September Telltales 2014
Newsletter of the Boulder Model Railroad Club
This spectacular winter scene is on Mike Danneman’s N-scale layout. The “Arvada Triple Play” layout tour, scheduled for September 20th, will feature Mike’s layout, along with those of Ron Keiser and Doug Wright, three outstanding modelers. Details start on page 6. The contest topic is “Open (railroad -related)“ and our clinician, Jack Getz, will speak on “Enhancing Model Structures,” so bring a model for the contest table and join us Thursday, September 18th, 7:00 PM at the Louisville (Tri -City) Elks Lodge, 525 Main Street in Louisville . Come and share in the camaraderie! (Photo by Mike Danneman; used with permission ..) x EDITORIAL My Rotary club has a recognition called a “Quiet Hero Award,” given on occasion to those individuals who quietly and diligently perform a service, usually mundane, to the club but without which the club would function less effectively. Recently, I got to thinking about the many BMRC members who are quiet heroes in their own right but don’t always get the recognition that our elected officers do. Where would we be without (alphabetically): ♦ Joe Baldwin , our webmaster, who keeps our website – our greatest recruiting tool – up to date; ♦ Loren Blaney , our visual librarian, who catalogues, stores and updates our vast collection of DVDs, in addition to writing monthly reviews about new acquisitions; ♦ Keith Bobo , whose photographic skills enliven the T ELLTALES with great candid shots; ♦ Jim Froning and his committee, who spend a year out of the limelight planning our major revenue producer and community image, the annual December Train Show; ♦ Jerry Gilland , who arrives early at every meeting to set up the contest tables, runs the contest during the meeting, and takes down the tables afterwards and writes the report; ♦ Mike Gleydura , whose knowledge of videography, has helped those of us sitting in the back of the room to see the show -and -tell items, the contest models and various demonstrations made by clinicians; ♦ Spen Kellogg , who keeps our membership roster current and sees that new members get their name badges; ♦ Mike Mead , who lovingly cares for our book library and helps members find the volumes they need; ♦ Jeff Morrison , our club store manager, who sits in the back month after month helping those who wish to buy merchandise emblazoned with our club logo; ♦ Bob Uhr , our club historian, who had the foresight to save all the back issues of the T ELLTALES and shares our exploits of 20 years ago with us each month; and ♦ Doug Wright , who proofreads each issue of the T ELLTALES , thus keeping errors as close to zero as possible. These members, with quiet efficiency, help to keep our club successful by providing services that are often taken for granted. Please take a moment to thank them next time you see them. (My apologies to anyone I have forgotten!) X —Jack Rummel, Editor E
Telltales Official publication of the Boulder Model Railroad Club, P.O. Box 1851, Boulder, CO 80306. The BMRC meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Tri -City (Louisville) Elks Club, 525 Main St., Louisville, CO.. We are on the Internet at:
2 President’s Message:
On the Mainline Bob Rothe was present for our August meeting. It was great to have him back again. Best wishes as you continue with your recovery, Bob . First, the bad news from the Railroad Model Craftsman Facebook page: “It is with regret that Carstens Publicatons, Inc. will be closing permanently at close of business on Friday, August 22, 2014. Carstens Publications, Inc. has been a leading publisher of leading hobby magazines for over 50 years. Unfortunately the current economic climate has placed us in this position.” Now, the good news from White River Productions’ press release: “White River Productions has acquired Railroad Model Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad magazines, effective September 1, 2014. Subscribers will be pleased to know existing subscriptions are to be honored and fulfilled by the new ownership.” We are happy to see that Railroad Model Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad magazines will continue to be published. I have mentioned this before, but for those who have not read Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine yet, it is time to give it a try. It is a very high quality FREE online magazine published every month. You can read it on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can download the magazine to read on your devices. Every back issue is available for free. It is available at
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to use the internet and he won’t bother you for weeks, months, maybe years. —Anon.
BMRC ELECTED AND VOLUNTEER POSITIONS Position Name Began Club Historian Bob Uhr ??? ELECTED POSITIONS Layout Tour Coord. OPEN President Jerry Bengtson 2014 Layout Manager Jon Bond 2009 Vice -President David Ennis 2014 Photographer Keith Bobo 2008 Secretary Jack Curl 2014 Video Cameraman Mike Gleydura 2013 Treasurer Chad Horner 2013 Club Store Manager Jeff Morrison 2012 Past -President Joe Baldwin 2014 Lgmt. Library Layout Jerry Bengtson 2012 VOLUNTEER POSITIONS Jerry Gilland* 2007 TELLTALES Editor Jack Rummel 1997 WOW Museum Layout Bob Rothe 2008 Webmaster Joe Baldwin 2010 Train Show Manager Jim Froning 2013 Membership Chair Spen Kellogg 2013 TS Layout Coord. Jon Bond 2013 HO -SIG Leader Frank Smucker 2004 TS Raffle Manager Marv Van Puersem 2010 N-SIG Leader Warren Hester 2011 TS Advert. Coord. OPEN Club Auditor 2014 Appt. pending TS Vendor Coord. Jeff Morrison 2013 Contest Coordinator Jerry Gilland 2011 TS Setup/Teardown Coord. Derek Walker 2013 Video Librarian Loren Blaney 2001 TS Door Prize Coord. OPEN Book Librarian Mike Mead 2011 (*provides electronic tech support)
3 As I write this, an 20 years ago, more HO-SIG NEWS intrepid foursome of HO - SIG members, Frank or less Smucker , Spen Kellogg , Roy Johnson and Contributed by Bob Uhr Bruce Dickerhofe , are in Kansas City with the SIG’s modular layout, running trains and demonstrating their modeling skills to all of the attendees at the National Narrow Gauge Convention. Please congratulate them when you see them at the September 18th BMRC meeting! —Jack Rummel, T ELLTALES Editor
SIG News Hello, N -Scalers, N- The N -SIG has been busy these last couple of weeks working on the club’s raffle layout. Several wiring problems were fixed and an overall cleaning on the track was completed. Lighting and building repairs are done and it looks like we might even get the power lines that were broken restrung this coming Saturday. Then it's back to our modules for the remainder of our time until the Christmas show, which is rapidly sneaking up on us. Hopefully there will be enough room available for us to have all of our work displayed this year. Who knows, I might even be there with my yard scene, finally. Well, SEPTEMBER, 1994 until next time, hope to see you at the meeting and This month’s cover featured post cards and also on the layout tour on the 20th. Thanks, letters covering a span of 50 years, and had one —Warren Hester , N-SIG Leader thing in common; the RPO. This was the topic of this month’s program. Edwin Engart presented the September program about “railroad postmarks“. Edwin was a local expert on the RPO subject, and had been written up in the Rocky Mountain News. ACTUAL DATING AD FOR SENIORS Jim Ferenc reviewed the fall layout tours, scheduled for Saturday, October 22. Rich "FOXY LADY: Coleman discussed the upcoming Twin Peaks Sexy, fashion-conscious blue-haired Mall show the weekend of October 8 -9, featuring beauty, 80’s, slim, 5’4” (used to be HO modules, G scale trains, videos, and short 5’6”) . Searching for sharp-looking, clinics. sharp dressing companion. Matching The first section of business concluded with white shoes and belt a plus.” Rod Black and Carl Babb discussing the November show. All three levels of the Depot were to be used for the show. The September Contest was “Open”, meaning that if you built it, bring it in! And the Tier II: First place: Doug Geiger, Rio Grande results were: K-28 Tier I: First place: Brian Maytum, Acme Fast Second place: Larry Price, Water Tank Freight
Second place: John Nahodyl , Tyco Rebuilt The club financial balance as of Caboose September 28th was $4,519.29. X Third Place: Chris Cain, S Scale Box Car
4 Library News
Visual Library Report Newly arrived is a double header from our friends at the Greeley Freight Station Museum. 741 "Scenery Volume One: Building Trees" shows easy techniques for making fir, deciduous, and aspen trees. 742 "Scenery Volume Two: Rocks" shows how to make latex molds and how to use them to cast highly detailed hydrocal rock faces. You'll want to see how videographer Bill Rogers enables artist/narrator Dave Trussell to climb aboard an HO caboose on the layout where he introduces the programs. Also in the credits is a "special thanks" to our own Spen Kellogg . To prove the point that making convincing fir trees is easy, Dave has two novices work beside him duplicating his techniques. The result: Michelle's tree looked even better than Dave's! And this is despite the fact that Dave has made tens of thousands of them on the 5000+ square foot layout at the museum. He can make 20 per hour (at 40 cents apiece) but admits that making the gorgeous aspen trees takes longer, about 15 minutes apiece. The importance of taking a close look at the area to be modeled is stressed. Take photographs under various lighting conditions and gather samples of rocks. The samples are used to match the colors when painting the hydrocal castings. Various washes of acrylic paints, with a final wash of diluted India ink, are applied. All the materials, and where to get them, are listed at the ends of the videos and on the backs of the packages. These are widescreen DVDs, each just short of an hour long. You might also be interested in the Great Model Railroad videos on the Greeley Freight Station. These were Allen Keller's final two volumes (64 & 65) and are serial numbers 590 & 591 in our library. —Loren Blaney, Visual Librarian
Book Review Our book library is filled with valuable reference material on prototypes, modeling techniques and other non -fiction volumes, but has very little fiction. For those times when you are looking for railroad -related “escapist” literature, I can recommend Train Man, by P.T. Deutermann. Suggested to me by Doug Wright , I literally couldn’t put it down. A little -known fact is that there are only six railroad bridges that cross the Mississippi River between St. Louis and New Orleans. Half -crazed by the deaths of his family in a tragic railroad crossing accident, an unknown assailant is determined of seek revenge by bombing these bridges, one at a time, thus crippling the railroads and bringing east -west rail traffic to a virtual standstill. Following the first successful demolition, the FBI is called in and we meet our hero, Hush Hanson, and his second - in -command, Carolyn Lang, who may or may not be fully supporting him. As bridge after bridge is destroyed, the railroads are suffering and the FBI HQ guys are convinced it’s Middle Eastern terrorists at work. Hanson and Lang find themselves racing against time to identify the culprit and stop the mayhem. Deutermann knows his railroading and he also knows how to write a taut thriller. I’ll be donating my hardbound copy to the book library at the September meeting. —Jack Rummel
5 September 20th Layout Tours, 1pm to 4pm Another Spectacular Arvada Triple Play… Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, September 20, 2014 ! That’s the day that the Boulder Model Railroad Club will host its Arvada Triple Play layout tour, featuring three world -class model railroads. For our first layout, we are honored to have a rare opportunity to view one of the finest N-scale layouts in the country. Mike Danneman will share his exquisite N -scale Rio Grande Moffat Road layout featured in N-Scale Railroading magazine and the December 2011 Model Railroader magazine. The second layout on the tour is Ron Keiser’s beautiful and unique narrow gauge F -scale pike that features the Cascade construction camp in the Animas canyon. This is one of the finest large- scale layouts anywhere, and it is in a basement setting! The third layout is Doug Wright’s highly detailed HO scale depiction of the B&O as it makes its way through the Patapsco Valley west of Baltimore. This tour has something for everyone. All three open houses are conveniently located within a couple miles of each other, making them easy to visit during the 1 pm to 4 pm time allotted. An email will be sent out the week before the layout tour with specifics and directions.
Mike Danneman’s Rio Grande Moffat Road
Mike Danneman is renown for his original art, photographs and “Iron Horse” books, as well as his excellent books on model railroad scenery and backdrop painting (available at Amazon.com). His artistic talents are on display in this fantastic N - scale Rio Grande Moffat Road layout. Recently featured in Model Railroader (Dec.2011), Mike’s 18’ 6” x 24’ 9” layout (track plan to right) is simply spectacular, with 258 feet of mainline traversing Colorado scenery we’re all familiar with. Starting out in Denver, the route takes us through the D&RGW North Yard up past the Utah and C&S junctions. From there it winds up a 2 percent up grade past Colo. Hwy 93 and Rocky Flats, then snakes around the Big 10 Curve until it crosses Colo. Hwy 72, past Plainview, then up the Moffat Route through tunnels 2 through 29 into Pinecliffe and into the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel. This last leg of the journey travels through some of the finest winter scenery you will ever see. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to visit this world famous model railroad!
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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Ron Keiser’s Large Scale Cascade and Silverton RR
Ron is very familiar with the Rio Grande branch that stretches from Durango to Silverton. He worked as a conductor on the line from 1992 to 2006 (he also worked for a stretch on the Georgetown Loop). His familiarity with the area and his love of the Animas Canyon has been translated into one of the most unique model railroads in the country. A large F scale (1:20.3) layout in a basement is rare enough, but when you combine this with incredibly detailed, 100% complete scenery and large -scale sound, it takes your breath away. The year is 1942, and Ron’s Cascade and Silverton recreates the feel of this era superbly. The layout is at a perfect viewing height of 48 inches, and it fills his 24 x 34 foot basement. When you walk down the stairs, you are transported into 1942 Colorado. Truly a must -see experience!
Doug Wright’s Patapsco Valley Division of the Baltimore & Ohio RR
When you enter the dedicated room to Doug’s magnificent layout, you are instantly taken back to October 5, 1958 Maryland. The brilliant colors of early fall surround you, and the sights and sounds of the transition era are everywhere. The layout fills a 650 sq. ft. room with 323 feet of mainline track representing 5 1/3 scale miles. Consisting of a large city, small towns, many rural areas, two busy harbor scenes, maintenance facilities, a logging camp and mill, all surrounded by beautifully crafted scenery, this layout is one of the finest you’ll see anywhere. It is a photographer’s dream, as every square foot is highly detailed and photogenic. One of the few eastern themed layouts in Colorado, Doug’s Patapsco Valley Division is filled with thousands of trees, hundreds of vehicles and people, and over 180 craftsman structures – many scratch built. The harbor scenes are filled with ships and vessels of all kinds, including a beautiful 18 th century hand crafted sailing frigate.
Layout tour will be open from 1 p.m. to 4 Budget your time, for you’ll want to spend a while taking th in all the sights on these wonderful layouts. p.m. on Saturday, September 20 . A re- minder email will be sent out the week before with driving instructions. 7
AUGUST CONTEST There was a good turnout for the August contest, “900 ft.² Cramped Dioramas,” 1 with 5 entries in each class. The participants seemed to have fun with the new experimental format. I also enjoyed coordinating it! It was a little more work preparing for it, but it was nice to deviate from the old routine. There were a few problems with misunderstandings about the contest rules. I urge you to give me a call or email me with any questions, as that will make things easier for both of us. Along that line, I am always open for new contest ideas. Planning has started for next year, and I would love to be able to announce another new format. While I am asking for feedback, I would like your opinion about the new “Sr. Modeler/Modeler” classes. Do you prefer this format, or would you rather return to the”Kit Built/
2 ScratchBash” format? Now is the time to make your wishes known! The 3 rd place white ribbon for the Modeler Class was won by William Casper , for his N Scale “Courtyard Sunday” entry. This mini -diorama, shown in photo #1 was scratch built with Woodland Scenics accents. Ray Hoppes was awarded the red ribbon for his, ever -popular, Wild West Models 2 -story outhouse. This kit -built model was enhanced with a RTR Ford, as shown in photo #2 . The first place blue ribbon was taken by Loren Blaney for his mechanized, and operating, signal gate. This scratch -built N scale entry took full advantage of unlimited height allowance to place the mechanism beneath the mini -diorama, as shown in photo #3 . Roy Johnson received the white ribbon for his kit -bashed entry which is shown in photo #4 . Note that although the total diorama did not comply with the contest size requirement, a portion that did comply was identified for judging nd 3 purposes. The 2 place red ribbon was awarded to Doug Wright for his kit bashed Johnsonville Tower entry. As shown in photo #5 , this mini -diorama portrays a MOW handcar stopping for a chat with the tower operator. First place was won by Jack Rummel for his entry of Ernie’s Tool Shack, shown in photo #6 . This kit - bashed HO entry was based on a Woodland Scenics cast metal kit, with lots of added detail. I was pleased to award one of our Green “Welcome to the Contest” ribbons to 4 Radford Walker . This ribbon goes to entrants who have never entered before, or not within the past year. Welcome aboard, Radford ! I regret that I overlooked Loren Blaney, who was also a new entrant. I am sorry, Loren ! I guess that since you are so involved with club activities that I thought that must have included contest entries. Please remind me at the next meeting to give you your green ribbon. 5 Below is the schedule for the remainder of the year: Sept Open – Railroad related Oct No Contest – Caboose Hobby night Nov Un -powered Rolling Stock Dec Model of the Year Contest
Happy modeling! —Jerry Gilland , Contest Coordinator
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8 If I can win a ribbon, so can you!
Keith’s Corner Scenes from the August meeting. All photos by Keith Bobo .
New member, Radford Walker, with his ribbon.
Some of Jerry Gilland’s jigs for bending styrene.
Ray Hoppes and Ethan Eilertsen..
SOME OF OUR AUGUST CLINICIANS
Jerry Bengtson and Jerry Gilland.
Ron Kaiser says, “Buy cheap brushes!”.
Have you been downstairs at the ELKS to visit our book and visual
Our merchandise mart. libraries? Be sure to look them over — they’re free to BMRC members!
9 As a model railroader and mechan - ical engineer, trestle bridges are very Timber Trestle RR interesting to me, particularly those By Bill made from timber. I have ridden the Bridges , in brief Georgetown Loop a number of times Bradley and I am fascinated by its trestle’s steel
1 construction, see figs. 1&2 . However, 2 the varied construction of wooden trestle railroad bridges has a much greater personal interest, so I did an internet search. I imagine the first use of wood as a bridge was a log placed across a stream, on which I picture Robin Hood fighting Little John. Timber trestle bridges have been used since ancient times to cross depressions, ravines and waterways. As a readily available 3 natural resource, timber has served as a common bridge material. The earliest recorded American colonial pile trestle span, I found, was at York, Maine, built in 1761 by Major Samuel Sewell. But, it was railroad development from the early 1830s onward that pushed engineers to create large timber trestles. By the early 20 th Century there were over 2400 miles of single -track trestles in the United States. Most were less than 20 feet in length. However, the longest was 22 miles across Lake Pontchartrain on the Queen & Crescent System. Timber trestles were one of the few railroad bridge types that developed in the United States and Canada (not in Europe) because lumber was cheap, widespread, and readily available. Even though untreated timber has a relatively short life it was plentiful and its straightforward assembly promoted widespread use. The most common timber trestle is the pile trestle, which consists of 3 to 5 vertical supports (bents, see fig. 3 ) spaced 12 to 16 feet apart, made from round timber poles that are pounded into the ground with the outside posts angled outward for stability. During construction, the top of the uneven posts are cut to the proper level for a cap, 4 which supports the stringers and planks that hold the rails. Tall trestles contain diagonal “X” bracing across one or both sides of the bent and also between bents. Functional designs and aesthetics come into play as an engineer choice. The timber trestle bridge over Two Medicine Creek on the Great Northern Railway in Montana was constructed at massive height 5 of 214 feet, see fig. 4 (from highestbridges.com). Everything you want to know on the details of timber trestles, and more, are in “ A Treatise on Wooden Trestle Bridges -Present Practice on American Railroads ” 3 rd Edition 1904, by Wolcott Cronk Foster. The book shows detail construction of the many trestle types, with great detail, see figs. 3 & 5 , and it is available for a free down load at;
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Secretary’s PUNNY DEFINITIONS
Report Arbitrator: MARCH MEETING A cook that leaves Arby’s to President Jerry Bengtson opened the meeting. work at McDonald’s. There were 41 members and 4 visitors present. We need volunteers to work on the raffle lay- out . There will be a layout tour September 20. Next T ELLTALES Deadline (Details on page 6.) - Our program consisted of several mini clinics : Submissions for the OctoberT ELLTALES should be • Jerry Bengtson: Distressing Wood Walls sent no later than October 2, 2014 . for Structures • Ron Keiser: Chalk Weathering Rolling y Stock • Phillip Abaray: Skewers as Uncoupling
Tools News from Buzz • Ray Hoppes: DCC Wiring • Ethan Eilertsen: Painting Jigs Former BMRC member, Buzz Allen, who • Dave Ennis: Weathering Tar Paper with moved to Oregon, sent this message: “ I have Facial Tissue been working on a gallows turntable. All scratch built. Pictures attached. We have • Jerry Gilland: Forming Styrene • been busy with family and yard work so little Joe Baldwin: An Easy Tool Caddy else has been done on the train. With winter coming I will start some kind of layout. I’ve Jerry Gilland conducted the model contest. enclosed a shot of my small train room, —Jack Curl , Secretary diorama included.” 2014 Timetable .Sept. 13,14,20 -21,27 -28 — Day Out With Thomas, Colorado Railroad Museum, 10AM —4PM. Sept. 18 —BMRC Meeting, Tri -City Elks Lodge, 525 Main St., Louisville, 7:00PM. Sept. 20 —Layout Tours: “Arvada Triple Play” with Mike Danneman (N), Ron Keiser (G) and Doug Wright (HO), 1 —4 PM. See page 6. Sept. 20 —Swap Meet, at Green Mtn. Presbyterian Church, 12900 W. Alameda Pkwy. at Mississippi, Lakewood - 9AM to Noon. Oct. 16 —BMRC Meeting, Tri -City Elks Lodge, 525 Main St., Louisville, 7:00PM. Oct. 25 —Layout Tours: Anthem, CO, Joe Crea (G - scale trolley) and Dave Ennis (HO), Noon —4PM. Nov. 22 —Layout Tour: Doug Geiger, Longmont (HO), 10AM —4PM.
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