Leonard’s view of the world (Leonard’s drone)

nother train show way up in Deland, and all you can say, it’s not getting any closer, or later in the morning.

We decided to switch drivers going in, if only to throw off the KGB (seriously, over-scheduling difficulties, but it worked out fine). John W was our set-up boss and we set up with a solid crew in sharp time. We did have problems with a full booster (remember what Steve told you about consisting? This is what it looks like. We’re going to have to work with Kyle to clear it). And there was Mike with a dead throttle who Chicken-Littled me under the layout, where I learned all about electrical sparks and how NOT to reconnect the layout (while chasing shorts, I was causing sparks). And after the layout was agreed to be up-n-running, I gave the show-boss role to Zach and went into exile, taking up a table with my little switching puzzle way on my own, half-way to bum-fug-T-Trak. Yeah, I didn’t get over to the main layout for much of the day, so they could have had fist fights, debates, or even orgies and I wouldn’t have known. Alas.

The T-Trak guys came in a day early to set up. And to think, this whole thing was an “idea” a year or so back. (Kyle S)

Kyle stops to get a token from Sir Topham Hatt. Cute (Kyle S)

I did get briefly over to the T-Trak which left me totally confused – their mainline was rather wonky with the Sikora-S-Turn on it, an arrangement that got Kyle really proficient at rerailing all day. But mostly I sat at my little table and stumped people who thought the Inglenook Puzzle was easy (easy when looking over a shoulder, not so much when sitting in the chair). My own favorite smirk was looking down a lot of cars to the caboose, before which an engine and the rear target car idled, and noting, “Wow, it’s a long way back to that caboose, innit?”

Notables amongst the failures. One guy fumbled at it for a while. His girlfriend came in the front door and sat in for him and eventually solved it. I should have given her an application. Another guy told me oh-yes-he-could-solve-it in fast, loud bursts. Sat down, made about three or four moves, then said, Oh-gotta-go. The comedy of this was that we went over to the “Other Inglenook” and reportedly did the same thing. with them. Perhaps he’s looking for an Inglenook he likes. Dunno. And a guy from the Orlando Society of Model Railroaders (who we run with from time to time) gave it a go and fought with it for just under an hour – solved it, too. So good for him for his perseverance.

Robert switch-crews Inglenook while a half-Rushmore of ONT Presidents observe. Also there, our old/new member Mike. Shemp is allowed to watch but cannot plug in that cursed controller of his (Beanhouse Christensen)

Remember those “Why we fight?” posters from World War Two? This is “Why we display”. Thanks to John DV, who made dreams AND this photo.

The one that was not my best were the two kids (twins) who wanted to try but had to wait their turn. I kinda got the idea that I was babysitting them while their dad roamed the tables. They had to scissor-paper-rock to decide who finally got to go. The boy won. So he sad down and flubbed about for a bit – perhaps he should have paid more attention to the OSMR attempts than playing poke-games with his sister. He was a bit rough with the switcher, pretty much hitting the bumpers on every move. Worse, he’d back into a cut — BANG! – then ask for an uncouple (which I’d do) then bang into them again. I ended up keeping the uncoupler in the coupler pocket to fend him off – so predictable.

But here we go – his dad finally came back, didn’t really give him a chance but took over, standing over him and ordering the kid’s moves. And with that, the kid shut down. He’d move the throttle blindly, not paying attention, ramming the bumpers even harder. He even folded his arms and gave every sign of disinterest in the game. And his dad, he was speaking sharply (uncomfortable in a public setting) and even tossing out a light (but again, public) cuff to the head when the kid was totally unresponsive.

And there was their family dynamic for all the world to see – the demanding father and his son who could go fetal-position as a Gandhi-defense against it. Rewinding memories, I realized that he only talked to his sister, never his father. Years of therapy sessions, I’d wager. My own old man was a bit like that, and I’m a bit like the kid, I suppose, so it was very painful to have going down right across a narrow switching puzzle from me.

“Would you like a hint?” I finally asked. I was afraid for the kid at this point. Dad wanted to leave, the kid wasn’t helping and I wanted it over. So I dropped hint-hint-hints and steered them to the sorted-five as quickly as I could. After that, they left, trailing dysfunctionalality behind them like a toxic cloud.

What we do – long trains, recognizable scenes, and yellow shirts. Damn, we’re good (John DV)

DuBiel’s Folly, which actually works well and is a crowd-pleaser (John C)

After that, our own Luke showed up – he’d gotten hammered the first time he tried Inglenook at the club. But either he’d read my blog about Zeus’ show and my realization of the solution or he’d listened to my bagging about it, but when he sat down, I told him to watch the table and left him to switch while I went to the bathroom. Came back, he was done. “Do it again”, I told him. He did. So maybe he’s ready for Prime-MartinYard-Time next session. But good for him. And his dad didn’t even knock him around, a relief after the earlier thing.

Final bittersweet (nah, just bitter, truthfully) is that this was the last show (and final days here) for both Kaden and Alex, who are flying the N-Trak nest for cities and careers elsewhere. I’m going to really miss those two guys (but in Kaden’s case, it’s like a kid leaving home for college. Lose a kid, gain a couple of yard tracks). But ONT wishes them well and extends an invite – if you find yourself back in Oburg, let us know and we’ll put together a scratch ops session for you (even if it’s only the Tuscarora). We’ll miss you guys.

I’m even going to miss this pain-in-the-ass train, making its sunset run on ONT rail. (John DV)

And that was my day at the fair. Exhausted but (outside of the domestic-crap) fun. And thanks to all those who attended and made the show another three-layout success. Especially to John C who bought me a cup of coffee when I really needed it.

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Those T-Trak guys are not what you’d call “Era-specific” (Leonard J)

Security footage from outside the roach coach. Please contact the authorities with any information (Leonard J)

Marty told me he had fun running Heavy Metal at the show. Good for him (John C)

Shaking the paint off the buildings at Folkston, Both the little railfan figures and the show-goers are wowed (John DV)