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Newsletter 2.5

RSC Model Trains To Hit The Road - Medina Model Train Show

Get ready; we are going on the road. The Rockcut & Silver Creek Model Railroad is a scheduled participant in the April 6th Medina Model Railroad and Toy Show. This event is one of the largest model train shows in the area and will be a great place to show off our train set.

The Medina show is open to the public between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Of course, we will need to set up before this and tear down after. Because it is a rather long show, I will be arranging a schedule of 2 hour shifts for any member interested in participating. (You are welcome to stay all day, but no one will be required to do so.)

We need at least two students for each shift.

9:00-10:00 Setup
10:00-12:00
12:00-2:00
2:00-4:00
4:00-5:00 Tear-down

We will need a few parent volunteers on this day. Parents are needed for setup, as monitors during the scheduled shifts, and for the tear down. More information on this will be available at the February 28th Train Night.

Best Module of 2008 Contest

With nearly 480 votes recorded, the top three modules are separated by just 6 votes!

Thanks to a few very generous 3-rail O-gauge modelers, the Best Module of 2008 contest will now include a Second and Third place prize. One of our supporters is from The New Jersey Hi-Railers, a gigantic O-gauge model railroad club. Be sure to visit their website ( a link is available on our website).

Winners of our contest will be announced at the February 28th Train Night.

Module Updates

For the remainder of our season, you may decorate your modules in any way you choose. Fourth grade members no longer need a winter theme. All I ask is that, when we setup, you have something interesting (and close to scale) on your module. No more naked modules on Train Nights.

We are going to try an experiment with those of you who do not have any track attached to your modules. I'd like to see how things go by simply setting our track in place on Train Nights.

Group Projects

Two recess projects are about to begin. The first is a three-module mountain to be used at the Medina Show. Participants will need art shirts! This project will probably take a couple of weeks to complete.

Project two is something I've wanted to do since we opened the club in 2006 - a model of our school! Building Primary isn't going to be easy, but imagine how cool it will be to see our trains running past our school!

Expand your Railroad Lingo

E-unit: the mechanism that provides the reverse sequence on toy trains; there are two-position (forward-reverse) models and three-position (forward-neutral-reverse) models.

Main line: the primary track that defines the railway and which connects the railway's most important destinations. It does not include spurs, branch lines, yards, sidings, or passing tracks.

MOW: Maintenance-Of-Way equipment. Used by a railroad to keep track and roadbed in good condition.

Truck: assembly holding a group of two or more wheelsets together beneath a car.

Weathering: Making shiny new models look more realistic by dirtying them up with chalk or paint.

Extra Train Nights

Need more train time? Sign up for an Extra Train Night.

Guidelines: No more than 8 members per night. Members can attend only one of these extra train nights. Members must have a completed module.

Visit our website to sign up.

February 19th 5:30pm-8:30pm Plastic Army Night
February 25th 5:30pm-8:30pm Train-Cam Night

Printable Documents

Module Construction