And then there was a helix

As has been posted already, our helix has started to take shape. It wasn't an easy process, but progress has been steady, with one loop completed. Our helix was designed to use trapezoidal pieces to form an overall circle, for the most part it has worked well. We did however hit a major snag when the pieces stopped lining up when they should have, thankfully it turned out one of the segments was an inch longer than it should have been and it was promptly fixed and work continued slowly. the next challenge to overcome is a change in design in the trapezoids and making sure we can line them up properly with the already built helix structure, once we get past the first segment on the new pieces, the rest should all drop into place and the helix will be completed!

In other news, we got our first delivery of track, switches and cork, along with the club picking up some new track nails, wire and solder. We're good to being laying track! (as you see we've already started too)

Time for some pictures after the break:

Helix construction begins

Construction of the double-track helix was started at our Saturday Work Session. The helix structure is what will carry our main line from the staging level up to the visible portion of the model railroad.

RITMRC visits R&GVRRM and NYMT

Last Sunday, members from the RIT Model Railroad Club visited the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum and the New York Museum of Transportation. These two museums are connected by their own private two-mile demonstration railroad constructed by volunteers more than 20 years ago. Starting at the NYMT, the club boarded a 1925 vintage interurban trolley that originally served the suburbs of Philadelphia before it was retired in the 1990s. At the halfway point, appropriately named "Midway," we boarded the diesel-powered train that took us the rest of the way to Industry Depot, home of the R&GVRRM. Many RITMRC alumni volunteer here, including Joe Nugent (past RITMRC president and current R&GVRRM vice president), club advisor Dave Scheiderich (current R&GVRRM trustee member), volunteer Mike Walsh (past RITMRC club officer), and Otto Vondrak (R&GVRRM trustee member). Joe Nugent showed us around "behind the scenes" including the restoration shop where old trains go in to become new again. We look forward to visiting again, and possibly volunteering in the future. The museums are open for train rides on Sundays through November 4.

Construction continues on new layout

Construction of our new model railroad continues, with many of our members (and alumni) helping along the way. You can usually find us down in our club room (Room A-420 in the Student Union) on Tuesday nights, stop by and see what we're up to!

Syracuse Train Fair: The RITMRC will be traveling to the Syracuse Train Fair, which takes place November 3 and 4 at the New York State Fairgrounds. It is one of the largest train shows in the region, and there's always something new to see (and buy). Are you an RIT student who wants to join us? Call us at 475-2227 and you can tag along!