Chat Room For Younger Modelers

[johnandjulie13]

Hey guys:

Regarding train related activities this summer, I am planning on two things: 1). We will be taking our 2 1/2 year old son to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois; 2) I have business in Las Vegas and I will be out there at the end of June. I heard that the Bellagio has a huge temporary layout in their Conservatory. Since I will be staying at the Bellagio, I hope to spend some time admiring that layout.

Regards,

John O

[ModelTrainLover]

Well I'm not sure what year they were in troduced but I THINK that the oldest railroad in here was the first one.... and I have already passed in the finaly copy to my engli***eacher.
And how is the moving[?] thing comming?

[danrunner]

MTL,

Try to find the year railroads were introduced. Does the "1800's" mean 1800 or 1899?

I'm sure your word processor has spell check--use it and then have a parent/adult read it for accuracy--spell checker doesn't begin to catch everything...see"Eye Halve Spell Checker" poem on the net to prove my point. Also, no abbreviations in formal writing. Avoid using numbers in formal writing, too. Most experts say to spell all numbers under twenty and use the number's symbol above that--check with your teacher because some say the cutoff is 100. etc

Good effort.
Danrunner

[ModelTrainLover]

Ok here is the final copy of my report. It might take you a while to read it but I think you will enjoy it.


The Rise and Fall of Railroads in Maine.

Beginning Of the Railroads.

Railroading in Maine started some time in the 1800’s. Most of the
railroads in Maine were called the 2-footers, because the rails were only
2 feet apart. Almost all of the 2 footers served small towns, paper mills,
the logging industry, coal and slate mines. Some though like the Sandy
River and Rangley Lakes railroad and a few others did enjoy the summer
vacationers to the lakes or ocean beaches that the railroad had stations
at.

End of the 2-footers

Like most narrow gauge railroads across the country. The Maine 2 footers died out when the depression hit or their main traffic was taken over by
trucks, cheeper cars, or some times trolly lines, but a lucky few either
converted to standard gauge, 4 ft 81/2 in. to keep up with cars and tucks,
or fought the hardships and survived to become excursions for tourists.
At one point there was only 2 active railroads in Maine

Looking at Future plans in Lewiston Auburn.

As some of you may know of a small stretch of track near the Ramada Inn right before you get on the Turnpike. That small stretch of track could some day see trains rolling across it’s rails. The only reason that
stretch of rail is still there is because of the Lewiston - Auburn Rail
Co. formed in the 1872 by the Maine Legislature. It’s a stock corporation.
It bought a stretch of rail, about 2,000 ft of it. It starts at Oxford st.
and ends at the lower Lewiston Rail.
Preservation of the corridor is supporting a long-term plan by the Maine Department of Transportation to combined a network of short line railroads to reestablish passenger rail use across the state. To accommodate
commuters and reduce the reliance on roads and highways, and to improve
the state’s transportation system.
The corridor is a critical link in a long-term plan aimed to reestablish rail service in Lewiston, and it opens the door for future development that includes commercial freight, trolly/ commuter services to Portland, B.I.W. and the new Pine Land center. It would also enhance plans for
community projects.
Along with the possibility of an international rail connection with
Canada, Mexico, Europe. Along with the possibility of a new
Transcontinental Railroad, East to West.
The opportunities that the corridor and other bits of rail that have
plans to be put back into service range from intercontinental,
international, transcontinental trade and continued local business
attraction.

M.D.O.T. Recent Rail
Accomplishments.

The most recent rail accomplishments would be the return of passenger rail service from Portland to Boston on the Down Eastern. Made possible by Amtrak and the Maine Department of Transportation.

Maine Railroads

Kennebec Central

The Kennebec Central the smallest of all the Maine 2-Footers. The only other narrow gauge railroad that comes close is the 2 by 6 railroad the
Monson Railroad. The Kennebec railroad was only 5 miles long form Randolph
to the National Soldiers Home in Togus. It was promoted by local business
men around Gardiner. It opened on July 23rd 1890. It was laid with 25 lb.
rail. The main fright was inbound coal to the Soldier Home in Togus. It
was mainly a passenger carrier on the weekends and certain holidays. It
started down the road of abandonment like so many other narrow gauge
railroads, when a trolly line took away some of it’s passenger traffic.
In the 1920’s the railroad replaced it’s original engines with Portland made locomotives. The Soldiers home switched to trucks to haul coal to the home, and that did it for the railroad. On June 29th all operations ended.

Monson Railroad.

It was formed by businessmen from Monson, Portland, and Lowell, Mass. It was organized on Nov. 1 1882. It was called the 2 by 6 because the rails were 2 feet apart and it was 6 miles long. It was opened on Oct. 22 1883.
Main freight traffic was slate. The mine eventually bought the railroad in
1909. It was closed on December 1943.

Bucksport & Bangor Railroad

The Bucksport & Bangor railroad was started by a man named R. P. Buck, on Feb., 1, 1873. The line started in Bangor and followed the east bank of the Penobscot river to an all weather facility in Bucksport. When the
railroad was first organized R. P. Buck did not have enough money to start
construction of the railroad. So he leased the line to the European &
North American Railway, which had a line of it’s own from Bangor to St.
John, N.B.
Under the lease the E. & N.A. had to pay 40% of the gross receipts until the end of Nov. 1876. and 35% after November of the year.
When the E. & N.A. built the line it was built at gauge of 5’-6’’,
because the E. & N.A. is a broad gauge rail company.
The Bucksport & Bangor railroad was officially opened on December 12, 1874. A total of 19 miles of track was ready for use.
The only way that trains on the line were able to enter Bangor was by a 810 ft Howe-truss bridge.
During the 1870’s the E.&N.A. converted the line to narrow gauge, but stalled the conversion because of the cost in 1875. Then construction was
finished on Sept. 12 1877 to a gauge of 4’ 8.5’’ (today’s standard gauge
for most railroads.)
The lease expired in Oct. of 1879.

Then it was leased again to L. L. Lincoln of Augusta. He was the former superintendent of the Maine Central railroad. It was then narrowed again to 3 ft on Oct. 9th. It was planned to be extend to Elsworth or Sullivan
for steam ferry service to Mt Dessert Island, if that plan didn’t work
then the railroad would just build straight to the island. It was never
extended.
On Feb. 1 1882. It was renamed the Eastern Maine Railroad. The it was leased to the Maine central for $9500 per year for 999 years. As of May 1
1883.
Once again it was converted back to standard gauge of 4’ 8.5’’. Work was finished at the end of May.
After so many conversions the railroad became unique because it was the only railroad that was broad gauge the narrow gauge the back to standard
gauge.
The railroad is still in used as of 1990.

Aroostook River Railroad.

The Aroostook River Railroad was a branch line of the Rivier-du-Loup Railroad. It was 41 miles in length, it had a gauge of 3 ft. 6 in. It
started at Aroostook Junction, and went to Fort Fairfield, Maine in 1875.
It was extended to Caribou in 1876 an additional 19 miles. The in 1881 in
was extended 15 miles to Presque Isle. The main traffic was lumber. The
line was still in operation as of 1990.

Bridgeton & Saco River railroad.

The gauge was 2 ft like most of the Maine 2 footers. Started at Bridgeton and ended at Hiram Juct. It opened on Jan. 31st 1883. Then extended to Harrison on Aug. 3 1898. Taken over by the M.C. R.R. on July 24 1912. Saved from being abandoned by the residents of Bridgeton on June 1, 1930. The extension to Harrison was abandoned on Oct. 30 1930, but high
maintenance cost of a trestle it was abandoned May 13 1945. Sold to a
Junk dealer and scraped.

Lewiston- Auburn Railroad Offerings.

What does Lewiston and Auburn have that would attract railroad business? Well here is some of what it has to offer. L. A. is serviced by the St.
Lawrence & Atlantic railroad. Which is a branch of the Genesee & Wyoming.
The trackage that the railroad has in L.A. is an opening to the rest of
the U.S. and Canada plus Mexico.
Also Safe Handling Inc. near the Auburn AirPort. Maine’s largest rail
shipment facility with expertise in handling grade foods and chemicals.
L.A. has 1500 miles of trackage rights across New England and Eastern
Canada, and a truck-to-rail intermodal facility.

Maine D.O.T’s state wide rail system over haul.

Maine Department of Transportation’s investment to expand the use of intermodal transit, or the use of air, rail, and sea; To help reduce the
cost of road expansion and repair.
Maine is served by 6 private railroads. The big 3 are the St. Lawrence & Atlantic, Guilford Rail System, and the Montreal & Maine, Atlantic
Railroad. Maine has 1100+ miles of operational track. reaching most urban
and rural communities.
The state and the railroads evenly divide the cost of large improvement projects with each other.
The state owns 300 miles of track. Some is used by short line railroads like the Maine Eastern rr.
Rail service is important to Maine because it is cost effective when
moving large amounts of low value freight over long distances, and is an
option for shippers beside highway use. In the past years there has been
major efforts in improving the rail infrastructure.

What’s Next?

Time Will Tell for Lewiston Auburn.

The author feels that the plans for L.A. passenger service to be restored
once again is soon going to be a real thing, but the only problem is that
the corridor that is being preserved is not in the best of shape. There
are trees growing in between the rails and some are already 1.5 to 2
inches across. Not to mention thorn bushes and weeds. Also the ties that
are so badly rotten that the only way a tie could even be there is a strip
of green grass.
The author has personally visited these tracks and found a switch that works fine until it hits a tree. The writer’s personal belief on the
corridor preservation: If you want to preserve it them do it and keep it
from falling apart!!!!

The author is very much a believer that Maine will become the next train watching hot spot, because of the state wide rail system over haul that
are still in the works happening will restore Maine’s railroading glory.

Inputs for the text above.

The plans for L.A. are close to Boston’s Big Dig, only above ground not
under it. A rail Mexico, Canada, Europe, along with an other
transcontinental rail link. This is the kind of planning that should be in
New York not Maine, but the author does not oppose the idea of business
attraction, which could lower taxes.

Ok that is my report. I want your honest oppion,
I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!![^][^][^][^][^][:D][:D]
Ok it took me almost 2 weeks to write this.....[:)]

[ModelTrainLover]

dannrunner what do you think of my report right now?

[ModelTrainLover]

emmaandy thanks. I'll get the Final draft on here monday or later in the week.

[Demon09]

Well I ended up with a summer job at my university so I have to move on campus for the summer..... I won't be able to rebuild my layout like I need to do, and I'll be away from home for my birthday too, which hopefully sends a few new train items my way......

As far as plans, I need to incorporate a few 1122 switches I won of ebay onto my layout, and re-size some of the things and maybe add some more track..... that won't happen until fall now.

My dream train related vacation would be to visit each of the major manufacturers factories for a tour and pick up a few souveniers along the way.....

Good topic, btw....

[ModelTrainLover]

Me I hope for more visits to The Maine narrow gauge rr, summer camp, summer swimming, bike riding, CAMPING AND CLIMBING Mt. Khatadin ( Ka - ta - din)
fishing, watching summer thunder storms from inside my house. and chores not fun!

[danrunner]

Hey guys,

So, tell me, anyone have any train-related projects planned for this summer? And, on the non-train end, where are you all heading on vacation this summer? AND if you hit the lottery, tell us your DREAM TRAIN-RELATED VACATION.


My DREAM vacation is to go back to Durango, CO and this time...ride the D&SNGRR for the 2-4 hour trip up to Silverton and back. I visited the museum and roundhouse, but we didn't have time for a train ride. Next time, we will.

Back in the real world, a move and packing/unpacking will be our whole summer. No big vacations or train projects.


What about you guys?

Dan

[Anonymous]

Very Nice job on your report.

[ModelTrainLover]

oh come on now it's not that bad is it? I'll get the final copy on here as soon as I'm done with it.

[ModelTrainLover]

The report is not done I know but the rest of it will come later........ Comments any one?

[ModelTrainLover]

The Rise and Fall of Railroads in Maine.

Beginning Of the Railroads.

Railroading in Maine started some time in the 1800’s. Most of the railroads in Maine were called the 2-footers, because the rails were only 2 feet apart. Almost all of the 2 footers served small towns, paper mills, the logging industry, coal and slate mines. Some though like the Sandy River and Rangley Lakes railroad and a few others did enjoy the summer vacationers to the lakes or ocean beaches that the railroad had stations at.

End of the 2-footers

Like most narrow gauge railroads across the country the Maine 2 footers died out when the depression hit or their main traffic was taken over by trucks, cheeper cars, or some times trolly lines, but a lucky few either converted to standard gauge of 4 ft 81/2 in. to keep up with cars and tucks, or fought the hardships and survived to become excursions for tourists, and at one point there was only 2 active railroads in Maine

Looking at Future plans in Lewiston Auburn.

As some of you may know of a small stretch of track near the Ramada Inn right before you get on the Turnpike. That small stretch of track could some day see trains rolling across it’s rails. The only reason that stretch of rail is still there is because of the Lewiston - Auburn Rail Co. formed in the 1872 by the Maine Legislature. It’s a stock corporation. It bought a stretch of rail, about 2,000 ft of it. It starts at Oxford st. and ends at the lower Lewiston Rail.
Preservation of the corridor is supporting a long-term plan by the Maine Department of Transportation to combined a network of short line railroads to reestablish passenger rail use across the state. To accommodate commuters and reduce the reliance of roads and highways, and to improve the state’s transportation system.
The corridor is a critical link in a long-term plan aimed to reestablish rail service in Lewiston, and it opens the door for future development that includes commercial freight, trolly/ commuter services to Portland, B.I.W. and the new Pine Land center. It would also enhance plans for community projects.
The possibility of a international rail connection with Canada, Mexico, Europe. Along with the possibility of a new Transcontinental Railroad. East to West.
The opportunities that the corridor and other bits of rail that have plans to be put back into service range from intercontinental, international, Transcontinental and continued local business attraction.

M.D.O.T. Recent Rail
Accomplishments.

The most recent rail accomplishments would be the return of passenger rail service from Portland to Boston on the Down Eastern. Made possible by Amtrak and the Maine Department of Transportation.

Maine Railroads

Kennebec Central

The Kennebec Central the smallest of all the Maine 2-Footers. The only other narrow gauge rr that comes close is the 2 by 6 railroad the Monson Railroad. The Kennebec railroad was only 5 miles long form Randolph to the National Soldiers Home in Togus. It was promoted by local business men around Gardiner. It opened on July 23rd 1890. It was laid with 25 lb. rail. The Main fright was inbound coal to the Soldier Home in Togus. It was mainly a passenger carrier on the weekends and certain holidays. It started down the road of abandonment like so many other narrow gauge railroads, when a trolly line took away some of it’s passenger traffic.
In the 1920’s the railroad replaced it’s original engines with portland made locomotives. The Soldiers home switched to trucks to haul coal to the home, and that did it for the railroad. On June 29th all operations ended.

Monson Railroad.

It was formed by businessmen from Monson, Portland, and Lowell, Mass. It was organized on Nov. 1 1882. It was called the 2 by 6 because the rails were 2 feet apart and it was 6 miles long. It was opened on Oct. 22 1883. Main freight traffic was slate. The mine eventually bought the railroad in 1909. It was closed on December 1943.

Bucksport & Bangor Railroad

The Bucksport & Bangor railroad was started by a man named R. P. Buck, on Feb., 1, 1873. The line started in Bangor and followed the east bank on the Penobscot river to an all weather facility in Bucksport. When the railroad was first organized Buck did not have enough money to start construction of the railroad. So he leased the line to the European & North American Railway, which had a line of it’s own from Bangor to St. John, N.B.
Under the lease the E. & N.A. had to pay 40% of the gross receipts until the end of Nov. 1876. and 35% after November of the year.
When the E. & N.A. built the line it was built at gauge of 5’-6’’, because the E. & N.A. is a broad gauge rail company.
The Bucksport & Bangor railroad was officially opened on December 12 1874. A total of 19 miles of track was ready for use.
The only way that trains on the line were able to enter Bangor was by a 810 ft Howe-truss bridge.
During the 1870’s the E.&N.A. converted the line to narrow gauge, but stalled the conversion because of cost in 1875. The construction was finished on Sept. 12 1877 to a gauge of 4’ 8.5’’ (today’s standard gauge for most railroads.)
The lease expired in Oct. of 1879.
Then it was leased again to L. L. Lincoln of Augusta. He was the former superintendent of the Maine Central railroad. It was then narrowed again to 3 ft on Oct. 9th. It was planned to be extend to Elsworth or Sullivan for steam ferry service to Mt Dessert Island, if that plan didn’t work then the railroad would just build straight to the island. It was never extended.
On Feb. 1 1882. It was renamed the Eastern Maine Railroad. The it was leased to the Maine central for $9500 per year for 999 years. As of May 1 1883.
Once again it was converted back to standard gauge of 4’ 8.5’’. Work was finished at the end of May.
After so many conversions the railroad became unique because it was the only railroad that was broad gauge the narrow gauge the back to standard gauge.
The railroad is still in used as of 1990.

Aroostook River Railroad.

The Aroostook River Railroad was a branch line of the Rivier-du-Loup Railroad. It was 41 miles in length, it had a gauge of 3 ft. 6 in. It started at Aroostook Junction, and went to Fort Fairfield, Maine in 1875. It was extended to Caribou in 1876 an additional 19 miles. The in 1881 in was extended 15 miles to Presque Isle. The main traffic was lumber. The line was still in operation as of 1990.

Bridgeton & Saco River railroad.

The gauge was 2 ft like most of the Maine 2 footers. Started at Bridgeton and ended at Hiram Juct. Opened on Jan. 31st 1883. Was extended to Harrison on Aug. 3 1898. Taken over by the M.C. rr on July 24 1912. Saved from being abandoned by the residents of Bridgeton on June 1, 1930. The extension to Harrison was abandoned on Oct. 30 1930. But high maintenance cost of a trestle it was abandoned May 13 1945. Sold to a Junk dealer and scraped.

Lewiston- Auburn Railroad Offerings.

What does Lewiston and Auburn have that would attract railroad business? Well here is some of what it has to offer. L. A. is serviced by the St. Lawrence & Atlantic railroad. Which is a branch of the Genesee & Wyoming. The trackage that the railroad has in L.A. is an opening to the rest of the U.S. and Canada plus Mexico.
Also Safe Handling Inc. near the Auburn AirPort. Maine largest rail shipment facility with expertise in handling grade foods and chemicals. L.A. has 1500 miles of trackage rights across New England and Eastern Canada, and a truck-to-rail intermodal facility.

Maine D.O.T’s state wide rail system over haul.

Maine Department of Transportation’s investment to expand the use of intermodal trasit, or the use of air, rail, and sea; To help reduce the cost of road expaansion and repair.
Maine is served by 6 private railroads. The big 3 of them are the St. Lawrence & Atlantic, Guilford Rail System, and the Montreal & Maine, Atlantic Railroad. Maine has 1100+ operational miles of track. reaching most urban and rural communities.
The state and the railroads evenly divide the cost of large improvement projects.
The state owns 300 miles of track. Some is used by short line railroads like the Maine Eastern rr.
Rail servise is important to Maine because it is cost effective when moving large amounts of low value frieght over long distances, and is an option for shippers beside highway use. In the past years there has been major efforts in improving the rail infrastructure.
[:D][:D] Enjoy

[ModelTrainLover]

Hey guys here is my report on the History or railroading in Maine don't worry I don't have my name on it.....

[ModelTrainLover]

nickt22 it was the same for me last Christmass if I wanted any more track for my layout I had to work for it and I might get it I am hopping for more track on my B-day hanuaka or Christmass (I'm Jewish) best of all they are all in December!!!!! for me I have 3 chances.

[danrunner]

Good ideas on the sound system for the beep. The MRC system is a distinct possibility. A cd offers no control of what sounds are being made and wouldn't interest me at all. The reason I got into this hobby is to control my own little world. The sound systems or any option where I can actually pick out and play sounds is right for me. Playing a cd would be like playing a dvd of train layouts--I wouldn't be involved at all...too passive of a solution.

Not that the train dvds of layouts aren't cool, I have 7 or 8 by TM books/video. They're great to watch and get ideas from.

thanks for the help,

dan

[Demon09]

Well you could go with the CD player idea, but I havent heard of too many places that sell CDs of railroad sounds...... The MRC is just helpful because you get everything together, two speakers, and a handheld controller..... But if you do happen to have a CD full of train sounds, by all means go for it. Everyone on this forum uses what they feel is best for them. I was merely offering another solution to the soundless beep.

[nickt22]

Im 14, and there is definitely not enough money or space to go around usually. I just have to earn what I get for my layout

[ModelTrainLover]

or you could save your self that 50$ and use a CD player go out and buy a CD with those train sounds on it and play it on the CD player. ..

[Demon09]

If youre looking for something simple and dont want to open up your loco's for it you can get a MRC sound station, there has been a lot of talk about those on the forum lately..... For about $50 you get around 18 sounds (diesel horn, bell, engine roar, crossing signals, etc.).... after hearing about these i think i might have to pick one up for my layout.

[ModelTrainLover]

Danrunner Have you tried Model RR mag? I have this issue that you can by steam engiens with or without sound

[danrunner]

My two BEEPs came in the mail the end of last week. I love them. I got the Virginian and an Alaska RR one. They are small, solid, strong, and sharp.

Now I need a lionel railsounds diesel boxcar to add the sound. Anyone else use anything different to supplement their lack of sound?

[ModelTrainLover]

also I saw once in one of my MRR magizen that this guy had a full blown steel mill with lighting and I think sound. when I get home I'll tell you want issue.

[ModelTrainLover]

I have a idea get pics from all sides of a real steel mill / slag section and scale them to the scale that you are using it would probably be best for detail if you have color pics.

[danrunner]

DW,

Good Point about privacy and too much info. As the unofficial moderator of this thread, I must now ask that my underage posters give out very little of their personal info. LUCKILY, THIS THREAD HAS STAYED PRETTY SOLIDLY ON TRAINS. Let's keep up the good work. I was on another site where several people were phishing for too much info on me. Istopped going there.

I ask that everyone keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. That being said, I find that 99% of all model train enthusiasts are super-decent human beings.

Here's to all the people that have made this thread so successful!

Now, about my problem: As I plan the next incarnation of my layout, how do I create a classic toy train layout and insert a steel mill part and make it look fine? My grandfather was an engineer for US Steel when it was still Carnegie Steel and he ran slag cars out to a dumping area for over fifty years. I want to honor him in my layout and incorporate a steel mill/ slag section and keep that toy train feel.

I thought about separating the two areas by mountains to keep them separate. Can it look good? Any opinions/feedback appreciated.

Dan

[ModelTrainLover]

danrunner it's ok most people when they see think I'm 15 or 17 because of my hight. 5 ft 10 in. it runs in the family. and this one is comming straight from study hall 4th period in school hey I check in here every day at this time.. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOpppppppssss confession time..................
September is when I'll be a 8th grader.

[dwiemer]

Just a word of caution to some. Don't reveal too much of your information here as some not so good people lurk on the Web. Don't want to rain on anyones parade, just want y'all to be careful. Otherwise, hey, have a good time, the majority of folks on this forum are great.
Dennis

[Demon09]

Hey iruleyou05,

are you in college or just graduating high school? Reason I ask is that I'm only 18 as well and just try to see what other people my age are up to other than the hobby....

And if you are heading to college (I never fail to add a shameless plug...) have you considered DePaul University in Chicago? I'll be student teaching and leading orientation this year, we could talk trains (Doug Murphy, who is a member of this forum is also a faculty member there).

[danrunner]

Sorry, MTL.

Take it as a compliment I thought you were older...that's right...a SEVENTH-GRADER is our youngest in this forum so far.

Dan

[ModelTrainLover]

hey danrunner are you talking about me because if you are I'm 13 and In 7th grade. not 8th.
and here is that new CD that I told you about. you should get it it's proably the best music CD out there for any railfan I even deleted all the songs on my MP3 player and put the songs from the CD on there so now there is only 20 songs on my MP3 player.. [^]