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Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club News
Garfield Central SD40-2 #6398 parked at GT Tower
March 25, 2006:
As a reminder, the Club's Spring 2006 Open House will be
on Sunday, April 23, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. For more information,
please check out Coming Events. Also,
the February-March 2006 work
report has been posted.
January 31, 2006:
The date for the Club's annual Spring Open House has been announced. It will be
on Sunday, April 23, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. For more information,
please check out Coming Events. Also,
the December 2005-January 2006 work
report has been posted.
October 7, 2005:
The dates for the Club's annual Fall Open Houses have been announced. They will be
Sunday, November 6 and Sunday, November 20, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. For more information,
please check out Coming Events.
May 5, 2005:
Check out the newly-posted photos from the Club's
April 17th, 2005 Open House. Also,
the April 2005 work report page has been posted.
April 10, 2005:
Updates on all of the work that has been happening on the Garfield Central can be seen on
the February 2005 and
March 2005 Work Report pages. Additionally,
our Spring 2005 Open House will take place on Sunday, April 17th, 2005
from 1pm to 4pm.
January 30, 2005:
Get our most recent update on various work projects taking place on the GC by checking out the
January 2005 Work Report page. Additionally,
our Spring 2005 Open House date has been set -- it will take place on Sunday, April 17th, 2005
from 1pm to 4pm.
October 30, 2004:
Get our most recent update on various work projects taking place on the GC by checking out the
October 2004 Work Report page.
Our first Fall Open House is only 8 days away!
October 9, 2004:
Get our most recent update on the work taking place in Summit by checking out the
September 2004 Work Report page.
Additionally, Fall Open Houses are right around the corner!
October 1, 2004:
Get another update on the work taking place in Summit by checking out the
July/August 2004 Work Report page.
Also, check out Pat Reardon's Message From The President
for September, 2004.
July 9, 2004:
Get an update on the work taking place in Summit and elsewhere by checking out the
May 2004 Work Report and
June 2004 Work Report pages.
May 18, 2004:
Get an update on the work taking place in Summit and elsewhere by checking out the
April 2004 Work Report page.
Our most recent operating night photos are on the
April 30, 2004 Operating
Night page. Finally, check out our new pages featuring
favorite websites and
local hobby stores.
April 22, 2004:
The months of March and April have been busy for the GCMRC, mainly in Summit.
Learn more about the work taking place in Summit and elsewhere on the
March 2004 Work Report page.
March 1, 2004:
Check out recent operation photos on the
February 27, 2004 Operating Night page.
February 22, 2004:
The months of January and February have been busy for the GCMRC. Much work is taking place
of late, with new signalling, a new repeater panel, and a new switch all being installed at Summit,
and planning taking place for the town of Summit itself. The signalling crew has been able to
progress out of the CA loop area after Pat Reardon finally debugged a problem that had been
plaguing the signal system for several months. A new reversing-loop module that was installed in the
east loop was throwing a block occupancy circuit, thus causing red signals to be shown
for trains entering CA. Pat determined that some indicator LEDs on the new reversing module
might be the issue, and sure enough, once they were removed, everything functioned correctly.
Thus, the signalling crew is in the home stretch of their work, currently wrapping up in Summit.
More on the work taking place in Summit and elsewhere is featured on the
February 2004 Work Report page.
In light of all the work currently taking place, the Club has shifted back to a regulated
"Work Night"/"Operating Night" schedule. The last Friday of every month is now designated as
an "Operating Night", with intervening nights being designated as "Work Nights". More details on
this schedule can be seen on the
Coming Events page.
December 7, 2003:
The Club's Fall 2003 Open Houses went very well! Attendance was great, and the action was non-stop.
Thankfully, everything ran without a hitch during both sessions, and all were impressed. All in all,
moreover, our DCC issues have subsided greatly, and layout operations have picked up a few notches
in recent weeks.
The signalling effort has resumed once again, as Pat Reardon, John Molls, and Dave Urschel have been spending
time in the Bridgeport area of late, with Summitt to follow, reportedly. Meanwhile, other
Club members continue with a list of short- and long-term goals for the layout, including
work at Georgetown and Summit. Bob Lindt and Frank Schneider recently installed a gravel-loading
area at CA, and Dave Locke continues work on the scrap dealership just east of Williamsport.
Wes Urschel is on haitus from the Club at the moment, as he's spending the year in France for school.
Jim Jansen has completed work on a new industry at the east end of Georgetown yard, and on new scenery
behind the Georgetown roundhouse. Lastly, the Club has a new member -- Terry Hartland. Terry hails from
the UK, and already has equipment running on the layout. Welcome aboard, Terry!
July 26, 2003:
The Club's Fall 2003 Open House dates have been
set: Sunday, November 2 and Sunday, November 16, from 1pm - 4pm
both dates. Meanwhile, the signalling effort has resumed, as
Pat Reardon and Dave Urschel were recently heard obtaining "foul
time" on the main at Bridgeport, with John Molls overseeing the
delivery of one of the fantastic signals he's
constructed. At Bridgeport, a large bridge governs movements
on the mains in both directions, with a dwarf signal (the first
installed as part of this effort) governing the busy eastbound
passing siding, which is frequently used by locals working
Bridgeport. All in all, this latest signal bridge is an
impressive and welcome addition to Bridgeport.
Another improvement to the layout has been the installation
of one new spur, at the east end of Georgetown yard, and the
lengthening of another spur, at Clarendon. Both were installed by
Bob Lindt, and they will surely provide operators with
additional local switching possibilities. Dave Locke is working
on installing / scenicking a scrap dealership in Williamsport
(actually right next to the diamonds at Bohl's Crossing) and Frank
"Mr. Repeater Panel" Schneider has enlisted the help of Wes Urschel
in building a new repeater panel for the important town of
Summit. Bev Urshcel and Dawn Jakovic, meanwhile, have deployed countless
HO "people" onto the layout, and some hard-to-find birds as well.
However, the past few
months haven't been without
their setbacks. Over the past few months, and worsening in the last few weeks (starting in
late June), our DCC system has been afflicted by a variety of problems that, among other
things, cause controllers to malfunction, or else not work at all. The electrical team
has been diligently trying to resolve this issue, but some more drastic measures might be in store for the next few
months...only time will tell.
May 4, 2003:
The Club's Spring 2003 Open Houses went very well! In the weeks leading up to the big
sessions, Club members made various track and electrical repairs, thoroughly cleaned the
layout, and posted flyers all around Chicago. The hard work paid off as we had a very busy
session on Saturday and even more so on Sunday. The signalling effort is about to get
underway once again, as Pat Reardon and Dave Urschel have been spending lots of time in
Clarendon, making way for the continued installation of signals and associated electronics. Meanwhile,
the Club members have agreed on a list of short- and long-term goals for the layout, some of
which are already underway.
March 10, 2003:
The Club's Spring 2003 Open Houses are right around the corner! They will occur on
Saturday and Sunday, April 5th and 6th, 2002 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. In terms of Club
news, the Club's new signalling system continues to evolve quite nicely. Most
recently installed is a massive signal bridge that protects Bohl Crossing between Garfield
Courthouse and Clarendon Gap. The bridge has 5 signal masts, 11 signal heads, and 29
individual signals. It is truly a sight to see on the railroad.
Meanwhile, Jim Jansen has completed another bridge upgrade at Ridge / Clarendon Gap, which
takes the section of mainline just west of Georgetown right over the GC main where it enters
Clarendon. Jim again kitbashed the bridge, and it is an excellent improvement over the plain
wood benchworking that was there before. Check out
some pictures! Way to go Jim!
December 10, 2002:
The four Fall 2002 Open Houses that the Club hosted were a great success. Take a look at
pictures of the October 11th
and November 3rd Open Houses.
The dates have been set for the Club's Spring
2003 Open House--they will occur on Saturday and Sunday, April 5th and 6th, 2002 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Meanwhile,
work continues to progress very nicely on the Club's signalling effort. Signalling is in place from Bohl Crossing
up through Summit and Clarendon Gap, all the way to the east end of Georgetown. Georgetown was
the recipient of 2 large signal bridges, including a 5-track bridge at the west end that now features
indications for the next 2 blocks. Such advanced signalling will be a welcomed enhancement for locations
such as Bohl Crossing, since train crews will now be able to gain clearance all the way into Clarendon.
Another new addition to the layout is a new bridge at Clarendon Gap, which takes the section of mainline between
Georgetown and Summit right over the Illinois Central interchange in Clarendon. Jim Jansen kitbashed
the bridge out of several HO kits. The bridge is curved and is an excellent improvement over the plain wooden
base that was there before. Check out the before-and-after photos!
September 8, 2002:
The dates have been set for the Club's Fall
2002 Open Houses. New this fall is the addition of themed Friday night open houses in October--they
will occur on Friday, October 11th and Friday, October 18th from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. The October 11th Open House
has been declared "50's Night" and the October 18th Open House has been declared "Contemporary Night".
In addition, the standard Sunday afternoon Open Houses will occur on Sunday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 17th, 2002 from
1:00pm to 4:00pm. Meanwhile, work continues to progress on the Club's signalling effort, and the
work is paying off as signalling is completely installed in the busy Summit - Georgetown corridor.
Georgetown in particular has benefited from the signalling, as congestion and car dwell time have
both dropped significantly. Moreover, repairs to Georgetown yard's power have been completed,
allowing switcher crews to work both ends of the yard, and activating the classification tracks
which had formerly been dormant. Next up is to rehab the engine terminal area with fresh ballast
and scenery.
January 14, 2002:
The date has been set for the Club's Spring
2002 Open House--it will occur on Sunday, April 7th, 2002 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Meanwhile,
work is progressing on the Club's signalling effort. The grade between Williamsport and Summit
is currently receiving signalling equipment, with more sections of mainline to follow.
November 7, 2001:
The first Fall 2001 Open House went well.
We had approximately 100 visitors to the Club who viewed as many as 6 trains operating at a
time. Club members and the general public eagerly await the next open house, which is
November 11th.
November 2, 2001:
The initial version of the GCMRC's
new website was unveiled to Club members today at their regular Friday Meeting. Initial
reaction was positive, and new ideas surfaced for the website, such as "Meet the Club",
"Club News", and "A Message From the President". Look for these new features soon on
GarfieldCentral.org.
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