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April Model Railroader now shipping to subscribers

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, March 5, 2020 4:25 PM

drgwcs
Ok should I spell it out or give more clues......?

I am fine with you spelling it out.

I have read the issue twice and cannot find anything.

I am sad.

-Kevin

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, March 5, 2020 5:21 PM

drgwcs

Ok should I spell it out or give more clues......? It is someting to Howell about but I will believe it the Day that is done.

 
 
Oh! the much-promised, never delivered Howell Day Museum originally to be at NMRA headquarters in Tennessee and then moved to California but on-hold for a very long time, after seemingly endless announcements by the NMRA about how close it was to clinching the deal. 
 
Tony Koester's Trains of Thought talks about his CTC machine and some AM rolling stock being donations and says the Museum (he does not use the Howell Day name) "should be opening about the time you read this."  Then later in his column Tony says C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 "should now be back in service on the Western Maryland Scenic Railway" which if you read Trains magazine, or visit Trains's part of this website, you know if far from being the case unless someone comes up with lots of money.
 
So the joke, if this is the joke, is how Tony Koester uses the word "now" and the phrase "about the time you read this."  But that would make him among the critics of the NMRA and its long-delayed Howell Day Museum and those folks are, shall we say, not fans of Charlie Getz the ex President of the NMRA.  And when I say "critics" I mean there has been some slanderous stuff said.  I do not believe Tony is among that crowd.  And I can't see Kalmbach or MR getting into that controversy either, not even for a joke.  
 
Dave Nelson
 
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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, March 5, 2020 5:55 PM

 The only thing that makes it possibly a fake article is, why would a California museum want East Coast equipment? I've found enough pictures to see they do have HO scale models on display, but they are UP and SF locos and rolling stock. Kind of like how the Railroad Museum of PA doesn't have West Coast stuff.

 But in the article, he says it's just a display in the mezzanine of the musuem (which does exist and is open) sponsored by the NMRA - so not a dedicated NMRA musuem of any sort.

                                     --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

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Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Thursday, March 5, 2020 6:08 PM

I can't find anything of the April fools anywhere...

If anyone is quite certain they know what it is or they have inside information, I woud greatly enjoy a PM.

Thanks!

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

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Posted by xboxtravis7992 on Thursday, March 5, 2020 9:06 PM

chutton01

 

 
rrinker
 I know which one you mean. I was thinking, this can't be real. Then I went to the URL - hmm, either someone went to WAY too much effort, or it really is a legit product.

 

I'd have to agree that K.I.S.S. Method seems to exist as a real company, however their offerings on the website seem mostly to be track planning & laying templates, and foam cradles. No mention of bags of "scrap" metal for sale.
Could this be a mutli-company conspiracy? Eh, probably not.

 

 



KISS Method is a small one man operation here in Utah. I know TrainLife (ExactRail's hobby store in Provo) carries some of their track planning products. https://trainlife.com/collections/k-i-s-s-method-inc

As for the April Fools joke... Tony said something funny about a certain C&O articulated steam engine in West Virginia/Maryland that is incorrect... but I attribute that more to an editorial error not aware 1309 wouldn't yet be running by press time. However from what I understand, Tony's discussion on the museum is focused on the California State Railroad Museum... which indeed does have an active and ongoing model railroad display on the second floor of the museum, so the rest of his editorial makes sense in the idea his stuff could end up in that museum. 

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Posted by drgwcs on Thursday, March 5, 2020 10:11 PM

dknelson

 

 
drgwcs

Ok should I spell it out or give more clues......? It is someting to Howell about but I will believe it the Day that is done.

 

 

 
 
Oh! the much-promised, never delivered Howell Day Museum originally to be at NMRA headquarters in Tennessee and then moved to California but on-hold for a very long time, after seemingly endless announcements by the NMRA about how close it was to clinching the deal. 
 
Tony Koester's Trains of Thought talks about his CTC machine and some AM rolling stock being donations and says the Museum (he does not use the Howell Day name) "should be opening about the time you read this."  Then later in his column Tony says C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 "should now be back in service on the Western Maryland Scenic Railway" which if you read Trains magazine, or visit Trains's part of this website, you know if far from being the case unless someone comes up with lots of money.
 
So the joke, if this is the joke, is how Tony Koester uses the word "now" and the phrase "about the time you read this."  But that would make him among the critics of the NMRA and its long-delayed Howell Day Museum and those folks are, shall we say, not fans of Charlie Getz the ex President of the NMRA.  And when I say "critics" I mean there has been some slanderous stuff said.  I do not believe Tony is among that crowd.  And I can't see Kalmbach or MR getting into that controversy either, not even for a joke.  
 
Dave Nelson
 
 

That was what I was suggesting is that the April's fool joke is that it will be open by the time we read this... (Thus the Howell Day Clue) I don't think it is as much as a criticism but timing. I really wish it to open although I suspect I would never get to see it (I'm on the other side of the country) There is absolutely no indication on either website. It seems like this has been so long coming- and I have always wondered why. Could not volunteers begin to set up the layouts? That is what happened with the UC&N and it was operational in relatively short order in the museum in Cheyenne WY. I also wonder on the cost too- The NMRA has on the website $1,00,000, (Yes that is how they put it) Is it 100K or 1M? Either way it seems as if it could be built gradually or at less cost. The layouts are already in existence.

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Posted by drgwcs on Thursday, March 5, 2020 10:26 PM

Did a little more research- Here is a wayback machine copy of the NMRA page on the museum June 3 2003- https://web.archive.org/web/20030603200727/http://www.nmra.org:80/howellday/ Has it really been seventeen years?

 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, March 6, 2020 12:57 AM

Is Trains Of Thought really the April Fools joke? I have a hard time with that. Tony Koester has never been noted for a sense of humor that I can recall. I find it very plausible the CTC machine could be in California with a few pieces of MIDLAND ROAD equipment.

By the way, there is a STRATTON AND GILLETTE refrigerated boxcar already in the California State Railroad Museum.

The sentence about the articulated steamer would require too much real world knowledge to be an effectice (ha ha knee slapper) joke.

-Kevin

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 6, 2020 6:37 AM

I'll give up on the KISS thing.  Although the web site seems like a first attempt by a 6th grade E commerce course,  it is lagit.

They don't mention the bags of metal there, but they are top billing on their FB page.

I thought using actual metal shavings for gons of scrap seemed a bit "out there", as we know what will happen if any of it spills.

Other forum references back to 2006 talk about their track planning aids.

Indifferent

I never did any "deep" reading into what some of you mention about Tony K or a museum? Confused

Mike.

 

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Posted by rrinker on Friday, March 6, 2020 7:35 AM

 The one I thought was maybe not real until I checked the layout was the instant layout one, not KISS Method, I've known of them for years. Turns out those layout in a box kits are real,a nd the company isn't far from me.

 Building a museum-like structure and setting it up isn't going to happen for a mere $1 million no matter how cheap the land is. If they were going to use existing available space in an already existing building - then no way should it take $1 million to curate some exhibits and get them set up. But if the location is not currently open to the public, getting it up to fire codes and ADA codes for true public access won't be cheap.

 Bruce Chubb seems to be going a different direction - that project he's involved with to house not only the Sunset Valley but several other layouts in multiple scales seems WAY ambitious, but it would be great if they can pull it off.

                                                    --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by chutton01 on Friday, March 6, 2020 8:35 AM

mbinsewi
I thought using actual metal shavings for gons of scrap seemed a bit "out there", as we know what will happen if any of it spills


I think this is a more common technique than you think (of course, the metal 'scrap' load is supposed to be securely glued/cemented down to prevent just such an issue) - heck, even Pelle Soeborg in one of his detailing books describes how he cut up metal pot scrubbing pads to produce metal 'scrap' loads.
As for Tony Koester, wasn't one of the past April Fools gags when he wrote a column that he was switching from HO  to O or G gauge or something (this was well before 'Wingate')?  Alas, I can't seem to find a centralize list of past April Fools gags, only side mentions of gags of years past like the 5-DCC, Rail-Trail Modules, gold plated rails, and powering a layout by shoveling coal into a furnace to replicate the fireman's job.

OK Steve Otte, I give up - spill the secret...

(And no, I am not considering the Zombie Apocalypse cartoon, that's par for the course - heck, the previous month's cartoon had a modeler dressed as a turn-of-the-20th century mortician planning to serve a model graveyard...)

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Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 6, 2020 8:52 AM

chutton01
I think this is a more common technique than you think (of course, the metal 'scrap' load is supposed to be securely glued/cemented down to prevent just such an issue) - heck, even Pelle Soeborg in one of his detailing books describes how he cut up metal pot scrubbing pads to produce metal 'scrap' loads.

Yea, I suppose some do it, as long as it's secured.  I don't follow Pelle, or have any of his books.

MAYBE on April 1st, the "new and improved" forum will be ready to roll out! Maybe?  Not that it's an April Fools joke, unless........they anounce it, and then follow it with "April Fools!!!   Surprise

I guess we are all ready for the disclosure.  I hope it's not some deep hidden thing in any of the topics mentioned......I don't read the mag. word for word, unless it's something I'm interested in.  Most articles, I sorta scim through, and decide if I want to read it word for word.

Waiting!!!

Mike.

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Posted by York1 on Friday, March 6, 2020 10:57 AM

mbinsewi
I don't read the mag. word for word, unless it's something I'm interested in.  Most articles, I sorta scim through, and decide if I want to read it word for word.

I've read this month's issue more than I've read the past six months combined.

York1 John       

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Posted by Sierra Man on Sunday, March 8, 2020 10:41 AM

Come on Dana, give it up.

I haven't torn through an issue like this since I was 12 and model railroading was new to me.

Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad.  We know where you are going, before you do!

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, March 8, 2020 2:21 PM

Sierra Man
Come on Dana, give it up.

Dana, Yeah, you got us it seems. We cannot find the April Fool joke.

You can please give it up now.

-Kevin

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, March 8, 2020 2:25 PM

I think I have found it! Page 37?

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, March 8, 2020 3:07 PM

Tinplate Toddler
I think I have found it! Page 37?

We've discussed page 37 quite a bit Ulrich, what did you see?  Or are you "pullin' our caboose"?  Laugh

Mike.

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, March 8, 2020 3:21 PM

mbinsewi

 

 
Tinplate Toddler
I think I have found it! Page 37?

 

We've discussed page 37 quite a bit Ulrich, what did you see?  Or are you "pullin' our caboose"?  Laugh

Mike.

 

I wouldn´t dare to, Mike Laugh

I just can´t figure that a railroad would use - shall I say it? - a bridge as an overhead unleader.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, March 8, 2020 3:39 PM

I posted a link earlier to the railroad, and a track plan of the prototype that was in an issue of MR.  I think it was Sept. 1974.  I'd have to go back to the link and check myself, but it's lagit.  The first section of the bridge, there is a stub end road under for unloading the salt.

The actual street goes through, next to the stub end road.

When you look closely at the picture on Page 37, you can see a temporary wall that was built, right behind the first trestle support.

Mike.

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Posted by rrinker on Monday, March 9, 2020 7:19 AM

 The Narragansett Pier RR is totally legit. Not only did MR cover it completely, about that same timeframe, mid-70's, Railroad Modeler magazine ALSO covered it in depth (and it wasn't the same article getting published in two different magazines). 

 I have both of them - somewhere along the line, my Dad picked up a couple of random Railroad Modelers back then. One of those also has the outdoor N scale (yes, you read that right) layout, and a kitbashing article making the classic Superior Bakery into a combination carbarn/station/office for a traction company. It wasn't until MUCH later I found that MR also did an article on the NPRR, at the same time. 

 I'm beginning to think the only April Fools are are us posting here, trying to find that which isn't there. 

                                   --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, March 9, 2020 7:50 AM

rrinker
 I'm beginning to think the only April Fools are are us posting here, trying to find that which isn't there. 

Laugh  I've been thinking the same.  Jokes on us! Laugh

Mike.

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Posted by EngineGuy on Monday, March 9, 2020 9:58 AM

The only thing that I have noticed is on page 21. The photo description refers the the signal in front of the station as semaphore, when in actuality the signal is a train order signal, and has nothing to do with track occupancy detection.

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Posted by rrinker on Monday, March 9, 2020 11:33 AM

 Editorial mistake at best.

MR April Fools articles have traditionally been somewhat out there ALMOST plausible - like the NoTrack standard of modeling modern rails to trails, or subway modeling. Or really out there, like pressurizng your basement!

                                --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

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Posted by drgwcs on Monday, March 9, 2020 12:01 PM

rrinker

 The Narragansett Pier RR is totally legit. Not only did MR cover it completely, about that same timeframe, mid-70's, Railroad Modeler magazine ALSO covered it in depth (and it wasn't the same article getting published in two different magazines). 

 I have both of them - somewhere along the line, my Dad picked up a couple of random Railroad Modelers back then. One of those also has the outdoor N scale (yes, you read that right) layout, and a kitbashing article making the classic Superior Bakery into a combination carbarn/station/office for a traction company. It wasn't until MUCH later I found that MR also did an article on the NPRR, at the same time. 

 I'm beginning to think the only April Fools are are us posting here, trying to find that which isn't there. 

                                   --Randy

 

 

Found the article- September 1974 MR. The unloading on the trestle is mentioned in the text as well as prototype and model track plans. I believe the lead photo in the article may be of it- but was different than in the April issue and is not captioned as such (nor is it easy to tell from the photo) Soooo one more eliminated. Are they trying to make our eyeballs explode????ConfusedBig Smile

 

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Posted by xboxtravis7992 on Monday, March 9, 2020 3:51 PM

mbinsewi

 

 
rrinker
 I'm beginning to think the only April Fools are are us posting here, trying to find that which isn't there. 

 

Laugh  I've been thinking the same.  Jokes on us! Laugh

Mike.

 



2020 the year Model Railroader embraced ironic humor and anti-humor, and the joke was on the reader the whole time... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-humor

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Posted by wjstix on Monday, March 9, 2020 4:04 PM

SeeYou190
Is Trains Of Thought really the April Fools joke? I have a hard time with that. Tony Koester has never been noted for a sense of humor that I can recall.

IIRC wasn't the April Fool's joke a couple years ago Tony writing a column saying he'd given up on HO, and was going to rebuild his Nickel Plate Road as a hi-rail (1:48 scale, O gauge using three-rail track) layout?

Anyway, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who can't find the joke - if there is one?

BTW since there were comments in this thread about (mis)pronouncing "Kato"...note that Marklin is correctly pronounced "Mare-clean"; not like the names "Mark" and "Lynn" stuck together.

Speaking of O gauge, do you say "Line-ull" or "Lye-a-nell"??

Whistling

 

Stix
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Posted by chutton01 on Monday, March 9, 2020 4:46 PM

xboxtravis7992

 

 
mbinsewi

 

 
rrinker
 I'm beginning to think the only April Fools are are us posting here, trying to find that which isn't there. 

 

Laugh  I've been thinking the same.  Jokes on us! Laugh

Mike.

 

 

2020 the year Model Railroader embraced ironic humor and anti-humor, and the joke was on the reader the whole time... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-humor

Anti-Humor? The wiki mentions Andy Kaufman as an example - so is Kalmbach going back to the 1970s?  Maybe Cody will lip-sync the 'Mighty Mouse' Theme..."Here I come to save the day!"

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Posted by maxman on Monday, March 9, 2020 8:02 PM

rrinker
I'm beginning to think the only April Fools are are us posting here, trying to find that which isn't there.

I've about reached the same conclusion.  One would think that if there were some sort of joke Mr. Steven O'Otte would have chimed in with some pity comments such as "close, but no cigar", "look a little harder", "you're way off track", or you're barking up the wrong tie" by now.

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 2:59 AM

maxman
I've about reached the same conclusion.

I have to agree! I have searched the issue hi and lo and was not able to find any of the MR typical April Fools in this issue - other than the one holding the copy in his hands.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by drgwcs on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 8:53 AM

Tinplate Toddler

 

 
maxman
I've about reached the same conclusion.

 

I have to agree! I have searched the issue hi and lo and was not able to find any of the MR typical April Fools in this issue - other than the one holding the copy in his hands.

 

I have to agree this is a tough one- I still think it is the "open about the time you read this" of the NMRA Model Railroading Museum.

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