Arctic Warrior passes time as a member of the new generation of model railroad engineers

  • Published
  • By David Bedard
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Airman 1st Class Jonathan Schumacher, 381st Intelligence Squadron, worked with the hands of a surgeon, Saturday, on a 1-to-87 H0-scale model train engine.

Seated at the Military Society of Model Railroad Engineers' workbench at Matanuska Hall, Schumacher consulted with fellow club members on how best to repair a truck - the bogey assembly housing the miniature train's wheels - before stepping over to a rail yard layout to test his repairs.

Looking like Jack Black as the titular character in "Gulliver's Travels," the 24-year-old Schumacher is an odd sight among MSMRE members who are mostly retired.

The Sandwich, Ill. native said he developed an interest in trains through the influence of his grandfather.

"When I was young, my grandpa and I always went and watched trains," Schumacher recalled.
 
"We started buying model trains here and there and it just started growing and growing, and it's been a fascination ever since. It's a good hobby to dump money into."

The client systems apprentice said a fondness for model trains wasn't the only thing he inherited from his grandfather, who served in the Air Force.

After graduating from high school and working at a warehouse for a few years, Schumacher said his interest in military aviation and a hankering to see the world let him the country's air service.

"I figured I would try something new, get the experience, get out there and see what's going on," he said.
 
"I've always had an interest in planes even though I don't fly."

While attending technical school, the Airman said he made some inquiries concerning his assignment to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

"When I was at Keesler (Air Force Base) for tech school and I found out I was coming to (JBER), I was wondering if they had a model railroad club up in the area because I have a bunch of stuff with my grandpa back at home and thought it would be neat to check it out," he said.
 
"I was surprised to find one on base when I drove up here through the Alcan, and the first day I got here - it was a Saturday - I came here first before I went to the Squadron and checked this place out."

Among an almost tribal culture of differing scale adherents, Schumacher said he prefers the most commonly encountered H0-scale for its medium size.

"I like the detail you get with the scale," he explained. "It's easier to maneuver than these little (1-to-148) N-scales.

"When you start working the details, you can really do some precision stuff with it that you can't do with smaller scales, like the trucks and side frames."

Though the Airman said he does spend time in digital-age pursuits like playing his game console or maneuvering RC cars, he said he especially likes to duck cold weather by working on trains.

"It's a good way to spend my time," Schumacher said. "I could be going out and spending my money on other stuff like drinking or doing something ridiculous, but I'm working on trains and socializing with the people here.

"A lot of them are retired military and you get their experience and hear a lot of their stories," he continued. "So that's fun."