Greetings N Scalers, I'm new to posting but I've been lurking a bit now on here and other train boards. I'm looking into Model Railroading and searching for a group/club etc. The hardest issues is that money is tight but even worse is my time. My career usually has me busy on weekends when most people have their Hobby Time, this has messed up my wargamming as well. A group that had regular weekday/nights meetings and operations would be great and then I could try the occasional weekend gigs. Ideally a permanent layout based club would be great but I'm sure my only options will be module groups. The clubs I have saw, met and briefly talked to are the following: Ntrak Express Seem like nice people but set in their ways. Last time I spoke with them at a show they had no interest in DCC, which is a deal breaker. OC "N" Gineers Nice people again(really what train people are't?) and they are moving into DCC, I think? I saw them at a few shows spanning over a year and the progress with their DCC was minimal. They planned to turned their Blue and Green lines to DCC while keeping Red and Yellow for DC Power blocks for the old timers. Most modules didn't even have Green lines and it was the only DCC line at the time. Antelope Valley N Scalers Enjoyed this group but if I recall only saw them once? I believe their all DCC but I can't recall much of the conversation with the group. N-Land Pacific Different from the other groups as they are FreemoN instead of Ntrak, which I kind of like. I like the idea of single/double mainlines with more prototypical look and operations. However they seem too ridged and click ish which seems to be against the idea of FreemoN? I want to model a more realistic operation but I feel they might be restrictive, having to be a accurate model of the SoCal area. Or maybe I'm just interpreting their website and what I've seen wrong? I've had very little discussion with this group at shows because they always seem to be having power issues and they haven't been as friendly. The friendliness might be the same as the other groups but they don't have a fort to hide in like the Ntrakers so its more visible? Besides N-Land Pacific, the clubs seem to have a higher median age and seem desperate to recruit new members. Which you would think would translate into more communication with the public and encouragement to adept to the needs of a younger generation. I would at least like to be able to go to their websites and gather more information. They all seem to be lacking meeting dates, locations, events and other info. I mean if I didn't know the clubs from shows I'd be hard to press to know if they were DCC, Membership standards, dues etc. N=Land Pacific again does a much better job then the other three and I bet the younger club age has a connection to that. I want to learn and build modules but I really need to sit down and see it. I want to attend workshops to learn how to wire, lay track, switches etc. Plus I really want to see what DCC system I want to use. I'm very much leaning heavy on NCE but it will depend on the group I find (or make). It be great to be shown a DCC system to evaluate and be able to understand the systems. Lastly my concern is trackwork. I have been pouring over track options on the net. The idea of hand laying everything seems far more practical and more my style, but Ntrak would frown on that I think. Ntrak or FreemoN doesn't seem to fit with me 100% yet, but what can I adapt and what group will accept me will help shape that. I wish that the Ntrak clubs were a little more progressive and even included a oNeTrak sub group. Thanks for reading and sorry for the lengthy post. I really didn't think it was that long in my head considering I have more thoughts bundled up still. Hope to hear some feedback and info.
I am so sorry that your impression of the N-land Pacific seems different than what we have been working so hard to be careful about. Even though we attempt to depict the Socal look or association and some, but not all, of us prefer prototype motivation it is not entirely necessary. We just like to get the flavor and leave it at that. Protolancing is acceptable. We do use Digitrax and now have a killer set up for the system and it has proven reliable for a couple shows and is quite pleasurable to deal with. I am an NCE user at home but have found the Digitrax easy to learn and understand. In fact you might like what can be learned outside the menus in NCE. There are no dues in our group because it is simply an association of people without common bills to cover. All we ask is to participate. Set your modules up and connect to the group and go, although we do team up at shows to bring it all together. It's an experience you have to try. 70+ modules and four or five hours in we are running trains. Just imagine running a 25 car train that takes an actual hour to negotiate the entire railroad while dodging other traffic. If you like do some switching or take part in the Intermodal action and soon to come switch list action. Keep in mind that we are still self dispatched so free running can be done at will, but one must be mindful of others on the railroad. We just recently had our Novemebr meeting, but don't hesitate to show up to our December meeting on the the 6th at the IHOP in Upland(https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=IHOP in Upland). If you would like to experience the flavor of the group before hand just let me know.
John/jhn_plsn, Thanks for a quick reply and info. Like I mentioned in my posts it might have been the stress at a certain show or the oddball member, plus I'm sure it doesn't help when I have my kids in tow. Might give the impression I'm just a "tourist". My kids enjoy trains but I think only the oldest would appreciate anything behind the oval setup on the kitchen table once in awhile. I'm glad to hear about the modeling, I was just looking over your site again and it seems that there has been more info added about modules then before. I'm very interested in learning more about DCC, Modules and the group in general. Time is my biggest issue and my concern when joining a group. I really lack free time on the weekends. What other options are there to "experience the flavor'? Sounds like Wine Testing, lol.
Well Sodapop, Although I have been on injured reserve for the last 13 months I am about to go back to my 6 to whenever job. I generally have four modules set up in my garage here in Riverside and a few guys live nearby. If your interested I am sure we can work something out for a weeknight visit, although likely after 6 or 7. The best representation would be in the Upland location where a few guys have a couple shops rented out and many member store modules there. I would welcome a visit and could have wine for testing. Please don't hesitate to PM me.
The N scale clubs you should check out are : the Belmont Shore MRR club in San Pedro. Permanent walk around layout which fills an entire upper floor of an Army Barracks in Angel Gate Park. Tues nights and Sat noon. Always welcome. Im in HO now but was a member long ago. 110 frwy So. to end. Go left on Gaffey St. to 136th St. go Right, through gate. Then hard right again to 4th Bldng on right.They invented Ntrak modular MRRing. But this not a module layout. Another I also belonged to WAY back is the East Valley Lines in Travel Town in Griffith park. Sat or Sun (forget). It's off the 134 Frwy. near Victory Bl. exit. Search directions. Too tough here. It's in the large Bldg ln middle of everything.
I Second East Valley Lines. I was a member there from 1987 to around 1993 when I left LA. The best part about their location is right outside the door is "preserved" 1:1 scale plus LA Live Steamers right down the street. In the last year they have begun completely rebuilding their layout. https://www.facebook.com/EastValleyLinesRailroad
I can see how it may be interpreted that way, but in the end he gives you kudos for a more complete website.
