NGM Officers for the year 2020-2021

Hello Club members,

We hope you are staying safe and sound during time of crisis.

Here's the current BOD (Board Of Directors) 2020

President: Bruce Bliss
Treasurer: Mike Tarrant
Secretary: Jamison Amis
Operations: Caleb Samples
Promotion: Ricki Weaver
Engineering: Jon Dassler
Membership: Yarnell Cornwell

Happy Model Railroad !!

March 2020 Club news and train pictures

Wow, there's so much going on in the world today and COVID-19 virus it's effecting many things, including the Model Train Hobby.  Our Club canceled our monthly club meetings and Annual Dinner. In compliance with our State Governments call. 

Behind the scenes our club President and board members are trying to go forward with 2020 Officers / Directors. Of course, our board members consist of President, secretary, treasure and four directors with two year terms to serve. 

Our Directors are using phone and video conferencing to help achieve our goals and events for the year, particularly this year of 2020. With many event cancellations, due to the CONVID-19 virus, we hope to salvage this years events. Our May event looks very doubtful at the moment, but the July event and second half of year look more doable.

I understand the transportation industry and the moving of products are on the rise, so that means many Rail Fanning opportunities will be available.  So go find yourself a main line hot-spot and take pictures and ALL the modern trains of our day.  The top five trains are coal, grain, auto-carrier, scrap iron and inter-modals (containers). Well, it may not be just in that order. Also, the occasional Amtrak's passenger train.  All freight trains use diesel power, well diesel / electric.  Only steam trains for private excursions and in very few spaces. 

So if you go Rail fanning, may I suggest you get a Railroad radio to hear the activities.  Also, a very big help are Railroad lights that can be found on the main line track.  They usually are very helpful in telling you when a train is coming.  A red light means no trains, a yellow light means get ready and a green light is a go. BUT ALSO, if you see a red light change from red to green, it still could be 30 minutes to an hour before the train actually comes by. 

So I hope to see you soon club members and Rail fans with your cameras at some Hot-spot of train activites !!

Jan. & Feb. 2020 clubs news & Rail fan pictures

Well, the family hobby had a slow start this year in 2020.  I say if you are to busy to Rail fan and run Model trains, you are to busy, haha :-)  But, we met with our Train Club (North Georgia Modurail) monthly meetings and this next coming year will be rather eventful.  We had an event cancel so we have decided to work on our club modules and member modules, a work month for the month of March. (and of course the annual dinner and officer vote / selection).

So I have some rail fan  pictures on file that I will share with you on this blog post.

Here we see here a picture of a steam doubleheader Southern 630 and 4501.  TVRM has an excursion trip from their Grand Junction Depot in Chattanooga to Summerville Georgia. It's mainly in the Spring, summer and Fall, but a great trip with drinks, snacks and a meal.

Here's a distant picture of 4501 on a cool clear day next GA Hwy. 27 going south to Summerville, GA.

Southern 630 & 4501 starting out their trip south bound to Summerville Georgia.

Thanks for visiting.

NGM at NS 2019

NGM at NS Atlanta 2019

A private event for NS employees, club members and approved club friends & family.

Yes, NGM plans to have a layout at the NS Goode Building lobby down town Atlanta, off Peach-tree Street.

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So we will close out 2019 year with our annual event at NS Atlanta

Happy Holidays to all.

 

Pictures of NGM at SRM Nov. 2019

More Pictures of NGM at SRM  November 2019

We had a very good Show at Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA. The club, thanks to long time club member & coordinator Dave Koch, setting up the layout. The attendance was great for the club members and for museum visitors.

Here you see our new steam facility and turn table, right way a double main line and escape line from the yard.

Our Caboose hotel was setup there and yes I know, we need to setup actual Cabooses there.

Here we see the double main line and entrance into the NGM yard. Trains put a smile on Children's face and Adults.

The double main line goes through the country and ocean side. Maybe for Orange Blossom special??

All in all, a great time at the museum, celebrating Model Railroad days.

NGM at SRM Nov. 2019

NGM at SRM November 2019

North Georgia Modurail train club next event at Southeastern Railway Museum Duluth, GA Saturday and Sunday November 2-3 11am - 4pm

Model Railroad days and Piedmont Pilgrimage, tour of homes.   The museum will be one of the stops.

Our 40 ft. layout will be into exhibit hall, next to year round museum layout. Club members will setup and operate. 

3595 Buford Hwy, Duluth, GA 30096
 

NGM at GCF 2019

North Georgia Modurail Train club at Gwinnett County Fair September 2019

Green color Southern 4501 coming off the turn table, Green color was during excursion years 1966-1996, Black was for freight 1911-1948 and  now present in Chattanooga, TN (TVMR)

A lot of prep / setup time, the club members setup 46 X 20 feet of tracks and modules in 2 1/2 hours. Tear down is even quicker, hour to 1 1/2 hour.

The yard is setup and really a great sight when full, here you see part full and open setup tracks.

Our newly added steam facility and turn table. Also, notice NS diesel excursion going round the bend. This reflects our day and times, as many steam engines are going away and more diesels are being used as head engine. It's suppose to be doable, cheaper and able to do the job. See the two cabooses up front and not at the rear of the train. Well, cabooses now (these days) are used for  the power generator and sight seeking. So this is a modern day Diesel excursion with two cabooses and four passenger cars. I hate to see steam engines got away, but few parts, fewer people know how and rather more expensive to run. But in the southeast go to TVRM in Chattanooga, TN where they have active steam through out the year.

My son's collection of steam engines and really we have more, it's just the ones he used at this event and yes he allowed me to run some too, haha :-)