Welcome to the LMRA Railroad Activity
Home of the Gulf & Denver Railroad Authority HO-Scale Model Railroad
The Railroad Activity is an organization of railroad enthusiasts consisting of many special interest groups. It was formed to provide railroad oriented recreational and hobby activities for all eligible members.
These activities include, but are not limited to; model railroad construction and operation, including all scales and gauges, prototype railroading, railfan trips, railroad historical events, railroad memorabilia collecting, and railroad photography, just to name a few.
The Railroad Activity meets formally at 7:00 PM on the third Monday night of each month (except October and December) in an assigned meeting room in the main Clubhouse at the LMRA center.
Monthly Meeting
3rd Monday of Month @ 7:00 PM
Main Clubhouse – Meeting Rooms
Thursday Night Work Sessions
Each Thursday Approx: 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Saturday Morning Work Sessions
2nd Saturday 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
5th Saturday (Optional) 8:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Old Geezers Daytime Group
2nd & 4th Tuesday 9:00 AM
4th Tuesday - Operations Session
Operating Sessions
2nd Thursday Night of the Month
Approx: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Train Assignments at 6:45 PM
4th Saturday Morning of the Month
Approx: 8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
Train Assignments at 8:45 AM
Membership Fee Schedule
Lockheed Martin Employee $60.00/year
Guest Membership (Limited) $100.00/year
2009 Monthly Newsletter
January --- Download Jan09
February -- Download Feb09
March ----- Download Mar09
April ------- Download Apr09
May ------- Download May09
June ------- Download Jun09
July ------- Download Jul09
August------Download Aug09
September--Download Sep09
October-----Download Oct09
November---Download Nov09
December---Download Dec09
2010 Monthly Newsletter
January --- Download Jan10
February -- Download Feb10
Railroad Activity Website Created, Maintained and Photos by
Dale Schmidtbleicher - Activity President
Permanent Layout
The Gulf & Denver Railroad Authority Railroad
In April of 1989 the Railroad Activity began construction on an approximate 1200 square foot HO-scale model railroad layout. The layout was named after the old recreation association but the letters GDRA now stand for the Gulf & Denver Railroad Authority, the parent company for the Gulf & Denver Railroad, St. Charles & Western Railroad, Port Allen Terminal Railroad, and the Lone Pine & Eagle Pass Railway. Over 33 scale miles of track and 220 switch tracks have been laid. The layout is up and operating on the "EasyDCC" command and control electrical system, which is a cordless throttle, "walk-around" electronic control system, which also requires an electronic DCC receiver in each locomotive. The layout is a "L-shaped" linear track design so you can follow-your-train along the various routes. The layout is 90% complete in scenery. There are several towns on the layout with many structures, three main railroad yards and four additional staging yards,and many bridges. A central dispatcher located in a separate control booth controls the train schedules and mainline operations on the layout via radio headset communications with the yardmasters and road engineers. A computer software program called “Rail Operation” which was created and maintained by friend of the activity generates railroad car and train movement waybills and switching lists. At least two Formal Operating Sessions are scheduled each month with the availability of Special Operating Sessions, and Informal Operating Sessions at other times during each month.
Layout Diagrams: City Layout
Overall Layout
The layout was featured in Model Railroad Craftsmen Magazine September 2000 when it was in its early stage of scenery construction. The photos for the article were taken two years prior to publication.
Check us out on YouTube: (Be sure to click on the HQ version).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf-pgzmW8Bg&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JK50gNr2vo&NR=1
Download the GDRA Layout photo presentation for yourself (19.5 MB):
http://www.4shared.com/file/113071135/6ec5d85e/GDRA_Railroad_Layout.html
Annual October Train Show
The Railroad Activity sponsors an annual train show for LMRA members, as well as the general public, the second weekend each October. The 2009 show will be the activities 27th show. Over 200 dealer tables selling a multitude of railroad and model railroad items of all scales, T-shirts, photos, videos, caps, memorabilia, posters, etc. are available for sale from the various dealers. Several model railroad modular layouts as well as the Club's large layout is on display. There is a total sell-out of dealers tables each year since the initial year.
28th Annual Train Show
October 9-10, 2010
Train Show Flyer w/Coupon Download: Flyer
Download $1.00 Off Coupon Only: Coupon
2010 Train Show Dealer Contract Data
Download - Contract
Download Contract Information - Information
Overview Photos of the
Gulf & Denver Railroad Authority Layout
Downtown St. Charles
St. Charles Yard - West Fork - Jackson Springs
El Dialbo Canyon
Post Oak Gap
Midway - Gila Basin - Silver Ridge - Tangleweed - Lone Pine
Cimarron West Industrial
Cimarron Refinery
Cimarron Engine House
Upper St. Charles
Cimarron - Redwing Mill
El Dabilo Canyon
German Creek Viaduct
West Fork Bridge
Line to Tangleweed
Rio Grande Gp-35s Over Middle Trestle
Dead River Cutoff
Railroad Activity Contacts:
Cecil Lasiter Dale Schmidtbleicher Robert Bray
Commissioner President Vice-President
(817) 737-2489 (817) 292-4619 (817) 249-4965
lasiterc@sbcglobal.net dalcon@flash.net brayrlja@sbcglobal.net
Rio Grande #345 Crossing the Center Trestle at Three Bridges
Operation
The Railroad Activity uses a computer program called RailOp to generate train engineer and yard master switching orders. A dispatcher controls all mainline switches and thus the traffic on the layout. Radios are used for verbal communication and the Club is in the process of putting full signaling on the layout. Our control system is through EasyDCC digital command and control system for operation of locomotives using cordless and tethered handheld throttles for walk-around or stationary control.
Photos by Cecil Lasiter
