GOLDEN SPIKE
US PROTOTYPE MODEL RAILROADERS OF AUSTRIA

CLUB "GOLDEN SPIKE" - Info,Membership

Design, Construction and Operation of a US Prototype Model Railroad in Vienna/Austria

Are you interested in American railroads?

Do you collect models, but don't have enough space for a layout?

Do you want to see your models in operation from time to time?

Are you interested in simulating the transportation tasks accomplished by real railroads?

Are you a railfan from the USA who lives in Austria?

Do you want to recreate a piece of the USA with a model railroad?

Are you looking for information about American railroads which are hard to find in Europe?

Would you like to exchange information with other modelers?

Maybe you should consider to join our club!

A layout of a US prototype shall be created in H0 scale

Design and planning:

• based on the state of the art, enabling prototypical operation;
• as realistic as possible, maybe according to a real prototype;
• preferably modeling the transition phase from steam to diesel.

Construction:

• we are currently building a layout to fit into our club rooms.

Operation:

• simulation of the prototype's transportation functions;
• lots of industry spurs and interchanges with other railroads shall enable eventful operating sessions;
• "freight car forwarding" for realistic assignment of cars for shipments;
• Time Table and Train Order Operation to challengetrain crews;
  
• walk around control of trains with Digital Command Control;
• added realism from sound control.

Additional activities:

• exchange of information and experiences;
• contacts to colleagues worldwide;
• libraries and archives.

What have we achieved, what are we currently doing?

A group of about 15 US model railroad enthusiasts meets frequently since May 1998. Currently we host meetings open for all interested persons in our club rooms every 4th Friday (see calendar of events) where we looks at interesting journals and books, experiment with DCC and sound systems or just chat about new products and experiences.

In December 1998, we formally founded our club (see bylaws, in German only), by the end of 1999 we found our club rooms in Vienna's 12th district which we were renovating in early 2000 and officially opened in June 2000.

First, we have discussed about the theme (we will model in H0 scale what for us looks like a typical US landscape with sparse vegetation, and we will concentrate on the era around the 50s, without excluding the 40s and 60s) and are designing our layout (see layout design), and electrical standards for DCC.

In November 2000, we started preperatory work for our layout - and during our Christmas Celebration 2000, the first train was able to circle around one level of our multi-level layout (see photos). We wer hosting our first operating session for the Summer of 2001 (see model railroad operation).

Currently, we try to host operating sessions as often as possible and are working on landscaping parts of our layout.

Interested?

Inquire for further information: Franz.Reichl@tuwien.ac.at

Membership

The club "GODEN SPIKE" has 3 different kinds of memberships:

Applications can be sent by electronic mail to Franz.Reichl@tuwien.ac.at

Bank Account (NEW since April 2008)

Modelleisenbahnverein GOLDEN SPIKE
Account Number 22010-038-913
SpardaBank (Nordbahnstraße 5, 1020 Wien, AUSTRIA/EUROPE) www.spardawien.at
Sorting Code 14900
BIC = BAWAATWW
IBAN = AT25 1490 0220 1003 8913

Please use this account for all payments!