MEMBER LAYOUTS – PHOTOS & VIDEOS
Here are some awesome photos from Dennis Colucci’s N scale layout. Dennis’s layout is based roughly on the New Haven’s Maybrook Line, with a fictional railroad, the Balfour and Colucci Creek Southern. Dennis’s layout is a 1×6 switching layout. He took all the pictures in natural light.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Scott Meyer tells us that the following video is his first HO layout after a lifetime of mostly N Scale. It is a freelanced Boston & Maine Subdivision set somewhere in Massachusetts. His layout is a 10′ x 10′ shelf layout set in the early 1950s, scenery is 99% complete, and provides both continuous running and ample switching opportunities. Plenty of operations to keep Scott busy!
WHAT IS THE HUDSON VALLEY DIVISION?
The Hudson Valley Division of The Northeastern Region (NER) of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) was founded in 1946 in Kingston by members who are now the Kingston Model Railroad Club. Our division encompasses the following New York counties: Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Putnam, Rockland and Dutchess counties.
Photo taken at the Kinston Train Show on March 26th. In the photo are the efforts and results of Scott Meyer’s Portable Layout Project.
The hobby of Model Railroading is a fascinating pastime that can be shared by young and old alike. It can be a wonderful family activity that stresses creativity and togetherness. Unlike other leisure-time activities, model railroading doesn’t have a right and wrong way to do things. You can participate in the way that works best for you. Model railroading allows you to exercise your imagination, enhance your knowledge of railroading, and understand the historical importance of railroads in our area. Your model railroad is yours and yours alone!
Whether you are 100% immersed in model railroading, or are a casual model railroader, or just getting started in the hobby, you can enjoy the benefits of membership in the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). To learn more about NMRA programs and becoming an NMRA member, access the NMRA website at https://www.nmra.org.
To learn more about the Northeastern Region (NER) of the NMRA, go to https://www.nernmra.org.
THE HISTORY OF THE HUDSON VALLEY DIVISION
2022 Meetings:
January 19, 2022: Zoom meeting very well received. Franklin Steen talked on JMRI for about 45 minutes. 10 attendees.
May 1, 2022: Visit to the Catskill Society of Model Engineers in Liberty, NY. 18 members and 1 guest from Metro North attended. Ran trains, Elliot’s 3 engines from Hyde Park last year were done and run. Video failed (Club’s TV crapped out).
June 11, 2022: Visited Newburgh Club in Walden. 12 attendees. Ran trains on H.O. Gauge layout and viewed video on weathering locomotives.
September 24, 2022: Our new website editor Robert Yustein arranged to have the meeting at his retirement community in Middletown. On September 24th we met at the community’s recreation center where an election slate was finalized, our future schedule of meetings reviewed, and show and tell (N scale models by 2 members, and a Sam Posey book and Model Railroader article). We then adjourned and went to see the layout of Steve Michener. A very nice H. O. basement layout with steam based in the 1930’s with excellent scenery. 17 attendees.
October 29, 2022: Meeting at the Hyde Park train station. 16 attendees. Elections were done. Entertainment included George Marshall with a program on small modules or scenes and watching/running trains on the station’s club layout. Several members also worked on the newly rebuilt test track which was scheduled to be used at the Poughkeepsie Train Show.
October 31, 2022: Poughkeepsie Train Show. We brought the test track and ran it on the NMRA recruitment table. We tested 23 engines over the 5 hours of the show. Attendance was light.
November 12,2022: O&W Banquet: November 12th. NER President Ed O’Rourke came down. He and Earl White and Bob Robbins manned table. O&W themed display models brought by Henry Kramer, Earl White, John Forni and Bob Earle. 100 people attended.
Holiday Dinner: We were invited to attend the Newburgh Club in Walden annual dinner meeting. There was a quick Board of Director’s meeting prior to the dinner. The dinner itself was excellent. Good food and plenty of it at a convenient location. Several NMRA members are already Walden members. An additional 11 attendees came from the ranks of our membership.
2021 Meetings:
May 23 and May 29, 2021: We had a pair of meetings at Joe Lecaroz’s house. Both meetings started with a discussion about bringing back or reopening the NMRA Hudson Valley Division followed by an operating session on Joe’s layout. Due to Joe’s request that we limit attendance to only those vaccinated and we practice social distancing two meetings were needed.
August 29, 2021: We visited the Garden State Model Railroad club in North Haledon, N.J. After visiting the club we then visited the N scale layout of member Franklin Steen. 5 members attended these visits. Thanks to both the Garden State Model railroad Club and Franklin Steen.
October 30, 2021: We met at the Hyde Park train station for a day of clinics. Ralph Gabler started of with some stories of NMRA activities he attended from many years ago. John Kenney then did a clinic on soldering, Elliot Fishbein then wrapped up with a clinic on installing a DCC encoder in 1975 era Atlas geep. We had 10 members attend.
November 7, 2021: We attended the Poughkeepsie Train show and operated the test track. We have never been busier with many N, H.O., S and Lionel trains to test. A times there were 2 people waiting while we were testing a 3rd engine.
December 7, 2021: We had a 2022 planning meeting at the Alexis Diner in Newburgh. All Division officers were present as well as four members attended for a total of 10 people.
2020 Meetings:
February 1, 2020: Operations Session at Joe Lecaroz’s layout. Elliot Fishbein will installed DCC on an older Atlas unit (Bob Earle provided unit). Then operated on Joe’s layout.
March 14, 2020: Meeting at the Newburgh Model RR Layout. Speed matching for DCC units. Cancelled due to Covid.
2019 Meetings:
January 5, 2019: Catskill Society of Model Engineers , Liberty, N.Y. Powerpoint on the Ontario and Western followed by operating trains on the new layout. 14 members and guests.
February 23, 2019. Clinic on building O&W Seely coal hopper kit by Funaro & Camerlango. Attendees received car kit for greatly reduce fee. Had snow date, combined w/OWRHS 9 members.
May 11th : Tour of New York Society of Model Engineers in Carlstadt, New Jersey (national train day). 4 members
June, July or August Family Day at Delaware & Ulster (Sunday?) Jack Bartman to organize. Not done. Covid shutdown.
September. NER convention in Syracuse.
October 5, 2019: day of Clinics/Seminars at Hyde Park. Subjects to include layout building (Elliot Fishbein), Ralph Gabler (holding fixtures) plus spray painting video. 9 members
November 10, 2019 Poughkeepsie Train show.
2018 Meetings:
January 13, 2018: Operating session at Joe Lecaroz’s Summit Ridge Lines. 12 members and guests.
March 10, 2018: Handcar modules clinic at Catskill Society of Model Engineers, Liberty. 13 members.
May 12, 2018: Trip to the Model Railroad Club in Union, New Jersey. 5 members.
September. NER convention in Ramsey.
October 13, 2018: DCC program by Scott Russell at Hyde Park. 13 members.
November 11, 2018 Poughkeepsie Train Show
2017 Meetings:
February 19, 2017: Kingston Model Railroad Club. Built and scenicked a small module. George Marshall gave clinic. 18 Members and guests.
May 13, 2017: East Fishkill Rec. Center. Bob Seckler did a program on building structures followed by a visit to his layout. 7 members.
September 16, 2017: Northern Jersey layout tour organized by Jack Bartman. 10 attendees. November 12, 2017, Poughkeepsie Train show.