The Waybill 
The Official Newsletter of the South Jersey S-Gaugers, Inc.

These articles are archived from the Waybill from 2000 through 2001 and give some insight about our past history and activities. Many editors have had a hand producing the SJSG Waybill, including  Roy Hoffman, Al Schoenberg, Joe Sullivan, and Ed Claypool. To read more articles, click on the following:

A Visit to Flyertown - our annual visit

(Published February/March 2000)

On a brisk sunny Saturday in March, 10 members of the South Jersey S-Gaugers joined in on a day trip to Flyertown, an American Flyer operating museum run by Joe and Florence (Flo) Jones. This trip has become an annual event for our club, and has been well worth the one hour drive to the New Jersey shore. Flyertown is located on Route 9 just North of Route 83 in Clermont, NJ.

The members who joined in on the trip this year were John and Harry Anneley, Joe Balcer, Dan De Santis, Michael McConnell, Dave Pierce, Rich Raighn, Joe Sullivan, Tom Williams, and Hank Worrell. For most of the members, the day started with breakfast at Dino's Diner just up the road from the museum. After breakfast, we joined the rest of the gang at Flyertown.

The Flyertown Toy Train Museum is the product of several years of dedicated work by Joe Jones and his wife Flo. Joe started building the museum in 1995, next door to his home. The building includes a large layout room with a small adjoining sales shop that features mostly S-Gauge products.

Joe realized a dream of his when he opened the doors of the museum in 1997. The museum is open almost every weekend of the year, and some weeknights during the summer. Flo helps out with the layout and operating the store, and it's obvious she has endorsed Joe's involvement with his hobby.

Joe's museum features around-the-room shelves displaying over 100 catalog sets of American Flyer trains, plus every set made by Lionel American Flyer. Individual pieces on display include most of the annual freight cars produced by the TCA and NASG. Other displays include samples of early American Flyer catalogs and other promotional items.

The layout itself is an imposing structure that fills the center of the large room. The 16x24 foot layout features over 400 feet of Gargraves track on three levels. The 18 pair of Flyer switches allows seven trains to be operated simultaneously with another three trains waiting on sidings for their chance to perform.

The scenery on the layout is well done. There are several urban areas that feature buildings by Dept 56, Corber, Lofton as well as Plasticville. The main city scene is the most striking with the scratch-built skyscrapers and large buildings made out of foam-core panels. Other areas of the layout represent rural and industrial regions. All of the track is ballasted using black roofing stone, and the trackage runs through the mountains and over the valleys via trestles and bridges. A lot of attention to detail is apparent with the streets full of people and vehicles. I counted 16 operating accessories scattered throughout the layout. I'm not sure who enjoys the accessories more, the visitors or Joe - as he obviously likes to demonstrate the Flyer action products. In between the action, Joe turns out the 'sun' and runs trains at 'night' with the building and street lights on.

The rolling stock features engines and passenger and freight cars from American Models and S-Helper Service as well as American Flyer. Occasionally, you can get a glimpse of the new RDC car by Pennsylvania Heritage Models cruising through town. I thoroughly enjoy just watching the trains snake their way through the scenery, and inhaling as much Flyer smoke as I can - after all, the experience has to last until next year!

(This article was used as the base for an article published in the May/June 2002 issue of the S-Gaugian magazine)

NMRA Layout tour at Doc Patti's

by Ed Claypool and Michael McConnell (published Dec '00/Jan '01)

On a rainy cold January evening during a local "open house" event for model railroading, Hank Worrell, Ed Claypool, Joe Balcer, Dan DeSantis and Michael McConnell joined for an excursion of several local layouts.

The second stop on the list is almost beyond description, and it was enough to take your breath away. ‘Doc’ Patti (who’s a real doctor by the way) is easily in the Master Craftsman Skills category. I was simply not prepared for the unbelievable detail in Doc Patti’s layout. Doc models in On3 Gauge and the close-to S-scale track with O scale scenery and rolling stock makes a very satisfying combination. Docs’ logging and mining town layout is not physically that large, a wall-hugging dog bone shape featuring one main line track and a few sidings that form a basic loop. Since Doc is much more interested in the scenery aspect of model railroading, the trains are basically considered part of the scenery - the emphasis is on the detailed buildings, landscaping and people. But, oh what scenery it is!

Every item on the layout is scratch built (in fact, the only complete item purchased was the Shay engine) and that includes the rolling stock! Let me give you an idea of the detail Doc has been able to achieve; he built an engine house - well that actually doesn’t say much. Let’s start over. Doc started by making hundreds of scale-size bricks. (I did mention he was a real doctor? Well, he has easy access to plaster. Special fine strong plaster – like they use to make casts, and it makes pretty darn good bricks too.) Then he colored the bricks and literally built the engine house brick-by-brick. He built the floor and roof board-by-board, and then added little details like nut/bolt castings, debris, tools, lights, people, empty beer bottles, pieces of engines . . . well, you get the idea. The engine house is a masterpiece. But that’s not the impressive part. Every single item – the buildings, trees, people, vehicles, simply everything on the layout, has received the same care and attention to detail. It’s kinda’ scary actually. You would expect scenes nearest the edge of the layout to be detailed, but not the areas at the back of the layout. I don’t know how much time has been devoted to the labor-of-love this layout represents, but it has to be considerable. We had to finally drag ourselves away - kicking and whimpering - in order to have time to visit the last layout on the tour.

You may be wondering why S enthusiasts would take the time to visit layouts of other gauges. Well, the answer is easy - it’s all about learning. Despite the scale used, the techniques and ideas are universal. If I have learned anything, I’ve learned very well that I have a LONG way to go in my modeling skills. SJSG hopes to co-ordinate a play-trains night soon that will allow club members to have a chance to see these excellent demonstrations of modeling up-close and personal. Bring your camera!

NMRA Layout tour at Mert Gardner's

by Ed Claypool (published Dec '00/Jan '01)

The third and final leg of the NMRA Layout tour brought us to the home of an old and valued friend of our club, Mert Gardner. Many of you will recall that in the semi-nascent days of our club, while Mert was President of the Mideastern Region of the NMRA, he became one of our biggest boosters. Mert is easily a member of that exclusive group of master modelers, and is a longtime teacher in the hobby. 

Mert's layout, the Denver and Rio Grande Western, runs from Green River to Soldier Summit, going through Helper, Thompson, Sunnyside, Cisco, Somerset, Fruita, Grand Junction and Provo. A spectacular gorge is located between Fruita and Grand Junction. All of the points along Mert's D&RGW line are modeled after actual places, from pictures Mert gleans from his extensive railroad library. This is true modeling, and the layout really comes to life as trains traverse from one location to another, from coal fields, through mountain passes, city scenes, under snow sheds and over mountains and gorges.

Mert uses a radio control system and hand-held throttles to run the layout. There is true railroad operation, thanks to a fine system of block controls placed strategically throughout the routes. Mert is not shy about sharing the secrets of great model railroading, and is pro-active in offering anyone who will listen all kinds of tips and secrets. Mert is a walking encyclopedia of model railroad expertise! 

Mert can also spin a good story with a tremendous sense of humor, and believe me, his many years in this hobby lead to a lot of wild stories. On this evening, the South Jersey S Gaugers were the fortunate recipients of both some wild and true tales and a lot of model railroad tips.

A Visit to Dave Pierce's Layout

by Michael McConnell (published March/April 2001)

What a plan - spend the morning browsing through the Nur Temple train show, and the afternoon marveling at Dave Pierce’s huge American Flyer layout – it just doesn’t get any better than that!

Eleven members of the SJSG (John Anneley and his wife and son Harry, Tommy MacDonald, Larry Gawlinski, Rich Raine, Dan DeSantis, Hank Worrell, Michael McConnell, Wayne Schneyer, Bob Foster and Dave Pierce) met early in the morning at the Nur Temple train show in Delaware to satiate their hunger for additional train stuff. It didn’t take long! In about two hours, we were ready to make the cross-country excursion to Dave’s sprawling AF layout. We all piled into six cars and made like a train following Dave - a very necessary procedure since no one could ever find Dave’s place on their own.

Dave’s layout is enormous! It runs the 60 foot length of his basement and is 11 feet deep at the widest, narrowing to seven feet. To accommodate the layout, Dave knocked out one wall of his basement and extended the track into a crawl space. He even had to put in a closed-circuit video system to keep an eye on the trains at the far end of the layout! There are three levels of track with the capability to run five trains simultaneously. Two tracks can be original AC Flyer - the remaining tracks will accommodate DC or, by using NCE’s powerpack, DCC-equipped engines. Dave’s layout uses Gargraves track and has 30 highly modified Flyer switches throughout.

Dave’s modified Flyer switches are worth a special note. Many of you saw Dave’s clinic at a recent meeting on how to modify a flyer turnout radius from a #3 to about a #4. In addition, the circuit that powers the switch solenoid is enhanced by a 35 volt capacitive punch that throws the turnout with authority – no more sticky Flyer switches on this layout! Dave also unveiled his latest modification – he’s replaced the turnout tower (that houses the red/green indicator bulb) with a snazzy ½" square acrylic lens that covers two red and green "grain-‘o-wheat" bulbs. Yes, Dave cut the tower off and covered the hole with a flat plate that sports a little block that glows red or green. You can see the turnout alignment from anywhere on the layout! With a little paint and scenery applied to imply a ballasted roadbed, and a rolling green hill that covers the wire connectors, you don’t recognize the turnout at all. Amazing!

Dave also showed off his DCC controlled crane car. Made with parts from an American Flyer crane car and a depressed-center flat car, Dave added two motors to control raising and lowering the hook and the boom, and one motor to turn the crane left and right. Since the crane is controlled with DCC, he can run it anywhere on the layout.

I won’t even mention the new addition of a 22" Bowser turntable and roundhouse at the switch yard, raised platforms at the passenger and freight stations, as well as hundreds of new scenery items that were added to the layout since I last saw it. Dave admits his layout is still a work in progress and there are a few roughed-in items that need to be detailed. But I think it is quickly becoming a showcase layout that nicely demonstrates what can be done in S.

Lest you think that the only thing Dave has to offer is the layout itself, his train room is one of the most complete displays of S products around. Everything from a fine American Flyer UP set to a nice brass engine are lined up all around the basement on 3" shelves. If you want to see anything run on the layout, just ask Dave. His philosophy is, the trains were made to run – not sit on the shelf. So we had the chance to see some nice examples of S gauge in motion.

Enthusiastic railroading can generate a powerful hunger. . .and Dave was kind enough to provide a nice spread for lunch. Take my word for it, there is simply nothing better than munching on ham and cheese sandwiches and inhaling fine vintage Flyer smoke – a magnificent ending to a Flyer-filled Sunday. Thanks a bunch Dave!

SJSG Visits Shriners Hospital for Kids

(Published Dec '01/Jan '02)

On a blustery Sunday morning just before Thanksgiving, twelve members of the South Jersey S Gaugers arrived at the Shriners Childrens Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. The plan was to set up the clubs 10x20 ft modular layout in the hospitals spacious recreation center, in order to entertain the residents of the hospital. Strangely, four members could have easily setup and operated the layout - but I suspect many of those attending didn't want to miss out on the chance to brighten a young face in time for the holidays.

The members arrived promptly at 8:00 a.m. and were soon busily setting up the layout. I think we set a record by having the layout up and operating by 9:15, which left plenty of time to do a little "testing" of some favorite engines and rolling stock.

Several changes to the club layout were made to accomodate our special audience. The layout was assembled with new legs which lowered it to a height appropriate for children in wheelchairs. The traditional rope fence was done away with to allow the children to get up close and personal with the layout. While the many club members on hand kept a watchful eye, the children were encouraged to operate the accessories. But even with plenty of eyes on the layout, we noticed a considerable increase in free rides for the barnyard critters on various pieces of rolling stock, and the mailbags were turning up in anything with an opening - occasionally even in the operating mail car!

Craig Willard, the Shriners representative who organized the event, graciously treated the club members to lunch. Craig also invited the local media to cover the event. What with hospital employees, television crews, children and club members all crowded around the layout, it was a very busy day. Thankfully, the children were brought down in groups which allowed the members to give each child some special attention.

The SJSG layout committee had made unique candy steam engines from rolls of mints, packs of gum and Hershey Kisses, an idea suggested by Dan DeSantis. Each visitor was given a candy treat as a memento of their visit to our layout.

3:00 p.m. came quickly and all the club members pitched in to haul the layout down from the sixth floor to the loading dock. Rick Wark did his magic getting all the parts of the layout back into the trailer, a trick that amazes me every time the doors are closed and nothing is left on the sidewalk. Many thanks to: Joe Balcer, Greg Bernstein, Tom MacDonald, Larry W, Rich Raine, Hank Worrell, Dave Pierce, Jim Oliver, Dan DeSantis, Michael McConnell, Rick Wark, Jim Pauly and Craig Willard for their participation in making this years event a success.