Saturday, January 15, 2022

Norm Leathers is alive and well and is still a very active model railroader


 Norm Leathers is the WMRC’s longest standing member. He joined the club shortly after it was formed in 1955, and has held many positions in the club, including President. He turned 86 this month. He still attends meetings on a regular basis and he is still a very active model railroader.

He recently brought in a model he has been working on for the club’s monthly model display. Norm, who exclusively models the Pennsylvania Railroad, displayed a Pennsylvania E-44 electric engine. It consisted of a Hallmark unpaired brass body and a chassis whose running qualities he didn’t like.

Bachmann had marketed an E-33 locomotive which was a much better runner.  Norm modified the body of the Hallmark model and the chassis of the Bachmann model so that they could be joined together to make a much better running locomotive. He installed a Digitrax decoder and had former WMRC member John Morris paint and decal it.

Long may your E-44 run, and long may your run, Norm!

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