Holiday & Winter Train Show Issue Official Publication of the Northeastern Region SUNRISE TRAIL DIVISION National Model Railroad Association VOLUME 39 ISSUE 4 WINTER 2009 WINTER MEET JANUARY 2ND IN WESTBURY wy Pk tate N January 2, 2010 rn S rthe Exit No 1:00PM–4:30PM 32 Westbury Memorial Library e v 445 Jefferson Street, Westbury A t s St (Exit 32 of Northern State Parkway (Post Road) o ckland P Ro S L c i h n o d o e l n S t P on St l effers 445 J Admission is free Light refreshments available For more information go to: www.sunrisetraildiv.com SPRING MEET APRIL 10TH IN MASSAPEQUA PARK ♦ CLINICS ♦ CONTESTS ♦ PHOTO CONTESTS ♦ AP MERIT CONTESTS ♦ MODULAR LAYOUTS ♦ LIGHT REFRESHMENTS ♦ WHITE ELEPHANT TABLE WINTER 2009 1 and Bell senses that rather than reaching the end of his mayhem, he is building up to a grand act unlike anything committed commentary / WALTER WOHLEKING before. If Bell doesn't stop him in time, EDITOR & PUBLISHER WHY NOT THUMB YOUR NOSE at more than a railroad could be at risk. It George J. Loy Jr. the winter cold by curling up with a good could be the future of the entire country. 441 11th Street book about trains during the Holidays? I Whew! Heavy stuff, indeed. Maybe West Babylon NY 11704-3534 don’t mean the classic book of photos, we ought look to the British to cool (631) 766-4300 [email protected] but some good fiction where trains have things down a bit, and Jim Stringer might CIRCULATION MANAGER an important role. Here are a few sugges- just be the guy to do it. When we initially Walter G. Wohleking tions for books I’ve enjoyed and that are meet him in The Necropolis Railway, the 5 Howard Drive probably available from your library or first of Andrew Martin’s series of “Jim Huntington NY 11743-3032 your book store to order for giving, get- Stringer Mysteries”, he is on his way to (631) 757-0580 [email protected] ting and reading this Holiday season. London’s Waterloo Station to begin a job How can you pass up a book with a as a Southern Railway engine cleaner. THE CANNON BALL cover showing a steam engine flying He is quick to point out to all and sundry is published quarterly by the Sunrise Trail Division of the National Model Railroad Association, Inc. for the through the night air toward a churning that, lowly as it might be, the job is the benefit of the model railroading community. sea with its headlight piecing the dark- first step on the road that leads to firing SUBSCRIPTIONS ness—particularly when the very first an engine, something he no doubt U.S. and possessions: $7.00 per year. Please make page tells you the locomotive is a 4-6-2 learned from reading his favorite publi- check or money order payable to Sunrise Trail Division. Send requests for new subscriptions, Pacific class built by Baldwin in 1904? cation, “Railway Magazine”, and some- renewals or address changes to the Subscription & Well that’s how “The Chase” says hello thing he wants very much to do. Jim will Circulation Manager at the above address. to a prospective reader. not find that road without detours, how- CONTRIBUTIONS Articles, photographs and artwork are welcome in The book’s publicity blurb is spot on, ever, as he encounters evil-doings along either hardcopy or as computer files. Copy is due by so I’ll let it tell you the rest, namely that the way and spends time chasing bad the 1st of February, May, August, and November and should be sent to the Editor at the above address. author Clive Cussler set this historical guys and his landlady, the lovely, Lydia, Submitted material will be returned upon request. thriller in the western states, circa 1906. each for very different reasons. Jim’s The U.S. government has hired the re- adventures and progress on his railway nowned Van Dorn Detective Agency and career path continue in three subsequent its equally renowned lead agent, Isaac Jim Stringer Mysteries: The Blackpool Bell, to capture a bank robber who has Highflyer, The Lost Luggage Porter, and gunned down thirty-eight men and Murder at Deviation Junction. Having Fernand Washington, President women and two children, leaving behind read these, I heartily endorse Booklist’s [email protected] neither witnesses nor clues. Bell uncov- reviews of the series, which note that the John MacGown, Vice President [email protected] ers the bandit's true identity and how he atmosphere is first-rate. Martin provides Howard Dwyer, Secretary escapes using a custom modified railroad a strong background on early-twentieth- [email protected] car. In the midst of the San Francisco century British railroading and a suita- Steven Perry, Treasurer earthquake, the principals climb aboard a bly dark and dank atmosphere. He does a [email protected] pair of fast locomotives and some high- stunning job of bringing to life the era DIRECTORS speed thrills ensue. when steam locomotives chugged from John Jaklitsch (2011) Geographically, the story touches London through the British countryside, [email protected] bases in Denver; San Diego; Oakland; and he intensifies by giving his hero, Jim Kevin Katta (2011) [email protected] Omaha; Bisbee, Arizona; Flathead Lake, Stringer, a job on one of those trains. Michael Martin (2010) Montana and Telluride, Colorado. Rail- This past year Martin added two more [email protected] roads are involved in each place. books to the series, both of which are Michael Siegel (2011) [email protected] The success of The Chase warranted now sub-titled, “Jim Stringer, Steam De- Walter Neumen (2010) a second Isaac Bell adventure. The tective”, an indication of the hero’s ele- [email protected] Wrecker, released November 18th, has vation in status. Death on a Branch Line Andrew Wasowicz (NER) Cussler’s new hero on the job after and Last Train to Scarborough are the [email protected] thieves, killers, and bad guys in general. newest Stringer yarns. I’ve ordered both. Charles Weinhofer (2010) [email protected] In 1907, a year of financial panic and If you think murder and mayhem in- labor unrest, train wrecks, fires, and ex- appropriate for holiday reading, then ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM Michael Siegel plosions sabotage the Southern Pacific what could be more suitable than The Railroad's Cascades express line. The Christmas Train, by David Baldacci. CONTESTS Howard Dwyer railroad hires the Van Dorn Agency and Journalist Tom Langdon must get from Isaac Bell. He quickly discovers that a Washington DC to Los Angeles in time PUBLICITY John MacGown mysterious saboteur haunts the hobo for Christmas, and he’s barred from us- Steven Perry community—a man known as the ing commercial air because of a slight MEMBERSHIP Wrecker, who recruits accomplices from “misunderstanding” at airport security. Walter Wohleking the down-and-out to attack the railroad, His trip on Amtrak comes with romance, WEBSITE and then kills them afterward. Whoever adventure, some mystery, screwball esca- www.SunriseTrailDiv.com he is, whatever his motives, the Wrecker pades and holiday magic. John Jaklitsch, Webmaster knows how to create maximum havoc, Happy Holidays! 2 THE CANNON BALL Holiday Train Guide ONCE AGAIN WE BRING YOU OUR GUIDE TO TRAIN DISPLAYS AND EVENTS, which usually take place only during the Holiday Season. This year we’ve left off swap meets and similar shows (they are carried instead in “Down the Track” on the back page) and limited the guide to events that involve trains that operate, whether scale or full size. As always, use any contact information listed to check for last minute changes to the schedule of an event. Seasonal THE STATION AT CITIGROUP CENTER NO LONGER SPONSERED BY CITIGROUP / CHECK WEBSITE FOR POSSIBLE LAST MINUTE SPONSOR http://www.dunhamstudios.com Most Days except 10:00AM-6:00PM N.Y. BOTANICAL GARDEN HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW Mondays (see website for Large scale operating model railroad with historical buildings. November 21, 2009 tickets , pricing & New York Botanical Garden to January 10,2010 holiday hours) Bronx River Parkway & Fordham Road, The Bronx (closed Christmas day) (718) 817-8716 http://www.nybg.org/hts09/ November 27,28,29 1:00PM & 2:30PM ESSEX STEAM TRAIN SANTA SPECIAL December 5,6,12,13,19,20 A 1 hour-15 min long ride in festive cars adorned with vintage decorations and pulled by a steam locomotive. Kids get to meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph & the Christmas Penguin, while Elves hand out a small gift to each child. One Railroad Avenue, Essex, Connecticut Tickets: $17 Coach; $34 Parlor Car (860) 767-0103 www.essexsteamtrain.com/santa.html November 27,28,29 5:00PM & 7:00PM ESSEX STEAM TRAIN NORTH POLE EXPRESS December 1 to 13, 15 to A 1 hour-15 min long ride in festive cars adorned with vintage decorations and 20, 16 to 20, 22, 23, 26, & pulled by a steam locomotive. Event highlights include a trip to the North Pole 27 to pick up Santa and Mrs. Claus, trackside displays, sugar cookies and hot chocolate, and each child will meet Santa to receive a small Christmas gift. Tickets: $25 Coach; $50 Parlor Car ( phone & website above) Saturdays & Sundays 10:30AM - 4:30PM SHORE TROLLEY LINE MUSEUM HOLIDAY RIDES November 28 Trolley rides with Santa Claus throughout the day 10:30AM - 4:30PM to December 20 6:00PM - 9:00PM Illuminated night trolley rides on Saturday and Sunday evenings 17 River Street, East Haven, Connecticut Adults: $8; Seniors: $6; Children 2-15: $4; under 2 free (fare is good 10:30AM 4:30PM) - (203) 467-6927 http://www.bera.org November 25, 2009 - Most Days 8th ANNUAL GRAND CENTRAL HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW January 18, 2010 New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal - Celebrate the holiday season with the New York Transit Museum's annual Holiday Train Show.