NOT YOUR FATHER’S ELECTRIC TRAINS: SIZE MATTERS

This is a site --- and a blog --- about VERY large railroad models, in the size customarily called “live steam” or “miniature railways”. Our interest lies in those models that
1. are powered by electricity RATHER THAN by live steam and small gasoline engines AND
2. represent prototypes --- the original full-size rail transportation on which the models are based --- that were electrically powered:
a. trolleys, trams, and street cars
b. interurban trains
c. boxcab electric locomotives
d. urban subways and elevated rail
e. light rail and rapid transit AND
f. heavy traction (main line) electric locomotives
because we believe that electricity is by far the most sensible means of propulsion for many reasons, which we will outline in future blogs.

The subject of these Internet pages --- web logs --- generally run on rail with a gauge (distance between the rails) greater than 7 inches. This latter distance was not chosen arbitrarily.
7¼ inches and 7½ inches are the gauges of the two most popular “live steam” gauges in this country, the former being popular in the Northeastern U.S. and Britain, the latter being by far the more popular throughout the rest of the U.S.
BUT, given any degree of interest in gauges smaller than 7 inches, we will explain, discuss, and promote other scales, also. The two that stand out are 1” to the foot (dollhouse scale and also the subject of interest among some live steamers) and ¾” scale. The latter scale is carried forward principally by Jimmy Sparkman of the East Penn Traction Club, who builds beautiful ¾ inch models of elevated third rail trains (“els”) running on aluminum elevated trestles and exhibited at many of the special events that occur in the Philadelphia area. Photo will appear in these pages soon.

We will discuss and advocate these giant electric trains, knowing very well the dual definition of the phrase in the vocabulary of both full size railroading and models. We will recommend that commercial manufacturers and amateur builders broaden the range of models in this size; suggest that a wide range of model buildings and accessories in that size would be welcome and marketable; advocate that the entire hobby become oriented toward true model railroading, as it is in the smaller gauges (H0, 0 gauge, and the misnamed G scale); and provide arguments (in the legal broad meaning, not the usual sense of “quarreling”) for the use of Forced Perspective as practiced in stagecraft.

Ultra-Gauge Electric Trains: Guidelines and Basics

ULTRA-GAUGE ELECTRIC TRAINS Guidelines and Basics

What we are about:
A Web Log (easily updated Internet web site) about non-riding train models powered by electricity, a special interest usually covered by live steam publications

The Name:

ULTRA --- technically “beyond”, popularly “really large”

GAUGE --- referring to the distance between the rails: wider than Large Scale, the name that has been appropriated by the Garden Railway hobby for “G Gauge”

ELECTRIC --- Models powered by electricity, not by live steam or small gasoline engines

RAIL --- covers trains and other transportation that run on two rails, and excludes --- as fascinating as they are --- Monorails and Magnetic Levitation

Taglines
"Not your father’s electric trains"
"Because size matters"
"Run ‘em, don’t ride ‘em"
"Model trains on steroids"

Prototypes
Trolleys, interurbans, and trams
Heavy traction locomotives, including box cabs
Light rail
Subways and elevated urban transit
Steam locomotives
Diesel (really diesel-electric) locomotives

Unusual optional garnishes
Forced perspective --- larger stuff closer to the eye, smaller stuff in the background allowing us to include equipment and scenery from other scales, such as O Scale background flats, 2” = 1’ action figures in the foreground, and G Scale miniature figures

Guiding Lights
Mark Stark
Alex Nutkowitz
Etienne Pelta

Contact
UGET
P O Box 208
Ellenton, Florida 34222 U.S.A.

eMail: hhpelta@msn.com at any time

Telephone: Inconvenient --- we don’t want to be woken out of a sound sleep by a wide-awake train enthusiast East of the Greenwich Meridian or West of the International Date Line

Why Trolleys in our Mega-Gauge Electric Rail scenario?

1. Small radius curves make gigantic scale much more feasible.

2. As the operator is not sitting on the car but is operating it by remote control, trolleys are a new and welcome addition to possible rolling stock

3. As trolleys operate primarily in urban areas, the tie-in with forced perspective and smaller scale backdrops makes sense

4. It would be unique, distinguished from the live steam hobby

5. Trolleys caters to the trend in nostalgia

6. Maintains the realistic aspect for which we are striving: the motive power of the model reflects the motive power of the prototype.

7. Single unit trains are easy to run and require relatively little power.

Run 'em, Don't Ride 'em

Warning: This Web Log contains some material that may be considered controversial, and may anger or upset some readers. Honest comments that advance the hobby are welcome; comments that are insulting, rude, or unhelpful will be deleted.

At one time, the operator of a one-and-one-half-inch-to-the-foot live steam locomotive had to ride aboard, generally for some of the same reasons as engineers of full-size locomotives:

1. It was necessary to keep an eye on the water gage, to make sure that adequate feed water was being supplied to the boiler. It's dangerous to allow boiler water levels to drop so low that the crown sheets were uncovered, as that can lead to a disastrous explosion. This water level can change from minute to minute, requiring constant vigilance by the locomotive crew. Monitoring the steam pressure gauge located in the cab was equally important, despite the reliability of safety valves.

2. In running miniature live steam locomotives, the conventional approach has been to run the engine around and around some continuous circuit, presumably replicating the classic early toy trains circling the Christmas tree. A realistic exception like Quentin Breen's Train Mountain, a truly point-to-point live steam line, is so unusual that it attracts live steamers from all over the world to their public runs.

3. Continuous circuits mean keeping an eye out for objects and people on the tracks, much as in real life, and require a large area upon which to build the trackage.

4. As the hobby evolved, a large part of the activity consisted of giving rides to visitors --- adults and children --- on rail cars specifically designed to accommodate riders. These riding cars detract from the realism of the train, so that keeping to scale was not considered important as the illusion was already destroyed.

5. In earlier times, the electronics required for the mechanism that controlled speed, direction, whistle sounds, and so on had not yet reached the degree of technical sophistication that they have today. Therefore, hands-on control by an onboard engineer was necessary.

6. Building and running trolley, traction, tram, and streetcar models meant either straddling the roof and destroying the trolley poles or pantographs, OR riding behind the motive power on an unprototypical trailing car. This effectively discouraged pursuing this fascinating aspect of the hobby. You'll notice that we didn't say prevented; there are some spectacular models of trolleys in 1 1/2 inch scale, but they are few in number.

Expectations of spectators have increased dramatically over the past 30 to 40 years. The audience has become increasingly sophisticated, and wants to view a realistic scene ("viewscape") with everything to scale. Seeing a giant human being (the engineer) astride a tiny tender destroys the illusion for many.

This web site advocates equipping these models with fully electric motive power modeled primarily on electric prototypes --- trolleys, box cabs, heavy traction, urban transit trains, etc. However, some manufacturers such as Carr's, in Canada, produce excellent models of diesel locomotives powered by electricity, and these are currently (no pun intended) available.

Electronic control systems are now very highly developed, so much that the war in the Mideast is sometimes conducted using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones or robots) operated by personnel hundreds of miles away.

Further, this web log envisions realistic dioramas, the model equivalent of a stage setting, allowing full scope to the skills of the builders, and bringing many different artisans to the hobby, for a realism that live steamers have been previously unable to obtain despite the incredibly fine workmanship that builders have demonstrated in design, machine work, construction, and the modeling of details.

The Shrinking Live Steam Hobby

Ever wonder why the size of the live steam hobby is shrinking every year? Recruitment (people entering the hobby) appears to be far exceeded by attrition (people leaving as a result of aging demographics).
Why aren't new hobbyists entering in large numbers? Here's my reading:

1. How many of today's youngsters today are learning the basic machine shop skills needed to build live steam locomotives?
2. How many potential hobbyists are willing to wait the time necessary --- measured in years --- before they can enjoy their venture into the hobby by actually running a live steam locomotive?
3. How many of today's youngsters have the space or are willing to channel their discretionary dollars into a hobby that requires so much time, skill, money, and patience.
4. How popular would (say) NASCAR be if fans had to build their own cars and race them in their backyard? Maybe that's an unfair comparison, but it does make one think.
5. How many newsstands carry "Live Steam" or "Grand Scales Quarterly" magazine, two of the leading magazines that might publicize the hobby, if they could reach the right audience? We are preaching to the already converted; instead we need to attract the interest of the average reader.
6. Because locomotives are manufactured one at a time, they cost substantial amounts of money to acquire. Henry Ford figured out the advantages of assembly line economics almost 100 years ago. Commercial live steam locomotive builders still seem unable to take advantage of the concept. Their argument, I'm sure, is that the consumer market isn't there to justify mass production. Which came first?

In future web logs, I'll cover some of the other problems
a. spreading the word
b. convincing prospective hobbyists to become involved, and
c. alternative ways to enjoy the benefits and achieve the necessary momentum.