Rio Grande

RIO GRANDE - DIVISION 6

Rio Grande Division 6 hosted a very successful Rails Along the Rio Grande 2014 TRAIN SHOW the third weekend of November.

Vendors from five states participated, and over 2300 people attended the two-day show at the National Guard Armory in Albuquerque.  Rocky Mountain Region Vice President Al Hovey was Chairman for the event.

The show featured eight layouts, including N-scale, HO, HOn3, Lionel, and Legos Trains.

The Rio Grande Model Railroad Club, comprised of boys and girls 8-18, and their parent/guardian, sponsored by Division 6, displayed their 4' X 8' layout, with two 2' X 8' extensions. 

The Club was started just a little over a year ago, and meets once a month to work on the layout, do scenery, build car kits, and learn how to operate trains on the railroad.  Many Division 6 members help with Club activities.

Several hundred children and even a few adults participated in the "Seek and Search" questionnaire to find things on the various layouts and displays throughout the Show, which included Disneyland (N-scale), and LEGOS trains.  Over 400 prizes were given to the children who turned in their answers.  This was very popular.

The new year kicked off with a program at the January meeting presented by Chris Stone on 'How to Build LEGO trains'.  He had about a dozen engines, entirely built from scratch with nothing but LEGO pieces, and he showed pictures of layouts built with LEGO blocks, and track. These models operate, and have amazing detail - maybe a way to get today's kids interested in trains, like Lionel and American Flyer did back in the 1940's and 1950's.  

Division 6 meets on the second Saturday of the odd-numbered month, usually at the North Domingo Baca Multicultural Center in Albuquerque. For information call:   (505) 821-1931.

Buzz Lenander

Superintendent, Division 6