Playing with trains

Mike Baker's new 2-8-2 Great Northern steamer has a short train in tow on the Evergreen train layout.

 

Marvin's Northern Pacific train has first generation units in the lead as a rival Great Northern passes the other way.

Three of the major railroads gather together as NP, SP&S and GN are all represented on this stretch of the layout.

My Union Pacific steamer waits a call to duty to take another passenger train up to Wallace, Idaho.

 

Greg has a pair of EMD Geeps waiting for a green light on the front part of the layout.

 

 

Saturday action at the Eveergreen Railroad.

When the crew got back form a road trip Thorp, Washington to see a fantastic layout based on the Keddee Wye on the old Western Pacific Railroad ( future e-mail photo coverage ) we found Jim Bowden running his Alaska Railroad coal train.

 

The power was 5 GP38's? pulling 30 Alaska coal cars and it was quite a sight.

 

it even had one of those old fashioned cabooses on the tail end which I miss so much from the current

railroad scene.

 

Jim was also tuning up his Alaska F units for another train but I could not hang around to see what it was going to pull.

 

As you may know I sold Signal Signs to Gary Frizzell and one of our first assist to Gary was to create this first heritage sign in a large format for a customer. We plan to expand it to cover most of the mergers with the same enthusiasm. The panel material is 1/8 inch masonite so it needs no frame.

Photos from 14th Annual Open House

We had our 14th annual open house tonight and about 110 visitors showed up to see what we  have been up too.  Everyone seemed to have a good time including the 15 children that came by tonight. Say, is that Steve Welton hiding in the corner with those other North Idahoians?

 

Mike Baker showed off his Great Northern Empire Builder and it reminded me of how good we had it back in the day when streamliners were the pride of the railroads.

 

New member Janis had 2 of her steam engines running up on the Green Branch where the older equipment should run as the curves are tighter up there for small engines.

 

The bigger engines need wider radius curves such as these 6 axle monsters attest.

 

Burt kept the back of the club in good order by watching for any problems with the trains.

 

Remember the MRL video? This location was featured in Steve's presentation.

 

 

Open House Invitation Saturday October 10th

SP&S Roundup happened without planning it!

When we got back from dinner on Thursday it was obvious that it was going to be a big night for the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad at the Evergreen. Steve Wesolowski added his FA and GP power to his train while Greg's train had 2 Alco RS units in the lead.

 

A little while later Mr SP&S Keith Wiles hauled out his favorite #750 E unit assisted by a visiting GN E unit.

 

Then I started to get recommendations from the group that several trains in one shot would be nice so this spot added to the multiple units showing up.

 

That wasn't good enough so the gang decided to add even more SP&S power to the collection including 2 of my C-636s for this set up shot. Not bad for a bunch of kids I thought!

 

I could not let it be said that an interloper showed up in the form of an NP F unit freight. The NP actually owned 50 percent of the SP&S so that makes it OK.

 

After a tough battle on the grades of Washington State my Alco C-636 gets a look over in the shops to make sure all the pistons are where they belong.