Texas Transportation Museum

11730 Wetmore Road, San Antonio, TX 78247
(210)490-3554

A.M.R.E.
Alamo Model Railroad Engineers

AMRE Train Show 2010

AMRE's layout at the Texas Transportation museum occupies fully one hundred feet along one wall of the museum's main display building. They are in the process of completing their second layout at the museum. A.M.R.E. II replaces A.M.R.E. I which occupied the same place. The old layout had become a little long in the tooth. The new layout incorporates all the latest trends in modern HO model railroading. It is multi layered and, using state of the art DCC controls, allows individual operators to run their trains along different sections of the layout and along a multiplicity of main lines. The newer layout is also more visually exciting and now that most of the unbelievably complex wiring is finished, scenery work is beginning to pick up speed. The club's aim is nothing short of having one of the biggest, most modern and visually stunning layouts in the country.

           

A.M.R.E. was begun way back in 1985. It built and operated it's first layout until 1999, when it was decided to replace it with an all new layout which is currently under construction. The new 'super' layout offers additional scenic and operational capabilities in which more club members can participate.

           

Model railroading is a multi skill hobby which requires both generalists and specialists. Of course, the most important thing to possess is a love of trains. The club has a large and active membership. Many A.M.R.E. members have their own layouts at home but it would be a daunting proposition to try to build an 'HO' layout of such size and complexity as an individual. As well as their weekly Friday evening work session, the club has monthly meetings to discuss progress and make sure the plans are being adhered to by everyone. They are a very friendly group and would be happy to welcome you into their club.

           

One of the key improvements A.M.R.E. has built into the new design is to lower the height of the lowest track levels so that younger visitors and those in wheel chairs would better be able to see the main tracks on the layout. The new layout is multi leveled and has a greater variety of geographical features. Their trains must be in tip top condition in every respect to navigate the turns and grades built into the new layout, in much the same way that trains in the real world must be strong and flexible enough to make progress in different conditions.

           

The new layout was also built in modular form, not only to facilitate removal of "damaged" sections, or simply to replace them with something different, but also to improve wiring up each "block." On the old layout, finding electrical faults was very time consuming. Now, each block is self contained which narrows down the search for broken connections considerably.

           

The club has also introduced a state of the art train control system, called D.C.C. This allows for individual control of trains fitted with a special signal receivers. This means you can have trains moving in different directions and at different speeds on the same piece of track. This has some very practical advantages. It allows for intricate yard switching operations. It also allows for trains of different sizes, power and weight to be synchronized more effectively. Without DCC, a faster moving train will ultimately catch up with a slower one, as there was no way to control each train individually. With DCC there is. It even allows for the use of older trains that have not been adapted to use DCC.

           

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Click   • Peter Shavney•   for more about the current President of A.M.R.E.

Click   • MISSABE•   for a set of pictures of Pete's 50 - 100 car Missabe Train

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In 2004, a new influx of members brought an increase in club activities which is still going strong. New members inject new life and enthusiasm into AMRE's activities. Its annual train shows continue to grow, both in terms of attendance and revenue. This money is then invested back into the club allowing it to afford all the many expenses associated with running such a large and complex layout. Scenery work is really coming along nicely. Several new additions have been made to the rolling stock that can be seen on the layout including a model of the famous "Texas Special" which was jointly run by the Missouri-Kansas- Texas and the Frisco.

           

           

Some of Don Burrer's trains, including his MK&T and Missouri Pacific consists

For more images click   "Texas Special"

Don is the layout's master electrician. It is he who wired the layout to be compatible with DCC controls. It was an undertaking of great complexity. Each train has its own "brain" which allows it to receive a specific signal. As mentioned above, DCC is a remarkable step forward for the hobby and AMRE members are enjoying the new opportunities with enthusiasm. Harold Brown and Harold Fleischer are busily improving the track work. Some curves have been re-laid to improve the curves for larger trains and locomotives. The bench work is being tweaked to create smoother operational capacity. Larry Walsh and Jared Davis are working on scenery details. This is the painstaking activity which will really bring the layout to life.

           

One of AMRE's youngest member, John Stabe, has introduced a novel feature which is very popular with both visitors and other club members. He puts a light weight transmitting lens on the front of his trains. This transmits a signal to a special receiver which can be fitted to an ordinary television. This allows anyone to see what the train "sees" as it goes around the layout. This gives a whole new perspective to perceiving the trains progress across bridges, through tunnels and passing other trains.

To visit John's site dedicated to AMRE activities, click:•John's AMRE site•

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Work on the huge layout continues apace in 2007. The complex wiring system continues to be updated to allow for more and more individual control of trains and switches. Larry W. continues to add scenery at one end of the layout and relatively new member Jeff, and his two sons, are bringing the center section of the massive layout to life with scenery, buildings and bridges over the dramatic gorge built into the layout from the beginning. AMRE has never been busier or more productive. It is attracting old members back and entirely new volunteers into its ranks. It is proving to be a great year for an already fine club.

       

Much progress has been made in 2008. Detailed scenery work is flourishing while the wiring of this huge and complex layout is being continually upgraded to the latest standards. New member Fred Bock, a Master Model Railroader and currently the director of the Lone Star Region of the NMRA, the National Model railroad Association, has added a whole new "service" to the whole museum. He restored a small, mobile, HO model railroad layout he first built twenty years ago with a view to taking it out to shows on behalf of the museum. It's first outing in this regard was to the 2008 Folklife Festival at the Institute of Texan Cultures where it was enormously successful in attracting people to come find out about the museum and its many features and activities.

Click thumbnail below for more images of this layout:

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AMRE during "Santa's Railroad Wonderland"




Click picture of Vic Louie above for many more images
of AMRE during our annual Christmas extravaganza.

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Just for kids!


One of the most recent addition to AMRE's "empire" is a small layout built especially for operation by the museum's younger visitors. On this layout, touching is more than tolerated, it is expected! In fact, the trains won't run unless the kids make them.

   

Early images of the new children's layout

As we all know kids love to touch things and "push the button." On this layout they can make the train stop, start, go forward, go back, speed up and slow down. A few more features will be added to the layout but only if they are kid safe and somewhat resistant to not always well co-ordinated little hands.

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More pictures of the Alamo Model Railroad Engineer layout


           

           

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To contact A.M.R.E., the Alamo Model Railroad Engineers, click on "A.M.R.E." below:

A.M.R.E.

Please be sure to add a subject for your message

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Site Navigation & Links

Many of the pages below will have sub-directories of their own.

•Main Page•
•Hours of Operation & Location•
•The Longhorn & Western Railroad•
•S.A.G.R.E.S. - San Antonio Garden Railroad Society•
•TTM'S Road Vehicle Collection;
•A.M.R.E. - Alamo Model Railroad Engineers•
•The Longhorn Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society•
•Private Parties at TTM•
•School & Private Group Visits•
•Santa's Railroad Wonderland;
•Big Engines, Small Engines•
•History of San Antonio Transportation•
•Links to Other Related Web Sites, Books, Videos, Etc•
•Contacting the Museum;