Return to the Coastal Newfoundland Railway Page 10 No. 272 JANUARY-MARCH 2019 First Stop: New Jersey– Reviewing the ‘Erie Ltd.’ Then, Syracuse– ‘Empire Junction 2019’ Exploring the NER: Page 14 INSIDE THE COUPLER By JEFF PASTON Open Doehr 2 FROM THE EDITOR . News and Events 3 New York City, specifically. I had one item on my Erie Limited Convention Review 4 bucket list I intended to see since I was so close in Workin’ On the RR 7 Mahwah. Growing up, I loved subways! So, I just had Plans for 2019 Convention 8 to go to the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn. New Members 9 Once there, I saw the opportunity for an Newfoundland Model Railway 10 ith this issue, we are “Exploring the NER” feature. Check out my visit Visiting NY Transit Museum 14 reaching across the full starting on page 14 of this issue. NER Brass 16 WNMRA Northeastern In some unfinished business, I found more Region to bring you stories that should interest you. information on that Santa Fe jet I’ve placed some “pins” on the NER map “locomotive” shown in COVER PHOTOS above so you can see the scope of The Coupler 270. It was built A steam-powered freight winds Coupler’s “travels.” by Pete Singher for Bill its way through the rural Adiron- We start in Mahwah, New Jersey, Messenger and displayed at the Santa Fe dacks on Jim Heidt’s Ogdens- where Chuck Diljak reviews the successful Modelers Convention in Stamford, CT, in burg & Norwood layout. The HO Erie Limited 2018 NER convention. Then, we September 1973. railroad will be open for visits and operations during the NER Empire go northwest to Syracuse, New York, where Not able to resist a good pun—but out of Junction 2019 convention based Ed O’Rourke offers a look at plans for the space in our last issue showing off the in Syracuse, NY. A preview starts Region’s 2019 converntion. contest winners in Mahwah on page 7. Photo: Jeff Paston Our farthest reach is to St. John’s, —I’m thinking Ken Olsen’s entry of The inset photo of two CN Newfoundland and Labrador, where George Jarvis a side saddle equestrian should GP-9s is on George Jarvis’ layout shares a tale relating to his HO scale Coastal have been entered in the near St. John’s, Newfoundland. His Newfoundland Railway. We last heard from George Locomotive category instead of Kit story starts on page 10. Photo: George Jarvis in the April 2014 Coupler (Issue 253) in which he Built Display. It’s obvious the vehicle modeled is a lamented the lack of NMRA members and activities “one horse power” locomotive! D in his area. Fast forward to now… and George is vice president of the reactivated and renamed Eastern Canada Division. And finally, we “jet” back to New York— By JOHN DOEHRING OPEN DOEHR NER President Operating Trains Adds Fun The official publication of the Northeastern Region of the ispatch … PSOS at Smithtown yard … than a dozen additional home or club layouts, and National Model Railroad Association We’re buttoned up here and ready to I’ve participated in two or three operating Issue No. 272 “Dgo for Northville.” sessions in each of the last six NER conventions. Have you tried operating—running Through this I’ve amassed more than 75 hours of EDITOR model trains to simulate real railroad operating time, and I’m finally, just about (but not JEFF PASTON 315-682-8144 operations? It’s been several years now since I quite) ready to declare (rather equivocally) that [email protected] began operating, and it’s certainly I’m no longer a beginner. worsened my railroading infection. Recently I signed up with long-time CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Not long after joining the operations mentor Bruce Robinson MIKE TYLICK MMR NMRA, my division (Boston area HUB) (Sandown, NH) to participate in his STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER sponsored an event called OPSfB— structured operations training on the JIM WALSH Operations for Beginners. Largely the Valley Junction RR. Bruce’s program is brainchild of fellow member John Lutz, designed to help aspiring operators learn COPY EDITOR how to run and eventually dispatch trains, STEVE RUSSO OPSfB exposed me (and a dozen other newbies) to the simple joy of playing trains with and to earn the operating requirements of the CIRCULATION a purpose. NMRA AP Chief Dispatcher certificate. MARK HARLOW I’d already been a member of the local Participating in operating sessions has [email protected] NTRAK club for a while, and I enjoyed both the been a game changer for me—increasing my PRINTING camaraderie of that group, and the opportunity understanding of how real trains work, adding a RAPID PRESS to run some very long trains. But these units just lot to my list of close hobby friends, and providing Stamford, CT loop around the modular pike; their purpose much more fun at meets and conventions. I’ve ©2019 Northeastern Region NMRA primarily to entertain the public (and of course, learned a great deal about how to actually build a The Coupler is published four times a help justify the purchase of 50 or more Canadian layout, and more about what I really want to year by and for the members of the cylindrical hoppers). achieve when I finally do break ground on my Northeastern Region of the National Model Railroad Association. Subscription rate So, I was really amazed that in my first own basement empire. is $10.00 per year. Any items related operating session I could spend some three-plus Operations aren’t for every modeler. Do to the activities of the Northeastern Region hours all by myself, working a small yard in less what floats your boat—what makes you most and its member divisions are gladly accepted by email. Photos submitted must be high than 20 square feet. I came away from this with happy. But, if you haven’t yet tried it, I’d resolution of at lease 300 dpi in order a powerful grin, and a childlike rediscovery of encourage you to plunge. Perhaps you were born to be considered. Please send change just how much fun our hobby is. for the throttle! D of address to <nerofficemanager @verizon.net>. Since that first date, I’ve been to more 2 • THE COUPLER #272 NEWS & EVENTS THE COUPLER Deadlines their homes helping them build. He always FEBRUARY 15 – April-June issue Jim Rizzolo wanted to be of help, and was never MAY 17 – July-Sept issue Nov. 13, 1942 - Sept. 26, 2018 satisfied unless he was busy. AUGUST 16 – Oct-Dec issue He wanted to build a layout in his TIMETABLE basement and started by finding out as adly, I must report much as he could about what he wanted. Compiled by JACK LUTZ that Jim Rizzolo, the Together, we went to the NER and MER CONVENTIONS SNortheastern conventions. This provided Jim with April 4-6: 34th Annual Sn3 Symposium; Region’s membership chair, and my close opportunities to “operate.” He’d say, “I need Bellevue, WA <www.sn3seattle.com/> friend, passed away peacefully on to understand what I want to have and what September 19-22: NER Convention– Empire Jct. Wednesday, September 26 at his home in I don’t.” 2019; Syracuse, NY <www.empirejunction.org> Jim was always willing to Scotch Plains, New Jersey. SHOWS I first met Jim, about four years volunteer and that spirit is what really made January 5-6: 61st Annual Model Railroad Show; ago at the World’s Greatest Hobby show in us click. Jim volunteered to be the Region’s North Haledon, NJ <www.gsmrrclub.org> Edison, NJ. I was there representing the membership chair and travelled with me to January 20: Toy & Model Train Expo; Lincroft, NJ Garden State Division, attempting to get Albany, NY, to attend a show there and <www.eastcoasttrainparts.com/cba.htm> people’s attention by building an represent the NMRA. We also attended the January 26-27: Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby “underbed” 3’x 5’ layout on premises. Well, show in Springfield, MA, two years in a row, Show; West Springfield, MA it worked as I drew Jim right in. We talked and the recent World’s Greatest Hobby show <www.railroadhobbyshow.com/> February 10: Model Railroad, Train & Toy Show; for a while about the hobby and he was in Edison. Jim was a fantastic recruiter, Wallingford, CT <www.classicshowsllc.com/> hooked! Jim signed up for full membership signing well over 50 new members in the February 16-17: Greenberg's Great Train & Toy Show; with all magazines —not unusual for Jim as last three shows. Swansea, MA <trainshow.com/swansea/> he was an “all in” type of guy. At the end of his life, he had February 16: 33rd Annual Model RR & Doll House Show; He loved the hobby, but most of all accepted his fate, as he always lived by the Augusta, ME <www.whitefieldlionsclub.com/> he loved the people in the Garden State serenity prayer: “God grant us the serenity February 24: Worcester Model Railroaders Annual Show; Division. I was able to introduce him to a to accept the things we cannot change, the Worcester, MA <www.wmrr.org> March 2-3: Greenberg's Great Train & Toy Show; number of guys in his area who were courage to change the things we can, and Rochester, NY <trainshow.com/rochester/> building basement empires, and he became the wisdom to know the difference.” March 3: Cheshire High School Band Parent Association fast friends to the point he would be over at We’ll miss you Jim.