NEW DIRECTIONS IN MODEL RAILROADING & MODEL TRACTION

A NEW PARADIGM FOR AN OLD HOBBY TAG-LINE : Where is it Written in the Sacred Books of the Ancients that the only acceptable model railroad scales are N, H0, S, 0, G, and Inch-and-a-Half ???


WARNING: This article contains material that may be considered controversial, and may upset or anger some readers, while others may find it offensive. Reader discretion is advised. An open mind is always welcome .

WATCH 'EM, DON'T RIDE 'EM

At one time, the operator of a live steam locomotive had to ride aboard, generally for some of the same reasons as engineers of full-size locomotives:

1. It was necessary to keep an eye on the water gage, to make sure that adequate feed water was being supplied to the boiler. It’s notoriously dangerous to allow boiler water levels to drop so low that the crown sheets are uncovered, as that can lead to a disastrous explosion. This water level can change in a short time, requiring constant vigilance by the locomotive crew. Monitoring the steam pressure gauge located in the cab was equally important, despite the proven reliability of safety valves.

2. In running live steam locomotives, the conventional approach has been to run the engine around and around some continuous circuit, presumably replicating the classic early toy trains circling the Christmas tree. A realistic exception like Quentin Breen’s Train Mountain --- a truly point-to-point live steam line --- is so unusual that it attracts live steamers from all over the world to their public runs.

3. Continuous circuits mean keeping an eye out for objects and people on the tracks, much as in real life, and requires a very large area on which to build the trackage.

4. As the hobby evolved, a large part of the activity consisted of giving rides to visitors --- adults and children --- on rail cars specifically designed to accommodate riders. These riding cars detract from the realism of the train, so that keeping to scale was not considered of critical importance, as the illusion was already destroyed by the scene of a giant perched on the tender (or thereabouts).

5. In earlier times, the electronic technology required for the mechanisms that control speed, direction, engine sounds, bell and whistle blasts, and so on had not yet reached the degree of sophistication that it has today. Therefore, hands-on control by an onboard engineer was necessary.

6. Building and running trolley, traction, tram, and streetcar models would mean straddling the roof and destroying the trolley poles or pantographs, or riding behind the motive power on an unprototypical trailing seat car. This effectively discouraged pursuing this fascinating aspect of the hobby. You’ll notice we did not say "prevented" ; there are some spectacular models of trolleys in 1½ inch scale and even three-inch-to-the-foot scale, but they are very few in number. At the end of this article, we have placed photographs of the latter -- one-fourth scale --- that we understand are now located in a small museum in British Columbia, Canada, and have also heard of a model of that size built for the Florida Power & Light Company in Tampa.

NO NEW SCALES --- In What Sacred Scripture is it Written?

We have been involved in model railroading at many levels, in many scales, and one of the features of the hobby that strikes us is how the entire interest is divided into several non-intersecting components which, if they are not hostile to each other, are generally non-communicating. What do we mean ?

First, there's standard run-of-the-hobby-shop model railroading, which in itself is divided into the standardized scales : HO ; O scale (three rail, two rail, trolley / traction [where darn few people seem to be working in Light Rail , rather than historical streetcar); S Scale; G Scale (even tho' we know there is no such thing, only a G Gauge, with a variety of scales in a California Cobb Salad melange); and so on, with all their variations;

second, there's Live Steam, which includes a surprising number of scales and side interests.
Some (like one-inch scale) have sadly slipped into comparative oblivion), and which increasingly covers electrically powered diesel outline in 1:8 ; and some rather large variations like 2.5 inch-to-the-foot and 3.75 inch-to-the-foot scale narrow gauge running on the 7+ scales (thanks to the Robinsons for providing that handy-dandy inclusive name for that group) ;

Third, we find Park trains (which includes giant amusement park ride-in cars) whose enthusiasts, I have found, sometimes don't even seem to know about the rest of us (one recent memorable comment by a retailer of Park trains : "Live Steam ... what's that  ? ).

Finally (actually, I'm confident that you will be able to come up --- easily --- with other aspects that I've omitted), there are the railroad museum volunteer groups, who are trying to press the issue of railroad history. These range from trolley museums (generally doing a good job) to essentially short line tourist railways. I'll let you judge the effectiveness of those groups; and a large number (if not actually a plethora) of side interests ...

Few members of one group talk to members of other groups. Too bad, so sad !

Therefore, I want to applaud the efforts of several groups in the Greater Tampa Bay area, which have broken the ice (although there may still be some icebergs which are not showing the cold temperatures beneath the surface). They have begun to band together with a land-owning utility and a private citizen, and a Florida State railroad museum. They've met at least once on a special train ride on the old Seaboard RR in Western Florida for a nicely run and well-managed open discussion regarding everyone working together to build a major rail-oriented nexus in a small town called Parrish about halfway between Tampa and Sarasota. The effort is expected to include all of the segments of the interest, presumably and hopefully working together to produce the railroad eqivalent of Einstein's Grand Unified Theory. I hope they do well ; I'm waiting with bated breath to hear more.

Update : Lots of talk, no action !

Further update : They don't even seem to talk to one another any more !