We had 45 minutes of listen and learn from the fountain of knowledge!

• Prototype modeling of the 1951 Maine Central Portland Division: a mixture of accuracy, guesswork, and compromise, by Rich Gibson
  • Prototype Modeling of the 1951 Maine Central Portland Division: a mixture of accuracy, guesswork, and compromise My HO scale layout is a representation of the Maine Central (MEC) Portland Division, situated in mid-coast Maine, as it existed in 1951. The aim of constructing this layout is to (1) model key portions of this scenic line so that they are recognizable and (2) to reproduce the operational experience of the prototype. Since its inception in August 2015, the layout has been moved once and expanded several times so that it now occupies a 55’ x 35’ space. In this presentation, I will briefly illustrate the prototype and talk about the choices and compromises made to represent it in layout form. We will then take a photographic tour focusing on the modeling of several notable locations and discussing the various approaches used to represent specific structures and features. Finally, I will summarize operational aspects, showing some information on the prototype procedures and how these have been adapted for layout operations.
• Building a Railroad through Financial Records, by Rich Virgin
  • What do you do when you want to assemble a prototypical roster of freight cars and/or an operational scheme for an older railroad and/or less documented one? Rich will go over how financial statements and other business documents provide a wealth of information about how a less documented railroad operated. Also, what type of freight cars and their owners that probably traveled over its rails can be reasonably predicted. Many of these documents can be found online, at public libraries, and at train shows and auction sites like eBay for a reasonable outlay of cash. With a little bit of research your railroad can be as prototypical as any well documented class 1 of the last one hundred years.
• SoundTraxx Blunami and Prototype Operations, by George Bogatiuk
  • In this Clinic, George will show you the operations end of using SoundTraxx Blunami. With easy access to all 28 functions, you can now easily run your locos more prototypically. This includes use of the functioning brakes, throttle control and more! Passenger operations with Steam Generators, HEP mode and aux HEP ‘pup’ motors are all within easy click using the free Blunami app to run your locos. Come see what the fuss is about!
• Steam Proto Throttle, by John Szymanski
  • The ProtoSteam throttle is designed to provide an experience as close as possible to running a real steam locomotive. The throttle has realistic control inputs, such as johnson bar/reverser, throttle, and two brake inputs (train and independent brakes). In this clinic, John will show you the many great features built into the Steam Throttle to get the most realistic operation out of your SoundTraxx, or other brand sound decoders.
• Business Cars on a Budget, by Bob Pilk
  • The sight of a railroad’s business cars on a train draws special attention. Available models are few and do not address the uniqueness of each railroad’s business cars. Whether modeling a specific car or an entire train, it can be a challenge for the modeler both due to the lack of accurate models and/or due to costs. With less brass models available and those few remaining commanding high prices, there is a more economical route by building your own business car. This clinic will demonstrate techniques used to build contemporary business cars through “scratch-bashing” techniques. Topics include photo and drawing documentation, material and commercial part availability, scratch building and modifying commercial products as well as installing DCC sound and lighting effects.