Sorry gang, I had gotten half way through a reply last Wednesday, and even saved it to the clipboard. Then I needed to copy an email address, forgetting that I had my post saved. Of course, that's when the forum tab failed, and my backup was gone. It's always something!
Take two.
Regarding the convention, I should have known that this might happen, but I had high hopes anyway. The guy who put together the tour, sent out a follow up email, asking the hosts to report their attendance numbers. Most did "reply all", so I got their data. Analyzing the numbers always helps me feel better, and convince me that it wasn't my fault. I just have to keep in mind that this was a narrow gauge convention, and 3 rail ain't their cup o' tea (unless it's dual gauge). My numbers were so bad, I just replied directly to him. When I did have visitors I had a great time, and so did they. One guy who came through on Saturday (a local) pointed out that I had created a giant shelf layout. Never thought of it that way, but I agreed.
I'm mostly over this little incident. The loss of enterTRAINment was far worse.
I attended the local NMRA division meeting Thursday night. Back in May, I got "railroaded" into being the assistant superintendent, by volunteering to run unopposed. I had spent three years as the layout tour director, and accepted the promotion to the elected position, thinking it was less responsibility. Wrong! Last month, right out of the gate, the new superintendent runs into some family issues, and I have to lead the board meeting, to plan out the season. I was actually somewhat prepared, and things went rather smoothly as we hashed out what we were going to do. I was given the task of choosing the contests for each monthly meeting. So for last night, I picked "photos: prototype or model". In all my years in the NMRA, I never entered a contest, but last night I actually brought a couple entries. I'll show them to you at the end of this post and let you vote.
In the past, we didn't meet in September, until I suggested it a couple years ago. The program is always the same, " What did you do over the summer?" (train related of course). Those guys really do mostly take the summer off from trains, except for attending conventions. I always like letting everyone else go first, that way I can adjust my speed to fit the time. I basically gave them a condensed update like I give you, only for May - August. I just went through the material, pared it down a bit and presented it as a live slideshow. Then I finished up with the latest train ride video.
Thanks for all the well wishes on the toe. It's still looking good. Doc visit Tuesday.
Mark - Thanks, I promise we'll keep an eye on it. There are still quite a few doctor visits before it's totally closed and more follow ups when it is.
Paul - Thanks, it was still time well spent working on the layout. No regrets there. With the convention behind me, I just need to press on. Maybe we'll have another convention in the next few years, perhaps an NMRA regional. Our last was 2013, so we're coming due as the largest city in the region.
Mallard - This tour was also self-drive so everyone was free to go where they wanted. I had the added disadvantage of being 40 minutes from the hotel, but that wasn't the furthest. There was a cluster of three layouts in western Wisconsin, with one in Eau Claire that was 110 minutes. The reason they did so well was they were all narrow gaugers. The sad part was, everyone who visited them had to drive right past me, and so they did. If I'd have gotten even 20% of those guys to stop, I'd have been a happy camper. As for our division, we don't call them open house days, but fall and spring we try to visit three layouts on a Saturday afternoon. Members only, not open to the public.
Bob - Thanks, I've spent all week slacking off. I hope to get back at it next week. Just not sure where to start. I want to start working seriously toward operations, but I also want to get the messy scenery stuff done. BTW, the toe wasn't that pretty before I stepped on the nail.
George - How many layouts are open at the same time, and are they open to the public? An OGR article is on my bucket list.
Steve - I'll try. It may be almost all that gets done this month. You're welcome anytime. If it was me, I'd plan a big road trip. Lots of good train activities all along the way. Figure 10 -14 days to not be rushed.
Mike - I don't plan to bring much into the train room, just stuff that goes on the layout. The idea is to use up the materials in the lower garage to make things.
Mark - Regrouping sounds like a good idea. Remember, originally we were going to take that five week trip starting next week.
Pat - Thanks, Bob's comment just above this post was very reassuring. It's not me, it's them. This was a very specialized convention, and 3 rail just isn't on their radar.
Corey - Yeah, I love fall, the weather and the colors. It's going to be fun doing all four seasons.
Ray - I think it's working now. Yeah, I wish they would cut down all that scrub in the wye. Could be another five or six weeks before the leaves are off.
Frank - Thanks for the advice. I've actually been doing all of that. When I get in the shower I put on what we have named the "foot condom". It's a vinyl bag in the the shape of a foot, with a stretchy collar, that seals out the water. When my wife dresses the toe, she always gives me the old gauze pad for the sniff test. Bit gross, but it works.
RTR - Yeah, those trees down there were allowed to fill in below the bridge. There are piers near the near the tops of the valley on both sides. That makes four piers and two abutments total with five spans. Roads on both sides have a girder span. The there are three main spans, with the two piers in the river.
Mike - Thanks, interesting story. Operating trollys sounds cool.
Butch - They already took the website down. I hope you got a chance to look. The listing was OK at best. I originally sent them a description of the layout, but they watered it down to a rather non-descript few sentences. The pictures didn't really hep much either. They had been taken much earlier,and looked empty. I meant to send them some new ones, but never got the good camera out to take them. I kind of got the feeling that they didn't really want me on the tour.
Joe - Thanks. Please define complete. With any luck, within the next year, I'd like to have the scenery pretty much done, and the control system functional, so we can focus on operating.
Conrailfan - Thanks for the reminder. If you think it's cool in the pictures, try talking to the guys who have seen it in person. They say it's a whole different animal. I can't let this episode derail me. There's a lot left to do.
Bob - Thanks, everyone's positive and reassuring comments are great, but coming from you, as someone has lived through it first hand is most consoling. Now I'm curious as to how many visitors the North West Trunk Lines got when the narrow gaugers were in Seattle. Of course, that layout is beautiful, as is yours, but in a way, I view that layout as cheating. While the owner was responsible for the concept, he had a crew of professionals build it for him. That's what happens when money is no object. For the rest of us, it's a source of pleasure getting our hands dirty.
Finally, back to the photo contest. I had two entries here they are:
I love this one because it captures the motion a little. Double head steam, thundering along at around 50 MPH. I'm standing about 20 feet away.
This one was cropped better, mostly on the right, and off the top. The crew is doing switch construction and replacement at Hoffman.
Guess which one won. See if you agree with the locals.
