WOW! Thats is a lot of model trains.
At one time, I was Pres. of the Elecdtric Railroaders Association and am still a member. The Associationi was started by E. J. Quinby more as an active organization to retain streetcars and interurbans, but was more successful as a photo-news-fantrip-movie-and-slide-show organization. When the building where its first offices was sold, the New York Society of Model Engineers, which then had a basement layout in a 4-something office building in Manhattan, offered to let the ERA share office space. The moving van was brand new (1939) 626-645-series Third Avenue Transit Sysem streetcar provide by Slaughter Huff, the G. M. himself. Possibly it was 629, now at Shore Line (Branford). I was not a member but visited the model railroad many times as a youngster.
After WWII, the Society again had to move, and with it the ERA, to the 2nd floor the D&LW Hoboken Terminal, a room as large as the concourse below. I soon became an active office volunteer at ERA, and thus saw the model railroad many times. Eventually the large room was needed for office space, and the model railroad moved to the present location, with the ERA moving to a Greenwich Stret address in Manhattan, later to an upper floor in Grand Central Terminal.
In both Manhattan and Hoboken, the O-Gauge model railroad used outside third rail for electric power. I assume the change to two-rail and insulated wheels was done with the latest move. Am I correct? Terrific photography.
But why does HiRail use center-third-rail? I thought that was obsolete for scale models, in use only for toy trains not particularly scale. Again, great photograhy.
Thanks David! It's always great to hear your first-hand recollections. Is there anywhere you haven't been? Most of us are in awe of your experiences.
Per your questions, the Model Engineers layout is definately two-rail O gauge scale, just when they abandoned the outside third rail power source I don't know, not being a member. They have a website which I've seen but they don't mention when the change-over took place.
Why does Hi-Rail still use center third rail? Being a High-Railer myself I can tell you it's because it's just easier and less expensive that way. High-Rail trains also have wider flanges on the wheels which make them less prone to derailments. O gauge scale trains have prototypically thinner flanges which make them more sensitive to track conditions and more prone to derailments. Plus, since Hi-Railers tend to like the toy train aspect more than the serious scale modeling three rail lets us use any three rail locomotive from the oldest types, and O gauge goes back to 1915, to the current production models. Most three rail clubs don't care what the members show up with, and the guys with the still running pre-war and older trains DO get lots of "Ooooos" and "Ahhhhs" when they turn 'em loose on the layouts!
Your explanation makes sense.
The New York Society's steam engines had the third rail shoes generally on the forward tender truck, if I remember correctly.
I just remembered, several years ago on the Classic Toy Trains forum there was a poster who'd recieved an O gouge locomotive with a bar sticking out the side, and no pick-ups down the centerline. He had no idea what he had and was asking for advice. He also had the disadvantage of never knowing his grandfather. I told him in my opinion what he had was a "third rail" scale unit, and gave a brief history of the type as I knew it.
Since he was from the New York area I suggested what he had was one of the NYSMRRE locomotives. I also gave him the website and said he should contact them, possibly someone would remember his grandfather.
I never heard more about it, so I don't know what the end of the story is.
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