With the Christmas holidays and our display at the B&O Railroad Museum, we will not have a December meeting. Our next meeting will be in January, 2001 on Thursday, January 18.

December 2000 marks 10 years since Bill Buschmeier, Joe Pennell, Pat Pennell, Tom Davis, and Pete Vollmer first exhibited a two track operating module loop at the Annapolis T.T.O.S. meet, thereby starting our rganization.

It is quite amazing that our informal organization has grown to a warm fellowship of 34 members that share their love of trains by operating over a dozen public exhibits during the year. Our members are diverse - students to retirees, technical people to business people, creative craftsman to energetic operators, active children and supportive spouses.

In recognition of 10 years of leadership and newsletter publication, the members of the National Capital Trackers presented Bill Buschmeier with surprise awards at the November 16th business meeting - an engraved mantelpiece model and a Full Size Rail Section Silver Service pin. In view of Bill's love of the Southern Railway, the mantelpiece model was a Lionel #9266 Southern "Big-John" covered hopper with special National Capital Tracker logos. The hopper was mounted on Super K-Line "O" tubular track with realistic brown ties on Tracker style Masonite gray roadbed from our middle-track kit. The base was 2 inch near-antique cherry with an engraved plaque reading "Bill Buschmeier, Founding President - 1990, National Capital Trackers".

Of course, all of this came together in the best Tracker tradition over a period of several months. A telephone committee worked the final selection of the rolling stock. The track came from Bill Oehrli's collection. Jack Schmidt donated and performed the cabinet making of the cherry base. Ed Beaver selected the plaque wording (having to censor several lighthearted title suggestions) and assembled the award. Dan Danielson also thoughtfully presented two very interesting authentic railroad collectibles:
     - a Southern Railway dining car chair scarf, and
     - a Norfolk Southern letter opener with the Thoroughbred Horse symbol.

Of course, Carolyn Buschmeier was involved and provided one of her trademark delicious cakes with a cartoon of Bill fussing at a set of modules not operating properly.

I want to express my sincere thanks to all the Trackers who participated in the surprise 10^th anniversary party at the November club meeting. For 10 years now we have been able to maintain a club where people have fun and respect one another. We have never seen the need for many rules and regulations but have put our faith in the individual member's common sense.

Everyone in the Trackers owes themselves a round of thanks for making this club successful. We all look forward to another decade of enjoying our hobby.

Thanks once again to the Train Depot for printing our newsletters and brochures. This means a substantial savings to our club. Stop by their Manassas store over the holidays for all your train needs and check out their very attractive and extensive Dept. 56 display. While you are there, say thanks to Dennis Driscoll.

-------------------------- 2000 ------------------------

Dec. 02-03 Fairfax Station Railroad Museum Train Show in Fairfax Station, VA (NCT is scheduled to appear)

Dec. 02-03 Colvin Mill Run Holiday Train Display by Jim and Joann Stapleton.

Dec. 11-31, National Christmas Tree exhibit on the ellipse in Washington, D.C.

Dec. 11-18, U.S. Geological Survey annual Holiday Train Show (Community Night is Tuesday, Dec. 19^th)

Dec. 23-29, B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore (NCT is scheduled to appear)

Dec. 30-31, Greenberg Show at Capital Expo Center in Chantilly, VA (NCT is scheduled to appear)

-------------------------- 2001 ------------------------

Feb. 10-11, Greenberg Show at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro (NCT is scheduled to appear)

Apr. 27-28, York TCA Meet

June 08-10 Fairfax County Fair in Fairfax, VA (NCT is scheduled to appear)

Aug. 3-4, LOTS convention at the Baltimore Civic Center (NCT is scheduled to appear)

Aug. 18-19, Greenberg Show at Capital Expo Center in Chantilly, VA (NCT is scheduled to appear)

Oct. 19-20, York TCA Meet

-------------------------- 2002 ------------------------

Apr. 19-20, York TCA Meet

Oct. 18-19, York TCA Meet

As part of our Tracker's extended family, Katy and Sarah Hamilton were active little girls attending several of our shows each year with their father. At Brunswick on October 8th, I vividly remember the three of them sitting at a Firehall Dining Table enjoying turkey with all the trimmings only 15 feet from our layout.

Shockingly, on November 2nd, they were dead along with their mother, Bene. It is hard to believe that we will not see these folks again. As friends, we feel shock, sorrow, grief, loss, horror, anger and ....? How much more terrible must it be for their brother Evan and the extended families?

Although we missed the memorial services in November, we certainly extend our sincerest condolences to them in their time of immense personal loss of loved ones.

How could our friend and technical helper, Rick, be responsible for their deaths, his suicide, and the fire? How could he do this horrible thing to his loved ones? According to the November 19th Washington Post article, it was apparently a crushing combination of pain, caffeine, smoking cessation, debt pressure, depression, and a final intense marriage quarrel that pushed his lingering aggravation and anger over the edge. Yet it was not just a split second event as evidenced by the timeline of control on that terrible morning. How sad that his apparent "notice of it unfolding" was not better understood a few days before. Perhaps better communications with a confidant might have helped. Yet we will never truly know.

Still one's conduct is ultimately a personal responsibility. We knew that Rick also loved his trains. He shared his childhood collection at several of his first Tracker events. Hopefully his time in our club provided some shared fellowship. Though it is totally beyond the focus of our club, we obviously wish our fellowship might have promoted a different outcome. We must remember both the good things Rick did while hating the terrible things he did on November 2nd.

Our club does not intend to intrude into personal affairs; yet personal friendships do prosper that can share confidences. Hopefully, our club can promote family, fellowship, and friendships while sharing our hobby and supporting community events. Perhaps we could donate to a Northern Virginia Family or Mental Health organization to express our sense of loss and grief over the deaths of Katy, Sarah, and Bene. I would be willing to collect a set of individual donations and send them as a group to an appropriate organization - suggestions?

For the last several years, a few of the Trackers have been known to be "closet hi-railers". They are some of those same members who are "closet G-gaugers" and "12 inch to the foot" railfans. A fascination with trains holds no bounds to which these folks will travel.

Over the weekend of November 4^th and 5^th, a hearty group of Trackers traveled to windy and cold Syracuse N.Y. to take part in a large hi-rail layout. The NY Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society hosted the event at the NY State Fairgrounds and Trackers participated along with the Northwest Jersey High-Railers and Raritan Valley High-Railers. Open to the public, and held in several large buildings, the show consisted of numerous layouts (approx. 25) of all types and gauges together with some dealers selling trains and train related items.

The weather was actually pretty good but the feel of winter was in the air. The one-way trip was about 6.5 hours driving time-just about due north (are these guys nuts – or what?). We left the DC area on Friday at 0’dark thirty, arrived mid-afternoon, set up and were running trains by 6:00PM. Setup was without incident and the Dremel Tools did not make an appearance; but somehow we were able to adapt to these unusual and unfamiliar conditions.

The Tracker representatives included Carl Condon, Jack Frost, Jack Schmidt, Skip Sheets and myself.

Carl and Jack S. brought 6 modules and Jack F. transported my Hellgate Bridge (5 modules) in his large van. Skip provided a generous amount of motive power and rolling stock and both Skip and Jack F. were of great help in setting up and taking down the bridge.

For those of you not familiar with the hi-rail format, it differs only slightly from Tracker Standards. Hi-rail modules include 3 main lines of Gargraves Track at a height of 36 inches as compared to our 40. We adapted to their standards with special wiring plugs and another set of legs. Otherwise the concept is the same, a modular layout with individuals creating their own themes.

The emphasis of the event was on layouts and the running of trains. Open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, this show is considered a major "train event" for the upstate NY area. Overall attendance was somewhere around 8,000.

Our efforts, together with 60 modules provided by the NJ. and Raritan Valley Clubs produced a layout measuring 35’ x 100’ feet! One of the modules included a 32" turntable and engine facility; it was quite a sight to see 15 locomotives all smoking at once. The workmanship and detail of some of the hi-rail modules is terrific. We had the largest layout at the show and needless to say, it was a big hit!

We ran some long trains, but also provided a variety (including some major wrecks) for both operator and the public interest. Editorial integrity (whatever that is) prevents naming in this article the parties or trains involved in "operator error". However, some Trackers with less scruples may be willing to share "off the record" information along with other "war stories" from the trip. At one point, we had five PRR centipedes (we only brought five) running on the three tracks at the same time. These locomotives have 4 MTH smoke units each - so you can imagine the result!

Teardown Sunday evening was uneventful. We left NY Monday morning and stopped at the National Historical Site at Steamtown in Scranton PA. On arrival, we immediately paid homage to "Big Boy 4012" and then took the "shop tour" before returning to the DC area.

We had a great time running trains and as usual, enjoyed the camaraderie. There is a lot to be learned by interacting with other clubs and observing how they operate. This was the second year we attended this event and expect to return next year. Mark your calendars.

John Harper's Train Cam was again a popular attraction. At the November business meeting, the club voted to acquire a duplicate Train Cam asset using Bill Oehrli's donated motive power to cover more events. John Harper again had a successful Festival of Trees Display in Easton, Maryland on November 25-28.

Our Holiday events appear to be off to a good start because of the commitment off all the members. Skip Sheetz has the December 23, 26-29 B&O Museum show moving along well with nearly complete operator staffing. John Zampino has completed the coordination of the National Christmas Tree setup and teardown schedules covering December 12th - 31st. Likely layout setup dates are December 7th- 9th by the Aristocraft Trains crew under Bill Frank's direction.

Please review this list of upcoming shows. We need a few more modules for some of them. Please contact the respective trackmaster if you can exhibit in these shows.

This show is full. A show layout is enclosed

For members holding buildings and stuff for the display. Plan on being there at 09:00 AM on Saturday, Dec. 09 to work on the display. Houses: Bush(2), Condon (8), Frost(2), Hunter(2), McKinney(2). Also those with stations, switch towers, and track signals, please bring them along. Don't forget the trestle bridge sides (they were never put up last year)

A layout and detail are enclosed.

A layout is enclosed.

We will probably try and setup on Friday, Dec. 29 with a lot of the modules coming from the B&O Museum show.

The show is full. A show layout is enclosed.

A show layout is enclosed. Additional straight modules are needed for this show.

The Trackers are scheduled for a show at the B&O Railroad Museum the week between Christmas 2000 and New Years 2001. The plan is to set up starting at 08:00 AM on Saturday, December 23^rd, 2000 operate the layout that day until the museum closes at 05:00 PM. The museum is closed on Christmas eve (December 24^th) and Christmas Day. Then operate the layout from 10:00 AM (Museum opening time) until Museum closing time on Tuesday December 26^th through Friday December 29^th (a total of five operating days). We would tear down when the Museum closed Friday so we can go to the Greenberg Show in Chantilly, VA on Saturday, December 30^th, 2000. A layout plan is enclosed.

Additional volunteers are needed to operate the railroad each day on December 13, 16, 17, 28, and 29, 2000. At least four people a day is needed to operate the layout. Contact Skip Scheetz to schedule your help.

- The Great Train & Toy Meet will take place on both Dec. 16, 2000 and Feb. 3, 2001 at the Knight of Columbus Hall, Columbus Gardens, Klosterman Ave. and Belair Road, Baltimore, MD from 8:30 am until 1:30 pm

-The WB&A Chapter of the TCA will hold an open/closed Train Meet on March 3, 2001 at Tall Cedars Hall #45 on 2501 Putty Hill Avenue in Baltimore. The meet will be open to TCA members only and closed to the public from 08:00 am until 09:30 AM. From 09:30 AM until closing at 01:30 PM the meet will be open to the public. Directions: Baltimore Beltway (I-695) to exit 30 South, then left on Putty Hill Ave. or exit 31 South, then right on Putty Hill Ave.

The Beltline is published 10 times a year on a monthly basis excluding the months of July and August. Its purpose is to provide notices of timely events, and information to its members. All inquiries, questions, and submissions should be addressed to the editor at: National Capital Trackers c/o Bill Buschmeier 15145 Wetherburn Dr. Centreville, VA 20120-3925 or e-mail at bush9@erols.com