Cecil Lasiter Dale Schmidtbleicher Robert Bray
The Railroad Activity is an organization of railroad enthusiasts consisting of many special interest groups or individuals. It was formed to provide railroad oriented recreational and hobby activity for all eligible club members.
These activities include, but are not limited to, model railroad construction and operation, including all scales and gauges, prototype railroading, rail-fan trips, railroad historical events, and railroad photography, just to name a few.
The Railroad Activity meets formally at 7:00 PM the third Monday night of each month in one of the rooms in the main clubhouse at the Lockheed Martin Recreation Area (LMRA). Meetings vary, but have included:
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.
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.
More Photos by Dale of the Permanent Layout
The Railroad Activity sponsors an annual train show for LMRA members, as well as the general public, the second weekend each October. Over 110 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.
Each month the Railroad Activity publishes a newsletter to the membership providing the latest news on Club activities and also railroad events in the local area. The eight-page newsletter also features special columns on railroad history and folklore. Sample Railroad Activity Newsletter 2.75MB (Right Click - Save As)
A HO-scale special interest group (SIG) of members have constructed their own 4, 6, or 8 foot model railroad modules. The modules are joined along with the Club owned corner sections to form a large rectangular railroad layout that is set up for display and operation at various train shows in the local area during the year.
The Railroad Activity is a charter member of the NTCRC, an organization of some 28 model railroad clubs, societies, and organizations that together promote model railroad in the Fort Worth-Dallas Metroplex area. The Council sponsors two model railroad shows a year, on in Forth Worth in November and the other in Dallas (Plano) in January.
All Locomotives require a DCC Receiver
The Railroad Activity subscribes to several model railroad and protoype magazines. The Activity also maintains a ten year data base library on a few of the magizines that can be used as reference. The Activity's computer system in addition to providing operation on the layout also contains a software cross referenced data base on past magazine articles for several name brand magazines.
In addition to the magazine library, the Activity also has an extensive library of railroad video tapes. There are historical tapes, prototype railroading tapes, model railroading "how to" tapes, many of Allen Keller's Great Model Railroad Layouts series, and even some movies that relete to past railroading.
The Sounds of Railroading
- Listen to the Crossing Signal.
- Now Listen to the Approaching Train.
- Listen to the Steam Logging Shay Locomotive.
- Listen to the Diesel Locomotive Horn.
- What ever you do - DON'T PUSH THIS BUTTON, or THIS ONE EITHER -
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