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The Master at work, Raton Pass, New Mexico
Acme Locomotive Works has been providing quality railroad research since 1979. It is my mission to research and detail the interesting corners of railroading and the model railroad hobby.
Those of you who have been reading along for a while have probably figured out that I am in the commercial end of the model train business. I am eternally thankful for my late parents Grace & Buell O’Connor, who realized along the way that the trains really meant something to me and that they were here to stay in my life. I am equally fortunate to be married to the lovely Meredith F. O’Connor, who also understands what the trains mean to me.
Trains and models of trains have got me through some tight spots along the way, and more than a few boring ones, too. While someone or another drones on in front of me, my mind has drifted to thoughts of that perfect model train layout, the one that works well all the time and looks perfect in every way. Well, you can dream, can’t you?
Being in the selling end of the model train business is interesting. Many of us in the business got our start with that first train. For others, the notion of something as wonderful as an electric train actually being made to sell for a profit never enters into their minds. The beauty of it is that many people who are model railroaders never consider the for-profit aspects of what they love, which can make for some interesting conversations. I consider myself to be the master of the obscure in the railroad department, which makes me useful to manufacturers, since I can truly understand what is realistic and what is not in terms of manufacturing success. That is, I know where the boundaries of profit are likely to be; in other words, some train models are destined to not be manufactured. That said, I must admit that my experiences in the model railroad business have given me new respect for the human imagination.
You can hand ten different people ten boxes of the same model railroad items (trains, track, structures, scenery) and you will get different outcomes. At least one person will stick the stuff up on a shelf because they get hung up on the possibility that things can’t be perfect. A couple of them will waver more than a bit because taking the stuff out of the box makes the trains less valuable and then you won’t have them anymore,......etc. And the balance of them will create model railroads, and all of them will be different from each other. Yes, it’s the same trains and track and such, but each builder will bring to the layout what they are. One layout will be startlingly good, interesting and thoughtful. A few will be nice, and at least one will be bad, but, in all, each builder will have gotten enjoyment out of what they have made, and that is the end goal.
From the manufacturing perspective, it doesn’t matter what happens with the trains once they leave the Factory loading dock, but it is interesting to see how the ideas of the manufacturing staff get put into action. To be good at this, you have to be a model railroader with strong business sense. And, some of the best manufacturers are not model railroaders at all. Our common bond is that we manufacture things which people do not need, but things that they want because it fulfills something in their life. So, the business can be fun. It also can make you miserable, but at the end of the day, there is a sense of satisfaction because you care about the trains.
It was my good fortune to work as a switchman for the Seaboard Air line Railroad, a summer event which would change my life Railroaders are family, and there is a bond created by being in an environment which is totally unique. Your fellow worker relies upon you to not screw up, because screwing up can kill you. Like the manufacturing of model trains, it is a world that you can see from the outside, but you cannot really understand it until you are on the railroad.
I am a graduate of Knox College, which just happens to be adjacent to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad yards in Galesburg, Illinois. Knox is also quite near the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe main line from Chicago to Kansas City. Of course, all the railroads mentioned are now long gone, all parts of other railroad entities, but the memories linger on. And even those modern locomotives that I can’t really identify by model number are still interesting. Either you’re on the train or you’re not.
The trains have introduced me to a lot of people, and most of them have been enjoyable to know. I’ve developed a lot of nice friendships through the train business. It’s always been fun, and there’s always something interesting to talk about. As my lovely bride observed, we just can’t seem to wait to find a phone and call everybody to talk about what we just found out. “Well, I heard that..........” You get the picture, and you’ve probably been at the other end of the phone, breathless with the latest events. As a group, railroaders are good people.
I am the author of Greenberg’s Guide to Märklin Z (now out of print), along with having written numerous articles for several Märklin publications, Trains magazine and others. The reworked text of the Greenberg book now appears here. I have also made a variety of presentations on subjects related to railroads and model railroads. This web site is the second generation of my online work devoted to interesting railroad subjects.
Along the way, people have borrowed my words for their own purposes. In this environment, I can’t stop you, of course, but I would appreciate your citation of the words’ source and that you keep the words in the proper context. Pretty simple, just ask me if you want to use them. Contact me at:
(after removing the obvious two words “no junk” at the front of the address).
I bid you peace, and urge you to start that model railroad project you’ve been meaning to do. It will make you feel better. Best regards,
Riley O’Connor, Atlanta, Georgia
