The States Train disturbs a Jacksonville wedding (Photo: Jim M)

e’ll start with wrist-slapping. Over twenty people were supposed to be at setup today. We got a handful. Fortunately the crew we had was top-notch and we had just enough people to get the basic assembly team in action. Others drifted in after the layout was up, siting various reasons (the coo-coo fell off Kyle’s European clock, it seems). We were still nowhere near the numbers we’d been promised.

And here is my admonishment – you are only as good as your word.

Done.

The rest of the train show clicked out as if it had been timetabled. Trains surged out. They surged in. We’re like a flock of birds, all landing on the wire at once, all taking flight. And the bird shit!

I had a great time, running my Tidewater Express through the railroad. We were getting some weird control responses on the line – not sure if this was because of all the running systems or what? I had some minor issues but ran through the day.

Also, as people in attendance saw, I saved everyone by throwing myself on a grenade that exploded endlessly for twenty ear-bleeding minutes. I’m in the trauma ward now. If you called me after the show and I didn’t pick up, this is why. I’d had my share of words for the day.

Even through I brought donuts, Tag also brought donuts too (resulting in everyone being stuffed with them). And for lunch, right after I stepped out, Kaden and his dad brought in two dozen delicious sandwiches from a chicken franchise I don’t feel like plugging (but those sandwiches are admittedly the best). So everyone dug in, eating one or two of them with gusto.

Cut to scene: Exterior, sticky picnic table: Robert shoos away flies and slowly eats a pre-cooked burger.

Brute (Photo: Kaden S)…

…and Cute (Photo: Kyle S)

But overall, the crew worked well together. We ran trains for the whole session, the show-masters took charge and kept us honest, people got off the line as a show of courtesy to others, we sold a lot of stuff and we ended up with all the brakemen back in their places. Good show and good times.

Thanks to all those who supported the club.

A weird moment in the yard as trains of all nations assemble. The UN meets on the Isle of Sodor? (Photo: Kaden S)

The Tidewater Express blows through Jacksonville. We’re not in Pennsylvania anymore, Dorothy. (Photo: Kaden S)

A shot worthy of a magazine (Photo: John DV)

The States Train. When I was a kid, the train only had thirteen cars. (Photo: John DV)

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