About 3 weeks ago, we received a call from the Daughter in law of Mr. Tom Busack, a 97 year old HO modeler. Mr. Busack who should be well known here since he was a major contributor to MR, chose to donate his HO layout and some models to the Museum. I’ve been modeling in HO for 44 years, and I have seen a lot, but these models are incredible! His engineering skills are evident in the details of his locomotives,and cars. He kit bashed or scratch built just about everything on the layout. The nicest contribution has to be his collection of kit bashed bicentennial locomotive fleet some 50 or more locomotives which are dead on for accuracy. I have to photograph each part of the collection for inventory and appraisal purposes, so I’ll pass on some of the images to the forum as we get things organized. Also, I invite anyone in the Salamanca area to join us in the reassembling and operating of Mr. Busack’s layout. We are going to convert it to DCC to allow more of a club like operation. The Bicentennial locomotives will not be converted to DCC, but will remain as they are, and will be on permanent display in the Museum. Actually, very few of his locomotives will be converted since they are older locomotives. Most look to be Hobbytown locos. Mr. Busack grew up in the Chicago area, and moved to Western New York State in 1948. He was most fond of the Burlington Zephyr, and has retained his scratch built model of it in the nursing home where he now resides. I have yet to visit him, but I plan on it this coming week. I hope to show him what my four sons and I have done with our layout so he knows that his layout is in capable hands. - Stan
A big double ATTABOY!
To Mr Busack for making the donation.
To the Salamanca Museum and its staff, for accepting it and arranging for it to have a good home.
So many times I have seen old modelwork just sitting in a corner gathering dust. Usually, so was everything else in the building. It seems that there are those who think that a museum is just a warehouse for old stuff, and don’t realize, or aren’t willing to take the effort, to keep those things alive.
I wish I didn’t live so far away. The Salamanca Museum sounds like a place I would like to visit.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Chuck,
Thanks for the note. I only had one locomotive from Mr. Busack’s collection that wasn’t of the bicentennial fleet on hand, but it is a rare one. This is PRR 8445 known as the “hammerhead” RS3 which wore 5 different road numbers in it’s interesting life. 8445 was it’s original number, then it became PC 5569, then sold to the Lehigh Valley where it became LV 211, and finally Conrail 5487/9920. This is a good example of the painstaking detail that Mr. Busack put into every locomotive. I posed it on my home layout for a few images before retiring it to the museum:
I plan on posting more in the next few weeks.
-Stan
Interesting note is this locomotive is still in operation today at the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad museum in it’s LV heritage.
It is nice to know something will be preserved and on display for all to see and enjoy! [tup] [Y]
I am unfamiliar with his work in MR {having been away for so long until recently}. but sure DO enjoy viewing great HO scale layouts!
I am not really that far from Salamanca, so perhaps I will get to visit next year and see it all set up and running?
[8-|]
Galaxy,
I’m hoping that we have it up and running by that time. I have quite a few interested modelers in the area who like what they see, and plan on assisting with the reassembly and operation. Our N scale layout in the main lobby of the depot is enclosed for protection, and that makes it difficult to run like a “club” operation. This layout will remain open to allow free movement around it and permit us to set up a more flexible operation. With the conversion to DCC, my sons and I will be able to bring in some of our models for show, and to demonstrate the many options offered with digital technology. The freight house is a very large building, so we will be able to eventually expand this layout if we choose to. Salamanca has passed on as a viable RR town, but My focus is to get as many people young and old in the Salamanca area involved with the layout, and the museum as a whole to keep it here for generations.
-Stan
Stan, what a great collection to have at the Salamanca Museum. I have a particular interest in the PRR RS3m, aka: LV 211.
She has survived 3 bankruptcies, two times on the scrap track, and is now still working on her 6th. RR, The Rochester and Genesee Valley RR Museum. When she was bought by a group from our museum she was in Conrail Colors but was restored to look like she did on the Lehigh Valley. She is the queen of our fleet and still gets used out on the line a few times each year. One thing that makes her special is that she is an RS3m or a Dewitt Jeep. She was rebuilt in the Dewitt shops and was given an EMD 567B prime mover shown here:
She is also has some WOW factor when we start her up. Here is a video of her first start up last Spring after just sitting in the yard all winter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy3hWrzJrfk&list=UUkoOG5exBPqBlrkK3GdlXhA&index=1&feature=plcp
Let us know when the exhibit is up and running. I will certainly want to get over to Salamanca to see it (and the rest of your museum).
Hi Stan,
I live in Bradford, PA and I’m very interested in this project. Sent you a PM seeking more info.
Chris
Chris, I didn’t recieve your message, but I’m here at the museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so feel free to drop by any time! You can call the museum at 716-945-3133, or email me at: eastsalamancastation@yahoo.com.
We still have a lot of moving to do with the layout, but I hope we can make a dent in it this weekend.
Ray, I’m glad the old girl is being well cared for. I like the LV scheme better than the Pennsy. I don’t know if you have the Morning Sun book, “Trackside Around Buffalo”, but it features images of her in LV paint and PRR paint.
-Stan
Mr. Busack passed away on Friday in Olean, NY. I’m very glad to see that his layout will be preserved for others to enjoy. I visited his layout several times in the 80’s and he was always very gracious, kind and he answered all the questions that a 12 year old could muster very patiently. He will be missed.
–Reed