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History of the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers by J. Wayne Beachy
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In the winter of 1997, I was a member of the Virginia Train Collectors (VTC)
and I was asked to start a group that would run a modular layout at local train shows.
The idea was to build a modular layout to run both O gauge and S gauge trains.
After several months, there was no interest in creating a dual gauge modular layout.
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However, Mike Myers lobbied me to start a strictly S gauge modular layout.
We spoke with a few of the members of the VTC who were S gaugers and in April 1997 the
wheels were turning for the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers. We decided to use the module
specifications from the Baltimore American Flyers Club (BAAFC), and also their form
of organization, none.
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Charter members were: Wayne Beachy, Dave Conyers, Mike Myers, Ernie Stinson, Stuart Gordon, and Joe Haenn.
The first five members began constructing a modular layout in Wayne Beachy's back yard.
Joe Haenn began constructing two straight modules at his home in Rougemont, NC.
We mailed a request to Great American Trains Shows (GATS) and were accepted to do the
August show at the Richmond Fair Grounds in August 1997.
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For first show, we operated a 14' X 18' layout. We had lots of fun, and signed on several new members.
Later that fall, several of us traveled to Raleigh, NC to operate trains with Joe Haenn at the
Neuse River Train Club show at the Raleigh Fairgrounds. More fun, and more new members.
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At this point, we realized how hard it would be to have an active club when members lived
several hours apart. We decided to call our club the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers (ACSG) and create local divisions.
This way members could be active in their smaller, local divisions, but still run with the other
divisions if they wanted more opportunity to run trains. The original Richmond Group took the name
Virginia Central Division,
from the railroad predecessor to C&O, and the Raleigh group to the name Carolinas Division.
The
Carolinas Division consists of members from both North and South Carolina.
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Within a couple of years the ACSG was growing quite fast. The third division was created in
Northern Virginia, under the mentorship of Scott Brown and called itself the
Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Division
after a fallen flag short line in the area.
The fourth division was the
Tidewater Division, in Tidewater Virginia, coordinated by Ken McNelly.
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The Delaware Division was formed in late winter of 2002.
Key organizers were Bill Mixon and John Beck of Seaside Hobbies.
They no longer participate in the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers.
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In spring 2003, Joe Haenn, and the now huge Carolinas Division traveled to Atlanta, Georgia
for the Great American Train Show there, and recruited members for
the Georgia Division.
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The Carolinas, Georgia, and Tidewater Divisions met in Jacksonville, FL at the
Great Train Expo in 2006.
The ACSG layout there was an attempt to gauge if there was interest in the
northern Florida area for an S gauge train club.
Although there was little progress in organizing a division there initially, now the
Northern Florida Division is doing very well.
If you are in the northern Florida area, and interested in joining the
Atlantic Coast S Gaugers, please contact Larry Shughart.
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The ACSG also informally affiliates with the
Baltimore Area American Flyer Club (BAAFC)
and the Potomac Valley S Gaugers, a S scale modular club.
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If you would like to start a new ACSG division, or have an existing club and would like to affiliate with us,
contact Marvin Thiel of the ACSG.
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