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The West
Island Model RR Club was featured on Transit Transit on
(PBS) WNYE and
on Cablevision's News 12 in December, 2006.
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CLUB LOCATION:
The
club is presently located in Farmingdale, Long Island, NY,
at 188 Merritts Rd. (at the corner of Motor Ave.) in the
basement of the Merritt Shopping Center--entrance is behind
the stores-right side-downstairs--We will be relocating
to the Broadway Business Center in Hicksville, LI, NY on
May 1, 2008. We meet on Tuesday and Friday evenings around
7 p.m. Our current telephone # is: 516-293-0994.
Click here for directions and a map to
the club:
Directions
and Map to the West Island
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photo by K. Katta
LAYOUT VIEW: A view of the large
Garcia Explosives bldg. and the Port
Robbins station on the Harbor Division.
The
Allegheny & Western Railroad
This is the name
of the HO scale model R.R. that we have built and are operating.
The layout measures out to about 66'x 55'-
all in one room with an additional room added measuring
16'x12'.
Every aisle is separated by a ceiling-high backdrop so that
basically, you can only see one scene at a time. With a
walk-around design such as this a train travels through
each scene just once as it makes its way around the entire
layout. The layout has 4 double-ended staging yards plus 1 stub-ended yard
where entire trains are stored. For the hundreds
of freight cars there is a huge freight car classification
hump yard along with a separate arrival/departure yard,
several coal mines, live coal loading and unloading, an
extensive harbor area and one of the largest steel mill
models on the East Coast. You will also find several large
towns along with many lineside industries with sidings built
along the right of way. There is a fully operational carnival
with animated rides along the mainline at Camden. Many bridges
have been built on this railroad as well. The double-tracked
mainline is over 10 scale miles long with a minimum radius on the
mainline of 46", with super elevation used on some curves. Over
500 turnouts (switches) are used on the railroad. We typically
operate trains 50 or more cars long and more than 15 separate trains can be
running at one time since we are now using the NorthCoast
(NCE) Digital Command Control system (DCC) with decoder-equipped
engines.
Carnival scene at Camden
The time period modeled on the Allegheny
& Western R.R. lies between the years 1955 to 1965.
This allows for members to operate steam locomotives as
well as first-generation diesels during our end-of-the month
operating sessions. However, during our shows, and most
evenings when we are open, members can run equipment from
any era.
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photo
by K. Katta
Wanna
stop in for a some burgers and fries? Watch out for those
shady characters hangin' around the corner.
________________________________________________________________________________________
*CLICK
HERE FOR MORE LAYOUT PHOTOS*
*CLICK
HERE FOR EVEN MORE LAYOUT PHOTOS*
NEW HUMP YARD AND
ARRIVAL-DEPARTURE YARDS BUILT LAST YEAR!
Work on the extention to the existing layout which
extends into an adjacent room, is basically complete. The
well thought out extention is a substantial addition to
the present layout. The plans called for the original Gent
Freight Classification Yard to be rebuilt into an expanded
yard with an operating hump yard. A relocation and expansion
of the present engine facility and roundhouse is also underway.
The end result is a freight classification yard that may
be one of the largest freight yards built in the USA in
HO scale considering the number of freight cars it can hold.
It was not our intention just to build a huge yard; a yard
of this size is needed concidering the overall size and
scope of the A & W RR and the number of trains that are
needed to operate it properly. An entirely new, operating
hump yard has taken the place of the former Gent Yard. Now
that the benchwork and trackwork on the addition is completed,
the railroad now has a double-tracked mainline well over
10 scale miles long. The original yard was torn up and the
benchwork on the extention is finished along with a new
backdrop. The double-tracked mainline in front of the freight
yard has been ballasted and is now operational. In fact
all of the yard trackage including a complex series of double-slip
turnouts and additional crossovers are in place and do operate.
The hump is operational as well. The speed of the cars rolling
down the incline after uncoupling is manually controlled
by the hump operator by using only his hand to slow the
cars down. Most of the turnouts have been wired in to the
DCC system. This trackwork was completed by November of
2005. You've got to see it to believe it!
Our MOW crew has completed the trackwork needed to
double-end both of the rear staging yards.
A pair of removable/duckunder bridges have been installed across
the back aisle from the main part of the layout to the ends of
the rear upper and lower staging yards making them accessible
from both ends.
Click here to view the original layout diagram (prior to the latest
additions-we're working on an updated diagram):
A&W
R.R. -LAYOUT DIAGRAM
SEE US IN MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE-GREAT
MODEL RAILROADS 2007
Kalmbach has published a multi-page photo spread of the A&W in
the 2007 issue of Great Model Railroads, now available at hobby
stores as of Oct. 2006. Thanks to members Bob Smith and Vince
Lee for putting this article together.
A photo of our steel mill can be seen in MR's Oct.
2003 issue in the Trackside Photos section on page 86 (the same
photo is on our website on the Layout Photo Gallery page). Thanks
to member Vince Lee for his outstanding model photography skills.
THE NORTHCOAST ENGINEERING DCC SYSTEM IS FULLY OPERATIONAL!
The system we are using is produced by Northcoast Engineering.
This recently developed control system eliminates the need for
complicated wiring and block controls. The decoders typically
cost less than $20 dollars each and one is installed in each locomotive.
Many of the turnouts are now remotely controlled by DCC accessory
decoders activated by the train operator's handheld throttle.
Macros are also used to line up turnouts in the yard ladders-enter
the macro number into the throttle press 'Enter' and all of the
turnouts line up for the desired route.
DCC SOUND SYSTEM IS NOW IN OPERATION!
Digital sound decoders are available from SOUNDTRAXX and
others which provide realistic (digital) live sound effects
both in steam engines and diesels--this includes bells,
whistles, horns and other sounds which come from a locomotive.
Sound decoders are more expensive but the effect is astounding.
These sounds may be activated at will by the locomotive
operator. Broadway Limited Imports, and Precision Craft
produce top-notch, state-of-the-art locomotives which have
complete sound systems already installed featuring the realistic
sounding Quantum Sound system which faithfully reproduces
diesel and steam locomotive sounds. Many of our members
own several BLI engines. Many members have also installed
both steam and diesel sound decoders from Soundtraxx and
others in their locos and the effects are just as amazing!
You can just imagine the glorious sound of doubleheaded
steamers working their way up the grade out of Gent yard
all the way up to the coal mines located at the Summit.
These sound equipped locos will be running during our upcoming
open house in November and December as well. Over 75 locomotives
already have sound units installed.
The DCC installation is complete. We found it necessary to install
quite a few boosters along with the control units. This system
is almost identical to the Wangrow DCC system. Many of the mainline
turnouts are also controlled by DCC accessory decoders which allows
an operator to throw a turnout using his handheld throttle.
CUSTOM
DCC DECODER INSTALLATIONS: Here at the West Island,
several of our members do custom DCC decoder installations
including SOUNDTRAXX sound units for non-members
also. Installation in most manufacturer's engines are handled.
If you need more information regarding DCC decoder installation
at a very reasonable price, contact Mark Guiffre here at
the club- call 516-293-0994, or by email.
THE WEST ISLAND CLUB IS SEEKING MODEL TRAIN COLLECTIONS:
If you have a collection of model train equipment (any scale)
that you are seeking to dispose of due to a change of hobby
or possibly from the passing of a relative or for whatever
reason, our club may be interested in acquiring it. We accept
donations of equipment and also may offer payment for other
collections. Call us directly at 516-293-0994 or email us
at westislandclub@yahoo.com--please
ask for Kevin or Rich.
MEMBERSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE!
Come on down on any Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday evening
and we will be glad to show you around and explain the membership
policy to you if you are interested in joining our club.
Junior memberships are also available for those 14 to 18
years old.
The club has organized several same-day bus tours in the
past for it's members and friends. We have visited such
places as Northlandz and the Black River & Western RR in
NJ as well as Steamtown in Scranton, PA. and Strasburg,
PA. Also, many of our members frequently get together in
carpools to go railfanning or to other model RR clubs and
home layouts around the region to operate there or to attend
some of the larger train shows in the Northeast. Many of
us attend the huge Amherst Railway Society meet in West
Springfield, Mass. each year. Click here for their site and more info:
Amherst
Railway Society-W. Springfield Mass. Show
Several members also travel together
down to the huge show in Timonium MD once in a while. These
are some of the advantages to joining the West Island Club.
One more point, where else can you operate a train made
up of more than 100 cars? Well, on the Allegheny & Western
R.R. you can, using helper engines on the end of the train.
Former members are encouraged to visit or e-mail us if you have
moved away. We would like to welcome the new members who were
added to our roster during the past year. We still have room for
a few more so come on down and join us! See what it is like to
operate a train over 75 cars long (with pusher engines!) and work
an actual hump yard to classify freight
cars.
If you have any questions about our club, our open houses, or
if you would like to request membership info--please e-mail us
at: westislandclub@yahoo.com
or call us (the old fashioned way) at: 516-293-0994.
Click here for directions to the club:
Directions to Club
NORTHCOAST DCC SYSTEM:
Our November '99 open house was the first public show we had where
we used the Northcoast Engineering DCC system. The new control
system performed flawlessly once the bugs (present on our layout)
were eliminated. These bugs included electrical backfeed coming
from the wiring for our turnouts through the Tortoise switch machines.
Also some of the rail gaps were cut in the wrong locations. Also,
several of the boosters had the output leads wired backwards by
the manufacturer. This problem was easily corrected once it was
discovered. It was determined that we needed many more booster
units as well. This was the first time where we controlled all
trains operating during the open house with the newly installed
DCC control system. We operated the railroad in the walk-around
fashion during the show without any significant interference from
the visiting public. Operation of the layout was simple and easy
even with the visitors present. We have implemented an engine/decoder
numbering system where the engine's cab number have to match the
decoder's address--not an easy task; some engine owners needed
to change the engine numbers on the sides of the locomotive. This
allows any operator to operate any train just by entering the
digital address (loco #) into the handheld throttle. We are now
able to throw the turnouts remotely using the handheld throttles
along with accessory decoders connected to the switch machines
by the use of macros or by inputing the accessory address into
the throttles. In addition, the turntables are also operated from
the handheld throttles.
OUR FALL 2006 OPEN HOUSE:
At our 2006 open house the last one at the Farmingdale location,
we featured the newly rebuilt and expanded Nugent freight
classification yard-actually an operating hump yard which
can efficiently classify more freight cars in a given amount
of time than a traditional flat yard. Visitors also saw
the completed and fully operational amusement park at Camden
as well as the additional mines built along the newly rebuilt
and expanded mine branch. A complete sawmill complex
(BTS Models) was installed at the head of the aisle where
Gent Yard is located. Over in the metropolis called
Lexington Park, visitors got the chance to see all of the
new skyscraper buildings that have been constructed in the
city.
Over 2100 visitors came through the door to see one of the
largest HO scale model railroads in the NY City/ Long Island
region. Most who attended gave us wonderful comments and
were amazed by the progress and changes that has been made
on the layout. A number of new members have joined recently
and we welcome those modelers to the club and are looking
forward to their participation in the club.
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