From the Dome Car: Train Nine, Track Six (March-April, 2000)

 

What is the most unique model railroad club you’ve ever heard of? How about in a war zone? That’s what Morgan wrote about in this Dome Car, when he shared about Canadian peacekeepers in Kosovo who created a club to help them pass the time. 

We recently learned about a new Canadian model railway club that's different than most. It has no constitution or politics, no membership dues, no newsletter, no club hats or vests, no annual meeting and will cease to exist by June. Oh, and one other thing: It meets almost every night in an army tent in the backwoods of war-torn Kosovo. It's probably the most heavily armed model railway club around! 

The club calls itself the KFOR RR Club and is made up of three Canadian soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group, deployed to Kosovo in December, 1999 for a six-month tour with NATO. 

Corporal Andrew Baird of Grand Falls, Newfoundland is a Radio Operator with 23 Engineer Squadron (com'bat engineers); he models CN Newfoundland narrow gauge in S scale. Master Corporal Stephen Vallis of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, is a Radio Technician with 1 RCR (infantry); he models the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia in HO scale. And Captain Bruce Blackadder of Lennoxville, Quebec is the Adjutant of 23 Field Squadron; he models the eastern CPR in the 1950s and 60s. 








"Hey, who has the glue?" KFOR RR Club members left to right are Andy, Steve and Bruce at a typical 'club' night.

Readers may remember Steve; he has contributed modelling articles to us in previous issue of CRM. "We meet informally most nights in the radio repair shop (a tent), where we work on kits brought with us or ordered from Canada,” he says. “We leaf through the latest copies of CRM (of course!) and the Walthers catalog. We have even had a movie night, watching a copy of a History Channel show about steam locomotives." 

Although they brought a good supply of kits, glue, paint, detail parts, etc. with them, there has been a need for the occasional supply request. 

"We are all very fortunate to have a good support system at home, and we'd like to thank Victoria, Marilyn and Lynn for that," says Steve, who also thanks Lark Spur Line in Merrickville, Ontario and Prairie Station Model Railway Supply in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan for filling orders and getting them out quickly, and Clare Gilbert, owner of Sylvan Scale Models for his generous donation of kits to the club. 

"When the kits arrived, we were quite excited," says Steve. "It was tough deciding who was going to put together which kit." 

He adds: “Anyone who has been away from home on business knows how hard it is on family life; being away from home for six months is something most of us can't even imagine. Having a hobby which is somewhat portable helps to fill in spare time and keep connected to a part of the lives we've left behind." 

And, he says, "it also goes to show that no matter where you are or how much space you have available, you can enjoy this wonderful hobby of ours!" 

Here at CRM, we're proud of the men women who serve in Canada's armed forces in overseas peacekeeping assignments. For this reason. we send three copies of each issue to peacekeeping posts overseas, where they are made available to all. 

I know our readers all respect the job being done by our 'boys', too, and to be able to report to you on the 'Kosovo Connection' is something I'm sure you have all enjoyed. 

While I'm on the subject of railway clubs, I'd like to mention that I had the opportunity of visiting with the Waterloo Region Model Railway Club in Maryhill, Ontario while at the Toronto Train Show in March. This club is the subject of our lead article in this issue. Turning a 2,000 square foot Quonset hut into a three-floor layout is quite an inspiring undertaking! We plan to publish updates as their work continues. 

On another note, we're rapidly approaching another milestone here at the magazine: Our tenth year! It almost seems like yesterday that we produced the first issue; today, we have readers across the country and around the world. Thanks go to all that have continued with their support in our efforts to bring a Canadian content magazine to the model railroad hobby. The effort will continue, you can be sure. We have some interesting things planned over the next little while, some of which will be announced in the next issue. So, until then, have fun with our hobby and we'll catch you in the next issue.



 


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