Trains possess a certain, wonderful mystique that captures the imagination of many. Model trains and railroad systems are no different. Whether they are called collectors, hobbyists, enthusiasts or just plain fanatic, the world of model railroads draws people from all walks of life who are devoted to the intricacy, delicacy and power of the machines they operate.
The Funtrak Model Railroad Club, founded in October of 1992, sponsored the Valley Rail Sights Model Railroad Show at the Masonic Temple in Ilion this weekend. In a matter of hours, in the midst of the Temple’s large, empty rooms, towns sprung up, tracks were laid and the small trains began their locomotive circuit around the building.
The show featured both old-school and new style track set-ups. The older N-Trak models (or N-Scale), which the club used exclusively in its first years, is slowly giving way to the newer, more transportable T-Trak system. The N-Trak system is assembled when large pieces of track, called modules, are joined together in whatever layout is desired. The modules are standardized in several categories, in height, width, and in the distance of the track system to the edge of the layout. This allows for greater versatility of design when assembling a track.
“This way, if there are several people getting together to assemble a layout, each one can bring the modules they have and we can fit it all together,” said Clayton Farrall, longtime model train enthusiast, and one of the original members of the Funtrak Model Railroad Club. The older models, however, are also much more cumbersome to transport, and possess a complexity of wiring on the underside of the modules which must all be hooked up for the trains to run. “The older tracks take a lot more work,” said Farrall, “And are much more prone to error.” Depending on the size of the layout, the N-Trak models can take anywhere from two hours to an entire day to assemble.
The T-Trak system, which the club has been working with for about three years, is a much more streamlined system. It’s modules are just a little larger than a sheet of paper, and the track themselves contain multiple contact points to run the power, eliminating the painstaking work of connecting the wiring. These pieces simply snap together, joining the circuit of current, allowing the trains to run. The new system can be set up in less than half an hour. “Pretty soon we will have made a complete transition from the N-Trak to the T-Trak,” said Farrall, “It is far less labor intensive.”
The idyllic little town and country scenes that are assembled around the tracks are just as fascinating as the trains themselves. Many are assembled from kits, which range from simple assembly, to extremely complex construction. There are also pieces that are “scratch built”, which are entirely designed and manufactured by an individual. Many of these scenes reflect a rich cultural history, from industrial scenes, to wild west towns, the only barrier is one’s own imagination. Model railroad enthusiasts take pride in their attention to detail and the intricacy of creating a complete landscape. “When you are working with model railroads, you can create and control your own little world,” said Farrall.
The Funtrak Model Railroad Club will be at Skinner Auto Sales Inc., on June 27 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. celebrating “Transportation Fair 2009.” The N-Scale Trains will be in full operation, along with the full line of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury automobiles and trucks. Admission to the Transportation Fair is free, and all questions about model railroading, its history and its future can be answered. For more information on this and other upcoming events for the Funtrak Model Railroad Club, call Clayton Farrall at 735-6269.
Ilion, N.Y. —
