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I regularly participate as a vendor at Model Train Shows. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably been to one or two shows yourself.

You probably also know people who are not into railroading. They probably have some preconceived notion of what we’re all about, based upon some strange uncle who seemed to live in his basement watching trains go round and round. If you really want to amaze one of these people, drag them to a railroad hobby show so they can see the incredible diversity, not only in the participants, but also what is being offered. I’ve been around awhile, and I’m still amazed by at least a couple of things each time I go to a new show.

OK, so we’ve got “electric” trains. Think of all the many different gauges. You can have an elaborate layout that fills your basement, or fits in a briefcase. There are also huge differences in quality (and cost), from the basic set that runs under the Christmas tree to individual highly detailed locomotives costing thousands of dollars.

Maybe you’re into modeling a world for your trains to run in. You’ll need everything: houses, barns, fire stations, fire hydrants, no parking signs, telephone poles, dogs (all breeds), cats, birds, cows, people, cars, grass, rocks, water, drive-in movies, garbage cans, the list goes on. You can buy many of these things ready-made, in various sizes and quality. Or you can buy kits, or parts to make them. Or you can buy the materials to make the parts, to make the object.

Moving away from model railroading, we are also interested in collecting things, like dining car china, timetables, maps, conductor’s punches, bells, whistles, locks, railroad watches, lanterns, tickets, calendars, paintings, photographs, engineering plans, printed items such as napkins, towels, pillow cases, matchbooks, stationary, waybills, pens, pencils, glassware, advertisements, etc.

Yard Goat Images creates and sells DVDs. There are lots of DVDs for sale here at the show too. Railroad DVD subjects include many about modern day freight parades past a particular location, or on a segment of a railroad, or in a part of a city or state. Some DVDs focus on a particular type of diesel engine, or diesel engines from a particular manufacturer, or diesel engines of a particular railroad. Other DVDs are made for casual railfans who are interested in railroading but not in a particular part of it. 

Soo Line 1003 passes a rural Wisconsin crossing, October 16, 2010

Another segment of the DVD industry presents programs originally shot in 16

mm by railfans who came before us, or sometimes professionally by photographers employed by the railroads, or by railroad film icons such as Emery Gulash. And then of course, there’s good old Yard Goat Images, specializing in today’s steam engines performing in mainline excursions, special events, and museum operations.

Let’s move on to the people who attend model train shows. I think they are some of the most interesting and genuinely friendly people on earth. First, there are the little kids, too young to understand much about trains, but are mesmerized by watching the TV screen with a steam locomotive or a model train going around a loop. They are there with Mom & Dad or the grandparents. If they come with the grandparents, they each get one of those wooden train whistles to take home to entertain Mom & Dad. Many of these kids are tomorrow’s “us”. Many of “us” got trains into our blood by being mesmerized somewhere, somehow, and here we are. If we want to see our railroad heritage preserved after we’re all gone, then “Thomas” is our friend, too.

I’m always very excited to see the “Mod” displays, where each modeler is responsible for a section of trackage and scenery. At events like model train shows, the modular units are all hooked together and trains roll.

A young railfan grabs a shot at Hammond/Whiting Indiana Amtrak station, July 19, 2009

The part that excites me is seeing the teenage and young adult club members who are among this segment of rail enthusiasts. They’re using the high tech knowledge they grew up with and applying it to our “electric” trains, resulting in far more realistic operation.

I enjoy watching some of the seasoned hobbyists at the model train shows. They know what they want and where to get it. They arrive early and head to the sellers they’re interested in, and make their purchases. If you’re selling something they’re not into, they barely glance as they hurry by. But afterward as they walk past with their packages, they might slow down, sometimes even get into a conversation. I enjoy this because I learn where they grew up, how they got interested in trains, what part of the hobby fascinates them, how much “stuff” they have, and some of their other interests. Many are current or former railroad employees, or the son or daughter of a rail worker. I found that many rail enthusiasts also have other passions, such as ham radio, old cars, steamships, airplanes, samurai swords, motorcycles, guns, computers, etc.

Well, I hope I haven’t offended anyone. I just think we are all lucky to have found one or two things about railroading to fall in love with, and make it a lifelong passion.

Mine is steam….I love it.

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

Canadian National 3254 heads to Scranton during the NRHS convention, June 24, 2010

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Grand Scale Steam - I’m always looking for opportunities to cover steam locomotives in operation. Big steam locomotives, narrow gauge steam locomotives, even the two foot gauge steam locomotives of Maine.

But steam locomotives in the Grand Scale size? Will this be interesting to our audience? I was skeptical. But, the Riverside & Great Northern was close to home in Wisconsin Dells. Their web site www.randgn.com is interesting, with lots of information about the museum and its history. 

About Grand Scale Steam and the R&GN

The site also has a great story to tell about the Sandley Light Railway Equipment Company. Sandley was started by a father and son in Janesville, WI in the 1940’s, moved to Wisconsin Dells in the 50’s, and lasted until the early 80’s. They built grand scale steam and diesel locomotives, rolling stock, and everything needed to supply the railroad requirements of zoos and amusement parks around the country. Many of these Sandley grand scale steam locomotives still exist and are operational. The R&GN has done a good job of restoring and interpreting the Sandley machines, factory buildings, and railroad park. The Sandleys used the park to entertain local and vacationing visitors (Wisconsin Dells has long been a popular vacation destination for the Upper Midwest) as well as a testing bed and demonstration site for potential customers.

So, the Sandley story is very interesting, but will there be enough visually to be of interest to our steam audience? I arranged with museum president Jim Hagen to spend a day at R&GN in July, arriving in time for a pre opening tour of the line by diesel. I learned that the line occupies the former right of way of the Milwaukee Railroad. The original line was built in the late 1850’s, linking Milwaukee and LaCrosse. The Milwaukee constructed a new line a few hundred feet west in the early 1900’s to eliminate grades and curves. The reconstruction was the largest railroad earth moving project in Wisconsin history, largely carried out with horse, mule, and manpower. Wow!

Jim also showed me the huge steel bridge, built after a massive flash flood in 2004 washed out an earthen fill. The bridge is believed to be the highest and longest existing in the US for a miniature railroad. I was also impressed by the 150 year old rock cuts created for the original roadbed which the tiny trains now pass through on the two mile route.

The museum owns four Sandley-built engines and operates two right now. Number 98 was the engine in service when I visited, and 82 was in the shop, having just completed a new paint job and not quite ready be steamed up. The engines are kept in impeccable shape thanks to volunteers such as Gil, a retired machinist. The Sandleys probably never dreamed their creations would still be steaming more than a half century later. Modern refinements and interest by future enthusiastic volunteers will keep them running for years to come.

The operations during a typical summer day were very interesting and involved the teamwork of engineer Bernie Hotzel and conductor Gene Van Roy. All the volunteers I met were genuinely in love with the little railroad, and I have to confess, now that I’ve witnessed this unique operation, I’m a bit smitten too.

More Grand Scale Steam in Wisconsin

But that’s not the end of the story. There are also two other fine examples of grand scale steam railroads in Wisconsin, both with historic and modern connections to Sandley.

The Milwaukee Zoo www.milwaukeezoo.org owns two large Sandley engines, 1916 & 1924. These grand scale steam engines are capable of carrying much longer and heavier trains than R&GN’s locomotives. Engineer Ken Ristow, who is a Milwaukee County employee, is also a rail enthusiast. He’s operated big steam, such as Milwaukee Road 261, Iowa Interstate’s two Chinese built QJ’s, and Soo Line 1003. Ken has improved the performance of the Sandley engines since he joined the staff. I was impressed by the long train he was pulling on the loop around the large zoo complex.

The trains have been operating at the zoo since 1958 and the tracks take riders through wooded and open areas, past a small lake, and across a few grade crossings on a seven minute ride. This train also moved a bit speedier than the R&GN. The line is capable of operating two trains in the same direction when crowds are heavy. In fact, Ken was very apologetic since he was planning to have the second locomotive running for our visit, but an employee called in sick. Maybe next time.

The other example of grand scale steam is the Whiskey River Railway in Marshall. It’s based in the Little Amerricka Amusement Park, but departs from the noise of the thrill rides when it passes the facade of a western town, through a “tunnel”, and out into the countryside. Here riders enjoy seeing animals like sheep, cows, and mules, amid rolling hills. 

Whiskey River is slightly larger scale, with 16” track vs. 15” at R&GN and the zoo. The for-profit operation also builds locomotives and equipment in its Merrick Light Railway Equipment Works, http://emerald.jvlnet.com/~gardyloo/. Here is the modern connection to Sandley, headed by Darrell Klompmaker, another lifetime rail enthusiast. Merrick does much of the same type of work that Sandley did, creating locomotives for private individuals as well as zoos and parks. They also restore and repair light railway equipment, including Sandley machines owned by R&GN and the zoo.

So, it all ties together. All three grand scale steam venues have much to see, hear, and smell. Other than the size, these are real steam locomotives. They operate in settings similar to their bigger cousins. I believe anyone who loves big steam will enjoy seeing these fine locomotives in operation.

I know you will agree after you watch our story Grand Scale Steam In Wisconsin. It is the first chapter on our DVD Wisconsin Steam Stories. You can see a preview of the DVD here. 

I also encourage you to check out these operations in person. You will not be disappointed!

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

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