CGRS - August 2000 Newsletter

	The Columbus Garden Railway Society August 2000 Online Newsletter Table Of Contents
	Next meeting in Upper Arlington	Richard Abler
	The Plant Manager	Barbara Abler
	Progress Noted on the Uhlig's Tupuku & Southwestern Railroad	Richard Abler
	Fill’er up and check the oil?	Jim Shell
	Dayton Open Houses	Frank Klatt
	For Non-Internet Users Only	Richard Abler
	San Diego Garden Railway Convention comments - Part 1	Richard Abler
	CGRS helps to raise funds for public television	Richard Abler
	Speaker Biography	Richard Abler
	About CGRS and this Newsletter	Richard Abler
	Deadline for Next Issue	Richard Abler

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Next meeting in Upper Arlington	Richard Abler
Sunday, August 27th, will be a busy day of garden railroading. There will be open houses before and after our regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The monthly meeting begins at 2pm and is at Andy & Eleanor Geiger's in Upper Arlington. Andy has a large L-shaped layout and runs diesels using track power. He selected the plants and did all of the planting of the railroad garden himself. He said he'd be running a 10-car work train for the meeting. Our program will be both interesting and important. Horticulturalist Rob McCartney will be joining us with an enlightening presentation entitled "Harness an Incredible Force in Nature: COMPOST!". A brief summary is given here: "We are just beginning to realize the potential of composting and how beneficial it is to our gardens, lawns, crops, landscapes and municipal communities. What once was considered a "waste" is truly a valuable resource. Learn how the act of composting actually purges and rids our environment of many of our problems (pesticides, weed seeds, insects, disease, etc). Having a successful pile is not difficult as long as the basics are understood. From small-scale backyard bins to very large municipal windrow operations, we'll discuss the benefits of both." [See Biography] The first open house on this day is at Shirley Green's. Her railroad in Upper Arlington will be open from 12 noon to about 1:45pm. See Railroad #16 for a description and directions. Our second open house is at Dan & Katy Hill's in Grandview Heights. Hill's will be open after the meeting at Geiger's from 4:30 to 6pm. See Railroad #17 for a description and directions. Bring along your own lawn chair. (Location Details)

The Plant Manager	Barbara Abler
End of Season Sales Those of you who have been reading this column for a couple of years will be familiar with what follows. The end of August to the beginning of September is the time nurseries put their older stock on sale to make room for the newer stuff they are getting in for Fall or to reduce the amount of stock they will have to overwinter. Shop around. You can get some real bargains. Be sure to pick out plants that do not appear to be overly stressed by heat or lack of water or to be too pot bound. September is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. The days are cooler and the plants can put more of their energy into establishing a good root system. I'll have a few plants for sale at the meeting at Geiger's. I have one balsam left for that lucky person who wants to try her/his hand at creating a scene with a palm tree and then taking a slide of it to be used in a future column for Garden Railways Magazine.

Progress noted on Uhlig's Garden Railroad at Last Month's Meeting	Richard Abler
It was a nice day for running trains at Uhlig's last month. Lots of folks showed up to see how Tom was coming along with the railroad construction. He's certainly done a lot of work since we were there last. Tom talked about the next construction phase: trestles. Lots of trestles. Based on the plan he outlined, he's going to be a busy guy constructing trestle bents. The other project on which he brought us up to date is structures. Tom said he had about 30 building kits awaiting assembly. He pulled one at random to get started - the funeral home. We did discuss some business items: 1. We finalized the list of volunteers for staffing phones for the WOSU-TV fund raiser. Fourteen volunteers signed up for this fun activity. We also handed out CGRS rosters to those in attendance. Our thanks to Bill & Diane Lott for staffing the "registration table" up front and helping out with these housekeeping tasks. 2. Bill Kelly brought us up to date on activities of the LGB Model Railroad Club. Bill also had a box of back issues of Big Train Operator and LGB Telegram that he offered to interested persons. 3. I brought up our annual gig at Inniswood Metro Gardens for their Affair-of-the-Hort. We run trains on the layout there and staff our own information booth. This year the event runs on September 22nd through the 24th. Time slots available are as follows. Friday eve 5-8pm; Saturday 10-12N, 12-3, 3-6, 6-8, Sunday 11-1PM, 1-3, 3-5. Just give Jim Kimmel a call at 614-890-8173 and choose your time slots. Call now while you're thinking about it, or signup online NOW. 4. As of this writing (August 8th) there was still space available on the Agawa Canyon bus tour being put together by the Miami Valley GRS in October. [We have room for 5-10 - Webmaster] See "Special Invitation" on the CGRS web site home page or contact Richard Abler (614-885-0351 or abler@infinet.com) for details. 5. The CGRS bus trip to Cass, West Virginia to ride behind the geared locomotives is now planned for next fall. Cecil Easterday is coordinating this venture for CGRS. 6. I outlined a new plan to get some help for garden tour hosts for this year's open house. (Details) After the business meeting it was time to draw some winning numbers for door prizes of plants donated by Barbara Abler. I jokingly said that the first door prize would be the K-28 Locomotive owned by Fred Bischoff. But Fred thought otherwise. So anyway, the first number was drawn from the hat and who has the number - that's right, Fred Bischoff!. Fred won back his K-28 fair and square. Next it was time to get back to running trains and enjoy the snacks provided by Tom & Patty. We all had a good time. Thanks to Tom & Patty for being great hosts!

Dayton Open Houses	Frank Klatt
Several garden railroads in the Dayton area will be open to visitors on Saturday, September 30th in the afternoon. Frank Klatt says he will be open that evening from 4 to 8pm. [He will have 30-50 of his houses lit for the occasion. Wm.] More information will appear in the September Newsletter. We will have owner names, addresses, and driving directions available. Mark your calendars now.

Fill’er up and check the oil?	Jim Shell
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard that phrase. I remember seeing 2 and sometimes 3 gas station attendants work on by Dad’s car. One would fill the gas tank and the other(s) would check the oil, clean the windows, wipe the headlights clean, and check the tire pressure. We’ve seen most gas stations go from full service to self serve. We have replace the cheerful station attendant. We have come full circle, back to filling our own gasoline tank, only it is not as messy. How did the gasoline station get its start when the automobile was regarded as a novelty for those who had money to waste. It would die out like other fads; it would never replace old dobbin. In those early days taking a trip meant careful planning. The gasoline pump had not been invented yet. No one had thought of a service station for something that was a fad. The early refueling outposts were known as bulk depots. These depots were usually located outside highly populated areas for safety. There gasoline was sold in cans, then poured into the automobiles gas tank. Because of the limited number of bulk depots many an automobile enthusiast found himself being towed by a grinning farmer and his horse to a nearby fuel depot. These bulk depots usually stored their gasoline in large cylindrical steel drums. The unfiltered gasoline would flow through a spout into a measuring can holding five or less gallons. The gas was then poured with care through a large metal funnel into the gasoline tank. This funnel was frequently covered with a chamois cloth to filter the gasoline, a slow and messy process. It would take two or three people to gas an automobile. In 1905 Harry Grenner and Clem Laessig of St. Louis started the Automobile Gasoline Company, dealing in bulk sales. They realized their income would increase if they could sell gasoline to motorists in a quick efficient way. Using a gravity fed tank they attached a gauge, inline filtration and a common garden hose. Now one person could fill an automobile gasoline tank with more accuracy and less spillage. Grenner and Laessig knew they had something big and opened a chain of forty outlets throughout St. Louis. Soon other companies were opening outlets similar to the American Gasoline Company. One of the companies was the Standard Oil of California (Socal), opened in 1907. John McLean, an area sales manager for Socal in the new Seattle Territory, was inspired one day as he thought about all the horseless carriages in Seattle. He felt that with the right marketing approach he could influence patronage to a refueling station. He secured a small site on Holgate Street just off the Alaskan Way. There he mounted a 30 gallon upright cylindrical tank on a wooden post. A valve controlled the flow of gasoline through a flexible hose to the automobiles tank. Next to the storage tank was a No Smoking sign and a shelf display of Standard’s Zerolene and Polarine brands of grease and oil products. McLean called his brain child a "filling station". The concept of a drive-in gasoline station was confirmed. Before long McLean went from 15 to 200 vehicles per day. They lined up on Holgate Street to take advantage of this new way of dispensing gasoline. The filling station was now ready to take its place on any street corner in the new age of motoring in America. As Paul Harvey would say, "now you know the rest of the story".

For Non-Internet Users Only	Richard Abler
In going through the current CGRS roster - a copy of which was mailed to all members a couple of weeks ago - I note that about half the membership has an email address, and I would presume that almost all of these members have full access to the Internet. But that is a presumption on my part. If you have full access to the Internet you can stop reading this story right here and go on to the next one. I want to address here those CGRS members who do not yet have full Internet access or email. If you don't its OK, because there will always these printed materials - such as you are holding in your hands right now - available to you as long as I have anything to say about it. There are many reasons why members don't have Internet access or email capability. Perhaps its just one of those things you have never gotten around to doing. Perhaps you think you can't type and don't see any reason to learn. I understand. You might be surprised to learn that you don't have to have a computer to get on the Internet and have access to email or even know how to type very well at all. There are a couple of very easy options available to you. Just head to your local library, go to the information desk, and tell them you'd like to take a look at the web page of your railroad club. They'll be delighted to assist you in getting onto the Internet. They work with people like you all the time. You'll be on the Internet in less than two minutes and it won't cost you a dime! When you go to the library take this Internet address with you: www.cgrs.org That's all you'll need. I think you'll be so impressed with what you see - thanks to webmaster, Peter Wine -that you might look seriously at a second option - WebTV. WebTV is simply a black box with two cables - one connects to your TV, the other to your telephone. There's a cost of about $200 for the box (keyboard included) and about $20 a month for Internet and email service. No computer needed. I have two brothers-in-law, long past retirement age, who went this route. I never thought they'd do it. In fact, based on a statement I made to spouse Barbara about this a couple of years ago, Hell has frozen over. Like I said, I'm still planning to produce a printed newsletter and other printed materials for CGRS members. But I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the convenience offered by the CGRS materials on the Internet. (click here to explain why you read this far)

San Diego Garden Railway Convention comments - Part 1	Richard Abler
[I had hoped to get this article in last month's newsletter, but couldn't make my own deadline. We're a bit short on space in this issue because of the garden tour information, so the article will be concluded in next month's issue.] I've divided my comments into several categories for clarity. Dealer Hall There was a good sized dealer hall with a presence by the major manufacturers such as Aristo-Craft, Hartland, LGB, and USA Trains. The Aristo and LGB booths were staffed by the company principals; the other two were not, at least they weren't when I was in the hall. While there were a number of smaller manufacturers of accessories and add-ons, there were many who opted to not exhibit at this convention. I've commented on that before. I'd love to see, for example, the folks from Ozark Miniatures, Llagas Creek, Hillside Products, KaDee couplers, Precision Products, and any of the west coast nurseries which specialize in miniature plants, show up for the national convention. I remember our first garden railway convention. It was in San Diego 10 years ago. We were impressed that Miniature Plant Kingdom was there with a large display of smaller plants suitable for the garden railroad. But not this year. I have speculated that its just too expensive for smaller companies to do a show like this. Wouldn't it be great if there could be a venue that's inexpensive and easy to get to so that the "whole big trains family of companies" could be in one place at one time. A couple of interesting things in the dealer hall: 1) I noticed that the LGB Model Railroad Club had an information booth. They seem to be reaching out to the general garden railroading group. 2) I noticed a long streamlined passenger car and a two-door baggage car in the Aristo-Craft booth - both of which appear to be prototypes for new models. Very nice! The hall was dominated by the Del Oro Pacific modular G-gauge layout, which, if nothing else, is large - very large. The layout has lots of interesting and innovative vignettes. There's a lot of good modeling here but not one live plant in the layout. No question there has been a lot of work go into this layout. Personally, I don't see any connection with garden railroading, other than we use the same trains. Its an anomaly to me why there should be this gigantic indoor modular railroad in a state that has the ideal climate for garden railroading outdoors all year long. There were far more trains on the layout than could be run at any time, wreaking of conspicuous overconsumption. LGB of America Showroom The LGBoA folks opened their San Diego headquarters and showrooms to convention attendees. I always enjoy visiting there. Like a kid in a candy store. Lots of trains running on the showroom layouts and trains piled high to the ceiling in the warehouse area. I appreciated the complimentary coffee, donuts, and cookies and also the "goodie bag" filled with souvenirs and a great book on the history of Lehmann toys. LGB went out of their way to accommodate us visitors. Garden Railroad Layouts / Tours To me, the convention is visiting the garden railroads. We put 469 miles on the rental car, most of that in four days; practically all of that was in driving out to the railroads. San Diego County is a very large county, and we didn't see anywhere near all of it. As for the garden railroads they're among the best on the planet... (OK, I'll pick it up from here in next month's issue.)

Phone Staffers needed at WOSU-TV	Richard Abler
On Wednesday evening, August 9th, CGRS staffers took telephone pledges of $3,000 in support of WOSU-TV. It was a fun time both on and off the set. The special program being shown was tenor Andrea Bocelli in a rebroadcast of the recent "Statue of Liberty Concert." By helping out WOSU-TV we also helped out CGRS by getting our large banner in front of thousands of TV viewers. Good publicity just before our annual open garden tour. When off the set we ate, drank, and made merry. Our complimentary dinner was Chicken Alfredo with a mushroom sauce, plus salad, rolls, and beverage. CGRS staffers were: Bob & Cora Collins, Bob & Harriet Dana, Bob & Marjorie Dellinger, Terry Griner, Anne Leermakers, Tom Muchmore, Alex & Maureen Pack, Tom Severt, and Richard Abler. Color photos of staffers on the actual set are in the events gallery.

Speaker Biography	Richard Abler
Robert Brian McCartney Consulting in Landscape Management and Horticulture Biographical & Professional Experience Currently director of Market Development, Customer Service and Sales for Kurtz Bros., Inc. an environmental company in Columbus, Ohio. Recipient of the Award of Professional Excellence by the Associated Green Industries for service and dedication in the field of landscape management. Presents regularly at national and regional conferences including television and radio appearances. Published in academic and trade journals. Past Director of Horticultural, SeaWorld Ohio for 10 years (1989-1999), one of the finest theme parks in the Midwest. Responsibilities included directing and developing over 200 acres of display gardens, greenhouses, streams, ponds, lawns, pathways, woodlands and wetlands. Awarded the Grand Award for Best Landscaped Theme Park In America by Professional Grounds Management Society, 1995. Named to the Top 20 Grounds Management Facilities in the USA by Landscape Management magazine, 1996. List included all golf courses, athletic fields and stadiums, university campuses theme parks, etc. Tours United States as a horticultural consultant, diagnostician, technical trainer and speaker.

About CGRS and this Newsletter	Richard Abler
This newsletter is intended as a medium in which to air the news and views of CGRS Members in good standing. CGRS is an informal group which meets monthly or thereabouts to share a common interest in garden railroading and to socialize. Membership is open to all interested persons. Most CGRS Member Families are from the Greater Columbus area. Newsletter-related business, such as articles and classified ads, as well as changes to the membership list, should be directed to the editor: Richard J. Abler / Puddlefort Press 990 Blind Brook Drive Worthington OH 43235-1281 Phone 614-885-0351 Fax: Same, call first. E-mail: abler@infinet.com Membership dues and financial matters: Glenn Babka E-mail: babkag@aol.com Meetings, programs, and CGRS principal business contact: Bill Logan E-mail: WRLogan@msn.com Library/Archives/Books/Videos Cecil Easterday Webmaster: Peter Wine 1512 Walters Street Dayton OH 45404-1803 937-228-1491 Contributors to this Issue: Barbara Abler Frank Klatt Jim Shell

Deadline for Next Issue	Richard Abler
The deadline for the next issue of the newsletter is Friday, September 8th. Then, on or about Thursday, August 14th, we will meet at the Abler's to get the newsletter ready for mailing: folding, stapling, labeling, and stamping. The meeting starts at 8pm. All persons are invited (and encouraged) to attend these work sessions. In addition to newsletter preparations, CGRS business issues are discussed and decisions are made. Call ahead (614-885-0351) so we know how much snackies to have on hand.