PO Box 1, Albany, , 45710 February 2014

Upcoming Events: Railfair 2014 – Not by the Numbers

February 7-8, 2015 By: Kirk DePeel World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour Columbus, Ohio Admission: $3 Every year I write an cancer and at best, had a Operating Layouts, Vendors article reviewing the few months to live. For February 10, 2015 Club Meeting pervious show. I usually me, Railfair became a 7:00pm Ohio State Highway Patrol Post start by talking about welcome distraction from 13600 Della Drive, Athens how successful the show the reality of life for a few Bring something for show and tell! was and how everyone days. had fun and go on from February 28, 2015 By the numbers we did Winter Train Meet there. That’s not to say Parma, Ohio alright. There were Admission: $6 it’s not true. Our shows Operating Layouts, Buy/Sell/Trade, twelve layouts at the New and Old Trains, Parts, have always been Supplies, All Scales show representing N, HO, enjoyable and there are March 1, 2015 HOn30, and O scale. The Darke County Model Railroad huge crowds who come to people who came were Club Train Show see our trains. But for Greenville, Ohio delighted by the sounds Admission: $4 me personally, the show Operating Layout, All Things and smells of our trains, Model Railroad and Train related was a welcome and the conversations of March 14-15, 2015 distraction. My mother Railfest 2015 their own experiences. Kirtland, Ohio had been sick most of the Admission: $7 Kelly brought in some NMRA Div. 5, Operating Layouts, year and there were Lionel trains I had never Buy/Sell/Trade, New and Used, indications that it was 100+ vendors heard or knew existed. more than just old age. March 22, 2015 And I can’t remember a Greater Wayne County Train and In the back of your mind Toy Show (Dalton Show) show where people Admission: $5 you always fear the New, Used, Collectibles, Buy/Sell/ Trade, All Scales, 10 Operating worst. Last month our Layouts, 608+ Dealer Tables worst fears were Continued on Page 2 confirmed when we learned she had terminal

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Continued from Page 1 complimented us so 2014 it was the biggest This coming Railfair much. It’s a very ticket seller and more will mark 35 years humbling experience. than paid for itself. and I would really like to do something The layout Roger Now consider this. special to and Ricky built was a Railfair 2014 was our commemorate it. I huge hit with the kids. 34th show. That in have a number of Most liked the bat itself is an amazing idea’s floating in my cave and the accomplishment. brain but I would like Flintstones house the Despite all the ups to hear from you. best. And as in past and downs this club Think about what we years the wooden train has faced we still could do to highlight set was also a big hit managed to do a show, this year’s show and with the kids. Many sometimes two, each present your idea at times the parents had year. But it’s not so the February meeting. to carry their kids much what we have This is your club so let away because they accomplished that I your idea’s be heard. didn’t want to stop relish. It’s the playing with it. But enjoyment we brought And one last thing; the biggest draw at to all those visitors; THANK YOU for all the show was the many who make it a your work in making Lionel train set. Since yearly thing. To most Railfair 2014 we added it to the Christmas and successful. Your time raffle, the ticket sales Railfair now go hand and effort is have increased each in hand each year. appreciated. year. For Railfair

“You know you’re a Railfan “Hobo Humor” if…” http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/trainjokes http://www.mswphoto.com/IdiotRailfan/you_know.html .html Your car's license plate is What do you call a train that eats customized with a locomotive toffee?

designation, railroad initials, or A chew, chew train. both.

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Fort Wayne Line Rebirth

By: kjprendergast, All Aboard Ohio

For advocates of rail of Dunkirk, OH has been As was reported on this transportation, one of the the subject of an initiative blog and more so in the Ohio most enjoyable by a consortium of online Passenger Rail News, NS is developments is to see a communities to develop experiencing serious freight railroad line come back to passenger rail service traffic congestion on its life. That’s been happening between Columbus and Line between recently to the 270-mile Fort Chicago. If they are Cleveland, Toledo and Wayne Line between successful, service may Chicago where up to 110 Tolleston (Gary), IN and begin with 79-mph trains. trains a day travel. This has Crestline, OH via Ft. As more funding is found, also caused horrendous Wayne, Lima and Bucyrus. the consortium would delays to ’s Lake This was one of America’s upgrade the line to Shore Limited (CHI- premier passenger rail lines, progressively higher speeds. NYC/BOS) and Capitol linking Chicago and East Limited (CHI-WDC). Coast. A rebirth of this line for freight is more immediate. For the first time in 30-40 But will a sudden increase Norfolk Southern (NS) track years since freight train in freight traffic to this resurfacing crews have been traffic was consolidated onto corridor help or hurt laboring between Ft. Wayne the Chicago Line from the prospects for the return of and Bucyrus since Fort Wayne Line and other passenger rail? That November – a time of year lines, some traffic is being depends on how many when such work is usually freight trains and confined to NS routes in infrastructure southern states. So what improvements are coming. has them working in Ohio’s Continued on Page cold? A race to relieve traffic 3 The Fort Wayne Line west congestion. Interested in Membership? Interested in becoming a member? Join today! Membership dues are as follows:

 $40 for a single membership for 1 year

 $60 for a family membership for 1 year Benefits of becoming a member:

 Voting

 Several great trips throughout the year

 Friends who share a common hobby and interests

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Fort Wayne Line Rebirth

Continued from Page 3 moved back. The route was the pride of the dropping train speeds from consolidations date back to a Railroad 70 mph to 10 mph in places. different era when railroads (PRR), the “Standard were in survival mode. Now Railroad of the World.” The As part of the 1999 split of the railroads are in a growth double-tracked mainline ’s assets among CSX mode. hosted more than 20 and NS, NS gained trackage passenger trains per day, rights over the Fort Wayne NS improved and some at 100 mph (until the Line (up to 8 daily trains continues to improve several federal 79-mph limit went Crestline-Bucyrus; up to 6 lines to accommodate trains into effect in 1947), mixed in dailies Bucyrus-Ft. Wayne). coming from BNSF at with twice as many freight CSX got the Fort Wayne Streator, IL to NS’s Conway trains. But later owners Line west of Crestline from Yard near . First, Penn Central (1968-76) and Conrail, but NS dispatches NS upgraded the former especially Conrail (1976-99) it. NS got the Fort Wayne New York Central (NYC) moved freight traffic to the Line east of Crestline, “Streator Connection” and route of PRR’s former rival, detoured rail traffic from it an ex-NYC Schneider- the former NYC via and single-tracked much of Harbor line in 2013 Cleveland and Toledo. it. so more trains could bypass congestion in Chicago. Next, Conrail incrementally NS turned its capacity- downgraded the Fort Wayne enhancing attention to the Line. It was single-tracked Fort Wayne Line – the only west of Crestline in 1984. underutilized rail corridor Conrail rerouted Amtrak To be Continued in remaining east from trains to more northerly the March 2015 Chicago into Indiana and routes in 1990. Its signaling Ohio. system was removed soon Edition. thereafter while track Once upon a time, this maintenance was deferred,

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