Cherry Valley O-scale

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Part of the passenger station throat on the new layout

Cherry Valley O Scale is a not-for-profit club dedicated to the promotion of 2-rail O-scale (1:48) model railroading,[1] located in Merchantville, New Jersey, United States, in the basement/undercroft of the Grace Episcopal Church.[2][3][4]

History[]

Control panel from the old layout.

The club was started in March 1962,[5][6][7] by members of the former , which had been located in the B&O passenger station on Chestnut St. in Philadelphia,[4][8] after the B&O station was demolished. (Some members of the PMRC also went on to start the several years later.)[9] When first started, the space was an 80' x 35' unfinished crawl space directly under the original 1890s chapel. Finishing the space took weeks, with the removal of 4' of dirt[6] before 20 cubic yards of concrete was used for the new floor.[10] The first layout in the space was started in July 1962,[11] with the framing and scenery built before the track was laid, and the first spike driven on August 30, 1962.[10] This layout was 27 by 55 feet in size,[12] and was of a double-track folded dogbone design, built with traditional square tabletop framing, plaster scenery, and relay control.[4] Eventually it grew to have over 4000 linear feet of track,[6] in both standard and 3-foot gauges, with some dual gauge mixed in.[12] It existed through to January 1999,[6] when it was torn down due to growing problems with accessibility and electrical characteristics.[4][6] Many of the original structures and switches have been saved, for eventual inclusion on the new layout. Most notable of these is a 1940s train station model which had previously been salvaged from the layout at the PMRC location on Chestnut Street.[4][13]

2012 was officially recognized as the club's 50th anniversary, by proclamation of the Merchantville Town Council, at their October public session.[4][14]

New layout[]

The new layout was started in 2001,[15] is of a double-track looped-8 design; but has been built around the walls, with several reversing loops, curved laminate benchwork, more than 2000 linear feet of track,[16] and a scale model of Philadelphia's 30th Street Station.[15] Scenery has been built with a mix of hydrocal and extruded styrofoam board, and Digital Command Control has been installed to allow running of multiple trains without the need for complex relay systems.[8][16] The layout also features working signals that display proper occupancy, as well as scale-sized lighting fixtures for night scenes. Additionally, a new On30 narrow gauge branchline is being constructed at one end of the layout, with plans to expand it as time and resources allow.[8] Rolling stock is owned by the individual members,[8][13] with the club jointly owning the layout and control system. This rolling stock represents all periods of history,[15] and is a mixture of brass, bronze, tin, white metal, plastic, resin, wood, paper, cardboard, and die-cast models; most of which has been extensively kitbashed/modified, features custom paint and water-slide decals; and has been weathered to better replicate real-world conditions.[8]

Catenary[]

PRR-style compound catenary being installed on new layout.

Although the original layout did have a short section of catenary, most of it was destroyed when the layout was torn down.[6] However, the new layout is being constructed with a full PRR-Style compound catenary system over the entire layout. This catenary system is being integrated into the power distribution,[15] so that the electric locomotives and MU cars will receive power via their operating pantographs.[17]

Board of directors[]

The club is governed by president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. All officers serve, on a voluntary basis, as the organization's Board of Directors.

Meetings[]

Meetings are held each Tuesday evening. Business meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of the month.

Open House events[]

Every year, the club traditionally has several "Open House" weekends near the end of the year, in conjunction with the Merchantville annual Christmas parade and Tree Lighting ceremony.[4][18] The first such Open House weekends were held Friday and Saturday, November 9–10 and 16-17, 1962. Admission is free (donations requested).[1][2][17]

O-scale Swap Meet events[]

The Club hosts two O-scale-only "Swap Meets" a year, usually on a single first Saturday in both March and October.[19] Admission to the Dealer's Hall is set at $5, and includes a tour of the layout. No meet has been scheduled for 2017.

Membership[]

Club membership is open to everyone over the age of 18. Annual dues is $150.00 and new members have a six-month probation period.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Choo Choo", All Around Pennsauken, December 2012
  2. ^ a b "Holiday Open House: Cherry Valley Train Club", Camden NJ Courier-Post, December 30, 2012
  3. ^ "Merchantville Online: Model Railroad Club Open House". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Model Railroad Open House", Merchantville Observer, November 12, 2012
  5. ^ Arthur M McGuire, "Model Railroad Runs Like Real", Camden NJ Courier-Post, November 12, 1964
  6. ^ a b c d e f Jennifer Farrell, "A Different Track \ Model Train Club Aboard New Line", Philadelphia Inquirer, January 11, 1999
  7. ^ Scott Anderson, "Model Railroad Open House", Camden NJ Courier-Post, December 6, 2010
  8. ^ a b c d e Sam Steinruck, "Model Train Layout A Little Bit of Christmas", The Retrospective, December 5, 2008
  9. ^ The East Penn Traction Club: The Origin of Modular Trolley Layout
  10. ^ a b "Cherry Valley RR: Ready to Roll", The Haddon Gazette, November 8, 1962
  11. ^ "Modern Gullivers", The Haddon Gazette, November 7, 1963
  12. ^ a b "15 Model Railroaders Plan Exhibit at Church Festival", Camden NJ Courier-Post, November 10, 1967
  13. ^ a b "Model Railroad Invites Inspection", The Haddon Gazette, November 2, 1967
  14. ^ Merchantville Town Council Agenda for October 15, 2012
  15. ^ a b c d Bethany Mitros, "World's A Stage: Cherry Valley Trains Are Actors", The Retrospective, January 4, 2013
  16. ^ a b Joe Cooney, "Train Club's Open House Features All the Bells and Whistles", Camden NJ Courier-Post, January 8, 2012
  17. ^ a b "Hobbyists On The Right Track", Camden NJ Courier-Post, January 7, 2013
  18. ^ "Calling All Model Train Enthusiasts", Beverly Bee, December 2009
  19. ^ "Here She Comes", The Haddon Gazette, November 3, 1966
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