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for All Ages and All Gauges

We are now in the construction phase of our Model Railroad Museum, which involves a lot of carpentry to develop benchwork for the layouts. The N scale and HO scale exhibits are progressing well. The O scale and G scale railroads will come up behind. We continue to invite visitors in so they can see what we are doing. Our Library is taking shape now thanks to our new volunteer librarian. Our youngest new member, Jordan, is doing a great job helping to set up the DCC-powered N scale display. We got it up and running today using my newest and most favorite locomotive, N&W J Class #608 followed by five passenger cars. What a beautiful site to see. The chugging sound was awesome. 

Thanks to the many generous donors in our community, our inventory of model trains and accessories is growing rapidly. We have also added a collection of vintage Chrysler model cars on loan to us from a collector. One of our members built a control tower from an old Erector set, and a large ferris wheel from a K'Nex kit as promotional items for our STEAM/STEM Education Center.

So feel free to come in on the weekends, 12-6 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and watch as we grow from what looks like scraps to something the community can be proud of. Keep sending us your train stuff. We can put it to good use. What we can't use, we can sell with 100% of the revenue going back into the Museum. This is your project as much as it is ours. Thank you so much for your support!

The Story of Marshall Parks Jr. and the Growth of Transportation in Hampton Roads

Where a source is not cited, the information presented is from multiple reliable & independent sources

{Authors notes in italics and braces}

PREFACE/INTRODUCTION

This author began this work when he performed simple research on the building of the original narrow gauge Norfolk and Virginia Beach Railroad in 1883, one of a several railroads in Hampton Roads in the nineteenth century. After learning that the founding President was named Marshall Parks Jr., I decided as any good writer or historian would to further investigate the man separately.
Lo and behold, further research opened up a gold mine of local history and his many fascinating accomplishments. Soon my research led me in numerous directions and the creation of this book began.

Later after I had done considerable research, I found one of a number of obituaries for Marshall Parks Jr. in the Norfolk Landmark newspaper, a predecessor of the current Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, printed June 12, 1900.

It reads as follows:

“THE HON, MARSHALL PARKS Jr. {1820-1900}”

“At the death of the Hon. Marshall Parks {Jr.} Sunday afternoon there passed into eternity one of the landmarks of Norfolk and of all this section. Mr. Parks during his long life did many things and conceived many ideas that have resulted in great benefit to his community and State. He was distinctively a practical genius upon broad lines.”

“Numerous undertakings of importance that have been carried to success by others were projected and begun by him. Notable among these is the railroad between Norfolk and Virginia Beach, a resort which was brought into popularity chiefly by Mr. Parks's efforts when it was known then as ‘The Hollies.’”

“For many years Mr. Parks was President of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, and his fondest dream was the completion of an Inland waterway along the whole length of the Atlantic Coast. His death came late enough for him to see that the full accomplishment of this dream, once laughed at by so many persons as a wild vision of the impossible, is one of the certainties of the near future.” {now called the intercoastal waterway it is a vital and much trafficked fact}

“No Virginian of his day was better known than Commodore Parks. His acquaintance among men of prominence outside of his own State was extensive and intimate, including many of giants of by-gone days. The founder of the Vanderbilt fortunes {Cornelius Vanderbilt}, for instance, was one of his cordial friends. Mr. Parks spent much of his time in Washington, and was once the Democratic candidate for Congress in this district. His Information was of wide range and remarkable accuracy, while his fund of personal reminiscence was well-nigh unlimited and contributed incalculably to the entertainment of his friends. We do not know whether Mr. Parks left anything in the nature of personal memoirs or not; but for the sake of history, we hope that he did. {he did not to my knowledge, however a relative of his Calvert Walke Tazewell (1917-2002), who was a USAF officer, publisher, author, historian, and former President of the Norfolk Historical Society did write a couple short books about Marshall Parks Jr. with biographical details} A good biography of Marshall Parks would answer very well as a history of Eastern Virginia for a period embracing more than a half a century.”
After having researched and written such a book, I agree with this unknown writer of this Marshall Parks Jr. obituary.

Cheers,
Warren B. Leister

Train Song of the Month

Jimmie Rodgers - "Waitin' for a Train"

https://youtu.be/gbzc77Tz6PA?list=PL07n2-n5FoRHYzhKfA--soywuLOFvEv1l

"James Charles Rodgers was an American singer-songwriter and musician who rose to popularity in the late 1920s. Widely regarded as the 'Father of Country Music', he is best known for his distinctive yodeling. Rodgers was known as 'The Singing Brakeman' and 'America's Blue Yodeler'." [excerpt from Wikipedia]

For more “train songs” check out the “Commander’s Train Songs” YouTube playlist at...

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL07n2-n5FoRHYzhKfA--soywuLOFvEv1l&si=IODFaTIeOe7OBQ7G

Legacies

Legacies are things we have accomplished during our lives that we leave behind for others to enjoy, cherish and appreciate after we are gone. Your legacy might be a book you have written, a policy you have changed, a house you have built, good deeds you have done, etc. 

Model railroaders have legacies also. Some model railroaders really stand out as exemplary in their field. James Armstrong, for example left a legacy of written material to show how to develop a realistic track design, John Allen left behind a fantastic, famous mountainous layout called Gorre and Daphetid in his basement. John Johnson in our Tidewater Division left behind a wonderful layout depicting the Pennsylvania Railroad. John MacLemore, a retired attorney, also in our Division, left behind many highly detailed, beautiful scratchbuilt structures in O scale, which we are now fortunate enough to have acquired from his wife to display in our Museum. The Lancaster and Warrenton Collections are also legacies in their own right.

We are planning to develop a Hall of Fame Display showing the excellent artistic work, the legacies, that our former model railroaders have left for us to enjoy and appreciate, and that we can still learn from and be inspired by long after they have gone.

Video of the Month...

Howard Zane's Model Railroad

Thank You!

Thank you for reading Making Tracks. Come and visit us at MacArthur Center, second floor, directly below the Regal Cinema.

We're open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 12-6pm while we are rebuilding the Museum.

Volunteer

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Welcome to

New Tracks Modeling!

New Tracks Modeling is an exciting digital opportunity to obtain mentoring to help you improve your modeling.  You will meet talented modelers and manufacturers from all over the world who will share their model building expertise and artistic advice.  New Tracks Modeling is open to all modelers of all skill levels in any scale or gauge.

Our Shows are live every Wednesday evening at 7pm Eastern/4pm Western on Zoom and YouTube. By subscribing to our website newtracksmodeling.com you’ll receive email notices containing links to both the Zoom and YouTube presentations.

New Tracks Modeling Mentoring Scholarship

Your donation will help to provide scholarships for model railroaders who are HS graduates and continuing their education in a STEAM field.Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

To donate click on this link.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/038439bf-a552-44e2-9b46-ef54aaa0e274

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The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads will be a fantastic community center based on running, operating and even building your own model railroads! There's something for every age here.

Learn about the real history of this area and how important it was in the building of America. Watch how railroads were built, the people involved, where America's roots were formed. 

As they build their own railroads, students will be learning about science, electronics,  architecture, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the art of 3 dimensional model landscaping. They can earn rewards for completing projects and winning contests.

Try to solve yardmaster problems on a switching layout like getting the lumber from the forest to the furniture store, by way of the saw mill and the lumber yard.

Run your train around blockades and other trains to get to the station on time without speeding or crashing.

Play railroad monopoly using model railroads. Winner is the one who can collect the most cars into his yard within an hour.

There will be programs for autistic and special needs kids, disabled adults and veterans.

School tours. Holiday Shows. Library and video rooms. Scouts are welcome. Even youngsters will have their own wooden models to enjoy. Classrooms and hands-on clinics for adults. Learn how to get started in the hobby. Or just enjoy the fun.

Everybody loves trains and this will prove it!  Just click on the either the blue or the yellow DONATE button below to make it happen... 

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