Virtual Pass Exchange

[bikerraypa]

I got my information in the mail today from the NMRA's pass exchange program. A letter was enclosed with it, stating that the pass exchange has been very slow and that NMRA is considering doing away with it. Is there any interest here in starting a virtual pass exchange here on the forum, either by posting one or exchanging files via email? The pass exchange is a lot of fun, and we have a good group of people here.

Any takers?

[railroadyoshi]

What is the pass exchange anyways?

[mecovey]

I think it's a great idea. I would definitely participate.

[bikerraypa]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railroadyoshi

What is the pass exchange anyways?

The NMRA explains pass exchanges here:

http://www.getnet.com/~dickg/nmra/sigs/PassExchange.html

For instance, here's the one I use for my model railroad:





I was thinking that it would be easy enough to do this by email, just contact a member in the pass exchange from their profile address, and then passes could be "signed" if necessary and sent between participants by exchanging emails. The recipient could then print out their pass if they choose.

If we can get a few folks interested, this could be a lot of fun. I guess I'll start. If anyone would like to exchange passes with the Western Allegheny Railroad, let me know. Maybe each of us could post a pic of our pass as well.

Hopefully, this gets some takers. I think it'd be great. [:)]


Ray

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railroadyoshi

What is the pass exchange anyways?

Many years ago lots of model railroaders would have passes made for their model railroads, real or imagined. They'd give them to visitors and exchange them with other modelers, just like the real railroads would do. Most were commercially printed, but some were hand drawn, typed, mimeographed, even done on blueprint machines.

RMC and Model Trains magzines used to run lists of modelers who had passes and wanted to exchange them with others - the Pass Exchange list. Every month there would be a dozen or so names. It was a hobby within a hobby.

I participated in the early 1960's as a teenage model railroader, and had my name in the pass exchange columns several times over the years. I'd get many dozens of passes after each listing. My collection grew to around a thousand passes from all over the world. Some modelers even made up their own lists of pass exchangers and would give them to other modelers.

RMC discontiued their pass listings quite some time ago, and Model Trains (a Kalmbach magazine aimed at beginners) folded a long time ago too. I don't recall when the NMRA started listings for pass exchange, but it has been quite some time ago. As noted in the first post, this part of the hobby appears to be dying off.

A more recent innovation in pass exchanging has been digital passes - images of passes made on a computer, and exchanged among modelers. Most are personalized with the recipient's name before sending. This is more or less the same as the subject of this thread - virtual passes.

Some of the mailing lists are still around, as I get several passes each year, got one just last week. I still have a supply of my printed passes and I do have a digital one, but haven't done much to promote their exchanging. If someone sends me one of theirs, I'll send them one of mine.

My printed passes have a somewhat interesting history - again as a teenage model railroader I got together with two friends and we sent away for a real hand operated printing press. Moveable type, ink, rollers, the whole thing. Just a small table top model, but it could do professional style printing. Together we printed small items for local businesses - cards, envelopes, letterheads, tickets, membership cards, etc, and paid the $75.00 cost of the outfit in no time. I was free to do all of my own model railroad printing.

I still have my printing press outfit, although I haven't used it for quite some years, the computer and printer having taken over. It was another "hobby within a hobby" for me.

End of history lesson!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

This Sounds Like a Great Idea.

But how big are these passes usually? Business Card Size?

Mr. Boudreau, I am a collector of all things "Stuff my grandfather would have used" Would you be willing to part with that printing press and if so how much?

Sincerely,

James Mitich

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue

This Sounds Like a Great Idea.

But how big are these passes usually? Business Card Size?

Mr. Boudreau, I am a collector of all things "Stuff my grandfather would have used" Would you be willing to part with that printing press and if so how much?

James: Many of today's passes are indeed on business card paper, they now come 10 on a sheet of light card that you can print all at once in your computer printer. They are lightly scored so you can break the individual ones apart.

In the past when they were printed on a press, they came in all sizes, the most popular being the somewhat larger round corner cards. These #63 cards used to come in boxes of 500, but are now very difficult if not impossible to locate. At least I couldn't find any ten years ot so ago.

I sure would like to sell off all of my printing outfit, but it's really not practical. The press itself is made from cast iron and probably weighs about 15-20 pounds. It's all of the other stuff that goes with it that is really big - furniture sized - that is a problem to dispose of.

I recently posted a message on a printing e-mail list inquiring if anyone in the New England or Eastern Canada area might be interested in the outfit, and who could come and pick it up. They'd need at a minimum a minivan. No takers at all. I have two large type cabinets with drawers full of movable type that take up most of the room. And I actually have three printing presses - two similar ones and a differrent one, all about the same size.

This is what my hand operated Kelsey 3" by 5" press looks like, without any type or ink on the rollers:



The 3" by 5" refers to the amount of area in which the type will print. This can be used on larger sheets of paper for letterheads, but the printing can only be 5 inches wide.

Thanks anyway for your question!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern
James: Many of today's passes are indeed on business card paper, they now come 10 on a sheet of light card that you can print all at once in your computer printer. They are lightly scored so you can break the individual ones apart.

In the past when they were printed on a press, they came in all sizes, the most popular being the somewhat larger round corner cards. These #63 cards used to come in boxes of 500, but are now very difficult if not impossible to locate. At least I couldn't find any ten years ot so ago.

Very Cool. I will have to look into making some, This sounds like alot of Fun. Do you know where I can obtain real passes or copies thereof so I can base mine off of them since I am modeling a prototype railroad, (Albiet in a freelance fashion) I am interested in Union Pacific and Great Northern ones in particular.

One disadvantage of only being 23 years old. I missed all the cool stuff. And Model Railroading and the folks who work out of Chama, NM. are the closest thing we have to a Time Machine. [sigh]

Another question. How many of these passes, also come accompanied with a Time Table of Trains for the line the pass depicts? (Another thing that confuses me, How do you read those things anyway?)

QUOTE:
I sure would like to sell off all of my printing outfit, but it's really not practical. The press itself is made from cast iron and probably weighs about 15-20 pounds. It's all of the other stuff that goes with it that is really big - furniture sized - that is a problem to dispose of....

....You'd need at a minimum a minivan. I have two large type cabinets with drawers full of movable type that take up most of the room. And I actually have three printing presses - two similar ones and a differrent one, all about the same size.

Bob Boudreau

I see. So I would need to settle down and have my own house and a dedicated room for it. At least I can take comfort in the fact that it probably isn't going anywhere in the mean time. But I have always have had a certain facination with old things. Especially old machinery. I like collecting things like that and learning how to use them I also try to learn how to make replacement parts if possible. (Why I can't figure my car out is beyond me) I can envisiion myself as an old man, living in a funky, weird, but charming house full of old antique machinery that only people like historians, and cooky people like me will have any idea what they are. And then Out of that motley crew, I would probably be the only guy who knows how to use it. I would really love to get my self a for real 1:1 Scale steam locomotive and associated train. However, I would imagine that would be somewhat difficult.

Well I see that I am rabling way off topic now. So I will close for now.

Yours truely,

James

[rolleiman]

QUOTE:

Very Cool. I will have to look into making some, This sounds like alot of Fun. Do you know where I can obtain real passes or copies thereof so I can base mine off of them since I am modeling a prototype railroad, (Albiet in a freelance fashion) I am interested in Union Pacific and Great Northern ones in particular.


James

Try looking up your favorite RR on Ebay.. Lot's of old used passes being sold..

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Thank You I will have a look see.

James

[mecovey]

Check out this website http://cid.railfan.net/pass_album.html

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mecovey

Check out this website http://cid.railfan.net/pass_album.html

Thanks A bunch.

James