Detailed Description of Presentation (Alphabetical by Presenter’s Last Name)

Note: Modeling Presentations are shown in BLUE

 

Barton, Steve: Refrigerated Railcars – A history of the development and progression of car construction and features, and review of the use of these type cars.  The presentation also highlights the operation of “icing” the wooden refers prior to the mechanical cooling development.  Presenter Steve Barton is a member of the NYC Museum at Elkhart, Indiana.

 

Chapman, Doug: “Bobber” Cabooses on the NYC Lines – An examination of NYC railroads use of the four-wheel cabooses from the 1880’s through the early 1930’s.  Hundreds of these classic cars traveled the rails through 12 states and 2 Canadian provinces until they were outlawed.  Tips for modeling these cabooses will also be shared.

 

Fuller, John: The Big Four (C.C.C. & St. L. Ry.) Route – A review of the upcoming book by Bill Steward being published by The New York Central Historical Society.  Here’s an opportunity to garner a sneak-peak of this outstanding review of the largest of the New York Central Lines subsidiaries.  A review of the routes and operations of The Big Four.

 

Fuller, John: Michigan Rail Operations – A photo orientated presentation covering Detroit to Grayling, and passenger service between Detroit and Mackinaw City including the connecting ferry service.

 

Jaenicke, Paul: Michigan Central’s Joliet Cutoff (FRIDAY ONLY) – Come along and take a journey over the 44-mile line (the first Chicago by-pass route) from Joliet, IL to Lake Station, IN.  The presentation will cover operations, stations, personalities, and complete history.  This presentation will be loaded with many illustrations and photos.

 

Keefe, Kevin: Sneaking into Chicago – How the Michigan Central (M.C.) Gained Access to the “Windy City” – To reach Chicago the M. C. needed a little help from its friends.  This presentation will give an amply illustrated account of how the M.C. pushed west from its namesake state to reach Chicago in the mid-19th Century, and how that now mostly forgotten connection appeared in the 20th Century when the Twilight Limited was the premier Detroit – Chicago passenger train and Hudson’s dashed along the I.C. Railroad. Presenter Kevin Keefe is the former Editor of Trains Magazine and a featured writer.

​

Lakin, Seth: NYC’s 40-foot PS-1 (Pullman Standard) Boxcars – A deep dive into the 5000 general service PS-1 boxcars built between 1948 and 1952; and how to modify HO scale models to better represent the NYC prototype.

 

Lakin, Seth: New York Central (ex. Michigan Central) Waycars – How to model these all important waycars (a/k/a caboose by any other name) which carried and housed train crew personnel on their freight runs.

​

Monaco, Bryan: The NYC Jackson Branch à Lenawee Jct. to Jackson – An overview of the line’s operation from its early beginnings in 1836 (a portion of the route from Toledo, Ohio (connected at Lenawee Jct.) to Jackson, Michigan as part of the L.S. & M.S.; NYC cut the line at Clinton, MI in 1965; Conrail ended service in 1982, today the line is under the operation of the Southern Michigan Railroad Society.  The Society has in its collection several pieces of former NYC equipment.

 

Schneider, Alex: Layout Friendly Riveted Steel Bridges – An examination of creating and installing riveted steel bridges on your model railroad.  Presenter Alex Schneider has been studying different types of bridges over a period of years and has created an interesting presentation on this unique type bridge.

 

Staplin, Dave: Modeling the New York Central – Details to be provided

 

Staplin, Dave: Modernization of the Michigan Central Mainline to 110 MPH – Details to be provided

 

Trapp, Jim: The Michigan Central Railroad Through Photos and Personal Accounts – Bitten by the “rail bug” at an early age Presenter Jim Trapp grew up along the Michigan Central; he experienced many memorable moments including a cab ride on the last steam engine at Niles (a J1 Hudson).  His father managed track pans at Avery in the early years of World War II before entering military service, but returned to Avery after his discharge.  Many photos and a lot of historic information await attendees to this presentation.

 

Weis, Russ: Better Layout Photos Using Your Cell Phone and Tablet – Grand Modeler Russ Weis, a veteran presenter at NYCSHS events and known for his outstanding NYC layout offers up his experience of taking photos of your layout with a cell phone or tablet; Russ will give tips on how you can get better photos from these readily available tools. 

 

Weis, Russ: My Buffalo Engine Facility – How I kit bashed Walther’s over-the-counter building kits to get operational opportunities.   Presenter Russ Weis is known for his detailed HO scale layout featuring NYC operations with realistic features, and modelers and non-modelers will no doubt enjoy this presentation.