Jim storms over the St. Marys. (Photo: Jim M)

retty good show for a Saturday. Leonard impresses me with his truck handling – he can get the trailer up to the club dock while ignoring us arm-wavers (to the inch) and can spot the loaded trailer right into the Deland Bay. So we had a good crew for setup and Show Boss Matthew kept us on the narrow beam (we lined up everything nice and even – hardly any adjustment needed). We were up in an hour and a quarter, ready to go. No issues there.

So I know what is going to happen in the November meeting – start forming your diatribes now. Long trains. At one point we had four long trains out (and were running in the red zone on the train board most of the day). So yeah, you guys need to figure out who we’re going to handle this (the whole “someone should do something” or “we should have a rule” doesn’t work). Maybe we need to mark the yards with “acceptable” train lengths marked out and only allow longies out in the afternoons. I don’t know. A couple of people would ask to come out (and I usually held you in or advised you against it) but then again, some of you would pop out of the various spider holes and run long trains I knew nothing about around the layout.

As far as Bowden Yard (the stub yard behind the Jacksonville modules), I think we need to force people to cross over and nose in. You clowns backing long trains through an S-turn and holding the entire layout up are a source of constant delays. Think of how many times you were stuck on reds on the inner Jacksonville-bound tracks (technically southbound). Chances were it was someone backing into Bowden. Your problem is you. Decide how we are going to fix it, bring aluminum bats to the next meeting and fuss it out between yourselves.

I can’t hold us to rules if there are no rules.

Don’t get between a shark and meat. Or Christen and pizza. Lesson learned (Photo & Pizza: Leonard J. – Christen M: Mr and Mrs Miller)

One of the nicest surprises at the show was Big Rig Leonard bringing in pizza for the whole crew. That was a nice change from the roach coach. And I had to laugh. I was sitting over at the train board, keeping track while enjoying a slice. All day the board was in the red. During the pasta party, it dropped down to green (three trains, one long). Probably guys on diets or having already done the coach. Then the trains literally poured out, back into the red.

Maybe we could actually rig up a signal that would be on a long mast, showing the actual status of the railroad to everyone. You know, build a lightweight PVC with three target bulbs, visible to everyone. We could even put a mount on Module 16 for it. Tossing this out there.

We could use a couple of younger people at setup and takedown. These modules aren’t getting any lighter. Possibly we could rig them with helium gas sacks under the frames? I wouldn’t suggest hydrogen, especially if we plan to attend the Lakehurst show.

As far as problems identified – the middle-track turnout on the facing point stubs in the yard entry track (Module 14, I think) failed again. Same issue as before I had to unplug the reed contact to allow manual throws. And Mike’s Canada train fails spectacularly (another Lakehurst reference here) on the track joiners between module 1 and 2. The rolling stock committee swears they are to spec on weight and wheels – I’d like to see a set of standard plastic wheels installed on the more troublesome cars. Otherwise, my only guess is that some poor worker fell into the plastics vat and those cars are cursed. Chad’s thousand-car PFE run took it just fine. Can’t tell you.

As far as my own personal needs were filled, I bought out my F units and set them up on the end of Bowden, waiting for a chance to pull club cars. Didn’t happen. The only run I got a borrowing Pete’s train for a couple of laps around 1pm. Of course, he had been thinking about putting it away, so everytime I passed him, he’d circumcise another car off, whittling me down. Oh well – yes, I did get a couple of laps. It makes up for getting here at 6am and reading by dome light in the car, waiting for the truck and setup crew.

What the crowds love and the operators hate – long trains. Still, it’s PFE. I’ll allow it. (Photo: Dan L)

We got the trailer home fine, the three crews running through increasingly heavy showers heading back to the club. Once there, it rained and rained. We waited it out for thirty minutes and finally got enough of a gap to roll them in. So everything is put away, we’ve got money in the bank, and we’re in good shape. Charlie seems happy with us – he asked if we could bring even more modules to his event in January (I told this this was all we had, but then again, maybe I’ll finally bring Tuscarora. Gotta get one of you gas-guzzling FUV hunks to move it for me) (of course, I could ask Chris to bring it out, but that’s if I’m willing to wait until 2pm for his leisurely  arrival) (and what about you T-Trak trolls?). But as long as this show continues to run, we’ve got employment.

Anyway, thanks to all who came out, built this thing, took it down, and ran on it. Great show as always.

Slept ten hours. Like a log. Stiff as one, also.

>>>BUY A BOOK. SUPPORT THE SITE<<<

Kinda a loads-in/loads-out thing. Kinda (Photo: John DV)

Insert some sarcastic note about small English trains hauling maybe a ton and a half of coal (Photo: Kyle S who was one of the all day-crew – thanks!)

Nice shot. You can smell the brine coming off the melt (Photo: Leonard J)