Quick recap
This meeting was a Division 8 railroading club meeting focused on model railroading and historical presentations. The main presentation was delivered by Craig Wilson, an expert on the Ann Arbor Railroad, who shared detailed historical information about streamlined cabooses, including their paint schemes, variations, and modeling considerations. Craig also presented a slideshow of photographs he had taken at various notable model railroads across the country. The meeting included updates on financial matters, with $41.50 deposited in February and a current balance of $2,233.11, and discussion of an upcoming open house benefiting Luke Peterson that had 54 people registered. The group also discussed upcoming board meetings and elections for the region president position between two candidates, including Scott Kramer who proposed consolidating divisions. Several members shared show-and-tell items, including a demonstration of an attractive decoupler prototype.
Next steps
- Keith: Reach out to Marshall regarding the division roster updates and follow up on receiving the monthly roster notifications.
- AL/Keith: Contact new division members to welcome them and offer assistance, and also follow up with members who have not paid dues.
- Dave: Work with Division to update the pike ad with Dave’s email address and ensure the correct graphics are used.
- David Z. (or relevant officer): Research and locate the original pike ad/email from Dave for use in the newsletter.
- Ernie/Jens: Bring the motor/turntable drive hardware to the next meeting for David to use for his turntable project (or send a picture for planning).
- Jens: Distribute food donation boxes (from Father Fred and LCN) to layout hosts at the next meeting.
- Paul: Ensure map with addresses of open house layouts is sent to attendees 7-10 days before the open house.
- Division: Hold board meeting for officers after the next regular meeting.
- TJ: Report on the NCR board committee’s findings at the next meeting.
- David: Plan and implement motorization (or determine best drive method) for the corkscrew turntable on his layout, potentially using hardware from Dave.
Summary
The meeting began with introductions from members across different locations, including Craig Wilson from Cadillac, Michigan, and others modeling various railroads. The group discussed updates, including the need to find David Zolnierek’s original pike ad for the newsletter and follow up with new members who recently joined. Jens mentioned that two new people had joined while two left, and the group agreed to have an ambassador reach out to welcome the new members. The meeting also touched on upcoming events, including Ralph’s presentation in April and the May 16th open house.
Financial and Operations Update Meeting
The meeting covered financial updates, including deposits, withdrawals, and account balances, with no major concerns reported. TJ provided updates on the NCR board, noting an upcoming Zoom meeting and an upcoming election for region president with two candidates, including Scott Kramer. The group discussed the upcoming open house event, which has 54 people registered. Donations from four railroads will benefit Father Fred, and three will benefit LCW. Craig Wilson was introduced as an expert on the Ann Arbor Railroad and presented on the history of streamlined cabooses, which he had revised for collaboration with a 3D printing company.
Clinic – Ann Arbor Cabooses
Craig Wilson presented a comprehensive study of cabooses used by the Ann Arbor Railroad.
There is a dedicated page for this clinic, with video, in the Clinics archive.
Show and Tell
The show and tell session featured several members showcasing their model train projects.
Model Train Tortoise Maintenance Solution – Ernie Barry
Ernie discussed maintenance issues with Tortoises switch machines. He presented a new ZipZ edge connector solution from Circuitron that uses screw terminals, recommending it as a better alternative to traditional wire connections for Tortoise repairs, though at $5 per connector it may be costly for large installations.
Model Railroad Turntable Installation Discussion – David Zolnierek
David showed off a 50-foot gallows turntable from the Silverton Railroad line, focusing on its installation and operation on a model layout. The turntable was originally manually operated with push sticks, but David needed to find an appropriate motor system for their layout, with stepper motors being recommended over servos for better control. The discussion included details about the turntable’s positioning on the layout, its operation with trains, and the need for powered tracks to make it functional. The conversation ended with plans for a follow-up discussion about the turntable’s operation.