I have been an enthusiastic model train lover for more than 50 years. In September 2011, my US teacher for live steam, Jerry Barnes Lexington invited me to a steam up at a friend’s house, Marty Cozad, in Nebraska City. I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn what my US colleagues are doing in the hobby.
I took a route to Omaha via Chicago from Tokyo, more than 12,000 miles round trip! I had visited Omaha several times for business, but didn’t know about train-related attractions in the area. But at the end of the day, I discovered many train-related museums, monuments, etc. Both the steam up and the railroad history in the area were impressive (photo 1).
1. Durham Western Heritage Museum
Located just 15 minutes from the Omaha Airport, this is the former Union Pacific Omaha Station. My first question to her was, “Where is the current Omaha station?” She brought me to the other side of the building and pointed out the single deserted platform, saying that is the present Amtrak station. Only one passenger train a day (photos 2 and 3)
Next, I visited the House of Trains, a model train shop in Omaha. When I travel, I enjoy visiting local hobby shops. House of Trains is located 15 minutes from downtown Omaha and opens at 8 a.m. I met the owner, David, and his parents. They welcomed me heartily and I enjoyed talking with them very much. I spent nearly an hour there. As a gift, they gave me a store’s ballpoint pen and memo books. The title on the memo book is “Things I gotta do,” my favorite wording for time management. Thank you, David, for welcoming me (photo 4).
3. Drive to Marty’s
From Omaha to Nebraska City, it is about a 70 mile drive. Marty’s house is located in a beautiful corn field in the southern suburb of Nebraska City. I never have seen a huge field like this for a single product. When I arrived, 30-40 people were already running their trains. I was welcomed by Marty, and soon met Jerry Barnes (photos 5 and 6).
4. At Marty’s
I had purchased an Accucraft USRA 0-6-0 and asked Jerry to keep it for me because shipping to Japan is very expensive. The container of the steamer is very big, but I have experience in disassembling those containers and re-packing them in my luggage.
Marty started this steam up in 2003 when he was visiting websites and found people looking to gather for a steam up. He invited those people to his layout. That year, 12 people came to run trains. After that he has been expanded the event for dealers, a banquet, door prizes, etc. It is now a three-day event, from Friday to Sunday. In 2012, he will celebrate its 10th anniversary.
One track is on the ground and mainly battery-powered diesels are pulling their trains. Marty’s ground-level tracks are also large, and I wondered how they can control many trains simultaneously from single control panel. I found the answer. They run train with RC, and each operator is running his/her own train.
Another track for elevated for live steamers. I have a long history of model trains for any type but I primarily enjoy running live steam. Marty has an oval track with two mainlines and some sidings. This is almost four times the size of mine in Japan, which has three ovals, several sidings, and a roof.
Some folks enjoyed chatting under the tent, and some ran their steamers, large and small. I was welcomed pleasantly and learned a lot (photos 7, 8, 9, 10). Here are just a few of the things I learned.
(1) Appropriate steam engine kit with boiler for locomotive. I have long been wanted to build a locomotive with vertical engine and boiler. I found the engine kit, but not the boiler. Of course, I have ordered two already.
(2) Using an empty shoe paste can for a fuel container, or even convert one into a burner. This is a quite economical and a good idea. I usually was not interested in the shoe paste can in my hotel room, but now I check my room first for the container of shoe paste, just for the can.
(3) Warm up gas tank by using boiler steam. I had known about this idea already, but it was the first time I’d seen it in use. While I don’t have the confidence to modify my own locomotive, it was an interesting to see how it worked.
(4) Add leading and trailing trucks onto the Ruby. This task is simple enough for me to accomplish.
5. TSA Inspection
Because of the concern of TSA inspections, I could not bring my live steamer with me. According to the information I got before the event, TSA employees don’t like “used” live steamers and don’t allow us bring them into the cabin, nor in checked baggage.
I returned to Japan with my new Accucraft USRA 0-6-0. I packed it tightly in layers in Omaha, using tapes at several places. Somewhere along my travels, the TSA opened it and checked the contents, and repacked it perfectly. It was so well re-packed, that I initially did not notice that they had opened it, until I saw the “ Notice of Baggage Inspection” in the bottom of the package.
6. Battery power
I brought my scratchbuilt brass 0-4-0 battery-powered locomotive to the steam up. Because I had initially thought about bringing a live steamer along, I didn’t have time maintain the locomotive before the trip. However, it ran well enough, although I would like more speed than I am running in Japan (photo 11).
7. Banquet at Avenue Grill
On Saturday night, Marty hosted a banquet at the Avenue Grill restaurant in downtown Nebraska City. About 60-70 people attended the dinner, most everyone were friends, family or couples, except myself. I enjoyed great conversation with everyone, and was honored to speak before those experienced railroad modelers. I was quite happy and would like to thank everyone. I also was glad that the ladies enjoyed my gifts (Origami, Japanese paper for decoration) for a door prize (photos 12 and 13).
Other train-related places I visited:
In one quarter of the property, an outdoor garden railway runs from May through October at the steep slope of the hill. Five to six trains can run simultaneously. Nearby, on top of a hill are a full-size Big Boy and Centenarian. I never expected this and was impressed thinking how someone pulled these heavy locomotives to top of the hill (photo 14).
9. Union Pacific Rail Road Museum is located in Council Bluff, Iowa, near Omaha. This museum is not just for railroading, but the history of development of the western United States.
10. Railwest Museum is not far from Union Pacific Museum in Council Bluff. This HO-scale railroad is housed inside the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad. Some full-size locomotives and rolling stock are outdoors (photos 15).
11. Golden Spike Monument. I had asked the guide in Union Pacific Museum why the monument is in the Omaha area instead of Winnemucca or another area. She told me that Omaha invested much money in the railroad. Second, Omaha is home to the then-US president Abe Lincoln (photo 16).
This was a great experience for me as an enthusiastic railroader who likes US railroads. I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who kindly took care of me, especially Marty. If time allows, I would like to come again this year.
