The NMRA/LA Division
Botanic Garden Show
No SCTC Display This Year"
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There had been a very soft spot in the hearts of all the members of the Southern California Traction Club (SCTC) for the NMRA/LA Division Model Train Show that normally takes place every April or October at the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. But all good things usually come to an end and Southern Californians will not get to see them there late this month.

The club had barely been formed when the show promoter at that time, Mary Barstow, asked the club if they could participate in the April 1997 show. They hastily developed and connected five modules to operate at that show. That was the very first appearance of the SCTC. Standards had to be suddenly developed and implemented, some of which last to that very day. Although a traction club with the attendant small radius curves, the club wanted to operate electrically powered trains similar to those operated by the Pacific Electric so broad curves up to 24" in radius would be necessary. The club finally achieved their 16' by 26' layout size in 2006 and have remained at that size ever since.

For those of you who have never seen the SCTC layout, the club requires that the modules match scenery wise to avoid that modular "thrown together" look. Unfortunately, this makes sudden adjustments in size difficult if not impossible.

When the club was developing, the club had an understanding that the club would maintain the 16' by 26' size to ensure that the club could continue to participate in the Botanic Garden Show. The club had presented a 22' by 27' layout at the NMRA National Train Show in San Jose in 2000 but settled on the 16' by 26" limit so that there would never be a problem with the Botanic Garden Show. The club had appeared at the Botanic Garden thirteen times in their 18 years existence, including April 1997, April 1998, April 1999, April 2000. April 2002, May 2005, April 2006, April 2007, October 2008, November 2009, October 2010, October 11, and October 2012. For the last seven years, the club display had been the same size and virtually in the same location in the main hall with no issues. So when the announcement of the show was made for October 26 & 27, 2013, the club naturally sent in their request.

Suddenly, in early September, the SCTC received an email stating that they were to be located in a classroom, used many years earlier, when the club layout was much smaller. The club Directors met and notified the current show promoter, Lloyd Lehrer, that that classroom presented a few problems. Because of the size of the layout and the room, the club would have to place their very popular and highly detailed city section, including the child friendly subway module, directly against a wall where no one, including the younger set, could not see it and the club would have difficult access to the cars if there was a dewirement or a derailment since there were large buildings between the operators and the tracks. The club could place the opposite side against the wall which would negate the use of the lift bridge section. this section allows easier entry to the interior of the rectangular layout without crawling under the modules. Some of the members have physical limitations that make that unworkable. The club informed us that when they attempted a dialogue with Mr Lehrer on these matters, they were told "... I recognize that you have a rigid configuration and sorry to see that it cannot fit in the space as comfortably as you would like. You are certainly welcome to participate in future botanic garden events...".

Of course when the club tried to explain their position, they got inanities such as ...you chose your layout size and it appears you live or die by that decision..., ...It's your turn in the barrel so to speak..." This is a show that pays layouts nothing for their appearance and the club was to do all that work to show only part of their fine layout. So with that "my way or the highway" response, the club has asked the Times to tell their fans why they will not see the club at the Botanic Garden later this month or maybe even succeeding months. They told us that they are not going to take their "turn in the barrel" this year or any year. There are other places for a club to display without compensation. This appears to be mutual loss for both the show visitors and the club as it was a 'fun' show for the club and the layout with their streetcars and interurbans operating from overhead wire is uniquely popular. However, clubs exist to display their handiwork and if this is going to be treated lightly, there is no reason to support another organization at their expense.

The challenge for model railroad show hosts is simple. There are less model railroad shows but there are also less model railroad clubs since the “graying” of the model railroad crowd continues. But the number of people who love model trains is not. Those promoters need to consider the comfort and convenience of the clubs that they are asking to participate, especially when they are expecting the clubs to travel, set-up and teardown their displays for no remuneration just to benefit whatever cause they are pushing at the time. The attitude that we are the great NMXX or whatever organization will not work much longer. Here we see a locally popular club that had prize displays told that they could not display unless they were willing to place their layout in a position where some of their prize displays could not be seen by the public, especially the children, or be forced to crawl under a layout all weekend to gain access just to benefit a show promoter who wanted to cram every layout that he could into a show. This resulted in a long time popular layout being eliminated for this years show and possibly permanently.
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[OERM/SCTC from column 1]

Another scene shows Philadelphia PTC Safety car 2128, built from one of the original Bowser pewter PCC kits, crossing in front of PTC 1923 single end Brill Peter Witt car 8334, a brass import by MTS Imports, Inc. Both are signed for PTC West Philadelphia Route 41, abandoned in August 1957. Both were painted by Custom Traxx and lettered with Custom Traxx decal sets.

On another module are five Bowser R-T-R PCC cars representing in the foreground San Francisco (Muni 1056 dress in Kansas City Colors) while cars representing Philadelphia (SEPTA), Los Angeles (LAMTA), Toronto (TTC ) and another San Francisco Car (Muni 1062 representing Louisville) are shown. This 36" square display module features some Hartel tram track along with the ORR turnouts and girder rail.

There is one more good reason for coming to the Orange Empire Railway Museum on October 19, 20, 26 and 27. They are having a huge book sale that will make available a lot of railroad books, some of them having been out of print for a long time. The prices will be unbeatable too! The sales will start at 1:00 PM on October 19, 20, 26 and 27. The sales will be held in the air-conditioned Town Hall facility along with the Southern California Traction Club layout.
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Western Railway Museum
Traction Lab!
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from The BAERA Review

Late last month, Phil Kohlmetz, WRM Executive Director, and the Traction Labs Committee started working with Cinnabar California on the installation of that museums newest exhibit: Traction Labs. They hung signage, ran wires and placed graphics in Cameron Hall. The Western Railway Museum Visitor Center, 5848 State Highway 12, Suisun City, CA 94585 will change as the team places the exhibit modules, artifacts and a 9' by 18' model train layout. Traction Labs is the first WRM exhibit focusing on children in grades 3 though 8. But there will be plenty of interesting information for people of all ages. In Traction Labs, the year is 2040, which is far enough in the future to encourage imagination. Below is a drawing of the layout provided by Cinnabar.

We do not know much more at this time except that four sound-equipped Bowser PCC cars are used in this display.