Whistle Music Tracks Ahead Brought to you by The Model Railroad Industry Association Helping hobbiests design and build their own miniature railroad empires, inside or outside, big or small.

(Whistle) Kato Manufacturer of precision railroad models and the Unitrack system Music Hi I'm Spencer Christian.

On this episode of Tracks Ahead will visit a man who's turn junk into model railroad treasures, we'll talk with artist, Bruce Friesch, and go to Omaha where we'll find a steam railroad has center stage.

New Zealand has been called one of the most beautiful lands on earth.

In the both the north and south islands, you can find almost any type of terrain imaginable, you'll go from glaciers to rainforests, fiord to farm land and you can do it all by rail.

Ancr: It is a country that is perhaps more down under than the land down under, New Zealand.

Josh: It is a country that is not over run by tourists; it's a country that a lot of people haven't been to because of the remoteness.

We get people that come on the tours and they think that people still walk around in grass skirts; they have some pretty far-fetched ideas on what we're about.

I think that comes from the fact that there are so few people that have been here and it's magnificent.

The locals are generally interested in finding about tourists and tourism, it's great.

Ancr: To see it, to see it slowly and allow it all to unfold before you, step aboard a train.

Grant: It's an relaxing way to see the countryside and railway lines are entirely different from the main road so you're seeing different countryside.

Passenger: I just like trains I like the movement and noises of trains.

Ancr: The Geyserland is just one of many trains crisscrossing this unique land.

It heads out of Auckland bound for Rotorua, a place that has that; not quite finished feel to it.

Grant: It's pretty crazy here, Rotorua rock volcanic belt, an area that's it's a part of the Pacific Rim of Fire.

Two-thirds of the worlds active volcano's come from that area.

We're right straddling the middle of that design, your getting boiling mud pools, geysers, crazy things happening with volcanic activity and related to that as well is earthquakes, it's part of the country that will shake you around.

It creates a pretty dominant place.

Ancr: The Overlander Train moves you through country that changes as you gaze out the windows.

New Zealand is like that; always different through the glass, it's a country that almost seems to be playing tricks on you, teasing you into thinking you've got it figured out and then changing again.

Grant: Within in the short space of time, a one-hour period, you're going from an extremely dry part of the country to one that's unbelievably wet.

Yes, there's a great variety within short timeframe and it keeps it interesting for people as the move around.

Ancr: Inside things are civilized; and service although not meant to be fancy, is a priority.

Grant: All the trains have buffet cars, and bars in it, you can eat, drink, we have toilets and carriages, it's a great way to travel rather than by bus.

Ancr: The Overlander lets you off at Tongoraro National Park, it's a rocky expanse of snowcapped peaks and infinite views.

Napier is a gem of art deco close by the coast.

It's preserved a feel of another time just another angle of this varied lands.

While the inside of trains like the Day Express leaving Napier for Wellington look pretty much the same, it's what's outside that strikes the traveler as special.

New Zealand is indeed a small country but to see it's many facets it takes all the trains this country has to offer.

And motor coaches and even boats.

It's a ferry that bridges the gap from Wellington to Picton.

Again New Zealand changes as you inhale the salt breezes.

Once in Picton it's on to the Tranzcoastal, truly a train that lives up its name.

There are planes that could cart you from one spot to another and some use to take that option.

Passenger: I use to but now I think you have to take time and look at what's around you.

Denis: When flying you're not going to see a great deal, at this speed you're able to take in the breath taking scenery, very different than looking at something from 20,000 feet opposite to three feet off the ground here and you haven't seen every single thing and you're able to appreciate what you're seeing.

Ancr: Taking your time here has some wonderful payoffs.

Passenger: Such a scenic journey, it beats driving.

Passenger: There are so many sheep, cattle, deer and all the little newborn lambs, which are just lovely.

The greenery is the thing that I like, because I was brought up in red dust of central Australia, the greenery is just beautiful.

Ancr: One of the highlights of any train excursion through New Zealand is the TranzAlpine.

Josh: You start off in Christchurch in the morning and you travel across the Canterbury Plain which is an area that has been underwater several times over a millions of years, in evolution.

It's a very flat area, the largest flatland in the country, crop farming, sheep farming but very dry and barren.

Once you get up to the mountains you start winding your way through some more steep terrain, up towards the Southern Alps and then of course you're away from dry part, that is.

Up to snowcap peaks, you get some of those snowcapped peaks right throughout the summer as well.

Winding your way down the other side you've left what is essentially very dry part of the country getting into exceptionally wet part, big braided wide riverbeds and clear fresh water.

When it snows out it looks much more spectacular.

Some people have never seen snow before so they come along and see the mountain range covered in snow and they think it's marvelous; it's a fantastic journey.

Ancr: And they're right.

It is a fantastic journey, ranges of mountaintops and valleys roll away to the horizon as you roll along through the country.

Josh: I would say it's a journey, which gets you really close to the mountains on a train; and that for a lot of people is a real highlight.

Ancr: And from the TranzAlpine, it's an alpine coach ride to this: another serious highlight of New Zealand, Milford Sound.

Josh: This region here, Milford, is unbelievable.

It's a region which has been carved out by glaciers, two million odd years ago.

It's a region we're seeing only half of what was there.

You got an incredible deep rain forest around us literally growing on the sides of very steep cliffs.

An amazing abundance of different types of wild life above the sea and down underneath us we've got a 1,000 feet down to the ocean floor.

Things like some of the oldest animal species in the world, the bracheopods, and a good population of them, we have black corals which are very rare coral species, and one of the largest single population of those found in the world and it's found here in Milford, it's an amazing place.

It's so dynamic every time you go there it's different from life in Milford Sound.

I've been a dozen of times and every time I have it's different.

You've got different lights, weather conditions, some days you go and it's bright and sunny and you can see the tops of the mountains 5,000 feet above you.

Other times you go in there it's raining and like we saw waterfalls by the 100's but everyday is different and every part of the season is different, it's a pretty awe inspiring place.

Ancr: It is another kind of awe that's inspired in Queenstown, the radical kind.

Queenstown is a self proclaimed extreme sport capital of the world, it was here that a couple of guys dreamt up the idea of leaping off tall things, like bridges while attached to thick rubber bands, bungees.

Now the area is kind of a Mecca for adrenalin junkies and it's on the list of a lot of rail fans as well, this is the home of the Kingston Flyer.

Russell: I think it's just the thrill of thing, I mean it's something that doesn't change very much, we live in a very fast changing world and some how steam trains seem to be always their package and they're still here, it's lasted.

Ancr: If you spend anytime at all riding the rails of New Zealand you can't help but be struck by how much love there is for this place, and these trains.

It's a feeling that the locals want you to take with you along with your souvenirs and memories.

Ambient Sound If you call some people cheapskates they are quite offended.

But that's not the case with everybody.

We found a gentleman over in Connecticut who thinks being called a cheapskate is one heck of a compliment and he's put together an impressive layout with less money than you could ever imagine.

Ancr: If you have ever wondered what type of person goes shopping at the local junkyard: meet Maurice Decoster.

If you like neighborhood rummage or tag sales, you'll like Maurice Decoster.

He's the kind of guy who goes to the tag sale or the local junkyard, buys the things that you're absolutely, positively sure, no one would pay a penny for.

Maurice: Some of the things I've found include my basic building materials for instance; working in an outdoor environment you want moisture resistant wood.

I use mahogany scraps, I've got teak, I use red wood that I picked up, for instance somebody getting rid of an old redwood or cedar picnic table.

It gives me a supply of wood that I can use for a whole year in building the railroad.

I also pick up things such as children's action figures or toys, which I can modify and make into figures for the railroad.

I may find vehicles, which are useful and just miscellaneous things like interesting plumbing or electrical fixtures, which I can use to simulate rooftop structures or detailing in a yard next to a gas station.

Ancr: It's certainly true that one mans junk is another man's treasure.

Just take a look at what Maurice Decoster has put together with items he's found at rummage sales, junkyards and recycling centers.

This is the Connecticut Central; it's also low cost garden railroading.

Decoster built this 250 foot long compressed dog bone layout in his back garden when he decided that a garden shouldn't just have pretty flowers, it should have something that moves.

Maurice: I like something to be interesting, unusual, I guess I'd use the word plausible.

It doesn't have to be scale, it doesn't have to be 100% historically accurate.

Somebody looks at it and they see a complete scene and say, "that's possible, it could have been that way" but I also like to do that very inexpensively.

Ancr: Okay, let's start with the look at the roadbed, free compost, woodchips and topsoil from the city recycling center.

Styrofoam road bed, because Styrofoam is cheap.

Take a look at the track; Maurice estimates it costs him about fifty cents a foot.

All of it was hand built expect for the turnouts.

The redwood railroad ties were cut from an old scrap picnic table and glued down, bulk rail was fastened with common nails.

Now let's take a look at some of the structures.

He built them all at a cost than of less than two bucks a building.

How in the world, you're asking, did he do that?

Maurice: We built a coaling tower and the house on top of the coaling tower is constructed of Styrofoam base, to which cedar planks which were ripped out of old house siding were applied.

The roof is tar paper which is scribed, and it all sits on top of three coffee cans which are screwed together around which painted tar paper is put on.

It's all sitting in an old plastic shelf so it can be lifted up and detailed.

The whole structure probably cost me two or three dollars in terms of materials that are on it.

It was a lot of fun to build.

In building it, I didn't follow any particular plans; I think I had seen a picture of a model that was being offered for sale in one of the hobby magazines.

I said, that would be an interesting structure, so I proceeded to put one together.

Ancr: When you walk into any garden railroad display the first thing you see are the roofs of the buildings.

For this reason, Decoster puts extra attention and some unusual materials on his roofs.

Maurice: In a garden railway, you stop to think about it, what do you see must or best.

You see the roofs.

I think putting details on roofs make them more realistic.

I was quite nicely complimented last week.

We were visited by friends who's young daughter just completed architecture school, first thing she noticed, low and behold, it was the roofs.

She said, "Boy; those look realistic".

Ancr: The rolling stock and locomotives fall in the economical category as well.

Many are second hand.

He applies an old weathered look, which obscures the imperfection of a quick cheap paint job.

It's worked out so well that he's building a second steam layout right next to the Connecticut Central, a little more whimsical with a Hollywood theme.

But just as reasonably priced.

And by the way, all the plants, they were pretty cheap too; many were acquired at the end of the season sales at the local garden center.

All in all, this is his rule of thumb, if it requires too much time or money don't do it.

Now would you call that cheap?

Or, just plain smart!

Maurice says he gets great satisfaction knowing he has the kind of garden railway that just about anyone could build, all you need is a little effort, little know how and very little money.

Many of us have some sort of artistic talent and we probably wish we had more.

Wouldn't it be great not only to be able see things of beauty but to recreated that beauty for others to enjoy for many years to come.

We'll meet a Wisconsin man who uses his time and talent to create a treasure.

But first, Omaha.

It's famous as home to the Union Pacific Railroad.

But there's another line that's making a name for itself in Omaha and this one features, tigers and cotton candy.

Ambient Sound Ancr: Nope, it's not Africa, but some of the scenery is familiar.

It's the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska and it's quite a ride.

Dr. Simmons: It's very difficult to make an interesting zoo, an interesting botanical garden or an interesting anything on a piece of flat ground.

People have started out with flat ground and end up making their own mountains and building mounds of dirt.

What we've done is take an existing park, which had been around along time, with a lot mature trees.

We tried to keep most of the park as an open park, which is where the the railroad runs through.

Ancr: The 119 is the centerpiece of the zoo rails.

While it chugs right along filled with happy passengers, it wasn't a neat fit when it arrived back in the 1960's.

Dr. Simmons: The old 119 was originally built specifically for this park in 1968 by Crown Metal and we had difficulties with it from day one because we had a couple of grades here that went to six percent and we had some very tight curves and over the years we have tweaked and tuned it up and also lowered our grades on our two bad hills, and also pushed our curves out considerable, so the apparent grade that the locomotive saw was left.

A few years ago we tore the old 119 down to the frames and did a complete rebuild, other than the fact that most of the iron is old it's literally a brand new engine.

Ancr: Of course people don't just come here for the train, the zoo is home to a Imax three-D theatre; a massive aquarium complete with sharks and penguins, something you never see in the wild; and back to the train theme, this awesome engine house.

Henry: Eventually the Union Pacific decided to close their shops down here in downtown Omaha; they allowed us to come in.

They essentially donated some machinery for us to use in the repair of our locomotives as well as donating us funds to build the engine house here so we can put the equipment in here as well as the locomotives for us to work on ourselves.

Ancr: When you hop aboard it's off on a wild journey; you're carried along smoothly riding on the 30-inch gauge line.

Ambient Sound Ambient Sound Ambient Sound Let me take you back for a moment.

This is reminding me of another Tracks Ahead piece, let's compare: Africa Omaha Africa Omaha Africa Omaha.

There are definitely some bonuses to riding the wild rails in Nebraska, little things like stroller friendly walkways and fences to keep the wild things just out of striking range.

Plus no malaria shots, no political turmoil and when the ride is over you can grab an ice cream cone.

Just try that in Africa.

Music Ancr: Bruce Friesch is a powerful man; he has the power to transfer power onto paper.

The power of a streamline Hudson 4-6-4 which was built for speed, built to pull the Milwaukee Road Hiawatha.

The power of a 4-6-0 ten-wheeler, a tough old locomotive which was ideal for medium speed, multi-stop workhorse trains.

The power of a 4-8-2 Mikado, one of the most popular freight locomotives ever built.

Bruce Friesch understands the power of a locomotive and he has the ability and imagination to capture the image for the rest of us to appreciate.

Bruce: I like to paint trains because they have more class, especially the steam engines than a diesel engine does because they have the smoke, steam and the drive rods and the valve gear and they have that extra movement, that gives it just that more sight and sound than a diesel engine.

Ancr: Art is Bruce's Friesch's vocation and his advocation, he's a fulltime Technical Illustrator and Graphical Artist.

His time away from the office is spent here, in his home studio.

Hour after hour is spent capturing a single moment, that fraction of a second when the train rolled by, a moment, which is frozen in time.

He concentrates on trains and memories from the Midwest.

Trains and memories that are close to home.

Bruce: I concentrate on the Chicago Northwestern, The Soo Line and the Hiawatha because there's a lot of interest and memories from those railroads.

Many people remember the trains; they remember riding them, watching them, and also family members working on them.

The also remember the train depots in the cities and towns.

Ancr: Like many artists, Bruce Friesch is quiet and humble, he lets his art do the talking; and his art says it all.

You can purchase prints of almost everything Bruce Friesch has done.

Thanks for being with us and please join us next time for more Tracks Ahead.

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