S EMAPHOREEMAPHORE S Official Publication of the North County Model Railroad Society

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THE S EMAPHOREEMAPHORE S Official publication of the North County Model Railroad Society

Issue No. 51, July 2018

A southbound Coaster glides through Rose Canyon. See page 4.

In this issue ....

 Oceanside’s new mayor visits NCMRS

 Riding the Grand Canyon Railway

 Bob Kale deals with duplicate car numbers

 Goodbye to NCMRS co-founder Cy Grimshaw

 New ATSF Business Car tours NCMRS

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Table of Contents Issue 51, July 2018

President’s Message 3 This month’s cover photo 4 Event Timetable 4 Department Heads 5 News & Activities 6 Mayor Peter Weiss visits NCMRS 8 Eileen Turk retires 7 2018 PSR Convention at San Diego 7 Rev. Bill Pope named NCMRS Chaplin 8 Structure Award for Harold Helland 8 P&R Commission report 9 New structures for NCMRS 10 A Haunting Whistle 11 Some Favorite Models 12 April Op Session 13 New ATSF business car tours NCMRS 14 The Grand Canyon Railway 18 Fixing duplicate car numbers, by Bob Kale 22 New Coaster locomotives 24 Hobby News 25 Humor 26 SD’s colorful railroads 27 The Old Yardmaster 28 From the Editor’s scrapbook 29

The Semaphore

The Semaphore is published quarterly as the official publication of the North County Model Railroad Society. The next edition of The Semaphore will be published October 1, 2018. Please submit articles and pictures to the editor at [email protected] by September 10, 2018.

The North County Model Railroad Society is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation whose objectives are 1) to hold and manage property and funds for charitable purposes, 2) to provide public displays of model railroads in order to present and teach the history and operation of railroads, and 3) to promote and teach railroad safety. Donations are welcomed. For reference the NCMRS tax ID is 33-0478444.

NCMRS is located at Oceanside Heritage Park, 220-230 Peyri Drive, Oceanside CA 92058. Our web site is www.ncmrs.org 2

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From the Interlocking Tower July 2018

s you know from our meetings, we are developing a plan to rebuild the Trains 4 Kids A model railroad. This will be a perfect time to develop new skills and learn more about the world’s greatest hobby – model railroading. During the next several months, there will be opportunities to provide great ideas to make the model railroad more enjoyable for the children.

When construction starts, the first step is to develop and build the framework to support the model. The next step will be installation of the roadbed and track. Following track work, there will be the need for electrical work. Based on what I have heard, I am sure there will be moving parts, lighting for buildings, and of course electrical control of the trains. Scenery will be a major portion of the rebuilding process. If you would like to learn new skills or develop current skills, there will be opportunities to take part in the construction of a first class Trains 4 Kids model railroad. I am sure several of you would like to be a part of this endeavor.

Another opportunity to participate will be the Fall Swap Meet to be held Saturday, October 13. As you know, each of our Swap Meets has increased our revenue through rolling stock and building sales and our very popular raffles. We have had vendors and guests stay just for the results of the last raffle. Being part of a successful event is personally rewarding and this event helps provide funds for improvement of our model railroad.

Over the last couple of months, we have had several new members join the club. As the new members become engaged in club activities, please take the time to introduce yourself and welcome them to our club. I know when you joined the club, active members made you feel “at home” with the club. We would like all our new members to feel welcome. Please do your part to show them around our facility.

In September, the National Model Railroad Association is holding the Pacific Southwest Region 2018 Convention in San Diego. As part of the event, NCMRS will be sponsoring an operating session. Based on feedback from recent op sessions, the Switch List method will be used and set up by our members. At this event guests from the NMRA will be operating trains under our guidance. That means they will control the engines, but our members will operate the switches and provide guidance as they travel around the model railroad looking for towns and industries. This is a great opportunity for NCMRS to gain recognition within the model railroad community and the NMRA.

Although the year is half over, there is still plenty of opportunity to get involved in NCMRS functions. As more members participate, NCMRS becomes more successful and enjoyable for everyone.

Have a great day, Harold

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About Our July Cover Photo

ome 45 minutes after leaving the S Oceanside Transit Center, Coaster F40PH-2C locomotive No. 2101 glides through Rose Canyon. Her destination in downtown San Diego is just 14 minutes away.

Electro Motive Division of General Motors introduced the 3,200 hp F40PH series commuter locomotives in 1987. In 1994 Morrison-Knudsen delivered five remanu- factured F40PH-2Cs to North County Transit. They were decorated for Coaster Service and numbered 2101-2105. The F40P-HC-2s are scheduled for replacement in 2019. See page 24 for details.

Timetable of Selected Events NCMRS Events are in bold

July 14, LAUPT Summer Train Fest, Los Angeles July 14 & 15, Great Train Expo, Pomona July 21, PSR Amtrak Train Ride To San Diego July 28, NCMRS Business Meeting August 5-12, NMRA National Convention & National Train Show, Kansas City, MO August 31, NCMRS Business Meeting September 12-16, NMRA/PSR Convention, San Diego September 15, PSR Convention Swap Meet, San Diego September 15, PSR Op Session at NCMRS September 29, NCMRS Business Meeting September 29, NCMRS Family Picnic October 6, Los Angeles Prototype Modelers Meet, Bellflower October 13, NCMRS Fall Swap Meet October 20, Roundhouse Gang Swap Meet, San Bernardino

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Department Heads & Committee Chairs Effective July 1, 2018

Decoder Pro and Track Test Leo Valley Chaplin Bill Pope Children’s Programs Laura Reese E-bay Sales Rich Blankinship Electronics/Electrical Nick Ruddick ETC Team Tom Ashton, Chris Davis Facility & Railroad Construction Harold Helland Maintenance Bob Kale, Kevin Harper Membership Jim Gillie, Lynn Wagner Member Support (swag) Rich Llewellyn NMRA Liaison Pete Steinmetz Operating Sessions Harold Helland Operation Lifesaver Laura Reese Planning and Design David Ford Program Chairman Pete Steinmetz, Dick Bale Public Relations Dick Bale Purchasing Control Rich Blankinship Scenery David Ford, Eddie Perez Semaphore Editor/Publisher Dick Bale Semaphore Proof Reader Sue Ruddick Signal Master John Burrow Storage and Inventory Bob Hunt Swap Meet Rich Llewellyn Training Rick Keefer Trains4Kids John Castaneda, Jim Gillie, Laura Reese Trains4Kids Scheduling Laura Reese Web Master Nick Ruddick

NCMRS 2018 Board and Officers

Nick Ruddick, Chairman/CEO Harold Helland, President Dick Bale, Director Rich Llewellyn, Vice President John Burrow, CFO/Director Rich Blankinship, Treasurer Jim Gillie, Secretary

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New Mayor Visits NCMRS

ceanside’s new mayor, Peter Weiss, toured the layout and other facilities of NCMRS on O Saturday May 26, 2018. Although familiar with Heritage Village Park, this was the former city managers initial opportunity for a first-hand look at what NCMRS has accomplished since moving to the park. The mayor appeared both surprised and impressed at what he saw and noted that NCMRS was clearly the principal attraction at the park.

Following the tour the mayor joined NCMRS members for lunch arranged by Pete Steinmetz. Rich Blankinship, who is a member of the Oceanside City Parks & Recreation Commission, was responsible for arranging the mayor’s visit.

Mayor Peter Weiss poses in front of the Helix with Harold Helland and Rich Blankinship.

Cy Grimshaw 1931-2018 NCMRS co-founder yrus Samuel Grimshaw passed away in Encinitas on June 1, C 2018. He was 87 years old. Cy was raised in a military family and moved numerous times, but he considered Chicago his hometown.

Cy served in the Air Force as both an enlisted man and an officer. He retired as a Lt. Colonel after some 28 years of active service. Following his retirement from the military Cy worked for Northrup Corp. where he was instrumental in developing the B-2 bomber.

Cy was a hobbyist for about 30 years. Although he always had an interest in model railroading, his first modeling hobby was building and flying powered model airplanes. He belonged to a local club in the North County. After numerous expensive crashes, his interest moved towards model railroading: not as expensive and with no crashes.

Cy was one of the three founding members of NCMRS when the club was launched in San Marcos in 1990. He served as the first president of the fledgling organization. Declining health kept Cy from being active at NCMRS in recent years. Cy is survived by his wife Essy. He will be buried at the Miramar National Cemetery with full military honors in a private ceremony. Reported by Leo Valley. 6

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Eileen Turk Retires

CMRS hosted a retirement lunch for Eileen Turk on Wednesday June 6. As manager of N the Parks and Recreation Department, Eileen was instrumental in working with the City of Oceanside to secure a home for NCMRS at Heritage Village Park. Throughout the past four and a half years, Eileen has been a staunch supporter of NCMRS and has worked with the City to complete several upgrades for our facility including the expansion of the Trains 4 Kids room.

Following the luncheon, which was Eileen Turk arranged by Pete Steinmetz and attended In appreciation for your enthusiastic support of North by more than a dozen NCMRS members, County Model Railroad Society, the club members wish you a joyous and long lasting retirement. Eileen was presented with a genuine railroad engineer’s hat with Inland & Pacific Your friends at NCMRS, June 2018 embroidered on it and a coffee mug with a picture of the Eileen Turk Supply building which is located on our main model railroad in Oceanside. Eileen also received an engraved plaque as shown above.

San Diego to host 2018 PSR Convention he Pacific Southwest Region (PSR) of the the hotel, contest room, and numerous clinics T National Model Railroad Association on a variety of subjects including model build- (NMRA) will hold its 2018 ing, layout building, con- Convention in San Diego on structing scenery, and September 12 through 16. hosting an operating The event will be hosted by session. The theme of the PSR’s San Diego Division at convention is “Beach Op’s the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, 2018”. Accordingly, the 595 Hotel Circle South, Mis- North County Model Rail- sion Valley. road Society will host an Op Session for conven- Activities include layout tioneers. At press time the tours, modular layouts at session is 7

NN C C M M R R S S N NEWSEWS && H HIGHLIGHTSIGHLIGHTS tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, September 15. Details are being handled by Jim Guille and Rich Blankinship. Pete Steinmetz is coordinating the session with PSR convention official Dick Roberts. For the latest information on the PSR convention visit http:// www.psrconvention.org/beachops2018/index.html .

NCMRS has a new Chaplin

t the request of club officers, Reverend Bill Pope has A accepted the challenge of serving as Chaplin for NCMRS. Bill is an ordained minister and leads a congregation at a small non-denominational Christian church in Vista. One of Chaplin Pope’s key rolls for NCMRS will be to keep in touch with members who find themselves unable to visit the club.

Bill has been a model railroader almost as long as he can remember. As a 7-year old kid growing up in West Virginia, he had the good fortune to see a train layout belonging to the father of a school friend. Bill says that’s all it took… he was instantly hooked and he has been enamored with model trains ever since.

After graduating from high school Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps. He rose from private to Lt. Colonel and retired in 1992. His specialty in the Corps was Ground Ordinance and Mainte- nance Officer. Bill’s service to his country included action in Desert Storm and two tours in Viet Nam. Bill and his wife Alice make their home in Oceanside.

Helland receives structure award

CMRS president Harold Helland received N his official copy of the Certificate of Achievement Award he earned for the 12 excellent HO scale structures he built. The award was presented by Paul Schmidt MMR, a west coast official for the National Model Rail- road Association. The presentation was made during a special meeting May 12 at the Short Line Model Railroad Club in Vista. .

Harold is working toward achieving a Master Model Railroader Certificate (MMR). He has already earned several certificates toward MMR for Electrical, Scenery, and Chief Dispatcher. For a close look at Harold’s models see the October 2017 edition of the NCMRS Semaphore.

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Oceanside P&R Commission receives NCMRS update

uring the June 12, 2018 meeting of the Oceanside Parks & Recreation Commission D NCMRS presented a detailed report on the clubs status including the mission, current status, and future plans of the organization. The presentation, held in the City Council Cham- bers, was given by NCMRS president Harold Helland whose talk was supported by a well- organized Power Point program prepared by Rich Blankinship.

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Tom Frankhum and Oceanside City Council- member Jack Feller endorsed the work of NCMRS and offered high praise for what the model railroad club has accomplished since moving into the city’s Heritage Park

just four years ago. Also in attendance were Margery Pierce director of Oceanside Neighbor- hood Services and retired Parks & Recreation manager Eileen Turk. NCMRS was well repre- sented at the meeting with about two dozen members in attendance.

The Lunch Bunch

our north county train fans recently met at the Oceanside Transit Center for a brown bag F lunch and a little train watching. Getting together for the impromptu session were (left to right) Dick Bale, Joe D’Elia, Pete Steinmetz, and Bob Behm.

There is no shortage of action during mid-day as eight trains pause at the Transit Center between 11 am and 2:30 pm. Add to that number the frequent activity by the Sprinter at the south end of the Oceanside Transit Center. Things can get even busier during morning and evening commuter hours.

Although the train-watchers didn’t see one on this date, an occasional northbound BNSF freight train rumbles through town during the afternoon. Maybe next time!.

There’s lots to see and discuss and when there are no trains in view, there are plenty of world problems to solve. All in all an enjoyable mid-day outing.

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New Structures on the NCMRS Layout

ew structures continue to appear on the North County Cement Plant and decided to fill N NCMRS layout. Eddie Perez assembled it with a small machine tool shop. He named a Campbell kit for a timber oil derrick (far left). the business Nick’s Tool World in honor of The nearly 50-year old kit is based on a 1905 NCMRS chairman Nick Ruddick. The struc- drilling rig preserved at the Kern County ture began life as a Durango Press kit called Museum in Bakersfield. Eddie liked working Perkins Produce. Most of the detail parts in with all of the tiny wood components so much the ancient kit had deteriorated so badly that that he then scratchbuilt two additional timber Dick wound up scratch building everything oil rigs seen on the right side of the above except the upper walls. Bob Behm added photo. The field of derricks is located east of interior lights to the finished model and Eddie the freight yard at Colton. Dick Bale saw an Perez modified the landscape to position the empty spot between Stuart Mesa and the structure into the hillside.

“No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child”

any NCMRS members find it rewarding to spend time in the Trains 4 Kids room showing M youngsters how to run the trains, and in some cases, how to build a model. Our camera recently caught both Harold Helland (left) and Dale Aarhus (right) on their knees assisting young visitors in the T4K layout room.

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A Haunting Whistle By Leo Valley

arly trainmen were a suspicious bunch and did everything they could to avoid working on E equipment with a bad reputation. One of the most notorious locomotives in the west was No. 107, a Denver & Rio Grande 4-4-0 built in the late 1800s.

No. 107 first lost two crew members in a bridge washout. After the fateful locomotive was repaired and put back into service two more enginemen and several passengers were killed in an another gruesome accident. After that catastrophe, No. 107 became known as “Dread 107”.

Someone carved the names of the dead in the wood-framed cab after a third major mishap claimed several crewman. Dread 107s reputation was intensified when several years later two brothers went insane, climbed into the cab and killed each other. Legend has it that after the mad brothers incident crews refused to work in No.107. She was finally scrapped in 1909 but some say her whistle can still be heard on the tracks between Grand Junction and Gunnison.

1938 Santa Fe ticket envelope courtesy Dennis Ryan collection.

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Some Favorite Models

ne of Leo Valley’s favorite locomotive types are the O unique Southern Pacific cab forwards. That makes this Broadway Limited 4-8-8-2 one of Leo’s favorite models. SP gave some of their AC-4s, including engine No. 4114, a gray boiler and a Tuscan red roof. The tender reads South- ern Pacific Lines, indicating the model replicates a prototype in service prior to 1946 when SP dropped “Lines” from it’s lettering schemes.

hris Davis’s favorite model is this Athearn GP40-2 C resplendent in Rocky Mountaineer blue and gold livery. The HO model brings back fond memories for Chris and his wife who rode the Rocky Mountaineer on the great Western Canadian tour from Vancouver, British Columbia to Jasper, Alberta.

From time to time we plan to headline the favorite model of NCMRS members. Some will be predictable, some will be a surprise, but they will all be fun and give readers a peek into the breadth and durability of model railroading. 12

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April Operating Session

highly successful operating session was held A on Sunday, April 29. The session, carefully planned by Jim Gillie and Rich Blankinship (left), focused on the use of individual switch lists for each operator rather than a strict timetable schedule. Most of the operators participating in the session said they found it more fun and less stressful than earlier sessions that combined a timetable with extensive switching.

In addition to Rich Blankinship and Jim Gillie, NCMRS members participating in the Op Session included Bob Kale, Terry Kirkpatrik, Eddie Perez, Rich Llewellyn, Harold Helland, Bobken Hartunian, Dick Bale, Cheyne Wagner, Pete Steinmetz, Norm Fury, Nate Fury, Jeff McClain, and Jim Santo.

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New ATSF business car makes first inspection tour

new business car was recently A delivered to the Santa Fe Rail- way. The car has been assigned to chief civil engineer Roy Chambers who is responsible for all track and railroad structures between San Diego and Barstow. The HO scale car was custom built for the Santa Builder’s photo of new Santa Fe business car. Fe by KatoUSA.

Before delivery, the brand new business car was included in a gathering of observation cars at Colton. Mr. Chambers took posses- sion of the car at Colton and headed for San Diego. An inspection tour was conducted en route to San Diego.

After clearing the Colton yard the inspection train moved slowly through industrial district of South Colton.

Beyond Colton the landscape turned rugged as the mainline climbed its way up the mountain and crossed the canyon and dry wash near Box Springs. The old branch line that serves the mining district could be seen further up the mountain.

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In the agricultural country near Murrieta, workers were busy picking oranges for shipment to the citrus packing houses in Escondido and Oceanside.

The inspection train took the siding at Temecula to allow a time-freight to maintain its schedule.

Mr. Chambers and officials traveling with him stepped off the business car to inspect recent upgrades at the Stuart Mesa depot. During the stop a race track special made up of old heavyweight cars passed on its way to Del Mar.

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On its approach to Oceanside the inspection train crossed the San Luis Rey River on the recently rebuilt steel bridge. The Roberts Cabins could be seen along the strand at Oceanside.

Mr. Chambers made a two hour stop at Oceanside as he wanted to take a look at the new 1954 cars at nearby Wesleoh Chevrolet. The train crew took advantage of the delay and enjoyed chili and a hamburger at the 101 Café on Hill Street.

Traffic picked up south of Oceanside including a meet with a northbound Union Pacific freight train at Encinitas.

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Left: As evening approached heavy traffic at San Diego caused another delay. Here the brand new business car waits in the crowded industrial area of Old Town.

Below: As the block signal turned to yel- low over red, Mr. Chambers inspection train moved cautiously toward its San Diego destination. This photo was taken from the rear platform as the business car passed the Western Metal Supply Co. in Old Town.

Below: After a brief meeting with local executives and a close look at the recently painted San Diego Depot, inspection officials walked two blocks to Anthony’s Restaurant for a special fish dinner. After the evening traffic quieted down, the train crew planned to turn the car and spot it on the ready track on the west side of the depot where it would be ready for an early morning departure. Night photos by Bob Behm.

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The Grand Canyon Railway By Rich Llewellyn All photos by the author

Looking for a fun railroad related trip with a spectacular destination? There is a great option just a six-hour drive from downtown Oceanside.

he Grand Canyon Railway (GRC) runs every day from Williams AZ, to the South Rim of T the Grand Canyon and returns in the early evening to Williams. The edge of the Canyon is just a short walk up from the Grand Canyon Railway Depot. It provides spectacular views as well as access to many trails, hotels and shops. Once at the South Rim, the GRC provides options to spend a few hours with a same day return trip, our choice, or take your bag and spend a few days exploring the area.

The Grand Canyon potential as a tourist destination was realized as early as the 1800’s but it was a difficult journey to experience the canyon. That changed in 1901 when William Owen “Buckey” O’Neill worked with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company to construct a spur line from Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Can- yon. This was an instant success and with that success people needed a more comfortable place to stay on the South Rim.

Enter the Fred Harvey Company. In 1905 they built The El Tovar Hotel. Designed by Charles Whittlesey, Chief Architect for the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway, the El Tovar has become an early example of a building style adopted for use throughout the National Park Service. When completed it was considered to be one of the most elegant hotels west of the Mississippi. The El Tovar was declared a national Historic Landmark in 1987.

The GCR saw continuous passenger service for 67 years carrying such notable passengers as President Theodore Roosevelt, President Taft, President Dwight David Eisenhower and John Muir. However, by 1968 the automobile had become the preferred mode of travel forcing the end of train passenger traffic. The GCR continued for a few more years as a freight carrier but finally closed in 1974. The tracks became quiet. The town of Williams suffered as a result, but still sought a way to revitalize the line. Eventually, a wealthy crop duster and his wife, Max and Thelma Biegert became interested in the venture and invested $15 Million to reinstate train service to the Grand Canyon. Along with the financing, Max Biegert provided the organization- al expertise to put together a team of people, which included steam locomotive experts to rebuild the two depots, find power, secure rolling stock and restore some 65 miles of track. This included over 30,000 railroad ties and many more rails, beams and spikes. On Sept 17, 1989 Max and Thelma Biegert brought the excitement of steam locomotion back to the Grand Canyon.

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GCR’s rolling stock consists of nicely refurbished coaches and dome cars acquired from a number of classic sources including dome cars from the famed California Zephyr. The railway now hosts several classes of service from basic coaches to luxury dome and parlor cars with all the amenities.

The trains are mostly powered with diesel EMD F40’s for trips during the week. Weekends often showcase the No. 4960, a 2-8-2 steam locomotive built in 1923 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. The GCR acquired this locomotive in 1989. After several years of restoration and refurbishment it completed its first run on the line in 1996. Originally designed for coal, it was converted to burn waste vegetable oil collected from restaurants all over northern Arizona. No. 4960 now burns some 1,200 gallons of waste oil and consumes 12,000 gallons of water The El Tovar Lodge at the Grand Canyon. over the 130 mile round trip.

The GCR offers several packages that included train tickets, and hotel and meal accommodations at the newly refurbished Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. (The train depot, the restaurant and hotel are all located next to one another.) Diane and I went in April this year and chose a package that provided two nights hotel accommodations, and a meal package including dinner the night we arrived, breakfast the following morning, dinner when we returned from our days trip and breakfast the following morning. Meals were quite good, all served buffet style and included live entertainment. We also opted for a bus tour around the South Rim area that included a lunch.

Upon arrival in Williams we checked into the hotel then proceeded to the depot to pick up our rail and meal tickets. The depot is virtually unchanged from the time it was built in 1908. This depot is the oldest poured-concrete structure in Arizona and now houses a very extensive souvenir shop along side the ticket counter.

Our day began with an expansive buffet breakfast in the dining hall. Then on to a very entertaining Wild West Show which included the oblig- atory shoot-out between Marshal John B Goodmore and the infamous “Cataract Creek Gang” (Marshal’s motto: “Be Good or Be Gone”). Lots of fun and a good start to the trip. It turned out that we would see them all again later that day.

On the day of our trip it was a cold, windy, and drizzly morning. Snow was in the forecast! Fortunately, our

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parlor car on the train was ready for boarding right after the show. The car was agree- ably warm, and well-appointed with hot drinks and snacks immediately available. We had upgraded our tickets for seats in the end parlor car with the back platform, great for pictures on the way to the canyon. Live entertainers visit- ed all of the coaches and cars at various times during the trip.

Our train, headed by an F40-PH-2 diesel, left on time and took just over two hours to cover the 65-mile trip to the Grand Canyon Depot. The terrain varied from desert scrub to dense pines and only a few farm buildings were sited near the tracks. A few miles out from the rim we were able to spot several groups of mule deer beside the track. As we neared our destination, the train was first turned via a wye and then backed in to the Grand Canyon Depot. The depot, constructed in 1909-1910, was built with log construction, two stories high and is the only such building of its kind serving an operating railroad. The building was rehabilitated and opened for current service in 1990. It is now part of the Grand Canyon National Park Historic District.

When we arrived at the Canyon, it was still drizzling with occasional light snow outside. We were very happy to be immediately directed to board a warm tour bus. It turns out the park service was midway through an improvement all of the roads and parking areas around the South Rim Village. This construction with the rain and snow turned all of the roads and walk- ways into muddy trails making it very difficult to get around. Park visitors who chose to drive their cars found the road very challenging.

Our bus took us first to an adequate buffet lunch, then after re-boarding we proceeded to several stops around the rim. Some areas were covered in fog, but we did eventually find several stops with great views of the canyon walls looking down to the river several thousand feet below us. Our bus returned us to the depot area with about an hour to spare before our train left. This allowed some time to look around the area including the El Tovar and adjacent spectacular views of the canyon. Across from the hotel is the Hopi House built to resemble a Hopi dwelling and contained a large collection of Native Ameri- can Arts and Crafts for The unique Santa Fe Depot at the Grand Canyon. 20

GG RANDRAND CC ANYONANYON RR AILWAYAILWAY sale. (Note: the second floor contains the “Good Stuff”. Fortunately, we were running out of time when we discovered this, or the trip would have been much more expensive.)

We opted for the luxury dome car for the return trip. It put us up high and, like the parlor car on the way up, served snacks and drinks. On the trip up to the rim we were entertained by a singing cowboy and cowgirl duo. The sky start- ed to clear as we moved away from the canyon providing expansive views of the train ahead and the land around us.

About a half hour out of Williams, the train began to slow to a stop. Off to the side we could see horseback riders charging hard to catch the train. It was the dreaded Cataract Creek Gang staging a train robbery. Shortly we would see Marshal Goodmore galloping after them. The gang managed to board the train and were soon in our car posing for pictures and accepting donations. The Marshal followed shortly after also mugging for cameras, proclaim- ing that he was only moments away from making an arrest.

We arrived at the Williams Depot by dinner time. The following morning we went out to see the train as it was being prepared for another trip to the rim. This time steam locomotive No. 4960 was leading the train with all luxury cars in the consist. It was extremely impressive to see this magnificent locomotive being prepped for its journey to the canyon, and then leave the station in a cloud of steam.

This was a great experience. If you are interested at all, it is a wonderful way to have a fun train ride to a spectacular destination. Check it out!

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Dealing With Duplicate Car Numbers By Bob Kale

hen assembling a roster of certain car types, modelers often find they have a couple of W cars with the same road numbers. Some may not see this as a problem, however, in addition to not being very realistic, using two cars with the same number can play havoc in an operating session.

I use several different techniques to modify factory applied numbers on models. Follow along with me and you’ll find that changing a car number is not really difficult.

Since the type and quality of factory applied paint varies greatly, I have found that no single method works for all brands of models.

When I apply a full set of decals to a car there is always some unused material remaining. I save those left overs and they are perfect for renumbering projects. I can usually find an old decal remnant that fits the color, style, and size needed for a renumbering job. Applyng a decal number to the area where a painted number has been removed will help make the rework less noticeable.

The four methods I use for renumbering  X-acto Knife: to scrape off the old number.  Paint: to cover the immediate area to be modified.  Alcohol: to rub off the old number.  Pencil Eraser: to remove the old number.

Here are the details:

X-ACTO KNIFE: Gently scratch the number paint surface with the point of a sharp X-acto knife until the number paint is removed. This technique requires patience and even with a light touch some small scratches will be visible on the car surface. I limit this method to projects with a very small surface area. Application of a new decal number helps greatly in covering the scratched surface. Avoid this method on cars with a highly visible surface that won’t get much weathering — such as a passenger car.

PAINT: Mask out the area surround- ing the number to be changed. Apply paint, preferably spray paint, to the area. It may require more than one coat of paint to cover the old number. Use just enough paint to hide the old number. Too much paint can result in a paint buildup that draws to much attention to the spot when 22

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Dealing With Duplicate Car Numbers, continued the project is done. It will be a challenge to find an exact match for the car paint to use to cover numbers. This can be a drawback but the method works fairly well if you can find paint that is a reasonably close match.

ALCOHOL: Rub the area of the old number using a soft cloth soaked in alcohol. Be ready because this can result in fast results and you don’t want to over do it. When using alcohol keep in mind that the higher the percent of alcohol the greater is the aggressiveness in diluting and removing old paint. Be careful because it is very easy to remove some car body paint or affect- ing adjoining numbers that you do not wish to remove.

PENCIL ERASER: Using a pencil eraser may take quite a while to remove numbers. It will likely leave a shiny area. This eraser method is the least likely to work. I’ve had the best success with erasers when the original paint has been very thinly applied.

Using any of the above number removal techniques will likely result in a shiny, off colored or marred surface. Applying a decal and then a Dulcote or clear matte spray to the car will help to reduce the visibility of the altered area. The good news is that weathering your rolling stock can cover lots of sins including lettering imperfections.

Successfully changing car numbers requires patience. As a final word of caution keep in mind that any number removal work should be done very carefully. You are trying to selectively cover or remove a few numerals while avoiding any disturbance to adjacent ones. You are far more likely than others to notice the minor imperfections that may result from effort, so don’t be too critical of your work! Remember, this is a hobby.

NCMRS member Bob Kale has a large collection of freight cars that he enjoys modifying, relettering, and renumbering. He has been an active model railroader since the 1960s. He likes all phases of the hobby but especially reworking his rolling stock.

T HE S EMAPHORE

New Locomotives for the Coaster he North County Transit District is in the process of replacing its roster of seven Coaster T locomotives with new Siemens Charger locomotives. The Charger is a family of state-of- the-art diesel electric passenger locomotives designed for the North American market by Siemens Mobility Co. Siemens North American manufacturing facility is in Florin, CA just south of Sacramento.

The first new Coaster Charger is scheduled to arrive at NCTD in 2020. Existing Coaster passenger cars and cab units will be fully refurbished for the new locomotives. Additional long range plans include the purchase of two new sets of Coaster equipment.

In addition to rolling stock, NCTD is Maker EMD Siemens upgrading its facilities and right-of-way. Model F40PH* Charger A two-year program to improve the HP 3200 4400 Carlsbad/Poinsettia station is already Top Speed 103 125 underway. The project will lengthen and Prime Mover EMD 645E3 Cummins QSK95 elevate passenger platforms, install a Cylinders V-16 V-16 fence between the tracks within the Traction Motors Wabtec D77 Siemens AC station, relocate a section of the existing Length 56’ 2” 71’ 6” tracks, and replace the existing at-grade * See F40PH on cover. pedestrian rail crossings with an under- crossing featuring stairways and ramps on both sides of the tracks. Additional station enhancements include new shelters, updated lighting, and improved signage.

NCTD also plans to install a new bridge at Los Peñasquitos Lagoon and eventually double track the Surf Line between Stuart Mesa and San Clemente. Other possibilities under discussion include extending rail service to Camp Pendleton and to the San Diego Convention Center. Reported by Dick Bale. 24

HHOBBYOBBY SSHOPHOP NNEWSEWS

New Motive Power Coming This Summer ere’s a preview look at some of the new HO scale Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union H Pacific locomotive models scheduled to arrive at hobby dealers this summer. For more information on these and other new models go to mrhmag.com and click on the news report.

only. It will come with a Quick Plug to ease installation of an after-market DCC decoder.

Broadway Limited has released another run of its ATSF 4-8-4 steam locomotive. The North- ern-type engine will be available in seven road numbers. Shown below is No. 3751 which Bowser plans to release its HO scale Baldwin replicates the locomotive Baldwin built for DS 4-4-1000 diesel switcher early this summer. Santa Fe in 1928. The now famous prototype The Executive Line model includes air hoses, is the oldest surviving 4-8-4 steam locomotive windshield wipers, individual grab irons, in America. coupler lift bars, operating headlight, window glass, a can motor with a fly- wheel, machined metal wheels and knuckle couplers. Southern Pacific and Union Pacific are included in the list of road names. The model comes with LokSound Select DCC decoder. A DC analog version will be available with a 21 pin socket to ease installation of an after- market DCC decoder. Southern Pacific fans will be happy to learn that Broadway Limited has made another production run of AC-4 Class 4-8-8-2 cab forward locomotives. The big model requires a minimum radius of 22-inches which is no problem on the NCMRS layout. Six road numbers and three paint schemes are available.

Athearn is getting ready to release an EMD GP35 under its Roundhouse brand. It will be decorated for BNSF/Santa Fe. The HO model will be produced from tooling originally devel- oped by Rail Power Products. This is an economy model and will be available for DC

KatoUSA has an HO scale version of a General Electric 4400 horsepower C44-9W diesel locomotive decorated for Southern Pacific and Union Pacif- ic. Special features include working ditch lights mounted in the high position and hi-adhesion trucks. The model comes with a Loksound DCC/ Sound system.

HHUMORUMOR

How could this happen. Eddie said Walthers Goo could hold anything together!

I don’t know who put that Men at Work sign up there but it’s holding us up. We’ve got to get to Leucadia by 5 o’clock or we’ll miss the Pepperoni Special with free Beadsticks!

SS ANAN DD IEGOIEGO ’’ SS CC OLORFULOLORFUL RAILROADSRAILROADS

The evening sun highlights an Amtrak Surfliner as it skirts the coast line north of Oceanside.

This San Diego trolley has traded its usual red livery for a colorful ComiCon wrap.

Sporting blue, white, and teal, an afternoon Coaster idles at San Diego before departing for points north.

NNEWSEWS && V VIEWSIEWS IINN AANONYMITYNONYMITY

Congratulations to Bill Pope, the clubs new Chaplin. Can’t think of a better man for the job… In case you didn’t get the word, the NCMRS Picnic has been moved to September 29... Must admit to being impressed with The OYM was recently reminded that NCMRS Oceanside’s new mayor, Peter Weiss. He un- members who fail to pay their dues in a timely derstood what NCMRS is creating and manner can lose, among other things, operat- showed both interest and respect for club ing privileges… members efforts… Custom NCMRS coffee mugs can still be The late Cy Grimshaw was one of three ordered through Rich Blankenship... founding members of NCMRS. Anyone care to guess who the other two were? June 18th marked the 4th anniversary of construction starting on NCMRS’s Heritage park Welcome to new NCMRS members Robert layout. My, how time flies, especially when Redd and John Koschwanez who are both you’re having fun.... experienced model railroaders. Also welcome to young family members Kieran and Chris Nice to see NMRA official Frank Baker visit Colgan through their grandfather Larry, and NCMRS. Frank, who lives in Scottsdale, is Anthony Vasiento through his mother widely recognized as one of the great struc- Cynthia... ture builders in the hobby…

Wednesdays have become strangely quiet Heard a report that the new track cleaner is since the recently-retired, effervescent Eileen sucking up lots of ballast. Is it because it is a Turk no longer makes her regular mid-week really good vacuum or is some of NCMRS inspection tour… roadbed poorly glued?...

After stealing several NCMRS shirts from the The NCMRS founders were Cy Grimshaw, storage container a thief dumped them in the John King, and Jeff Warner who, after 28 south parking lot. I can’t decide if I’m years, is still an active member... shocked that the shirts were stolen or insulted that the thief didn’t think they were worth Until next time... OYM keeping....

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s a freight train waits in the distance, a two-car southbound Santa Fe train led by 4-4-0 A No. 48 pauses to handle passengers at Del Mar Station in 1910. The steam locomotive was acquired from the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley Railway in 1907. When first built the Strat- ford Inn at Del Mar was on the beach across the tracks from the depot (off to the left in this photo).

Baldwin delivered 4-6-2 No. 3600 to Santa Fe in 1915. It was the only Pacific of its class and was rarely seen or photographed. It is shown here passing the Stratford Inn en route to San Diego in the early 1920s.

Photo credits: Top from Title Insurance Historical Collection, bottom from Goodyear collection—DeGolyer Library 29