Making Tracks
November 2024

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Making Tracks November 2024

Contents:

  • History of Virginia Beach: Part 15: The Westerners' Excursion 2
  • Christmas Train Display at MacArthur Center in November
  • How to Make Trees for a Model Railroad
  • Videos of the Month - Christmas Trains
  • Happy Thanksgiving!!


The Birth of Virginia Beach Part 15: The Westerners' Excursion Part 2
By Warren Leister {Author’s notes are in brackets and italics}

 Written Exclusively for Making Tracks November 2024:

1890s-1906-Hampton Normal School1890s-1906 Hampton Normal School

  About 4 o'clock on a beautiful afternoon we came in sight of Hampton Roads, said to be the most spacious and magnificent harbor in the world. (I came very near saying 'Where all the navies of the world can ride,' But the expression has become hackneyed, It sounded very well at first, but when our Western crowd seized it as a fine expression and used it in two or three dozen speeches it began to be tiresome.) We touched at Fortress Monroe for an instant only, and then pushed on to Norfolk, some fifteen miles off, where we landed safe{ly} and were escorted to the courthouse green and formally welcomed by the Hon. John S. Tucker, Mayor of the city: Mr. Halloway, of Cincinnati, Mr. Jasti, of Louisville, and others responding appropriately, the band playing at intervals ‘Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,’ ‘Red, White and Blue,’ ‘Dixie,’ ‘Yankee Doodle,’ &e., &c."

  "Elsewhere in Old Virginia, we were received in the ‘City by the Sea’ {Norfolk, Va.} in the most hospitable manner, and all of us felt that we were among friends and kindred. At 8 o'clock Tuesday morning we were escorted from the hotel to the steamer Manhasset and conveyed to the Norfolk Navyyard, and spent several hours inspecting the place under the guidance of serious workshops and shown many things which were new to many of us Western inland folks. Every description of shot and shell used in naval warfare; models of various ships which were to stand the heaviest bombardment; old guns captured in 1812 and during the last war; fragments of the ships Cumberland and Congress, sunk in Hampton Roads by the Merrimac; a model of the '{John} Ericsson monitor,' the vessel which, on one occasion, found the Merrimac too much for her, and which, by the way, was a little too much for the Merrimac. {the story of the battle during the Civil War of the Union Monitor versus the Confederate Merrimac in Hampton Roads, called the Battle of Hampton Roads, was legendary and ultimately led to the naming of a major bridge tunnel complex that runs from Newport News to Suffolk after them, a detailed account of the battle given by survivors is in possession of this author} Some of us paid our respects to Commodore Creighton, of the navy, who is in command of the Navyyard. All the officers of the place were kind to us, and answered our many questions, politely. We could not stay forever at this interesting place, and when it was announced that the steamer Hampton was waiting for us, we proceeded to embark for a trip to Old Point Comfort. A delightful ride of fifteen miles over the waters of Hampton Roads brought us to Fortress Monroe, where we were met by General Getty, the commander, and staff, who escorted us to the parade ground, where we witnessed the dress parade, and then dispersed in squads, without any particular guidance, to 'see the place.' Of course, we mounted the ramparts as the place of first interest, to examine the immense guns which form the battlements. I don't know how many there are, but if  'all the navies of the world can ride in Hampton Roads,' there are doubtless enough guns mounted at Fortress Monroe to blow them {all} to pieces. The programme for our entertainment was so long and our time so short that we were in a continual hurry, and had but a glance at the many places of interest which we visited, and I am forced to pursue the same plan to get {it} all into one letter. The next point visited after leaving Fortress Monroe was the Hampton Normal School for the education of colored people, situated at Hampton, and in {the} charge of General Armstrong."

  "This school was founded by contributions from benevolent persons in the North, and has a yearly fund of ten thousand dollars from the State {Commonwealth} of Virginia. Gen. Armstrong in a brief speech gave a history of the school and its flourishing condition, and paid a just and handsome compliment to the people of the State {Commonwealth} for the encouragement which has been given the school. He said: 'From the Governor down to our humblest neighbor we receive nothing but the greatest kindness and encouragement.' This was received with the most uproarious applause! ..."

  "The next place of interest was the 'National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.' This is one of the four branches of the 'National Home for Disabled Soldiers,' founded and sustained by Congress, the other three being located: one near Milwaukee, one near Augusta, Me., and one near Dayton, Oh. They are all under one board of management, appointed by Congress. Captain P. T. Woodfin is deputy governor, and Dr. W. M. Wright surgeon of the Hampton branch. The latter-named gentleman kindly received and escorted us through the place. There are about nine hundred disabled soldiers kindly cared for here. There is one Revolutionary hero-said to be undoubtedly genuine-eight of the war of 1812, and about as many of the Mexican war. The only price for board and lodging is good behavior, and their time is their own. It they are able and choose to work they are paid for such service as they render. The buildings are large and well arranged, the location 'down by the sea,' delightful, and every attention is paid to the comfort of the inmates of the Home. Bidding adieu to Dr. Wright, we boarded our steamer and turned towards Norfolk. We occupied the time on the return trip in the discussion of an elegant collation prepared for us by our Norfolk friends and spread-on board the boat. We were to leave Norfolk that evening at 8 o'clock, and this was the only opportunity her citizens had of feasting us on crabs, fresh oysters, fish, &c., for which the place is famed, and they did it well, providing the choicest champagne and other wines to encourage appetites, to say nothing of the fine old whisk{e}y which some of the Western men 'took to' more naturally. Our experience of the day was characterized by the utmost enjoyment, and no one can leave Norfolk but with the warmest feelings of friendship for her citizens. The formal resolutions of thanks, &c., passed by us feebly express the extent of our enjoyment, and the kindly sentiments we must ever entertain for her citizens."

  "Last night at eight o'clock {as scheduled} the excursion party left for Wilmington, N. C., by the Seaboard Railroad, but they left behind one of their number who feels that the safety of his health, if not his life, demands a cessation from such festivities as we have enjoyed for {the last} four or five days. J. W. B.,  Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette, NORFOLK, VA., May 15."

  In another interesting railroad related report pertaining to the previous western excursion event from the May 16, 1877 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer datelined May 15, 1877 Norfolk, Va. there is an article titled “Our Pilgrims,” subtitled “Under the Magnetic Influence of Champaign and Free Lunch, They Build a New All-Rail Route to Tide-Water – And go on Conquering and to Conquer – How They Were Entertained Yesterday.”  The article begins “There has been considerable talk here today, occasioned by the arrival of the Western Pilgrims, as to the future of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (C&O).”

  “Next the article goes on to elaborate that in an address by Captain Holloway that the city of Cincinnati would see to it that means will be provided for the completion of the western end of the C&O from Huntington to Cincinnati establishing a western terminus for that railroad.”

  “The article continues: “This has brought out the old problem of an Eastern terminus of the road a prominent railroad man said to the reporter of the article, ‘The C&O Road must seek the seaboard. It will not do for it to stop short of Hampton Roads. Then, with connections direct to Cincinnati, it will become the main artery of commerce between the East and the West; and indeed from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.’”
  The reporter replies “Then you mean to make that terminus here at Norfolk?”
  The railroad man responds “Not necessarily, but it must be at Hampton Roads. The James River {at Richmond} will not answer for an Eastern terminus, any more than the Ohio for the Western. {the C&O approaches the Ohio river in a remote area between Huntington, Wv. and Cincinnati, Oh. which is not as suitable as Cincinnati as a major terminal river port} The road is now embarrassed, but before long Huntington {Collis P. Huntington the famous President of the C&O one of the most famous railroad barons of all time who built the C&O and what is known today as Newport News Shipbuilding and before that was involved as an original partner in the Central Pacific railroad of transcontinental railroad fame} will again have it on hand, and then, with better times he will continue it Eastward.”
  “How far?” asks the reporters,
  The railroad man responds “Newport News, that is at the head of the roads {as in Hampton Roads} Wharves can be constructed with money, equal to those here and the navy of the world can ride there in safety. {this refers, in general, that most all sea going vessels can access Newport News, which was then a village, readily due to its potentially being a deep water port like Norfolk and Portsmouth, today some of the largest ships in the world namely U. S. Navy Aircraft carriers are built at Newport News Shipbuilding, this author spent many years there doing that}
  “Why not bring it down here {to Norfolk} where wharves are built and waiting?”
  The railroad man responds “Because the undertaking would require bridging the James, and that Congress would never consent to. Forty miles of railroad track would enable them to make the connections with another road, so as to reach Newport News” {meaning that the C&O could connect possibly with the existing, at that time, Richmond, York River, and Chesapeake Railroad at or near West Point, Va. and build a railroad line about 40 plus miles long from there to Newport News, however as it turned out the C&O didn’t follow that initial plan and ultimately decided to build an entirely new railroad line themselves directly to Newport News that connected up with their pre existing line in Richmond} It would take one hundred miles of road {railroad}, and a bridge across the James {James River}, to reach here {Norfolk}, and that is the reason they will stop there.” {at Newport News} ...

“From there the western guests were provided a most thorough and handsome tour of Hampton Roads.” Furthermore according to the article “Hon. {Honorable} Marshall Parks, of Norfolk, known to most of the public men of Ohio, was one of the most attentive of our hosts on the trip.”


End of Part 15

This concludes “Birth of Virginia Beach Part 15” the next installment, Part 16, will be published in December 2024.

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How to Make Trees for a Model Railroad

Model Railroad Trees-2
model railroad treesModel Railroad Trees

Making trees for a model railroad can be a fun and creative process, and there are several methods you can use to create realistic-looking trees. Here are a few popular techniques to build trees for your model railroad:

1. Wire Armature Trees (Using Armatures and Flocking)

This is a popular method to create trees because it allows for a lot of customization, and the results can look very realistic.

Materials:

  • Floral wire (for armatures)
  • Green foam (flocking or ground foam)
  • Hot glue gun
  • Tweezers
  • Wood dowel or plastic tube (for tree trunk)
  • Brown paint
  • Super glue
  • Modeling paste or spackling (optional, for textured bark)

Steps:

  1. Create the Armature: Take a length of floral wire and bend it into the shape of a tree trunk and branches. You can make the armature as simple or detailed as you like. For a larger tree, use thicker wire for the trunk and thinner wire for branches. Twist multiple pieces of wire together for a thicker trunk or to give the armature more strength.
  2. Add the Tree Trunk: Once your armature is shaped, you can add a tree trunk. You can wrap the bottom of the armature with more floral wire or use a wooden dowel or plastic tube for the base. Paint the trunk with brown or gray paint to mimic bark. For added realism, you can use modeling paste or spackling to add texture to the trunk before painting.
  3. Add Foliage (Leaves/Needles): For deciduous trees, use ground foam or static grass for foliage. You can buy pre-made foliage or make your own by cutting up small pieces of foam and gluing them to the branches. For evergreen trees (like pines), use fine green ground foam or turf. Alternatively, you can purchase ready-made clump foliage or use commercially available pine tree kits (like "SuperTree" kits).
  4. Flocking: Apply glue to the branches and sprinkle green flocking or foam over them. You can add multiple layers for a thicker, fuller tree.
  5. Final Touches: Once the glue has dried, you can trim any excess foam or foliage to create a more realistic shape. You can also add highlights, such as dried grass, to the base of the tree.


2. Static Grass Trees

Static grass trees are another popular method that mimics the look of tall grasses or trees with sparse foliage. This technique is great for small trees or bushes.

Materials:

  • Static grass (various lengths)
  • Wooden dowels or metal rods
  • Glue
  • Ground foam
  • Brown paint

Steps:

  1. Create the Trunk: Start with a small wooden dowel or metal rod for the trunk. Paint it with a brown color and let it dry.
  2. Add Static Grass: Apply glue (PVA or hot glue) to the trunk and dip it in static grass. You can also use a static grass applicator (available from hobby shops) for a more even and controlled application.
  3. Shape the Tree: Once the grass is applied, you can gently trim the "branches" to create a tree shape. For a more realistic look, vary the length of the static grass to create a more natural-looking canopy.
  4. Add Ground Foam: Optionally, you can add a few layers of ground foam to the base of the tree to simulate undergrowth or small bushes.


3. Foam or Tree Armature with Woodland Scenics Kits

If you're looking for a quicker way to make trees without needing to build an armature from scratch, you can use ready-made kits, like those from Woodland Scenics or JTT Scenery Products. These kits often come with tree armatures (skeletons) and various foliage options, such as foam or clump foliage. They are very user-friendly.

Steps:

  1. Assemble the Armature: If using a kit, simply follow the instructions for assembling the tree skeleton (often just bending and twisting a wire frame into shape).
  2. Add Foliage: Use the provided foliage (foam, clump foliage, or flocking) to add "leaves" or "needles" to the branches. You’ll typically need to apply glue to the branches and press or sprinkle the foliage onto the tree.
  3. Paint the Trunk: Once the foliage is in place, paint the trunk with brown or gray paint for realism.


4. Natural Branch Trees

If you want a more organic, natural look, you can use actual small twigs or branches to form tree trunks and branches.

Materials:

  • Small twigs or sticks (collected from outside)
  • Foam (or foliage material)
  • Glue
  • Paint

Steps:

  1. Prepare the Trunk: Select small, appropriately sized twigs or branches for the trunk and branches. Trim them to the desired size.
  2. Paint the Trunk: Paint the twigs with brown, gray, or black paint to resemble tree bark.
  3. Add Foliage: For deciduous trees, use small clumps of foam, fine turf, or static grass for leaves. For conifers, use green foam or commercially available pine tree foliage.


5. Using Natural Materials (Moss, Lichen, etc.)

For quick, rustic trees, you can use moss, lichen, or other natural materials.

Materials:

  • Lichen, moss, or dried plants
  • Thin wire or small sticks (for trunk)
  • Glue
  • Paint

Steps:

  1. Make the Trunk: Create a trunk using thin sticks, wire, or dowels. You can wrap the wire with brown paper or paint it to look like a tree trunk.
  2. Attach Foliage: Use lichen or moss as foliage by gluing it to the branches. You can layer different colors of moss to simulate different seasons or types of trees.
  3. Paint and Shape: Paint the trunk to match your desired tree type and adjust the shape of the moss or lichen for a natural look.


6. Final Tips:

  • Mix it Up: For realism, vary the size and shape of your trees. Most real forests are not uniform.
  • Scale: Always ensure that the trees you make are in proportion to your model railroad scene. A standard HO scale tree might range from 3" to 6" tall, while N scale trees might be closer to 1" to 2".
  • Texturing: Use techniques like dry brushing or adding colored washes to enhance the texture of the trunks and branches.

Making trees can be a very rewarding part of building a model railroad, and with a little practice, you’ll be able to create incredibly realistic landscapes.

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