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Post by johndmock on Sept 29, 2012 20:15:38 GMT -8
Hi folks--
After years of being interested in various railroads, I'm contemplating "settling down" with PRR/PC/early CR...the question I have is which of those hysterical societies might be considered to be the best one to join?
I'm asking because I've heard from other sources that the PRR Technical & Hysterical Society has allegedly experienced quite a drop in membership in recent years, and it seems from the respective websites that the PC and CR hysterical societies may not be that well established just yet, or rather in at least one case the website is somewhat "spartan".
Any comments regarding the benefits of membership in one or more of the above societies are welcome.
Thank you all--
John
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Post by spookyac47 on Sept 29, 2012 20:37:23 GMT -8
I can't compare the three since my modeling focus is PRR and doesn't go late enough to include the PC and definitely not the CR. I hesitated for years about joining the PRRT&HS but when they started publishing The Keystone Modeler, I decided to support them with a membership. I would guess that those who keep the PRRT&HS going are probably older (but not by much) than those who have an interest in the PC and CR.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 3:44:12 GMT -8
All historical societies have been hit hard by the bad economy. So the decline in membership has more to do with economics than problems with the society.
Prices of membership have climbed also, due to higher costs for printing, mailing, etc. leading to membership dues climbing. Historical society membership has turned into a luxury for many people, instead of a staple.
The best way to judge which society you like the best is to look at each society's publications. Find out how on time each is with the publications from members. Then decide which one satisfied you the best.
My LHS sells the publications of Milwaukee Road, CNW (owner of the store is a member), Soo, DM&IR, Rock Island, and GBW. When I go into the shop I look over the new issue and see if there is anything which interests me. If something does grab my eye, I purchase the issue. Now I know that most hobby stores do not sell historical society publications, but if I had to join a society, it would be a toss up between the Milwaukee and the CNW. Both have quality magazines and articles.
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Post by tom on Sept 30, 2012 3:45:30 GMT -8
I would say join the historical society for the railroad that you are really planning on modeling. Sounds like you have narrowed it down to PRR/PC/early Conrail but that is not much of a decision! Early Conrail looked very, very different that late PRR.
If join the PRRHS then you will get some info on late PRR that might be helpful but a lot of stuff on steam and PRR passenger service...interesting reading but not much help for PC and CR.
The PCRRHS is a very group (I am a member) but not much info for PRR modelers. A lot of info for early Conrail but Conrail consisted of more than Penn Central.
I would say all three are good historical societies but if you don't want to join all three narrow your modeling era and concentrate on that.
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Post by bnsf971 on Sept 30, 2012 3:49:06 GMT -8
Unless the cost of membership is exhorbitant, why not join all three?
If you really have to choose one, choose the one that best reflects your modeling focus. If you are modeling an area that was served only by the Pennsy, then you can join them. I lived in an area that was served by NYC, so if I were going to model that area circa 1977, I would join the NYC group, and perform some research into what changed from 1968 until 1977. I know on the line I mentioned, about all that changed was some of the locomotives got a big "PC" slapped on their sides.
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Post by Brakie on Sept 30, 2012 3:50:52 GMT -8
For me it would depend on what era.
PRR/PC 68-76 the PC society.
76-80 I would go with the PC and CR societies..
Early CR opens up a can of locomotive paint scheme possibilities and would require by the locomotive number research to insure paint scheme accuracy-if one chooses to be that accurate in modeling early CR.
Also the proper signals would be needed for the former railroad that made up CR -example exPRR would require PRR signals whereas exNYC track would require NYC signals-again if one chooses to be that accurate in modeling early CR.
Another resource I would use is George Elwood's Fallen Flag site.
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Post by atsfan on Sept 30, 2012 5:23:38 GMT -8
Not the CR group. They focus on the later Big Blue CR of the 1980's.
Not the PRR group. They focus on the glory days of the PRR, which were more than 50 years ago.
I would go with the PC group to start with. But "early conrail" includes EL, NYC, etc, etc engines and cars............
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Post by umtrrauthor on Sept 30, 2012 15:28:10 GMT -8
I do hope you meant "historical" society.
Reference to these groups as "hysterical" societies isn't going to make you a lot of friends in those organizations...
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Post by johndmock on Sept 30, 2012 15:42:12 GMT -8
Reference to the groups as "hysterical societies" is intended to be facetious. It was a joke I picked up from the now departed Lewis K. English, Sr., of Bowser, who indeed was greatly indebted to the PRRTHS for their assistance with Bowser's projects through the years.
Yes, I have perceived a later Conrail emphasis of the CR group, and can understand the PRRTHS would by nature focus more on the glory years (after all there were so many).
The only memories I have are late Reading, late PC, and Conrail, and having lived in the greater Williamsport, PA, area, for half my life (the other half being near Harrisburg, PA), I'm well aware of all the railroads encompassed within Conrail. As much as I might miss the departed medium blue, at the time, the fleet of omnipresent SD40-2's that did everything for that railroad (or everything not done by GP38-2's) wasn't as interesting as the transition period from pre-CR was or would have been...
I was a member of the SFRMHS for some time, but because they tended to focus on the glory years of Santa Fe, defined as mainly transition from steam to diesel and pre-1971, I never felt that group met my interests, which are more in the 1970's...a time most Santa Fe fans seem to prefer to forget.
Thanks for all the comments shared.
John
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2012 3:53:43 GMT -8
I do hope you meant "historical" society. Reference to these groups as "hysterical" societies isn't going to make you a lot of friends in those organizations... Lighten up Hoss......its a long running joke. Too many times historical societies covering all topics can become "hysterical societies" courtesy of a few overzealous members. This is typical of volunteer organizations. |
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Post by craigz on Oct 1, 2012 5:40:37 GMT -8
John, I'm a trustee on the board of the Penn Central RRHS. We just had our annual convention in Woodbridge NJ with a turn out of about 50 members. Great tour of the NJ Transit Meadows Maintenance Complex. Excellent slide shows and presentations. And frankly a lot of fun. Our convention floats every year - 2013 is planned for Rochester NY. In our membership we have as many modelers as we do prototype guys, of course with a lot of crossover. We are the exclusive supplier of the line of Scalecoat Penn Central Green paints; we offer a line of extremely accurate PC decals as well. We cooperate with many of the model manufacturers - that is, the ones who actually want help. Some don't.  Our magazine, the Post, is published three times a year. Our membership is growing, and the fact that we exist is a great curiosity to many folks who remember the Penn Central as an enormous failure. The corporate collapse doesn't prevent it from being one incredibly interesting railroad. Give us a try... |
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Post by atsfan on Oct 1, 2012 17:39:00 GMT -8
John, I'm a trustee on the board of the Penn Central RRHS. We just had our annual convention in Woodbridge NJ with a turn out of about 50 members. Great tour of the NJ Transit Meadows Maintenance Complex. Excellent slide shows and presentations. And frankly a lot of fun. Our convention floats every year - 2013 is planned for Rochester NY. In our membership we have as many modelers as we do prototype guys, of course with a lot of crossover. We are the exclusive supplier of the line of Scalecoat Penn Central Green paints; we offer a line of extremely accurate PC decals as well. We cooperate with many of the model manufacturers - that is, the ones who actually want help. Some don't. Our magazine, the Post, is published three times a year. Our membership is growing, and the fact that we exist is a great curiosity to many folks who remember the Penn Central as an enormous failure. The corporate collapse doesn't prevent it from being one incredibly interesting railroad. Give us a try... The new Tangent car is nice in PC green. Did you pick any up or did the society aid Tangent in making them? |
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Post by johndmock on Oct 1, 2012 19:25:21 GMT -8
Of course I have the Tangent Penn Central gondola.
Perhaps will get more eventually, too.
There are other PC items on the shopping list right now that are a higher priority for me.
John
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Post by johndmock on Oct 1, 2012 19:26:23 GMT -8
Craigz--
Thanks for your comments...will consider PC society...may be able to get some other locals interested too.
John
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Post by craigz on Oct 2, 2012 9:10:15 GMT -8
John, I'm a trustee on the board of the Penn Central RRHS. We just had our annual convention in Woodbridge NJ with a turn out of about 50 members. Great tour of the NJ Transit Meadows Maintenance Complex. Excellent slide shows and presentations. And frankly a lot of fun. Our convention floats every year - 2013 is planned for Rochester NY. In our membership we have as many modelers as we do prototype guys, of course with a lot of crossover. We are the exclusive supplier of the line of Scalecoat Penn Central Green paints; we offer a line of extremely accurate PC decals as well. We cooperate with many of the model manufacturers - that is, the ones who actually want help. Some don't. Our magazine, the Post, is published three times a year. Our membership is growing, and the fact that we exist is a great curiosity to many folks who remember the Penn Central as an enormous failure. The corporate collapse doesn't prevent it from being one incredibly interesting railroad. Give us a try... The new Tangent car is nice in PC green. Did you pick any up or did the society aid Tangent in making them? Yes. For the G31 gondolas we provided Tangent with color samples which they matched perfectly on the model. Our understanding is that they used the same color for the covered hopper. |
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