Cherry Valley O-scale
Encyclopedia
Cherry Valley O Scale is a not-for-profit club dedicated to the promotion of 2-rail O-scale
(1:48
) model railroading
, located in Merchantville
, New Jersey
, United States, in the basement/undercroft
of the Grace Episcopal Church.
The first layout
in the space was started in July 1962, with the framing and scenery built before the track was laid, and the first spike driven on August 30, 1962. This layout was 27 by 55 feet in size, and was of a double-track folded dogbone design, built with traditional square tabletop framing, plaster scenery, and relay control. Eventually it grew to have over 4000 linear feet of track, in both standard
and 3-foot
gauges, with some dual gauge
mixed in. It existed through to January 1999, when it was torn down due to growing problems with accessibility and electrical characteristics. Many of the original structures
and switches
have been saved, for eventual inclusion on the new layout. Most notable of these is a 1940's train station model which had previously been salvaged from the layout at the B&O club location on Chestnut Street.
The club is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
was started in 2001, is of a double-track looped-8 design; but has been built around the walls, with several reversing loops
, and curved laminate benchwork to match the curves in the tracks. Scenery has been built with a mix of hydrocal and extruded styrofoam board, and North Coast Engineering (NCE) Digital Command Control
has been installed to allow running of multiple trains without the need for complex relay systems. The layout also features working signals that display proper occupancy, as well as scale-sized lighting fixtures for night scenes. Additionally, a new On30 narrow gauge branchline is being constructed at one end of the layout, with plans to expand it as time and resources allow. Rolling stock
is owned by the individual members, with the club jointly owning the layout
and control system. This rolling stock is a mixture of brass
, bronze, tin, white metal
, plastic
, resin
, wood, paper
, cardboard, and die-cast models; most of which has been extensively kitbashed
/modified, features custom paint and water-slide decals
; and has been weathered to better replicate real-world conditions.
s and MU cars
will receive power via their operating pantographs
.
annual Christmas parade and Tree Lighting ceremony. The first such Open House weekends were held Friday and Saturday, November 9–10 and 16-17, 1962. Dates for the 48th (2010) Open House weekends were as follows: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 3–4-5, 10-11-12; and Saturday-Sunday January 8–9, 15-16, 22-23 (2011). Hours are: Fridays 6pm-9pm, Saturdays noon-6p, and Sundays noon-4 pm. Attendance is free (donations requested).
" a year, usually on a single first Saturday in both March and September. The most recent such "Swap Meet" was held on Saturday, September 11, 2010. Admission to the Dealer's Hall is set at $5, and includes a tour of the layout. The date for the 2011 spring meet is set for March 5.
O scale
O scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s...
(1:48
1:48 scale
1:48 scale is popular among modelers both as diecast models, plastic models made from kits, and construction toys. It is especially popular with manufacturers of model airplanes and model trains...
) model railroading
Rail transport modelling
Railway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale...
, located in Merchantville
Merchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,821....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States, in the basement/undercroft
Undercroft
An undercroft is traditionally a cellar or storage room, often brick-lined and vaulted, and used for storage in buildings since medieval times. In modern usage, an undercroft is generally a ground area which is relatively open to the sides, but covered by the building above.- History :While some...
of the Grace Episcopal Church.
History
The club was started in March 1962, to replace a similar club formerly located in the B&O passenger station on Chestnut St. in Philadelphia, and has occupied the same space since inception. When first started, the space was an 80' x 35' unfinished crawl space directly under the original 1890's chapel. Finishing the space took weeks, with the removal of 4' of dirt before 20 cubic yards of concrete was used for the new floor.The first layout
Model railroad layout
In model railroading, a layout is a diorama containing scale track for operating trains. The size of a layout varies, from small shelf-top designs to ones that fill entire rooms, basements, or whole buildings....
in the space was started in July 1962, with the framing and scenery built before the track was laid, and the first spike driven on August 30, 1962. This layout was 27 by 55 feet in size, and was of a double-track folded dogbone design, built with traditional square tabletop framing, plaster scenery, and relay control. Eventually it grew to have over 4000 linear feet of track, in both standard
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
and 3-foot
Narrow gauge railroads in the United States
Standard gauge was favored for railway construction in the United States, although a fairly large narrow gauge system developed in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Isolated narrow gauge lines were built in many areas to minimize construction costs for industrial transport or resort access, and...
gauges, with some dual gauge
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
mixed in. It existed through to January 1999, when it was torn down due to growing problems with accessibility and electrical characteristics. Many of the original structures
Building model
Building models are scale models of structures. They are commonly used in model railroading as well as wargaming and diorama making. Architectural models are also made to demonstrate and promote buildings before they are constructed....
and switches
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
have been saved, for eventual inclusion on the new layout. Most notable of these is a 1940's train station model which had previously been salvaged from the layout at the B&O club location on Chestnut Street.
The club is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
(IRS) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
New Layout
The new layoutModel railroad layout
In model railroading, a layout is a diorama containing scale track for operating trains. The size of a layout varies, from small shelf-top designs to ones that fill entire rooms, basements, or whole buildings....
was started in 2001, is of a double-track looped-8 design; but has been built around the walls, with several reversing loops
Balloon loop
A balloon loop or turning loop allows a rail vehicle or train to reverse direction without having to shunt or even stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and unit freight trains, such as coal trains....
, and curved laminate benchwork to match the curves in the tracks. Scenery has been built with a mix of hydrocal and extruded styrofoam board, and North Coast Engineering (NCE) Digital Command Control
Digital Command Control
Digital Command Control is a standard for a system to operate model railways digitally. When equipped with Digital Command Control, locomotives on the same electrical section of track can be independently controlled....
has been installed to allow running of multiple trains without the need for complex relay systems. The layout also features working signals that display proper occupancy, as well as scale-sized lighting fixtures for night scenes. Additionally, a new On30 narrow gauge branchline is being constructed at one end of the layout, with plans to expand it as time and resources allow. Rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
is owned by the individual members, with the club jointly owning the layout
Model railroad layout
In model railroading, a layout is a diorama containing scale track for operating trains. The size of a layout varies, from small shelf-top designs to ones that fill entire rooms, basements, or whole buildings....
and control system. This rolling stock is a mixture of brass
Brass model
Brass models are scale models, typically of railroad equipment, bridges and occasionally buildings, which are made of brass or similar alloys. Brass traditionally offered finer detail than traditional die-cast and plastic models, although both made considerable advances in the 1990s...
, bronze, tin, white metal
White metal
The white metals are any of several light-colored alloys used as a base for plated silverware, ornaments or novelties, as well as any of several lead-base or tin-base alloys used for things like bearings, jewellery, miniature figures, fusible plugs, some medals and metal type.Some of the metals...
, plastic
Plastic model
thumb|300px||4-year-old boy starts painting a plastic model he has assembled of the South Goodwin LightshipPlastic models, often called scale models, are models manufactured as kits which are assembled by hobbyists, and intended for static display....
, resin
Resin casting
Resin casting is a method of plastic casting where a mold is filled with a liquid synthetic resin, which then hardens. It is primarily used for small scale production like industrial prototypes and dentistry...
, wood, paper
Paper model
Paper models, also called card models or papercraft, are models constructed mainly from sheets of heavy paper, paperboard, or card stock.- Details :...
, cardboard, and die-cast models; most of which has been extensively kitbashed
Kitbashing
Kitbashing or model bashing is a practice whereby a new scale model is created by taking pieces out of commercial kits. These pieces may be added to a custom project or to another kit. For professional modelmakers, kitbashing is popular to create concept models for detailing movie special effects...
/modified, features custom paint and water-slide decals
Water slide decal
Water slide decals are water-mounted decals generally printed face up and rely on the dextrose corn sugar residue from thedecal paper to bond the decal transfer to a surface...
; and has been weathered to better replicate real-world conditions.
Catenary
Although the original layout did have a short section of catenary, most of it was destroyed when the layout was torn down. However, the new layout is being constructed with a full PRR-Style compound catenary system over the entire layout. This catenary system is being integrated into the power distribution, so that the electric locomotiveElectric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s and MU cars
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
will receive power via their operating pantographs
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
.
Board of directors
The club is governed by president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. All officers serve, on a voluntary basis, as the organization's Board of Directors.Meetings
Meetings were previously held on Thursday evenings, but were moved to Tuesday evenings for better attendance. Business meetings are typically held on the first Tuesday of the month.Open House Events
Every year, the club traditionally has several "Open House" weekends near the end of the year, in conjunction with the MerchantvilleMerchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,821....
annual Christmas parade and Tree Lighting ceremony. The first such Open House weekends were held Friday and Saturday, November 9–10 and 16-17, 1962. Dates for the 48th (2010) Open House weekends were as follows: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 3–4-5, 10-11-12; and Saturday-Sunday January 8–9, 15-16, 22-23 (2011). Hours are: Fridays 6pm-9pm, Saturdays noon-6p, and Sundays noon-4 pm. Attendance is free (donations requested).
O-scale Swap Meet Events
The Club hosts two O-scale-only "Swap MeetsFlea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
" a year, usually on a single first Saturday in both March and September. The most recent such "Swap Meet" was held on Saturday, September 11, 2010. Admission to the Dealer's Hall is set at $5, and includes a tour of the layout. The date for the 2011 spring meet is set for March 5.