OCSMR-Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders Club Latest update 11/23/2024

We understand your frustration. We're also closed due to COVID-19 but we were able to get the City of Los Angeles to allow us to go into the building to maintain a "presence" for security purposes and to perform maintenance and testing, but the number of people allowed in the building is limited.

Ted, the good news is there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. The bad news is we have to continue to be smart and do all we can to protect ourselves, loved ones and others until sometime spring 2021.

As I told you, the years I spent as a member of the OCSMRR's were tremendously important. The refuge it offers as well as the source of fun, fellowship and purpose will be wonderful to return to once we are "out of the woods".

I highly recommend anyone who can visit the club upon re-opening to plan a date. There are some wonderful people who frequent those tracks.

Some views of the clubs previous layout:

Here are 2 pictures of a scene that was done just prior to us closing up on March 19, 2020. The MTH house on fire will not be used, only the smoke unit. All the street lights were wired up and tested to work.

It is now 10 months and we are still closed and not able to do any type of layout work there. Myself and someone else go there weekly to check on the club and the building and pick up any phone messages there.

I did take down the Union Pacific 2020 calendar and waiting for Bud to give me the 2021 calendar hoping 2021 will bring us hope for a better tomorrow.

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Here are 2 pictures of a scene that was done just prior to us closing up on March 19, 2020. The MTH house on fire will not be used, only the smoke unit. All the street lights were wired up and tested to work.

It is now 10 months and we are still closed and not able to do any type of layout work there. Myself and someone else go there weekly to check on the club and the building and pick up any phone messages there.

I did take down the Union Pacific 2020 calendar and waiting for Bud to give me the 2021 calendar hoping 2021 will bring us hope for a better tomorrow.

We'll be back before you know it! Smoking the **** out of the room!

I hope you will be back soon.  So sad!

Ted - The UP 2021 calendar is ready and waiting.  Now lessee...where'd I put it?

@LocoBudd posted:

Ted - The UP 2021 calendar is ready and waiting.  Now lessee...where'd I put it?

Typical Bud losing stuff in his house. He still can't locate the scale GG1 he bought about 8 years ago. Been misplaced. The only thing he can never lose is screws! The wall is empty for your calendar.

Numerous sightings of the 2021 Union Pacific calendar have been reported.  Only documented image is one with only limited detail of the calendar and is obscured and concealed by other objects.  One cannot definitively say that it is the "calendar".  One can only surmise.  With great cunning and risk the image below was obtained.

The viewer will have to make their own decision as to whether or not the 2021 Union Pacific calendar really exists.  Somewhat reliable rumors say that the "calendar" was located in an undisclosed area and has since been placed in a secure and remote facility.  Hopefully, it will revealed when conditions are such that we all can gather and view it without concern for our well being.

Ah, the JLC GG1.  It was sidetracked on a remote unused siding.  Since that time, much has grown up around the site making it difficult to see and locate the engine.  Will require an expedition to recover it.

So I did get an update on the reopening of the building by the township and it was NOT what I wanted to hear. We can only go there for a few hours on a Monday and it can only be a few of us at a time. I did survey my 40 members and 30 of us are fully vaccinated with 4 or 5 being kids under 16. Does not matter to the township, they refuse to reopen any of their buildings. Very frustrating to say the least since it is now 14 months being closed. Obviously, we cannot meet as a full club for some time but we asked to allow us access there when we can and it was to work as a small group on the both layouts.

I will keep folks updated when the news does change.

Ted, Wow!!!  I am very sad for you and your club!!  Have they reopened schools and other public places yet?  I don't want to write any more, but I have a lot of questions in my mind.  I'm getting my second Moderna tomorrow! 

@Ted Bertiger posted:

So I did get an update on the reopening of the building by the township and it was NOT what I wanted to hear. We can only go there for a few hours on a Monday while the museum folks are there and it can only be a few of us at a time. I did survey my 40 members and 30 of us are fully vaccinated with 4 or 5 being kids under 16. Does not matter to the township, they refuse to reopen any of their buildings. Very frustrating to say the least since it is now 14 months being closed. Obviously, we cannot meet as a full club for some time but we asked to allow us access there when we can and it was to work as a small group on the both layouts.

I will keep folks updated when the news does change.

Lot's of rich people in Ocean and Monmouth county.  Go find yourself a private sponsor and building.  Then tell the twp to stick it where the sun doesn't shine.

Glad I left that state 17 years ago.

Ron

This is totally ridiculous! Almost everything else in NJ is fully open. Have you considered contacting your state assembly member, or the Monmouth county freeholder (or whatever they changed the name to)? Someone should be able to kick some sense into them.

Ted,

I hope they are not charging you full rent through this period.

Folks,

I read the responses and we just can’t pick up and leave since we invested a lot of sweat labor in renovating the basement area and building 2 large layouts. The club has to abide by how the township proceeds in reopening. Am hoping something will happen positively since Governor Murphy is lifting a lot of bans/closings/protocols on May 19.

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Folks,

I read the responses and we just can’t pick up and leave since we invested a lot of sweat labor in renovating the basement area and building 2 large layouts.
We have a favorable lease agreement with the township that does not affect our bottom line. Both the museum and the club have to abide by how the township proceeds in reopening. Am hoping something will happen positively since Governor Murphy is lifting a lot of bans/closings/protocols on May 19.

My club is still closed also.  We are waiting for the county and city to reopen.  The club is in a city park in a city owned building.

I don't view it as a big deal.  What is another month after waiting this long?  NH Joe

We should really count our blessings, folks.  We have pulled through a dark time in the real world more so than in the model railroad world.  At least our clubs will be there when we return no matter how long it takes for matters to resolve.

Dear Ted, et al,

Come down to your southern neighbors in Atlantic County as the Patcong Valley Model RR Club will have a Open House May 15th and 16th from 10AM to 3PM at our club home located at 1308 Harding Hwy, Richland NJ 08350.

We are open in conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of the Cape May Seashore Line run from Richland to Tuckahoe Nj

Check us out on Facebook at Patcong Valley Model Railroad .

Hope to see you there !!!!  John P.Dunn Sr. PVMRR Member 609-432-2871

@jdunn posted:

Dear Ted, et al,

Come down to your southern neighbors in Atlantic County as the Patcong Valley Model RR Club will have a Open House May 15th and 16th from 10AM to 3PM at our club home located at 1308 Harding Hwy, Richland NJ 08350.

We are open in conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of the Cape May Seashore Line run from Richland to Tuckahoe Nj

Check us out on Facebook at Patcong Valley Model Railroad .

Hope to see you there !!!!  John P.Dunn Sr. PVMRR Member 609-432-2871

John,

Thank you for the invite. Perhaps we can get some members together and visit your club at a later date. I have members who would like to get together one day for some train talk!!

Ted

I’m glad you are starting to get together

A mystery object for your perusal - it does exist

Hopefully we're getting close to reopening and runnin' some trains.

Some pix from the Ocean Counties' Antique, Craft and Collectible Fair.  It was fairly well attended on Saturday but Sunday's attendance was extremely light.  For us. we may be getting a few new members because of it.

Ed's N-Gauge layout.

Doug had some interesting O-Gauge American Flyer (tho he did have his AF S-Gauge gang car running).

Dennis' Area 51 train.

Ted's PW 2046 hauling a string of a dozen O-scale cars.

Frank's restored tinplate.  He's an HO guy who has quietly been acquiring some interesting O-Gauge.  Guess the sounds and smoke from the O-Gauge room has lured him from the serenity of the HO- Gauge room into this dark activity.

My Memorial Day celebration train.

And cars.

And, there is a club member who was coveting this magnificent 1969 Chevy Chevelle.

Hope to report layout progress soon.

Be well.

Looks like a great day, Bud!

An update to our club's eventual reopening. It is now August 10, 2021 and been closed since March 19, 2020, We are still in a holding pattern awaiting any type of reopening news from the township. Thought we could reopen as most of the members were vaccinated and we could get back to the club.

Not yet!

It’s really hard to wait on them, Ted.  Your Township is really over the top!!  😢

@Ted Bertiger posted:

An update to our club's eventual reopening. It is now August 10, 2021 and been closed since March 19, 2020, We are still in a holding pattern awaiting any type of reopening news from the township. Thought we could reopen as most of the members were vaccinated and we could get back to the club.

Not yet!

Yet the stores, restaurants and beaches, boardwalks and arcades are open...🤔

You should invite Jenkinson to be a club member.  You'd not only open immediately, he'd install those prize wheels and you'd instantly be making money. 🙄

Wishing you and your club good fortune.

Ron

Ron,

I take it that you were at Point Pleasant recently. Shame we are still closed as we have an open invite to our club.

Yes, Jenkinsons owns a major portion of the boardwalk there. The aquarium they maintain happens to be an excellent experience to do if at the shore there.

Regards, Ted

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Ron,

I take it that you were at Point Pleasant recently. Shame we are still closed as we have an open invite to our club.

Yes, Jenkinsons owns a major portion of the boardwalk there. The aquarium they maintain happens to be an excellent experience to do if at the shore there.

Regards, Ted

I was a native of Brick.  Spent a lot of my youth at PPB and Seaside.  When my Wife and I were dating we played skeeball and arcade games all of the time.  We were saving our tickets for a big TV.  We have thousands of points worth of unused tickets in a box in the attic.  Never got the TV, although we probably played enough skeeball to buy 10 TVs.

I suppose with inflation, those 10's of thousands of tickets might just be enough for us to get a spider ring or some Chinese handcuffs.  Am I aloud to say Chinese handcuffs... or has than been cancelled now too?

Ron

OUR CLUB HAS FINALLY RECEIVED THE OK TO REOPEN  AFTER BEING SHUTDOWN BY THE TOWNSHIP FOR 20 MONTHS! We are excited to get back to working on the layouts, running trains and just getting together with club members. it's been a long time waiting to reopen.

If anyone wants to visit our club, we are there on Tuesday and Friday nights from around 6pm-10pm and anytime during the weekend, we can arrange to open up for visitors.

OIL AND GREASE UP THOSE TRAINS, WE ARE BACK TO RUNNIG TRAINS!!! 

YAY!!!!!

Congrats!  I'll be sure to call if I'm in the neighborhood.

Ron

How about an update article for the magazine, Ted?

GREAT news, Ted!

Great, I've been waiting 2 years to stop by!

Magicland,

You are welcomed to visit our club any Tuesday or Friday nights 6:30pm-10:00pm or on the weekend during the day. You best bet is to email me from my profile and we can arrange something if you cannot make during the week.
By the way, your email says NJ slots. Do you buy Pachislo slots if that is your business?

Ron,

Congrats!  I'll be sure to call if I'm in the neighborhood.
Contact me directly at my cell phone or email me. We can go anytime you are out this way.
Regards, Ted

Allan,
How about an update article for the magazine, Ted?

I asked Dennis, my Vice President to write an article and I had Bud take some new pictures from this past Tuesday night which was our first night back there running trains as a club in 20 months.

I will keep you posted when we have an article for you. Lots to do upon our reopening/return to the club.
Brushing off the cobwebs!!!! It’s great to be back running trains there and not on my garage floor.
Regards, Ted

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Magicland,

You are welcomed to visit our club any Tuesday or Friday nights 6:30pm-10:00pm or on the weekend during the day. You best bet is to email me from my profile and we can arrange something if you cannot make during the week.
By the way, your email says NJ slots. Do you buy Pachislo slots if that is your business?

I collected them at one point, had 10 machines. Was going to try buying them from importers and selling them, but supplies dried up. I still have 3, but one's out on loan.

I first heard about you guys in February of 2020, and was like "I need to get down there and check them out" (I'm in Hazlet). And, of course, we all know what happened after that. I've been anxiously awaiting your reopening ever since...

I should be able to make it down during the week, just have to check with my daughter's schedule (she's commuting back and forth to Rutgers via train, lucky girl, and I need to pick her up at the station). I'll email you when I know for sure what day it'll be.

Magicland,

Let me know what is good. Tuesday and Friday nights are the only nights we can go there as the town locks the park at nighttime. We do lock the out-gate on our meeting nights and the police lock the in-gate at dark, when they do, we drive in through the out-gate.
During the daytime week or weekend makes it easier for first time visitors to find our building. If you put our club in maps, it will take you to our club.

Ted,

When is the best time to come visit?  My fiancée is in Hamilton and I'm in Hightstown.  We both work Saturdays.

She runs N and Z I run O and (starting) HO.

Thanks!!

Rich Mastriano

Rich,

During the week we are there Tuesday and Friday nights 6:30-10. If you are not familiar with the area, we can arrange to meet on a Sunday. My email is in my profile or go to our website and scroll down to the bottom on the home page and use the contact us button which sends it directly to me.
We probably going to meet on Wednesday afternoons as a 3rd meeting day for the club. You can visit them as well.  
Hamilton- my daughter teaches in Yardville elementary school. Also, you must know of DeLorenzo’s Pizza, Sloan Ave, Hamilton? No pizza better than there’s plus the owner and son are huge toy train fanatics.