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 Posted - February 16 2020 : 3:24:17 PM
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It is pulling a vintage string of Life Like Circus coaches, under power, about 2005.
This club owned locomotive, I think was built from a Mantua kit. I think the gentleman
second from right is holding it:
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Posted - February 16 2020 : 6:46:15 PM
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That is a really cool tidbit of history, Chops! Amazing how long this club has been around for. Always nice to see those older locos!
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - February 16 2020 : 8:53:40 PM
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quote:That is a really cool tidbit of history, Chops! Amazing how long this club has been around for. Always nice to see those older locos!
Originally posted by kovacste000 - February 16 2020 : 6:46:15 PM
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The Club didn't keep much records at all of its earliest beginnings, so trying to figure out when they
actually went from someone's living room, or in this case attic, was very hard to pin down. One summer
I had some spare time on my hands, and I went through all the old filing cabinets and dug deep into
the library (which had become a repository of junk) and found old photos and some old correspondence.
From oral history of someone responding to an article I had written for the local paper, I learned that
this group of retired military officers at Fort Bliss had gravitated together (no FB back then) and
shared an interest in model trains, HO, at the time, being rather exotic as it was very small
compared to the more common O27. Nearest I could pin it was about 1950, and started out
as the "Fort Bliss Model Railroad Club."
Yes, I agree, always nice to see vintage stuff up and running, which is why I enjoy Frank's
posts so much- he is doing something rather unique- the restoration and running of
vintage HO from a time when HO was a new comer.
You might notice the track plan for an up and over figure 8 on the coffee table.
Edited by - Chops124 on February 16 2020 8:56:17 PM
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Posted - February 17 2020 : 07:39:15 AM
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That guy is holding an F unit, not the Mantua Pacific. Oh well. 
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Posted - February 17 2020 : 10:21:06 AM
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| My lack of train spotting knows no limits.
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Posted - February 17 2020 : 3:07:52 PM
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quote: quote:That is a really cool tidbit of history, Chops! Amazing how long this club has been around for. Always nice to see those older locos!
Originally posted by kovacste000 - February 16 2020 : 6:46:15 PM
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The Club didn't keep much records at all of its earliest beginnings, so trying to figure out when they
actually went from someone's living room, or in this case attic, was very hard to pin down. One summer
I had some spare time on my hands, and I went through all the old filing cabinets and dug deep into
the library (which had become a repository of junk) and found old photos and some old correspondence.
From oral history of someone responding to an article I had written for the local paper, I learned that
this group of retired military officers at Fort Bliss had gravitated together (no FB back then) and
shared an interest in model trains, HO, at the time, being rather exotic as it was very small
compared to the more common O27. Nearest I could pin it was about 1950, and started out
as the "Fort Bliss Model Railroad Club."
Yes, I agree, always nice to see vintage stuff up and running, which is why I enjoy Frank's
posts so much- he is doing something rather unique- the restoration and running of
vintage HO from a time when HO was a new comer.
You might notice the track plan for an up and over figure 8 on the coffee table.
Originally posted by Chops124 - February 16 2020 : 8:53:40 PM
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That's pretty cool, actually. On that table, I also notice a lot of old Varney and Mantua units. I wonder how many of those are up and running today. If someone still has them and they aren't running, it shouldn't be too hard to get them running because those older locos are built like tanks. You just cannot kill them. Always love seeing those early H0 classics.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on February 17 2020 3:08:29 PM
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Posted - February 17 2020 : 7:05:38 PM
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A couple of months ago, I went to a swap meet and this engine, in rougher shape, was for sale with a tag that said it didn't work. I asked the price and it was only a couple of dollars. I figured it was worth more than that in parts. Looking it over, I found a crosshead guide improperly installed and fixed that. A gear was also a bit damaged, but trimming off some damaged plastic made that work just fine. So, having a working engine, I set about the job of customizing it to my tastes. The motor got a new magnet for better torque. More electrical pickup was added. I added some details to create the illusion of a detailed model, and added a working headlight. New paint topped off the project, and I now have another Mantua 0-4-0.
Strictly speaking, I don't immediately need it, but these are getting less available than they once were, and it's good to have a little supply laid in for the future. There are three distinct roadnames on my layout, and I'm not sure which one gets it yet, so the reporting marks have yet to be added to the cab sides.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - February 18 2020 : 07:33:37 AM
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quote:My lack of train spotting knows no limits.
Originally posted by Chops124 - February 17 2020 : 10:21:06 AM
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That's alright! 
Shaggy, that's a fine looking Mantua. I love it. I'll be sharing my LOTW once it gets out of the paint shop. Count on Wednesday. We need some geared steam up in here.....
Edited by - BlaxlandAlex3 on February 18 2020 07:34:20 AM
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Posted - February 18 2020 : 3:09:30 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Chops124 - February 16 2020 : 3:24:17 PM
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Great picture and story! There are some interesting engines sitting on the table. There appears to be a nicely detailed Varney F3 at the bottom (and I think it's twin is what is in the man's hands). I'm curious what the large steamer to the right of the F3 is, and also what that rather boxy looking engine in the top row is. Is any of this early motive power still with the club?
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Posted - February 18 2020 : 8:02:02 PM
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Mike
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Posted - February 19 2020 : 06:04:16 AM
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quote: quote:My lack of train spotting knows no limits.
Originally posted by Chops124 - February 17 2020 : 10:21:06 AM
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That's alright!
Shaggy, that's a fine looking Mantua. I love it. I'll be sharing my LOTW once it gets out of the paint shop. Count on Wednesday. We need some geared steam up in here.....
Originally posted by BlaxlandAlex3 - February 18 2020 : 07:33:37 AM
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Nice F unit, Shaggy. From now on I will call everything I see a F unit, because sooner or later I will be correct.
As to the extant Club pieces, there is the one pictured, and it is custom decaled for “El Paso del Norte,” which is a trifle odd as that was the former name of what is now Juarez, Mexico, directly across the Rio Grande. I don’t think these guys had Mexico in mind but there it is.
In the 1960’s, at least, it was a popular thing to have your personal road name registered with the NMRA, and this was one such fictional railroad. There were a number of others, and a few pieces remain, and a few are on display. I will gather up some photos in the coming week.
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Posted - February 19 2020 : 9:23:34 PM
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Originally posted by Chops124 - February 16 2020 : 3:24:17 PM
Classic white middle class Americana, two guys enjoying leisure time in suits and ties, a pipe, ash trays with butts,
crew cuts, and vintage model trains. I wonder if Ward Cleaver was taking the picture?🤓
Proudly keeping Tyco Pluggers out of landfills since 2016
Edited by - Srenchin on February 20 2020 10:19:39 AM
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Posted - February 19 2020 : 9:43:47 PM
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Originally posted by Chops124 - February 16 2020 : 3:24:17 PM
I wonder what they could be discussing? The merits of HO over O and S scale? One guy appears to be pointing out the couplers on that engine's tender, this photo might predate the Kadee and X2F, legend has it that great arguments were had over which coupler design was best.
Proudly keeping Tyco Pluggers out of landfills since 2016
Edited by - Srenchin on February 20 2020 10:19:06 AM
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Posted - February 21 2020 : 03:45:37 AM
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LMAO, but not quite so average in the sense that El Paso
Is not quite Main Street America. It’s really sort of a place,
sometimes referred to as the “Bastard Stepchild of Texas.”
Sort of a destinations one is either born to, or like me,
one arrives here by accident, and like the pitcher plant,
Soon finds it impossible to escape.
Truth be told, most of the suits are retired career Army
officers. One of the founders, or the founder, was a Col.
John Thomas. His widow, Ruth, whom I knew, became the
Club secretary for about two decades, or more. You might
say Ruth wore the pants in the family. No club mandate
or decision ever went down without Ruth’s tacit approval.
It made for some interesting politics, with half the Club
shearing off in about ‘95, same time I showed up and
started paying my $5 per month dues.
The new club pooped out after about a year, while this one
carries on through a variety of administrations, so perhaps
Ruth’s methods have stood the test of time.
Back before all the anti-smoking laws, there was no need for
on board smoke units, as the place was half choked by an
abundance of cigarette smokers, yours truly included. I eventually
quit, but Lord it was like waxing my own back.
Edited by - Chops124 on February 21 2020 03:51:10 AM
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