SCTC VISITS ORANGE EMPIRE RAILWAY MUSEUM
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRACTION CLUB ACTIVITY
George Huckaby -
Now heading into the seventh year of operation, the Baldwin Hills based HO scale Southern California Traction Club has amassed over 300 pieces of rolling stock of which over 200 have been certified in accordance with the rules and procedures of the club. Recently, we obtained some pictures of some of the models owned by various members.
The first group of models is owned by member Toshisuke Matsumoto, who is currently back home in Tokyo, Japan. Toshi joined the club in 1996 while he was a student in Harbor City, CA. The first model is a Soho Huntington Standard replicating car 665 that now exists at the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Toshi used model paints available in Japan and Custom Traxx decals for this car.
The next model of San Francisco Municipal Railway #1038 began with a Bachmann shell to which Toshisuke added two N-scale power trucks modified to 6’ wheelbase and to accept HO scale 26” wheels. Note the modified front end and windshield in the second paragraph. Remember this was a Bachmann shell. Custom Traxx decals were used to finish the car.
Our final photo is of a model in work. Toshi is in process of modifying a N. J. International PERy 5000-5029 series PCC shell to more adequately represent the prototype. Toshisuke has become an expert at creating the proper rounded ends for PCC cars.
Not shown here is the model of LAMTA 3165 that he also created from a Bachmann shell
Those of you who live in the Southern California area or Nevada can see the modules and the operating model trolleys of the club at the following times and places:
October 20-21 - Las Vegas, NV GATS
Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd North
December 1-2 - Del Mar, CA GATS
Del Mar Fair, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
January 5-6, 2002> - Anaheim, CA GATS
Anaheim Convention Center
800 West Katella
GATS = Great American Train Show,
11 AM to 5 PM both days.
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MODULE CLUB APPEARANCE ADDED TO FALL SWAP MEET
George Huckaby -
Twice each year, usually in March and October, the Orange Empire Railway Museum (OERM) hosts one of the most well known and well-attended railroadiana swap meets in the western United States. The Orange Empire Railway Museum Swap Meet takes place while actual former red and yellow cars from Southern California pass by. The was the third year that the Southern California Traction Club set up their HO scale modules at this meet. The air-conditioned town hall is the site of the display. The Southern California Traction Club, founded in 1995, has eleven members dedicated to the demonstration of operable traction in HO scale.
Shown below are some of the club and museum members who participated in the preparation and operation of the show. From left to right are; Byron Brainard (SCTC), Bill Kift (SCTC), Akihisa Saitoh (SCTC), Jason Shoemaker (OERM), Dave Garcia (SCTC) and George Jones (SCTC). Not pictured are Bill Barbour (OERM), Mike Whisler (OERM) and George Huckaby (SCTC).
The revised 16 by 16 ft display was used for the first time at this meet, held on Saturday, September 15th. At one point, a six-car train of Pacific Electric 1200 class steel interurbans was operated. In the photo below, cars 1374, 1252, 1248, 1254, 1255
and 121 pass a small freight train being pulled by one of PERy's pole equipped diesel locomotives.
The show was so enjoyable that few photos were taken. Everyone was having so much fun, as this was the most enjoyable SCTC display in some time. As a result, the club is considering appearing at both the spring and fall swap meets.
The swap meet itself has some of the most unusual model railroading buys available. Akihisa Saitoh purchased the car below, converted the car to overhead wire operation and had the car running by that afternoon. The car is shown operating below with a Philadelphia Nearside car in the background.
So if you live anywhere near Southern California, mark your calendar for next March, because you will want to be there. We will! We close this article with another view of the meet at Palms Junction.
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