May 18 - 20, 2001

NVNTRAK Attends the Mid-Atlantic Narrow Gauge Guild Meet!
     by Jim LaBaugh

Noll Horan, Marc Sisk, Bill Redfearn, Steve Zutter, and Jim LaBaugh ventured out to attend the 18th Annual Mid-Atlantic Narrow Gauge Guild Meet in Kimberton, PA on May 18 to 20. The convention included a Gn3 modular layout featuring Climaxes, Heislers, and Shays, along with Geese and Mudhens ­ some of the Gn3 motive power was brass radio controlled live steam engines! Also on hand were an East Broad Top On3 modular layout, an Sn3 point-to-point set of modules, a logging On3 switching layout, and an On3 backwoods engine service facility diorama. The contingent of the Nn3 Division of NVNTRAK brought 4 modules to the event as a tune-up for participation in the NTRAK event at the NMRA convention in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. in July. Approximately 100 narrow-minded folks from all over the U.S. East Coast were in attendance, including the editor and photographer from Light Iron Digest, who interviewed some of the NVNTRAKers for an article. As a result of seeing Nn3 in action, one of the Light Iron Digest representatives plans to convert scales in narrow gauge! Later in the show an Aspenmodel RGS Goose No. 3 and Marc Sisk’s Shay were used by the Gn3ers and Nn3ers to demonstrate how to model 1 inch scale in G Scale, as each was posed on Nn3 track next to its G-scale big brother on the Gn3 modular layout! Triple-headed Nn3 K-27’s snaking 30 plus cars along the double S-curves on Steve Zutter’s Mann Creek modules was a real crowd-pleaser. At times, many people in the meet congregated around the Nn3 modules to view the great blend of scenery and scale found in Nn3. East Broad Top fans in the larger scales also were very interested Noll Horan’s Broad Top Transfer module with his EBT Mike pulling Republic Locomotive Works kitbashed coal hoppers on the HigliNn3 Route. We will post some pictures of the event on the Nn3 site in the near future. 

Trackwork on the two modules built for St. Louis was tested this weekend. The two modules loosely approximate the Whiplash curves on the Cumbres and Toltec. A single K-27 could pull 10 cars up the 4% grade between the level curves without difficulty. On one occasion, a faulty coupler enabled 8 cars to breakaway. Seeing that consist roll down the track on the 4% grade really showed why the braking system on the prototype was essential! Next phase is to add scenery and paint the module frames. Movement of trains around the oNeTRAK Nn3 modules of Mike Chenowith and Cameron Turner onto the nearly 100’ scale-foot ascent of the Whiplash curves to the HighliNn3 Route on the NTRAK modules should draw at least a few railfans at St. Louis.

Here are a few pictures taken by Jim LaBaugh at the meet - click on them for full-sized pictures!