After providing 15 years of equal parts enjoyment and headache, the old layout was decommissioned on May 20, 2012. Current students and alumni members are working together to build and design a bigger and better version of the Rochester & Irondequoit Terminal.
In this latest version, we have expanded and “rebooted” the R&IT story to make it a bit more plausible and to inculde more actual scenes to model. Much of our early history as a competing electric interurban remains the same. Our post-Conrail history has the R&IT taking over the operation of the former New York Central Auburn Road from Syracuse to Geneva and Rochester as well as the former NYC Falls Road from Rochester to Lockport and Niagara Falls. We are modeling the western portion of our route from Rochester to Niagara Falls.
The new layout starts in Syracuse (staging undeneath Niagra Falls), enters the helix to exit at Geneva Jct. (hidden beneath the Albion scene). The modeled portion of the new layout features key scenes in the city of Rochester, and expands to includes towns of Albion and Lockport along the Falls Road Secondary to the industrial side of Niagara Falls before returning to the helix and down to Buffalo (on the staging level). The main lines are all Code 83 PECO flex track, with a minimum main line radius of 30″, while the hidden staging areas are laid with Code 100 Atlas flex track.
Many of our members enjoy running the same trains they see in real life while others model a different era or geographic area. This explains how modern CSX diesels sometimes run alongside Santa Fe steam locomotives from the 1940s! Regardless, we have given our railroad a plausible backstory and have brought our fictional railroad company into the present day. Both the R&IT name and orange-and-black color scheme demonstrate our close ties to RIT and our positive school spirit. Membership is open to all RIT students. Won’t you join us?
Construction of the new layout began on October 1, 2012, and has been progressing steadily each week. On November 16, 2013, we joined the rails of our main line from end to end and ran the first train around the new layout! Current work is focusing on fine-tuning the trackwork and installing all of the electrical power feeds and detection circuits. Join our Facebook fan page to follow our progress!
The first version of the HO scale Rochester & Irondequoit Terminal was roughly 10x25 (not counting staging yards). It was a group effort that had steadily grown over the years since 1997 when we first moved into our current club room.
The model railroad was based on our observations and interpretations of real railroading in Rochester and western New York State. There were many recognizable scenes, including High Falls, the Amtrak station, and the Genesee Brewery. Some areas were carefully constructed to match an actual scene, while others were modified or created to fit a special situation. The result was a unique model environment that looks like it belongs together, creating a realistic setting to run our trains.The model railroad was designed and constructed by our members, each one drawn to a specific area of interest. We were one of the first clubs to adopt Digital Command Control, and many of our members were interested in electronics and software design as a result. The railroad also employed sophisticated block detection and wayside signal software.
Many of our members enjoy running the same trains they see in real life while others model a different era or geographic area. This explains how modern CSX diesels sometimes run alongside Santa Fe steam locomotives from the 1940s! Regardless, we have given our railroad a plausible backstory and have brought our fictional railroad company into the present day. Both the R&IT name and orange-and-black color scheme demonstrate our close ties to RIT and our positive school spirit. Membership is open to all RIT students. Won’t you join us?