downtown outdoor mall, considered one of the Passengers may also take advantage of a shuttle bus at each finest urban parks in the country. Unique shopping and dining destination for an additional $2. opportunities can be found in boutiques, specialty wine, coffee and tea shops, and outdoor dining spots. Travelers may also Tickets are available online at www.nctrans.org or by calling 704- enjoy relaxing walks under a lush, leafy tree canopy. Departing 636-2889 ext. 232. The N.C. Transportation Museum, located in Charlottesville at 3 p.m., the train will arrive back in Greensboro at historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway repair 6:45 p.m. and Spencer at 8 p.m. facility, is part of the Division of State Historic Sites, Department of Cultural Resources. The museum is located just five minutes During Sunday’s trip, the “Blue Ridge Special” will travel through off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, N.C., and about an hour from the western Piedmont into the foothills and on to the Blue Ridge Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. Visit www.nctrans.org for Mountains. Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., the train will roll through more information. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is the cities of Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Marion, Black celebrating the 2009 theme of “Treasure N.C. Culture.” For Mountain and Swannanoa. The train will climb the famed "loops" information on the Department of Cultural Resources, call (919) of the Blue Ridge Mountains passing the famous Andrews 807-7385 or visit www.ncculture.com. Geyser and through several tunnels before arriving in Asheville at THE SIGNAL BRIDGE AUGUST 2009 Pg. 10

RAILROAD PICTURE POSTCARDS

FROM THE GEOFF STUNKARD COLLECTION