Hey Larry,
Happy New Year to you and your family! On your response of: "I think a private FB group is a great idea! I am about 45 minutes north in Salisbury." Are you interested in joining up with the group? That would be nice!
Steam Forever
John
Happy New Year everyone. Glad to see this interest moving forward and beginning to gel. We are a small club up west of Asheville and have a very nice set up just a few miles north of exit 27 off I-40.
We are located at a 65 acre bison ranch on the upper floor of a 30' x 50' 'RR Station' owned by 'Buffalo Creek Vacations'. They have multiple log cabins of various sizes and 6 real cabooses and a WW2 Troop Transport car that are being renovated into hotel rooms.
Our layout is quite large (22' x 42') and is Gargraves track and what would be called 'High Rail' with a mix of toy and semi scale structures and accessories. We would welcome you guys to come for a visit sometime and perhaps exchange ideas. Would be glad to help publicize your endeavor and offer advice, suggestions, etc.
Smokey Mountain Model Railroaders. 13 Caboose Way, Clyde NC. Harold Clackett chief engineer
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Hey C. Sam,
Happy New Year to you and thank-you for the invitation to your layout and to see it. We are at the pre- beginning stages of trying to get people on board with this endeavor. Your RR station sounds like the perfect setting for your layout, especially with the surroundings that you are describing to everyone. I definitely will make it a bucket list item to see your layout! I'm a retired electrician, close to 50 yrs., from Local 102 IBEW from up in N.J. My wife, mother and I moved to Huntersville on 1/7/22 and I have been busy with items for the house (mostly shelves) and getting the kinks worked out with warranty work (new home). I didn't start the topic "O Gauge-Charlotte, NC" ( was looking for a group to hook up to or start) but since I was in 2 other groups up north, one being N.J. Hi-Railers in Paterson N.J. which is a permanent 200 ft. X 35 ft. layout of which I was on the, what else, the electrical team! Great group of guy's in that group and it was not easy to give up that membership OR membership with "The Raritan Valley Hi-Railers". I was Coordinator for the RVHR which was a modular group of 15 to 17 guy's and the layout was at it's largest: 52 X 42ft. Both groups used Gargraves Track and most guy's used Ross Switches and some had some leftover Gargraves Switches. I wasn't crazy about Gargrave Switches personally (good points on switches don't get picked for a derailment). Thanks for any help that you are offering to give this a bump. Will have to set a date for people who are interested in starting this venture so we can meet each other and set some goals, soon! Please, check out the "N.J. Hi-Railers"on You Tube along with"The Raritan Valley Hi-Railers". On one of the You Tube RVHR videos there is a video that's 12:56 minutes long. That's me running the C.P. Jupiter and the U.P 119 facing each other for a Promintary Utah re-enactment of East meets West - Transcontinental R.R. I'm holding the two DCS controllers for those locomotives, wsa also my last day. Watch the video to its end, it has a surprise at the end. In fact check out all the videos! Layout looks GREAT!!! What days do you meet?
Hope to talk to you personally c.sam!
Steam Forever
John
Hey John and thanks for the quick reply. We meet weekly on Tuesdays at 7 to mostly work on the layout. I've have the pleasure to attended Trainstock a few years ago with your friend Steve Maier - it is quite the experience. Great bunch of fellas and talented modelers.
Hey Steve,
Sometime down the road, I'm going to have to catch up with you on a visit to see your layout 1st hand!
Steam Forever
John
Ok, no problem
My wife and I can vouch for Sam's hospitality as we met him on our way down to Florida in March of last year. I had contacted Sam since we were traveling down I-81 which runs very close to where they are located. After a nice lunch, Sam took us up to the Buffalo Ranch and the model railroad. The layout is interesting, vast and well landscaped and of course 3 rail. One of the layout highlights was the IRS building on fire. The ranch is a unique place and has quite a bit for kids to do. My wife and I have another lunch scheduled with Sam on our way to Hilton Head this year. Credit our hobby for meeting new friends. Attached are some pictures we took when were there. The group shots includes Sam, Harold and my wife Barb and
one of the Buffalo herd
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Hey Bill,
Thanks for the pictures of the group that C. Sam is a part of! The layout is beautiful and reminds me of my days at the N.J. Hi-Railers, but of a smaller size. Love the shots of the Buffalo out to pasture. I saw these magnificent beasts when my buddy AL, his wife Kristine, my wife Jeanette and I were out west at the Durango & Silverton plus the Cumbres & Toltec and a few other lines out there. What a way to see parts of AMERICA & by Steam Train. Was a great adventure!!! Hey Sam if you are reading this, I want to see this layout in person, when I can get out there!
Steam Forever
John
Pretty much anytime John. Harold's adult children operate the vacation business and guests are invited to view the feeding of the bison just outside of the 'Station' where the layout occupies the whole upper floor. They feed around 10:30 and then open the layout at 11 or so for a few hours. Daily except Sundays I think. Best to check Buffalo Creek Vacations for current hours. Let me know when you might want to come up and I'll try to meet you there.
The drive is pretty out to the property - Exit 24 north from I-40 onto NC 209 for 4 miles, then parallel to the river for a mile and onto the bison ranch.
Hey Sam,
How did you acquire that train station section, what's the rent, and how much did your group put into the interior, or was it a turnkey space when you guy's occupied it? Anything that you can share will be helpful! Thanks!
Steam Forever
John
It's not a real station - was site built as a facility for the guests with a laundry, retail store for bison meat, T shirts, caps, etc. Also a game room for the kids and our layout is upstairs. The club pays no rent or utilities and the owners charge $8 at the door and accept donations to see the trains. They keep that $$ for operating expenses. When we pass, the layout remains and they keep it. In essence we built them a tourist attraction in exchange for a free facility. We're happy with it.
The lack of O gauge in the South seems to be a thing. I moved from an O gauge state of PA to Myrtle Beach SC. There are a few of us here with private layouts but nothing big. We have a Club but its O gauge is mostly older stuff. Their main focus is HO and smaller. The next one is 90 miles away in Charleston. I haven’t been there yet but a trip is in the works. There is a Train Shop there it’s nice and the owner seems like a good guy. The biggest store from what I hear is in Winston- Salem NC which is over 200 miles from me. The few of us here are working on starting an O gauge club but getting it going has been slow but steady. We are in need of interested people in the area. If you want to contact me you can email me using the email address found in my profile. We are considering starting out as a modular layout group and building on that.
To members reading this. The ranch has some very nice cottages for rent and there is a lot todo for kids. It is in the middle of nowhere and you can get the feeling with the buffalo herd there, you are in Wyoming. There are cabooses that have been refurbished and if you like, you can have your kids stay in one. I would suggest anyone traveling in that area and interested in the Ranch, to contact them directly. The owners were extremely hospitable and friendly Bill.
Hey CSX Joe,
How are you? I wsa looking at the Mebane Train Show advertisement. Have you ever been to their show? If so, how was it?
Steam Forever
John
@poconotrain posted:The lack of O gauge in the South seems to be a thing. I moved from an O gauge state of PA to Myrtle Beach SC. There are a few of us here with private layouts but nothing big. We have a Club but its O gauge is mostly older stuff. Their main focus is HO and smaller. The next one is 90 miles away in Charleston. I haven’t been there yet but a trip is in the works. There is a Train Shop there it’s nice and the owner seems like a good guy. The biggest store from what I hear is in Winston- Salem NC which is over 200 miles from me. The few of us here are working on starting an O gauge club but getting it going has been slow but steady. We are in need of interested people in the area. If you want to contact me you can email me using the email address found in my profile. We are considering starting out as a modular layout group and building on that.
I agree, most layouts I seem to run across tend to be HO or smaller. There are a few o gauge layouts in Florence. I have enjoyed my visits to the club in Myrtle Beach. I have not yet been to Charleston, but they are having a show this weekend. I am interested in seeing what can be done from a club standpoint in the coastal or PeeDee region.
Hello all, I once had my club (Piedmont Triad Model Railroaders Club), but it got to the point that there were only 5 people out of a total of 25 members who wanted to actively participate in building modules and transporting them to various train shows. It had become a burden on me and the 5 members who participated. I had plenty of opportunities within my city and with the city government to display our modules and have a downtown building to display them in during the Christmas season. It's real hard to do those things if you don't have enough participation. When the opportunity arose for me to continue my music career, I took that opportunity and let the club go. I went back to what I used to do before I started a club which is enjoy running my trains, visiting different train stores in different states and rail fanning........Roger
There is another train store in North Carolina:
Mike's Trains
7 East Main Street #4043
Thomasville NC 27360
Tele: 336-689-6397
Mike's Trains has a good selection of new AND used MTH, Lionel, Atlas O etc trains!! They also sell H.O. and N scale trains! Tell Jackie that Roger sent you to her store!!!....lol!!!
@Bill Park posted:To members reading this. The ranch has some very nice cottages for rent and there is a lot todo for kids. It is in the middle of nowhere and you can get the feeling with the buffalo herd there, you are in Wyoming. There are cabooses that have been refurbished and if you like, you can have your kids stay in one. I would suggest anyone traveling in that area and interested in the Ranch, to contact them directly. The owners were extremely hospitable and friendly Bill.
Our family stayed on one of the cabooses 2 years ago and had a great time. We saw the layout and spent a lot of time with the gentleman who ran the layout. He was very welcoming and would suggest anyone interested staying in staying in a caboose to check them out.
@ROGERW posted:Hello all, I once had my club (Piedmont Triad Model Railroaders Club), but it got to the point that there were only 5 people out of a total of 25 members who wanted to actively participate in building modules and transporting them to various train shows. It had become a burden on me and the 5 members who participated. I had plenty of opportunities within my city and with the city government to display our modules and have a downtown building to display them in during the Christmas season. It's real hard to do those things if you don't have enough participation. When the opportunity arose for me to continue my music career, I took that opportunity and let the club go. I went back to what I used to do before I started a club which is enjoy running my trains, visiting different train stores in different states and rail fanning........Roger
Hi Roger, good to hear from you and that things are going well.
Ron
@N&WY6b posted:Hey CSX Joe,
How are you? I wsa looking at the Mebane Train Show advertisement. Have you ever been to their show? If so, how was it?
Steam Forever
John
Y’all need to come further east John, …..it’s where the action is!…😉
Pat
The Cape Fear Model Railroad Society is in Independence Mall in Wilmington, NC. We have just completed our Holiday Train Expo (our annual fundraiser). We had over 33 trains running from N to G gauge. We have permanent layouts in the Mall but also have portable layouts that we take to different locations for public display. Most of our members are O gaugers. We like to run trains!
Outside of the Christmas season we are open to the public for free twice a week: Wednesday and Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm.
We are always looking for new members. Come join us.
Don
@CArolina Shagger posted:The Cape Fear Model Railroad Society is in Independence Mall in Wilmington, NC. We have just completed our Holiday Train Expo (our annual fundraiser). We had over 33 trains running from N to G gauge. We have permanent layouts in the Mall but also have portable layouts that we take to different locations for public display. Most of our members are O gaugers. We like to run trains!
Outside of the Christmas season we are open to the public for free twice a week: Wednesday and Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm.
We are always looking for new members. Come join us.
Don
Hey Don,
Do you have a permanent layout for that Wednesday and Saturday showing? I've been on the web looking for a building for the possiblity of building a permanent layout, depending what guy's want to do. Anything that you can share will probably open some doors for ideas to get things"rolling" so to speak.
Steam Forever
John
@harmonyards posted:Y’all need to come further east John, …..it’s where the action is!…😉
Pat
Hey Pat,
You know that I'm from "a distant land, Joisey!" Do you have any suggestions for some of the train shows & dates to visit the shows. Still learning the geography!
Steam Forever
John
@N&WY6b posted:Hey Pat,
You know that I'm from "a distant land, Joisey!" Do you have any suggestions for some of the train shows & dates to visit the shows. Still learning the geography!
Steam Forever
John
John, there’s a few, ….you’ve already been to the event held at the NCTM, and there’s a couple really good shows at the NC State Fairgrounds. They used to do 2 shows, one was Southeastern TCA, and the other held by the Neuse River boys & gals,…..I think at some point, they combined the two?…..one used to be held in the Scott building, the other in the Graham building,…..lately they’ve all been in the Graham building……I don’t have the dates, but you can check the NC State Fairgrounds calendar of events ……god willing & the river don’t rise, I’ll see y’all at the Transportation museum this spring…….
Pat
The Cape Fear Model Railroad Society has several permanent layouts on display. We are in what used to be Radio Shack. We had looked at having our own building but after a quick analysis it became clear that the Mall was the better way to go. The cost just to own and maintain a building is up there. Plus the Mall has several advantages: plenty of well-lit parking, security, lots of walk-by traffic, and responsibility for major building maintenance items.
Don
John,
Sorry for the late reply. Yes, went to the Mebane show. Not bad, good prices. Seems to be mostly private guys selling from their collections.
The Mebane museum is worth the trip. Check out their website.
Hey Ben, How did Trainstock go today, big crowd?
Hey CSX Joe,
Was talking to one of your members of OCSMR, Ted Bertinger and he told me about the train group that you are in. The town picks up the tab and you're rent free? Ted used to do all of the Demos for Lionel and I believe MTH at the Greenbergs show in Edison N.J. otherwise known as the Raritan Center. What town do you currently live in?
Steam Forever
John
I'm in Durham.
Hey NCDave,
Can you get in touch with me. Email is in profile. Check your email.
Thanks
Steam Forever
John
When the TCA gave up the May show in Raleigh the Neuse River Valley MRRC picked up the date.
This year it is May 6-7 in the Gov Kerr Scott Building on the NCState Fairgrounds.
More details will be on our website shortly.
George Lasley
Hi John !
I finally made it , here !
dP
Hi Dave,
Well shut my mouth! Chuck is the only guy that I don't have info from, so I hope you can get that info to me or relay the meeting date to him.
Steam Forever
John
I’ve been reading through this thread as we have talked about moving out of New Jersey sooner or later and maybe to one of the Carolinas.
Tough for us to move away from our kids with the grandkids just yet. Good to hear there are train clubs down south. I am president of OCSMR that CSXJOE started 36 years ago and is still going strong with 30 members and always adding a few every year and unfortunately lose 1 or 2 for various reasons.
Good luck to you guys who want to start a club down there. I might be joining up years to come if we end up in NC. Just the thought of packing up all the trains is a daunting task in itself!
Hey Ted,
Good to hear from you! I haven't met Joe yet, but will soon. It sounds like the group he's in has a fantastic deal. I'm sure you'll talk to him about it, and yet he's interested in sitting down with the guy's( which is great) that are assembling soon for a meeting ( probably an eatery & gin joint which I'm trying to put together now so we don't have guy's traveling long distance, middle ground). Oh, by the way, does the wife know about all of those trains or did you "sneak them in".
Stay in touch!
Steam Forever
John
Ted, the move wasn't to bad but it took some fast talking after the wife saw exactly how many trains I had.
Oh, by the way, does the wife know about all of those trains or did you "sneak them in"
Unlike some folks, she helped me unpack them and helped me arrange them on the walls when we moved to a 55 and over community about 6 years ago. While we were unpacking, I told her what I paid and the deals I got. Her eyes rolled somewhat but she got over it. She really thinks the wall displays which are floor to ceiling is really nice.
Hey Ted,
Joe decided to not hook up with us because of the distance he has to travel and I can't blame him for his decision, because it would take me 1 hr. to travel to N.J. Hi Railers in Paterson N.J. and that was about my limit for travel. His travel to Huntersville was a little over 2 hrs., but who knows, he can always change his mind! Anyway, Sunday 1/29/23 is our 1st meeting date to see where we want to take this thing. We may have lost Joe, but 2 guys are bringing another individual each to our gathering and that would put us at 9 or 10 guys. One fellow had mentioned that the individual that he is bringing is inquiring about a 501C group. To be discussed tomorrow! Building the group & layout, has to start first! TTYS!
Steam Forever
John
