Cortland Tower revisited
Several months ago (August, 2002), George O’Hagan of East Greenbush, NY wrote regarding the tower at Cortland, NY. Here are photos of the tower, and station located near by. I did not take these — friends with family in Cortland did. I am passing them on, hoping you will forward them to the individual who wrote. You may publish them in an upcoming issue if you wish.
L. Michael Price
Bradford, PA
Thanks for another great issue. A couple of the letters caught my eye, so I’d like to comment on them if I may.
To the reader in Russellville, Arkansas may I suggest, and with a certain amount of tongue-in-cheek, that he take an afternoon drive west on I-40 and then north on I-540 to Bentonville and visit the local friendly retail store of that town’s international retail chain, and therein buy a pair of stronger magnification reading glasses. Personally, I’m not against using a magnifying glass if needed while reading MRN or a headband magnifier at my model railroad workbench.
To the writer whose letter is headlined “DCC Brain Freeze,” I must agree 110%! My sons, too, have told me that I am “a dinosaur,” but that’s okay; I don’t mind being one. Why? Gee, I can spend the money on my model railroad that I otherwise would have to spend on all those electronic gadgets needed to run it these days. I’ve always believed in the old expression of “Model Railroading is Fun.”
So, why would anyone want to take the fun out of it and make it just exactly like everything down at the office? I enjoy running my trains; why would anyone in their right mind want to make a chore or work out of it, not to mention the added expense of having to buy all those extra gadgets to do so? (I am currently 75 and definitely “old school.”)
I have been a model railroader since 1938; first with O-27 Lionel tinplate, then Lionel 1/4 inch scale, followed by HO in about 1956. Currently I have about a 700 square foot layout in the basement of the house that I bought in 1989 just for that purpose with an eye toward my then soon-to-be retirement. It is not done now nor do I plan to ever finish it.
I own and run some 38 steam locomotives and over 75 diesel units. I like to run trains with multiple locomotives in them. All of this modern electronic gadgetry would make this virtually impossible and financially beyond my retirement income.
The sum total of my electronic gadgetry is an MRC (actually two) power pack with plug-in throttles so I can walk around and follow each train.
Chuck Colville
Moses Lake, WA
I’d like to respond to Frank Tepedino’s letter “DCC Brain Freeze” published in the March issue of MRN. I can certainly relate to Frank’s concerns about jumping into DCC. I went through that phase about two years ago. I was very comfortable with analog Cab Control and didn’t see the need to switch over to DCC; the technology seemed too confusing to me. However, a friend persuaded me to change my mind, and I have to say that I’ve enjoyed running trains more these last two years than the previous 38 that I’ve been in this hobby. The deciding factor was that I could store as many locomotives as I wanted in my yard or staging tracks and not have to create electrically isolated sections of track controlled with a toggle switch for each locomotive. I’ve found that starting out in DCC is like learning the basics of the first car I owned. All I wanted to learn was how to start it, how to stop it, where’s the horn, light switch, windshield wiper controls, etc. Sure I knew there was a lot going on under the hood to make all this happen but I didn’t really care to learn about it, not then anyway. Same is true for DCC; you only need to learn the Basics to start having fun. I’m the type of guy who can’t put a simple flat car kit together without having parts left over. If I can feel comfortable with DCC, anyone can. There’s a new book out called DCC Made Easy by Lionel Strang. It’s published by Kalmbach and it’s a great book for beginners. It really just explains the basics of DCC without getting into too much detail. I really hope that Frank and anyone else that is thinking of moving up to DCC will give it a try. Russ really said it best when he said, “Stick with it, it only gets better.”
Terry Ketcham
via e-mail
I just finished reading the March issue, and enjoyed it a lot. It was gratifying to read my letter to the editor, and appreciated your “measured” response. I see what you mean, after reading your column about Kadee, and am looking forward to the rest of the story as I have often wondered about the history of HO coupler development. One of the things I see as a sometimes collector of old HO is the oddest couplers, including most of the ones you pictured and one I have only seen once or twice, a working knuckle coupler, with Sterling stamped on the shank. I could send you one to examine if it intrigues you. As part of my efforts to make every (almost) car I own runnable, I have had to do some very creative work to put Kadees on some of the old stuff, particularly metal cars, such as Athearn, MDC, Mantua etc.
I noticed one error (I think) in the review of the Athearn Auto-Max. If the coupler was too high, to correct it would require an overset shank coupler (#32), not underset as stated.
Jeremy Brown
Eugene, Oregon
I read your Editorial in the March 2003 issue of MRN with great interest, and I have to say that for the most part, your summation of the state of the hobby was right on the money. Kids DO show a high level of interest, when presented with a model train to investigate. The level of interest rises when those same kids can assemble a simple kit, actually see the model train running, or even better yet, take hold of the controls, even on a simple layout. I have proven time and again, at various shows, or other public demonstrations, that model trains aren’t just a relic of the past.
I also agree with your comments regarding the appearance of your “average” Hobby Shop, in that few, if any reputable hobby shops I’ve wandered into, even recently, looked grimy, or had a proprietor who dressed in tattered, or otherwise inappropriate attire for a shopkeeper.
Having said all of the above, I do have to say I didn’t agree with your comment regarding the demographic of the model train hobby. From what I have seen at the shows I exhibit at in New Jersey, the median age of the attendees is 45-75 years of age. It’s not that I don’t see mothers and fathers at the shows I exhibit at, with their young children in tow, it’s just that I have noticed that the majority of the attendees, and for that matter, Table Holders, are in the 45-75 year old age range. I’ve also noticed a bit of sticker shock when one of the parents of the younger children inquires as to what an average O, or even decent HO set costs, which may explain the trend toward fewer young people getting into the hobby. Yes, there are low priced sets, locomotives, etc., out there, but the majority of the folks I speak to at the shows are not just inquiring about starter sets, they’re inquiring about the next step up, and that’s when their jaws drop, upon learning what the next step up will cost them.
I doubt the hobby of model railroading will die out completely, but it has been becoming, and most likely will continue to become, an expensive hobby to participate in, unlike what it was years ago. Higher levels of detail, sophisticated electronics, etc., are nice, but these things have helped drive the cost of model trains to a level, beyond that of the mildly curious, who historically have provided the base upon which the hobby can grow.
Ben Deutschman
Metuchen, NJ
As to the good old days: in the mid-fifties, my dad came home with a Rivarossi C-Liner which he purchased at the hobby shop for just $15. Of course, he was driving a Chevy he bought brand new for $2200 and also had a loaf of fresh bread which cost fifty cents. You’re right about us old guys! The hobby is dominated by us, but only if we don’t pass it on. — Ed.
To Russ Boehm:
I have completed the track-laying for a G gauge railroad which is braced off my privacy fence. It is a simple reverse loop to stub end (passing siding) so far. My question: would the MRC Prodigy DCC system help prevent a lot of maintenance for reliable running current over conventional wiring (power pack to rails)?
Ted Kramer
Pinellas Park, FL
With regards to the MRC Prodigy, I found it to be a good system and easy to use on my HO modules. It does not provide all the programming features required for sound decoders and advanced lighting, so make sure you understand your requirements vs. the system capability. — Russ
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