Model Railroading in the Time of Covid-19

Volume 50, Number 1 Spring 2020 Official publication of the Sunrise Trail Division of the National Model Railroad Association, Inc. Model Railroading in the time of Covid-19

It has been more than five months since the coro- type of event we all have come to expect.” navirus hit the Sunrise Trail area. The news has been Closer to home, the Sunrise Trail Division had to grim and life has changed dramatically for most peo- cancel the Spring Meet in March and is presently con- ple. For many, work is from home, sports have been sidering options for the November meet. cancelled, and all public gatherings, including model railroading events, are being postponed. Among the events that were cancelled were the National NMRA Convention, scheduled for St. Louis, and now, the NER Conven- tions scheduled for October in Westford, Massachusetts. According to the organizers, the “Mill City planning team has finalized plans with the hotel to move the next NER Regional Convention out one year to October 8-11, 2021. This was a difficult decision, but it was But the hobby has been alive and kicking online— clear we would not have the ability to safely host the the National NMRA has been hosting a virtual lineup of the annual convention on line—the week- long marathon provides a bonanza of model railroad layout tours and clinics that can be found on the NMRA Youtube channel—go to www.youtube.com and type “NMRA” in the search field and you will get the links to all the sessions. Two Sunrise Trail Division members presented clinics—John Feraca presented a clinic on building the Beaver Creek branchline to his Stone Canyon Railroad, and Ed Koehler pre-

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sented an introduction to modelling firefighting. The Sunrise Trail Division has also started a series, “the Summer Solstice, and the schedule so far can be found on page 17. If you have something to offer, such as a layout tour using your cellphone camera, or a quick tip on modelling, send an E-Mail to Board Mem- ber Edward Koehler at EdwardMKoehler.nyc.rr.com and he will get you into the schedule. Neighboring NMRA Divisions are also holding virtual events—the Garden State Division is hosting a combi- nation of clinics and tours on August 1, information is at http://www.nergsd.com/upcoming.html Virtual National Train Show And while the country closed up for COVID-19, Trainland/ Trainworld held webcasts with model railroad manufacturers, including the National Virtual Train Show, timed to occur when the National Show would have bee held in St. Louis. In addition to plug- ging new products, many of the manufacturer repre- Screenshots from Ed Koehler and John Feraca’s clinics pre- sentatives reported that after a very slow March, when sented during the virtual National Convention. Their clinics shipments were considerably delayed, demand has can be seen at https://bit.ly/3fGyhju picked up. Matt Herman from LokSound said “We were closed But as it turned out, he said they “were actually way for a month and thought we would be way behind .” ahead this year.” Another good source of information during this period is the NMRA Turntable at http:// bitly.ws/9aJq. This is a service to all NMRA members and is a good source of modeling tips and ideas. An another note, the venerable Willis Hobbies is changing hands in the coming weeks—the change is not COVID-19 related, but due to a planned retirement. The store in Mineola is un- dergoing a transition, with its stock drawn down. With new owners, it remains to be seen whether it will be a steady source of model railroading supplies.

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perspective / DENNIS DEANGELIS president’s corner

Writing the President’s Message accounts. Even if we can not be to- EDITOR quarterly is not something I look for- gether, we can share what we are do- Dan Shepard ward to. What can I say that will be of ing. We are also looking for people to (718) 224-9278 [email protected] interest? Well nothing in the past has do clinics on Zoom. Do you have some- THE CANNON BALL any relevance to where we are today. thing to share? We can help you is published quarterly by the Sunrise As a member of HOTrack, I was looking putting the presentation together. Trail Division of the National Model forward to a full month of train shows Contact either Ed Koehler or myself if Railroad Association, Inc. for the benefit culminating with the Spring Meet. Well you are interested. Presentations of the model railroading community. we did get to do one show at the count towards points for the Author SUBSCRIPTIONS Hicksville VFW, but everything else was Achievement Certificate. U.S/. and possessions: $7.00 per year. canceled. Please make check or money order Speaking of getting supplies, one of payable to Sunrise Trail Division. Send When we were discussing whether Long Island’s premier hobby shops, requests for new subscriptions, or not to cancel the Spring Meet, could Willis Hobbies, is closing. Steve Ford is renewals or address changes to we imagine how wide spread this retiring. I have been a customer of Wil- Walter Wohleking would become. A lot of time and lis for over 30 years, when they had 5 Howard Drive Huntington NY 11743-3032 effort goes into planning an event like their 1st shop on Willis Ave. run by his (631) 757-0580 [email protected] the Spring meet but it is trivial com- father. It is hard to believe he is old CONTRIBUTIONS pared to what we are facing as a com- enough to retire. I wish him well in his Articles, photographs, and artwork are munity now. retirement. But he and the shop will be welcome in either hardcopy or as missed. Most of us are in the ‘high risk’ cate- computer files. Copy is due by the 1st of gory since we are mostly somewhat We are more than halfway through February, May, August, and November and should be sent to the Editor at the over 35. I hope all of you and your the summer. Normally, we would be above address. Submitted material will families are well and taking appropri- planning for the fall train show season. be returned upon request. ate safety precautions. Since I am in But all plans are on hold. The NER has what is considered an ‘essential’ indus- canceled the fall convention. It has try, I still went to work every day but been pushed back a year. We do not OFFICERS most of my staff was not there. Fortu- know if we will have a Fall Meet this nately, things have returned to some- year, but I am not optimistic. Dennis DeAngelis, President thing like normal or at least whatever [email protected] While not the same as a face to face normal will be. Michael Bowler, Vice President meet, I hope you will take advantage [email protected] I hope you are staying safe. This would of our Summer Soltice Series. Details Rick Mazzola, Secretary be a great time to take on some of are emailed each week. [email protected] those long planned projects, assuming I look forward to seeing you at a train Steven Perry, Treasurer you can get supplies. I am running out [email protected] soon. My sincerest best wishes for of styrene glue of all things. There is no good heath to you and your families. DIRECTORS place to go on the weekends, so the Michael Siegel (2017) [email protected] layout is getting a lot of attention. Post Dennis David Metal (2017) your work on our Twitter or Facebook [email protected] Joseph Bux (2018) [email protected] Kevin Katta (2018) Have a you got a story to tell? [email protected] Ed Koehler [email protected] Send it to the Cannon Ball Representative on NER BoD Kevin Katta ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM -Layout progress---Pictures Michael Siegel CONTESTS John Feraca -New Products--Tools—Tactics MEMBERSHIP Steven Perry WEBSITE Please send to: [email protected] www.SunriseTrailDiv.com Richard Mazzola SPRING 2020 3

Sunrise Photo-Ops

Mike Siegel’s GMD1 leading train past Lehigh Canal on West Island Model RR club layout.

Harvesting on West Island layout. Mike Siegel photos

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Safety First: General Machine Shop Safety

By Jamie Soberman

On my way to work one morning in March (when I was still going into work) I ran into an old friend on the train. I haven’t seen Kenny since I retired from teaching at the den- tal school. Ken is a periodontist and a great (bone and im- plant) surgeon. We had a nice conversation. As we went our own way he extended his hand for a fist bump. I immediate- ly noticed that three of his fingertips were missing. When I asked him about it he said that he has an accident with a table saw. I got a cold feeling. My grandfathers were tradesmen. One was an auto body and engine repairman. The other was a tool and die maker. His father trained my father. I spent a lot of time in shops with these three men and I learned my lessons. Where some kids had playrooms, I had shops. I was trained using old time techniques. Hand work, bench work, then power tools. Safe operation was enforced. In all the 60 or so years An understanding of safe shop practices prevents inju- of using shop equipment I have never had an injury that re- ries. It may seem that there are many rules to follow. They quired more than a couple of band aids. have been made with a purpose. These rules apply to indus- My shop has 12 pieces of bench equipment, a full assort- trial shops and should be applied in our home shops equally ment of hand and power tools as well as foundry tools and and self enforced. Avoid injury. SAFTEY FIRST! many others. I trained my children the same way I was The material presented here are recommendations that trained. Many of my shop manuals date back to the 1930’s. are part of a national standard enforced commercially by the Yes, I am very old school. Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Good What follows is a review of standard shop safety proce- shop practices are necessary for your own safety as well as dures. This is the first section of a shop course I am develop- visitors and will allow us to maintain a long and healthy en- ing specifically for advanced model building. joyment of shop and hobby skills. The following information is specifically geared for ma- PLEASE REVIEW THIS INFORMATION. IT IS WRITTEN TO DI- chine shop operations. They are general in nature. Please RECT RECOMMENDED SHOP SAFETY PRACTACES. REVIEW note that there are specific safety protocols for wood work- THEM PERIODICALLY. ing tools such a table saws, radial arm saws, jointers, wood lathes, band and jig saws, soldering, welding, and brazing. Also, there are specific safety recommendations for the use

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of power hand tools as well. You are now studying craftsman level shop work. Shop safety is of paramount im- portance. Learn the rules and develop the skills. All tools are dangerous if used improperly or carelessly. Work safety is the first thing the user or operator should learn because the safe way is the correct way. A person learning to operate machine tools must first learn the safety regulations and precautions for each tool or machine. Most accidents are caused by not following prescribed procedures or trying to rush through a job. Develop safe work habits rather than suffer the consequences of an accident. Most of the safety practices mentioned in this article are of general in nature. Safety precautions for specific tools and machines can be found as specific instruction in the manufacturer installation and use instruction. They can be Another suggestion: I spent some of the best time of my on line when searched as a specific topic such as; safety in- childhood working with my father and grandfathers in “the struction drill press operations. shop” Those were in the days when belts were open, ashtrays were everywhere and sawdust and filings were air- Eye Protection borne everywhere. Goggles were glass and rarely worn. I Using eye protection in the machine shop is the most im- was taught at an early age where to position myself when portant safety rule of all. Metal chips and shavings can fly at each tool was used. I taught the same thing to my children great speeds and distances and cause serious eye injury. (same equipment sans ashtrays) and had a considerable Safety glasses must be warm when working with hand amount of quality time with them. cutting tools, since most handcutting tools are made of hard- ened steel and can break or Noise Protection shatter when used improp- Noise hazards are very common when working with ma- erly. chine tools. High intensity noise can cause permanent loss There are many differ- of hearing. Although noise hazards can not always be elimi- ent types of safety glasses nated, hearing loss is avoidable with hearing protectors, ear available, however those plugs, or both. that offer the best protection are the safety glasses Foot Protection with side shields. Safety Even if you are working with small lightweight metal parts goggles should be worn the floor of a machine shop is often covered with razor- over prescription glasses. sharp metal chips. It is recommended that when working in If you plan on hosting guests or visitors to your shop area, your shop that you wear a full cover shoe or sneaker. Bare be sure to have additional safety glasses available for their feet, sandals, and flip-flops should be avoided. use. Grinding Dust and Hazardous Fumes Grinding dust from abrasive wheels is made up of ex- tremely fine particles of metal and wheel. Small home grinders are not equipped with a vacuum dust collector unless the owner adds it as an attachment. They are available as after market accessories. When operating a grinder without a vacuum wear a mask or respirator to avoid inhaling the dust. For the sake of completeness: metals such as zinc give off toxic fumes under certain conditions. Fumes from lead and mercury are very harmful and can cause irreversible damage to people.

Electrical Safety Electrical hazards are minimal unless you are doing electrical repairs on equipment. The machine operator is mostly concerned with the on-off switch of machine tools. If a thas 6 THE CANNON BALL

to be repaired make sure that it is dis- connected from its power source. It is a good safety practice to disconnect the power to a machine when changing blades or adjusting belts and pulleys sometimes found on older equipment.

SAFETY RULES FOR MACHINE EQUPMENT

Since different cutting tools and ma- chining procedures are used on various machine tools, the safety precautions for each may vary. The following are general safety rules for any machine tool:

 Gears, pulleys, belts, couplings, and ends of shafts having keyways, and other revolving or reciprocating parts should be guarded. The guards should be removed only for repairing or adjusting  Do not lubricate a machine while it is still in motion. the machine and must be replaced before operating it. Injury to the operator and damage to the machine may result from this practice.  Safety set screws should be used on all revolving or reciprocating members of the machine tool or it’s equip-  Never remove metal chips, turnings, or shavings with ment. If the machine you are using is missing a set or your hands; they may cause a serious cut. If the shav- safety screw, replace it before you use the machine. ings are long stop the machine and break them with pli- These screws cost less than a dollar. ers or a bent rod, and then brush chips off the machine.

 Do not operate any machine tool without proper  Remove cast-iron chips, which break into small pieces, lighting. You have to see what you are working on. The with a brush. Never wipe away chips when the machine light should be bright enough for you to have a clear is operating. view of the piece you are working on. Headlights are available at reasonable cost at home and hardware  Always wear safety glasses or goggles while operating stores. They are helpful in keeping your work well illu- machine tools. Also, wear respiratory protection if oper- minated while you are working on it. ation creates hazardous dust. All persons in the area where power tools are being operated should also wear  Never attempt to operate any machine tool until you safety eye protection and respirator as needed. A simple fully understand how it works and know how to stop it dust mask is suitable for most shop work. quickly. Newer equipment has clutch mechanisms built into then to stop them very quickly. Older equipment  A simple dust mask is suitable for most work done in a will take longer to stop moving. home shop.

 Never wear loose or torn clothing and secure long hair,  Never wear jewelry while working around machine since these items can become caught in revolving ma- tools. Rings, watches, or bracelets may be caught in a chine parts. Ties should be removed and shirtsleeves revolving part, which could result in the hand being should be rolled up above the elbow. pulled into the machine.  Gloves should never be worn when operating machinery except when absolutely necessary.  Avoid horseplay. Tools are very sharp and machines are made of hard steel. An accidental slip or fall may cause  Always stop the machine before cleaning it or taking serious injury. measurements of the workpiece.

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 Never use compressed air without a safety nozzle to clean a machine or clothing. It will blow sharp, dangerous metal chips a long distance.

 Keep the floor around machines free of tools, stock, oil, grease, and metal chips. Tripping over metal on the floor, especially round bars, can cause dangerous falls. Wipe up all oil, grease and cutting spills on the floor as soon as possible to prevent a fall. Metal chips are very sharp and can easily become embedded in the soles of the shoe, making them very slippery, especially when walking on a concrete floor. Note: if you have a home shop, metal filings or chips embedded in the soles of your shoes will damage the wood and lino- leum floors in your home and may embed themselves in the carpets. Brush the soles of your shoes  This item is usually missing from the shop. Have a fire off before leaving the shop and before returning to the extinguisher and flashlights available in your shop. residential area.  Install a smoke /CO detector.  Never place tools or other materials on the machine ta-  Have a first aid kit available that is stocked so that it may ble. Cluttering up a machine with tools or materials cre- be used for small cuts and larger gashes. ates unsafe working conditions. Use a bench or table  If you are using grinders, cutters, or a lathe an eye wash near the machine for this purpose. station may be advisable. An eye wash cup and a bottle of water should be sufficient. Remember this: An eye  Always use a rag when handling cutters such as milling station is not needed until it is needed. cutters and end mills.  Install a master power switch if you can to cut power to the shop equipment and the shop outlets. Check their  Do not expose power tools to rain or use in wet loca- rounding. This is important if you have small children at tions. home or visiting. It is always best to have the shop on its own circuit but not always feasible.  Always secure the workpiece. Use clamps or a vise. It is  You may want to think about installing an emergency safer than using your hands, and it frees both hands to light especially if you are in a basement or out building. operate the tool. Inexpensive units are available at hardware stores and home centers.  Do not abuse electrical cords. Never carry a tool by its  Mark exits and the exit routes. cord or yank it to disconnect it from a receptacle. Keep  Plan your own escape route in the event of a serious electrical cords away from heat, oil, and sharp edges. incident requiring an Emergency exit. Have damaged or warn power cords and strain relievers  Additional information can be found by searching repaired or replaced in a timely manner. “general machine shop safety practices” on the Internet.

 Remove adjusting keys and wrenches. Form a habit of checking to see that keys and wrenches are removed from tools before turning them on. Send your articles and  Do not operate any machine tool while under the influ- ence of drugs, alcohol, or any medication that could photos for a ride on cause drowsiness. the Additional Shop Safety Recommendations cannon Ball  Know where fire extinguishers are located in the shop area and how to use them. 8 THE CANNON BALL

Chasing the High Line

By Dan Shepard I never a saw train on Manhattan’s High Line. I might have come close—I did see some refrigerator cars sitting in the 30th Street Yard in 1980, and a short time later, I could’ve sworn that the same cars were all that could be seen in the 66th Street Yard. Newspapers reported that the last rail deliveries were three loads of kosher turkeys. Maybe these were the cars I saw. The end of rail service on the High Line had come, just as I discovered it. And it was a cool discovery—a 1.5 mile freight railroad in Manhattan that snaked its way through buildings at the second story. The High Line ended at Bank Street after the line was cut to St. John’s Freight Terminal in the 1960s. The building is the former Bell Telephone But what I did know is that if I ever had a layout, wheth- Laboratories, and the line tunneled through the building in such a manner er prototype or freelanced, it would have a version of the to ensure that the construction and the trains did not affect sensitive High Line. And although it is still very much a work in equipment. Today, the building is the Westbeth Artists Housing, and the progrss, there is a High Line on my railroad. abrupt cut shows the solid construction of the High Line . This scene is very much the same today. Today, the High Line is a much celebrated example of urban reuse and renewal, tastefully designed as a linear park that respects its railroad heritage. Rails are still in place (although to my eye, the gauge is questionable), and an effort was made to keep the wildflower ambiance that took hold after the trains stopped running.

For me, the transformation has been bittersweet. Be- grudgingly, I will admit that the High Line rebirth as a park and a tourist attraction has been well done. On the other hand, I always held out hope that the line would be used for some transportation function again. But then again, maybe that’s what a model railroad can

help with. The debate over what to do with the High Line raged for years, with real The High Line was an audacious answer to the growing con- estate interests clamoring to tear it down, supported by Mayor Guiliani, who ultimately signed a demolition order. But there were many other gestion in Manhattan, replacing the street level New York voices, including some who wanted to find a rail use for the line, or to Central tracks on 10th Avenue often referred to as “ Death repurpose it for mass transit. Others, smitten with the serenity of the Avenue.” A continuation of the line from Spuyten Duyvil, above-street level expanse reclaimed by nature, envisioned an urban line- where it peeled off from the Water Level Route, the line ar park. Ultimately, the high cost of removal, accompanied by community activism, paved the way for a unique urban park. threaded down the west side of Manhattan, past the large 66th Street yard, and the looped around the 30th Street yards, it sent a two-track spur into the US Postal Service south, through various meatpacking and refrigerator opera- Morgan Distribution Center. The rest of the line proceeded tions, and the National Biscuit Company—Nabisco—to its

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terminus in the second floor of the St. John’s Park Freight Terminal at Spring Street. The High Line was also known as the“lifeline of New York” that carried meat, milk, and eggs from Hudson Valley and beyond. In the intervening years, the line deteriorated following a familiar script. Rail traffic moved to trucks. Heavy industry moved out of the city. And the death knell was perhaps the building of the Jacob Javits Convention Center, that caused the High Line to be severed for a year during its construction. While it was reconnected, the damage had been done and it never saw another train. I’ve walked along the entire route, from Spring Street to Spuyten Duyvil, starting during the time just after the trains stopped running, to the present. When I first came to the High Line, it had already been shortened at its south end, from St. John’s Park Freight Terminal to Bank Street. Walk- ing south from Bank Street, it’s clear where the aerial right- of way was, even as it’s now an apartment complex. St. John’s Terminal is an enormous building, where the two tracks of the High Line fanned out into eight, again on the second story, that extended four blocks south. The building crossed West Houston Street, although today, the northern part of the terminal has been demolished as the building is being repurposed and rebuilt. St. John’s Park Terminal was a massive building where the High Line St. John’s Terminal was closed as a terminal in 1960, fanned out to eight tracks. This is the north end where the tracks entered meaning that the entire line only operated in full for about the building filled in. Below, current construction, where Oxford Proper- 30 years. ties has reimagined the former freight terminal for the High Line as a nearly 1.3-million-square-foot “workplace of the future.” The severed line still served the meat packing district, with Swift, Cudahy Packing having a major presence. Nabisco had three building along the line, with spurs peeling off the High Line to cross 10th Avenue, one flight up, to serve the buildings on the west side of the avenue. The building on the east side of the avenue is now Chelsea Market, a popular shopping spot. The buildinghas a marker that it is where the first Oreo cookie was made. Make no doubt about it, the area around the High Line was creepy in the years after the line was abandoned (and prob- ably before). Workers from the meatpacking businesses would be wheeling racks of meat wearing blood-soaked smocks. It was a pretty seedy side of town. But even then, there were signs that the forces of urban renewal were at

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work. The transformation of the High Line into a park was accompanied by a vast redevelopment of the entire area as the old manufacturing and “eggs, milk and butter” district yielded to new economic realities and perogatives.

In 2006, Open House New York held tours of the meat- processing building at Gansevoort Street, shortly before it was demolished to pave the way for the sleek and shiny Whitney Museum. And in 2010, the High Line held a tour of the northern section, shortly before reconstruction work was to begin on the final section. The rails were still there at the time, and it was interesting to be in the spot where Jim Shaughnessy took a classic shot of an RS3 with the Em- pire State Building rising in the background. Looking north up 10th Avenue, past the Chelsea Carwash, showing spurs between Nabisco buildings..

The 2001 book “Walking the High Line” played an instrumental role in galvanizing support for keeping the line as a park. The book, a collection Before the park, the Nabiscp building that now hosts Chelsea Market. of photos and essays, showed a surreall peaceful slice of Manhattan in all seasons, engaged both the artsy and the local communities. At the time the book came out, the overgrown line was off limits to the public, with fences impeding the progress of only the most intrepid urban explorers, who posted their finds on the Internet.

Left, a section or line through Chelsea. Above, a display in Chelsea Mar- ket showed the history of the Nabisco building, from Uneeda Biscuit to a note stating that the first Oreo cookie was made here in 1912—well before the High Line.

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For modeling purposes, the High Line has everything. Soaring urban landscapes, the curiosity of an elevated freight railroad, switching, and diverse types of freight, Modeling the High Line

I’ve often wondered why we don’t see more models of the High Line. Perhaps I can understand why so many have set out to model the Colorado Rockies, yet so few the west side of Manhattan. But there have been a few. Philip Chiavetta’s West Side Line article in the January 1989 issue of Railroad Model Craftsmanreally captured the feel of High Line. And Ron Parisi, a one-time Sunrise Trail Division member, built amaz- ing High Line modules, and wrote a memorable article, also in Railroad Model Craftsman, of an imagined lunchtime visit to the line. Dave Ramos has modelled just about all of New York Harbor, including the entire High Line south of 72nd

Street. Dave has hosted operations during Island Ops, which in previous non-COVID-19 years, allowed modelers in the re- gion to try operations on different layouts. Dave’s layout is very operations- oriented, recreating the traffic that came from the north, as well as in all the pocket-ferry terminals that dotted the harbor. The track layout board for St. John’s Park Freight Terminal is shown here, left, as well as a sweeping shot of the line ascending southward. The line itself is not com-

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Here’s the ramp on the large loop around the 30th Street yard that joined the line north. I’m not sure a train ever ran on these tracks—this was rebuilt during the building of the Javits Center, in the background. and On a 2006 visit to the meatpacking house at Gansevoort just prior to when the line was rebuilt, it was too late—traffic had evavoprated. Origi- demolition (now the Whitney Museum) and reconstruction for park- nal alignment was double tracked. way: Above, looking north to the old Cudahy Packing—Eastern Meats Building and below, looking south, end of the line.

Looking east before parkway. This was site of famous Jim Shaughnessy picture of NYC engine at 30th Street with Empire State Building in the background.

The 30th Street Yard is now the Long Island Rail Road’s John D. Caemmerer Yard. The Long Island stores trains in Manhattan for the runs back east. The High Line is seen here as it curves east as it builds up height. Picture was taken on a tour of the line in 2010 just before work was to begin on it, the last segment in converting New York’s Construction of park required rebuilding the subroadbed. To the left is “lifeline” into an urban park. This scene has changed yet again with the US Postal Service Morgan Processing and Distribution Center. Two- the construction of the new gleaming buildings of the Hudson Yards track spur went to the Center. High Line “mainline” curved south here. project.

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plicated—it is a double track with just a few spurs, crosso- vers and sidings leading to St. John’s Park Terminal. My Version of the High Line There was a time when I had a grand vision for the West Side Line, recreating the looping track that rose from cut to elevated line around the 30th Street Yard. But the way things have moved, my N scale layout is more freelance than prototype, but still, as we say, “prototype inspired,” at least in some places. My High Line, and the rest of the layout, are based on The 4% ramp leading up to the High Line. Foreground tracks are 30th St. the unrealistic fantasy that after abandonment, I some- how had fortune to play with, and I picked up the pieces and reconfigured the remaining trackage for whatever business was left to be served. As a result, I’m fairly fuzzy on the era. I took over the line after the trains stopped running, which would be in the early 80’s, but my rolling stock is more 60’s and before. And I run really old reefers simply because I like them. My line is all diesel—the prototype appears to have run tri-powered boxcab engines early on that could run as electric, diesel, or battery. The High Line, on my layout, is the southern terminus of a railroad that then extends northwestward, sort of Just like on the prototype, many of my structures need work!

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Putnam-line, NY&OW inspired, but with no attempt to model specific scenes. Hence, the name of the railroad is the “Wayward River Railroad.” My idea was to capture some of the look and feel of the High Line—not to model each building or industry. And some industries are not from the area at all—from Queens, there is the Silvercup Bakery, Serval Zippers which used to loom off in the distance from left field in old Shea Stadium, and Eagle Electric had a motto that I could not leave out—”Perfection is not an accident.” And while I pay homage to the meatpacking district,

it’s not an industry that I’m overly eager to replicate. Above and below: Looking south on my High Line as it goes through For years I have used mock-ups, insisting to myself that building on the second story. While the line is double tracked here, one I will get to fully modeled buildings sometime in the of the tracks is used more for deliveries. To the right is a very small 30th Street Yard, where there are just four inbound/outbound tracks. future. The railroad does end at St. John’s Park Terminal in my basement, and although it is large by my standards, it only has two tracks instead of eight. At the north end, I take liberties to extend to the 72nd Street Yard, where the New York Central supplied newsprint to a New York Times printing plant. It seemed like an important source of additional traffic, and in addition, my dad worked at the newspaper, albeit at the main 43rd Street Building. My entire Manhattan is just 13 feet by 14 inches. With more space, I would have tried to recreate more of the line, but I have no regrets as I’m nowhere near- finished with what I’ve started. I don’t have a clear idea on how the prototype operated, but it must have been interesting switching St. John’s as a long stub terminal, which could hold more than 100 cars. It’s also not clear to me if trains for the High Line originated at the 72nd Street Yard or at 30th Street, or even further north. It is likely that much of the Rutland milk trains made their way to lower Man- hattan. So, while not prototypical, the line has provided a destination for freight. It is the end of the line, but Access to the High Line is via a steep ramp, lower left, with close to a 4% grade . The old New York Times printing plant , at about 64th Street, used to print advance sections of the looked at another way, it’s the beginning. newspaper from 1959-1975 and is now a luxury apartment building. SPRING 2020 15

Sunrise Trail Odds & Ends

A working wigwag—the automatic watchman: Steve Perry presented his model wigwag at the last Division Meet, back in Feb- ruary. Steve says that he built the mechanical parts last summer and fall, but had to redo some of the parts as they either got lost or damaged or just did not come out right. The mechanism case is good example: he rebuilt it three times before he was satisfied. “It is so damn tiny in HO.” The first sketch to drive the servo was com- pleted in November and the first operational test was in Febru- ary. There is more work to do, he says, such as painting, completing a finial for the top of the mast, adding the RR crossbuck, and other signs.

Steve says he is planning to complete an article for the model railroad press on the wigwag, and may reprise his clinic virtually on a future Division Zoom presentation. Another presentation possibly in the offing is from John Feraca MMR, has posted some incredibly sharp pictures on Facebook of his layout using Helicon Focus. The image was created from 12 photos taken at different focal points then rendered into a sin- gle image. John will also be presenting his layout virtually (see next page) and in an upcoming article in Model Railroader. Also at the February meeting, elections were held for the top Division posts, and Dennis DeAngelis was reelected as Presi- dent, Michael Bowler, Vice President, Rick Mazzola, Secretary and Steven Perry, Treasurer. Dennis, Rick and Steve seen here at the Winter Meet. Dennis said “I’m very fortunate to have such great help.”

16 THE CANNON BALL

SUNRISE TRAIL DIVISION, NMRA August 5, 2020 at 8:00 PM eastern time: JOIN JOHN SUMMER SOLSTICE SERIES FERACA MMR FOR A TOUR OF HIS STONE CANYON RAILROAD Link to the Event: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72587845795? We continue with our Summer Solstice Series this Wednesday, 29 pwd=NHV0NmpCQVFycVdUZkFSMHh5OWpEZz09 July, at 8:00 p.m. with a presentation on THAT TOWN AT THE END OF THE LINE – COAL PATCH COMMUNITIES. This clinic visits a Meeting ID: 725 8784 5795 Password: 0MTYkX number of ‘coal patch’ communities in Pennsylvania to give the modeler an idea of industrial housing prototypes. The presenter, Edward M. Koehler is a Board Member of the Sunrise Trail Divi- WE’RE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL PROGRAM! sion. EdwardMKoehler.nyc.rr.com. August 12, 2020 at 8:00 PM eastern time: THE GOWANUS SHUT- TLE from Chicken Boy Productions. This is a tour of a Sunrise Trail To join the clinic: Division member’s multi-level model railroad.

Link to the Event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86294522247? You will need Zoom on your computer, tablet or phone. Go to pwd=MVNnZEVXakJvQ3FidXJmV2FuZ3BPdz09 https://zoom.us/, select “Sign Up, It’s Free” on the top right, regis- ter and download the Zoom® program application to your computer if you do not already have it. While you don’t need to have an Meeting ID: 862 9452 2247 Passcode: 943754 account with Zoom®, it seems to work better when you do. Clink on the links shown below to join the selected event. Do you have something to offer? Perhaps a layout July 29, 2020 at 8:00 PM : THAT TOWN AT THE END OF THE LINE – tour using your cellphone camera? A quick tip on modelling? A COAL PATCH COMMUNITIES fully developed modelling clinic presented on PowerPoint® slides? Willing to deliver a live clinic using a computer-based camera? We Join Zoom Meeting may be able to help you deliver it to our members. Send an E-Mail https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76713240239? to Board Member Edward Koehler at EdwardMKoehler.nyc.rr.com pwd=ZjZVcXVXZ2tBYWlncEVuY3J5ekQ0Zz09 and we will get you into the schedule.

Meeting ID: 767 1324 0239 Password: 7SEM7q

A pickle car built by Mike Bowler presented for judging at the Winter Meet in February. Top right, John Feraca, reviewing models submitted for judging; lower left, Ed Koehler presenting clinic on Long Island Rail Road motive power, and members checking out models and exhibits.

SPRING 2020 17