Vol. 25: The Rensselaer Model
This 10-part series with Allen Kelle highlights The New England Berkshire & Western Railroad. The series celebrates the accomplishments of the Rensselaer Model Railroad Society. Allen Keller begins the series right outside Davidson Hall where the magic happens. Although the layout has endured many changes, the layout has remained located in the basement of the same building.
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2:11Every college campus offers a variety of clubs and activities for students to participate in, but very few offer a club solely dedicated to model railroading. The Rensselaer Model Railroad Society was founded in 1947 at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The club consists of an even mix of 40 students and
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19:21The beauty of trains is that they tend to be hypnotizing. Watching the engine as it carries along what seems to be a never ending flow of box cars is no doubt fascinating. Trains capture the attention of the viewer. The boisterous metal beasts hurry along the lengthy rails stretching across large amounts of land
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3:05Model railroading is heavily influenced by the imagination. While some models accurately depict a prototype, some offer the opportunity to create an entire fictitious scene. Inventiveness and originality can result in wondrous railroad layouts. There is no limitation to the imagination. It opens doors for many modeling possibilities. The New England Berkshire & Western is
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3:31The Rensselaer Model Railroad Society has made several modifications to the New England Berkshire & Western layout since the beginning stages. The club devotes their time and energy to the progression of their model railroad. Even after finishing a scene, they continue to research, collect data, and make changes to maintain accuracy. New England Berkshire
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7:15The members of the Rensselaer Model Railroad Society are enthusiastic about sharing their passion and knowledge with others. Not everyone has the opportunity to join the club and work personally with the experts on the New England Berkshire & Western layout, but through this series you can learn about their techniques and strategies. Ballasting Model
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3:24The Rensselaer Model Railroad Society hosts weekly tours of the New England Berkshire & Western Railroad. Anyone who desires to see the impressive layout can schedule a tour for a group of five or less. Since the basement of Davidson Hall has limited space, the club can only host small groups at a time. The
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2:58The Rensselaer Model Railroad Society prepared to celebrate their 50th anniversary back when Allen Keller visited in 1997. Twenty more years have passed since then and the club is still thriving. To this day, the club persists to operate from the Davidson Hall basement located on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New
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1:48Railroads are a means for transporting items from one location to another. Just like the real railroad, operating sessions are designed to give meaning to model railroads. The information found on waybills and car cards gives meaning and reason to the model trains. They provide information about what the train is shipping, where it’s going
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9:39Modeling structures seem to be John Nehrich’s favorite part of the railroading hobby judging by his work on the New England Berkshire & Western layout. He spends a large amount of time researching architecture and building styles. The elaborate windows are one of the most impressive details on John’s structures. Structures and Design on the
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