Steel City N Scale Club - Hamilton

train1

Member
Hey Everyone;

It is my sad duty to confirm any rumours out there in the Southern Ontario Model Railroad community, fellow N Scalers, and with the various Model Railroad On-line forums.
The Steel City Model Railroad Club which operated in Hamilton Ontario had lost its expansive layout location it has held for many years, and is formally ceasing its John Street Club operations. The club began with a group of guys twenty odd years ago as a N Scale round robin group. It became more permanent and the layout/club formally resided in the basement of an office building (on John Street ) beside the Hamilton GO Transit station. The layout occupied (filled) a 30 by 50 foot space, DC running, RTC dispatch and tons of trackage and scenery.
Last spring the building was purchased and the new owners literally gave everyone two weeks notice to vacate – not only was the Canadian Association of Railway Modellers (CARM) convention being hosted in Hamilton at that time. But we were on the layout tour as well as the O Gauge layout across the hall.
Over the course of the summer new ‘right of way’ locations were scoped out but were on both scales of suitability. Either too expensive, or not adequate.
Therefore, two weeks ago the club decided to begin to liquidate all rolling stock, buildings etc. from the layout. The SC Club was dissolved as it was, but those members hope we can continue on - as previous members had started –perhaps doing the round robin circuit. A new location may be found someday but we are not as actively pursuing this avenue due to real estate prices. On behalf of the members, I wish to thank those who did have the opportunity to visit us in Hamilton over the years and who we hope were inspired by what they saw.
On a personal note – I was a member for 6 or 7 years and I certainly enjoyed the times and the friends I made. Perhaps this may actually get me off my butt and start my own layout or actively look for a new base of operations.
 

brakie

Active Member
That's sad..Many clubs are finding homes at their local fairgrounds since most fair boards are stripped for cash and willing to rent a permanent building.Of course many fair boards require the layout to be on display during the week of the fair.

As a side note..Many clubs are dissolved when they loose their home because of "bull politics" in the club its self because it may not suit some of the members ideas or preference even though the building is well suited for club needs and the club ends up being dissolved..I know of 2 instances where this happen because the "bull members" shove their mandates for a club location.
Thankfully one club reorganize and found a new home is is stronger then before and none of the "bull members" has rejoined..This club membership is made up of the members from both dissolved clubs.
 

brakie

Active Member
Another reason why I am a lone wolf modeler. I hate politics.

I was once a lone wolf but,found I like "pack" life far better.:thumb:



I would be lost without club membership,visiting clubs and fellowship with other modelers and railfans..For me that's what makes this hobby so enjoyable and how I keep up with the hobby..
 

Mountain Man

Active Member
I was once a lone wolf but,found I like "pack" life far better.:thumb:



I would be lost without club membership,visiting clubs and fellowship with other modelers and railfans..For me that's what makes this hobby so enjoyable and how I keep up with the hobby..

I live in the foothills of the Rockies, well away from cities - in fact, the nearest town is eleven miles away and it's tiny, mostly a life support system for a convenience store/gas station, a bar and a post office.

Frankly, years of belonging to a large military modeler's club in Colorado Springs turned me completely off of group gropes, thanks to the incredibly hidebound "Old Guard" and the endless stream of rivet counters.

The owner of my LHS has tried several times to interest me in various group functions - funny, because he doesn't attend them himself - but I prefer to go my own way and do my own thing, unbeholden to anyone else's arbitrary rules about what can and cannot be done.

This forum, and others like it, serve as my meeting place of the minds, allowing me to freely share opinions and knowledge without incurring any obligation to act on them.

I volunteer my time to the Colorado Reptile Rescue, which gives me all the public exposure to the uninformed that I can handle. :cool: Number one all time FAQ: "Is that snake poisonous?"

Of course it is. That's why I'm standing here in the middle of a @#$%&* Pet'sMart holding it in my bare hands. Here, you hold it for a while. :p


It's a personal thing.
 

brakie

Active Member
In my best Indiana Jones voice..I hate snakes..sign1

But,unlike Indy I find them interesting but,never in the wild.

Well it is a personal thing about being around folks.I dislike small meaningless chatter I hear from none rail folk and would rather spend time with modelers.
 

Mountain Man

Active Member
In my best Indiana Jones voice..I hate snakes..sign1

But,unlike Indy I find them interesting but,never in the wild.

Well it is a personal thing about being around folks.I dislike small meaningless chatter I hear from none rail folk and would rather spend time with modelers.

I like them:

1. they never make noise causing neighbors to complain.
2. they never chew the furniture.
3. they do not 'mark their territory' by peeing on everything.
4. they are extremely easy to care for - feed every week to ten days. 5. 5. they use almost everything in their food, so I only have to pick up a small lump every week to ten days.
6. the constrictors - boas and pythons - give the greatest neck massages you will ever experience, and they won't stop until you do.

We've got one python and two boas, beautiful creatures who are friendly, docile and great company. Lily, our Dumeril's boa, likes to hang around my neck and watch the computer screen. She is fascinated by the changing shapes and colors.

Snakes and other reptiles are among the most misunderstood and misappreciated of creatures
 

brakie

Active Member
Snakes and other reptiles are among the most misunderstood and misappreciated of creatures.
---------------------------


I had a up close and personal show down with a Timber Rattler in Eastern Kentucky back in '82 while walking a abandon short line right of way.I clearly understood his/her intentions...I left the area in mach 5.sign1
 

train1

Member
For the record I too hate snakes - however politics did not have the club evicted from their location. It is a good group of guys and greed (on behalf of the owners is what got us evicted as well as the O Scalers across the hall). I did start a list of N Scalers in my specific area and planned to look for warehouse space around the town. Plus I plan a home layout since the round robin is going on again with these guys. From the ashes...
 

brakie

Active Member
For the record I too hate snakes - however politics did not have the club evicted from their location. It is a good group of guys and greed (on behalf of the owners is what got us evicted as well as the O Scalers across the hall). I did start a list of N Scalers in my specific area and planned to look for warehouse space around the town. Plus I plan a home layout since the round robin is going on again with these guys. From the ashes...


That's good the club can still meet as a round robin group..:thumb:

Here's a suggestion..Maybe the members can get together once a month for a meeting over dinner and perhaps a slide show or show and tell.

I know of a still born N Scale club that started that way but,all to sadly they was looooong on plans with very little affirmative action.The group just wither away.
 
Sorry to hear about your loss (and the O Scalers' loss also). I don't think this will be the last eviction we'll hear about this year. The local N-Trak club is about to lose its space as well as the mall they are in is to be razed.

I think the most important thing here is to maintain communication, be it through round robin meetings, layout construction projects, or just informal gatherings down at the Tim Hortons (although making sure everyone knows which one might be a challenge over there, eh?). As people drift into other interests, the passion for "starting over" may wane.
 
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