GM&OHS Winter 2009 Switchlist 37-4

Winter 2009 Vol. XXXVII, No. 4

End of Year Message from President Ken Donnelly

In a few short weeks we close the books on 2009, and overall it was another successful year for the GM&OHS. The NEWS was delivered as scheduled, several special offerings brought in much needed income, and the Annual Show in Union City, TN was by all accounts a good one. Our investments continue to do well in a bad economy, and with the small amounts of profits garnered by various projects, the Society will not have to raise dues for 2010.

After January 1^st, there will be a new President and Vice President to maintain the prosperity this administration worked tirelessly to achieve. I sincerely hope that the membership will give the new leadership all the help and support they will need to be successful during their respective terms. It's a little scary to take over anything as a new leader, even if it is a railroad historical society. So it's vitally important to let these fine gentlemen, as well as the entire Board of Directors, know that you are behind them 100%.

For my part, I would just like to say "thank you" for all the support given to the present administration over the past few years. So have a safe, happy and healthy Holiday Season, and we'll see you all somewhere along the line in 2010.

Secretary's Report by Marc Liberta

For the ninth straight year, there will be no increase in our membership dues. Please assist us in controlling costs by renewing now, before other matters command your attention. It is a small but important way that everyone can help the GM&OHS prosper. Send your $$.

Election Results for Membership Year 2010 (18% of eligible ballots returned: The President and Vice President serve two-year terms, all others are single year terms.

President: Fred Bradley, Lake Kiowa, TX Vice President: Tony Howe, Ocean Springs, MS

Secretary: Marc Liberta, Marion, IL Treasurer: David Johnston, Memphis, TN

Directors: David Bridges, Philadelphia, MS; Brian Johnston, Pascagoula, MS; Jason Parham, McCalla, AL; Art Richardson, Clinton, MS; Louis Saillard, Baton Rouge, LA;

GM&OHS 2010 All-Color Calendar

The 2010 All-Color Calendar, was mailed out on November 18, 2009. If you have not received your calendar by this time, contact the Secretary at the Marion, IL address. We would like to thank everyone that has supported the calendar program, and hope to continue it for 2011.

2009 Union City Railfest Model Contest Winners

The winners in the five categories represented in this year’s model contest were as follows (see these on the Society’s website under the Union City Railfest 2009 Archive Page):

Diesel Locomotive - Dwaine Hubbell, G Scale GM&O RS3 no. 1523.

Steam Locomotive - Dwaine Hubbell, G Scale M&O Mikado no. 477.

Passenger - John Polsgrove, G scale GM&O Doodlebug/trailer nos. 2502/2552.

Maintenance of Way - Dave Wylie, HO Scale crane and idler gondola.

Structure – C. Arnold Baughman, HO scale coal mine diorama.

Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all who entered models.

New Book Announcement

Searching for Sparta: A 40-year retrospective on the movie In the Heat of the Night is a 40 page glossy soft cover book that fans of the Academy Award winning film will enjoy. Author James DuBose tracks down the landmarks and interviews some of the acting extras in and around Sparta, Ill. that were part of the 1967 movie. Copies may be purchased by going to www.lulu.com , where one may purchase either the book for $17.50 plus $3.99 shipping, or instantly download a PDF version for $5.00.

A Lump of Coal and A Christmas Gift for Modelers

ExactRail has released a Gunderson 5200 cubic foot 50 ft. boxcar fully painted and lettered for the GM&O, and there are numerous glaring problems with this offering. The list of shame includes: cars of this make were never rostered by the GM&O. The model is a flat-silled, 1970's era double-door car with four-foot high ladders all the way around, and post-1967 low brake wheel positioning. The doors on the model are Superior type, each being eight feet wide for an overall door opening of 16 feet. The graphics on both the N and HO versions would be better suited for a car in Z scale so one would not notice how poorly positioned they are. The car they were attempting to depict were the 50100-50124 series of ACF-built, double-door boxcars which the GM&O refurbished in 1967. Originally built in 12-50 in the 9000-9199 series, these cars kept their flowing ACF sill, as well as original door arrangement of seven and eight foot Youngstown doors. They lost their roofwalk upon rebuilding but retained high ladders and brake rigging. They also retained their two grab irons on the left side of the car. The cars were repainted green all around, including the roof (not silver, as on the model). Yellow warning "no roofwalk" stencils were applied, which the ExactRail model does not have, and there are two erroneous stencils on the model that the prototype did not have. The first is an "Exceeds Plate C" block for some unknown reason, and the other is a build date of "NEW 8-70", (they only missed that one by nearly 20 years!). Purchasing this model will only reinforce the perception some manufacturers have that GM&O fans will buy anything. Vote with your pocketbook, and keep your money. Better yet, contact ExactRail and explain why they won’t be getting your hard earned dollars. Then, find yourself a nice Kadee, Tangent, or Atlas model to buy.

On a happier note, Walthers has just released their new line of Proto 2000 E7's for various rail lines with road specific details, including the GM&O. A two unit set, (nos. 100 and 103) is offered with either standard DC or with sound and DCC, (priced at $349.99 and $499.98, respectively) while a third, single unit (no.102A) is offered for $179.98. Regardless of price, Buy 'Em! They are the most accurate production line GM&O model locomotive ever offered. They have all the right grab irons in the right places, fire cracker antennae, complete fuel tank, and best of all, no body skirts, with paint just right for the era of 1960 to 1972. Do not miss out on these exquisite units. Finally, a Merry Christmas from a model manufacturer. It's a miracle, Tiny Tim!!!

Some More Good Modeling News

There have been so many bad reviews about GM&O based model train releases over the past few years that we thought maybe it was time to announce some items that GM&O fans can really use on their layouts. These are just a few items from the last year which are perfect for the GM&O modeler. In HO Scale there is:

Tangent Scale Models has introduced a perfect representation of the Pullman-Standard built 4740 cubic foot PS2CD, which the GM&O acquired new in 1970. (81050-81149-series, 100 cars.) The undecorated model comes built with trucks and couplers for $42.95, or unbuilt for $25.95. This may seem like a lot, but this is a highly detailed, brass quality, plastic kit. It will be perfect on your layout a year from now or ten years from now. The only detail the modeler needs to add to this kit are the round roof hatches in place of the provided trough hatches. This was a unique GM&O PS2CD car feature. Tangent also produces a fine line of PS2CD's painted and lettered for other roads and private owners, cars which the GM&O routinely handled over their rails. See them all at the Tangent website: www.tangentscalemodels.com.

Additionally, the perfect GM&O decals for this car can be purchased from Daniel Kohlberg, as no one else offers decals anywhere near correct for this car! The set is ICG-51 GM&O 4740 Cvd Hoppers 1970+ for $8.00 each. A set will fully letter two cars.

Order by emailing: paducah@mindspring.com or write with SASE for price list to: Daniel Kohlberg, 7507 North State Route 159, Moro, IL 62067 or visit his website at: http://paducah.home.mindspring.com .

American Limited Models offers a non-operating wig-wag signal. The two signal set is item no. 147-5001, and sells for $7.95.

GC Laser has a nice kit of a Fairbanks-Morse Scale House very similar to the type the GM&O had at a number of locations. It has a large, multi-paned scale window, with 45 degree angled windows on each side. It is item no. 87-114, and sells for $9.95.

Tichy Train Group now offers a set of GM&O style bridge "telltales", perfect for mounting trackside on either entrance to a "kingpost" style bridge. The set of two is item no. 293-8164 at a price of $4.95 a set. Speaking of "kingpost" bridges, (which the former Alton Route mainline was loaded with) RIX Products has released a bridge kit that will nicely represent one of these small, one lane bridges that dotted the landscape from Joliet to Granite City. It is item no. 628-200, selling for $ 15.98 a kit. If you want a more detailed, realistic look for this type of bridge on your layout, Monroe Models has their beautiful, laser-cut model, Country Road Bridge, item no. 493-2007 for $51.79, and is well worth the price.

And from Tomar Industries comes a nicely done single target Approach Signal, item no. 81-858 for $30.60, perfect for entry into passing sidings. Or, item no. 81-859, a dual target Approach Signal for $40.70, such as would be seen at the Murrayville interlocking along the "Jack Line". Both types feature three colors (red, amber, green) from a single LED.

Lastly, we have some signals that will work well on the ex-Alton portion of the GM&O. From N.J. International there are two types of B&O style signals with the large round target. First is item no. 525-1212, a masted, multi-position signal for $29.99 each. Next is item no. 525-1214, a masted, multi-position signal with a set of horizontal, single position, upper signals above the main target, and a smaller, single position target mounted on the mast below the main target for $ 39.99. They also offer two beautiful cantilever signal bridges, both in black, one for single track and the other for double tracks. The single track version is item no. 525-4002 for $17.95, while the double track version, item no. 525-4004, sells for $19.95.

All of these items are in the 2010 Walthers HO Scale catalog. Call your local hobby shop for ordering details. If you don't have a LHS, use the official shop of the GM&OHS, Al's Hobbies at: (630) 832-4908 and ask for "Ken in Trains".

A number of the Alton-Rebel Prototype Models four-car MOW sets have been found. These were believed to have been lost. The custom painted set offers perfect paint and graphics on four easy-to-build Athearn cars. For $75.00, a yellow MOW baggage car, yellow 40' flat car, black three-dome tank car, and black 34' hopper are included. Call or write Ken Donnelly at (815) 278-0384 or P.O. Box 2457 Joliet, Il. 60434.

The Switchlist is a quarterly publication of the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Historical Society, Inc. and is provided as a benefit of membership. The Switchlist is produced for the purpose of increasing communication between members and is edited, except where noted, by Dave Wagner. Members with information suitable for publication in the Switchlist should forward it to; GM&OHS Switchlist, P.O. Box 1753, Marion, IL. 62959.