22-23 October 2022 is the next Operations Session on the
Bluestone Southern… Starts at noon Sat and Sun and runs
till 5ish in the evening…
An RSVP would be nice so when can anticipate how many folks are
expecting to come, but the RSVP is not required…
Cool!
Reservations made.
Jean & I will both be there!
We WILL be leaving early on Sunday after noon - I’m headed down to Arkansas to see my brother.
We plan to be there and already have reservations in Washington County Park for the whole weekend.
I’ll be there! Should someone warn retired teacher Mark. hahaha!!
I will be there both days. Dale
Well, I sure thought we were going to make it this year, but I just cancelled our reservations. Jean is in too much pain (from her ankle) to go, even when she is NOT walking around.
Hope everyone has a GREAT time!
Dang Bruce, sorry to hear about Jean again
Echoing Dave, Bruce. So sorry to hear that.
Very dissapointed with not seeing Bruce and Jean, but absolutely unerstand. This is early Sunday morning and the first two days are in the books. Weather has been perfect and the Track Crew at of the Bluestone Southern (Jane) has done a wonderful job of having things ready for the Ops. Weather is warm and dry with very comfortable 80 degree temps. We had a track inspection session on Friday and used the time to put out or pre-stage all of the yards and switching puzzles. Saturday found me running the switchback with the lumber trains with toursit cars attached to watch the operations. This is a great exercise of duplicating the trains at Cass or the EBT. The hill climb is also a good cardio routine, as you follow your train up and down the trackage. This was the last track installed and has been on the ground, I’m thinking 3 years, so plant life and sub-ballast road bed is well established and the track is well planted and in great shape.
.
Certainly different not to have some of the old time regulars amongst us here. Ken Brunt and Andy’s Mom, Dot, are the latest to definetly be missed. Great tunout of railroaders, yesterday. You can’t help but reflect on the last 20 years of this Fall Tradition of enjoying Garden Railroad Operations in Southern Illinois in the very best time of year of weather in this part of the United States. First on the Kaskaskia Valley Railway from 2001 to 2010 and now on the Blusetone Southern for the last 12 years. So many memories and friends.
.
Today’s forecast shows another great day dawning. I’m sure great pictures will follow.
1 Like
Thanks for that update Ric. Can’t wait to see the pictures…(I’ve just been “revisiting” old pictures from way back when…Good times!)
So, the OPS weekend is now complete… Was a fantastic weekend…
Good company, food, conversations, oh and running some trains…
Weather was good, 80’s Sat & Sun, but was a tad windy…
Hopefully, some pictures will follow in a bit…
Thanks to all those who could attend…
Am so sorry that Jean and Bruce could not make it…
Hopefully, next year…
Congratulations on your very successful year of great operations, Andy, and Jane. I do wish I could have been there on all of your weekends. You have built yourselves a great looking railroad.
Yes, “So many memories” and so many Friendships over the last 20, or more years.
I miss you all, and treasure the friendships shared.
Fred Mills
So, here are some pictures from the Ops session:
Below is a general shot of the inside yard diversion point and
Outdoor entrance…
another view
Mark and Nedra at the industrial park…
Dave and Joanne (my artist for the basement) .
My sister (on the left) and Niece…
Bill and Dale departing Nashville
more to follow.
1 Like
Train on EVWR trackage…
Ric working the lower yard of the switchback…
TMark working Freeman Spur…
Matt on the left with the coal train and TMark at Freeman Spur…
Ric heading up the Switchback
more to come…
1 Like
Ric again on the Switchback…
Young folks running the coal train…
TMark at Overlook…
Ric working the Industrial Park… Bo (Ric’s dog) is in the foreground…
Ric and Dale at the Industrial Park
TMark working Overlook…
Train on EVWR tracks departing Nashville…
More to come…
1 Like
Coal train arriving the Bluefield Yard…
My sister bringing the coal train around to the coal marshaling yard…
Relaxing on the caboose beck…
Mark running the coal train sith a few onlookers…
Engineer Operating MCL-2 and it passes MCL-1 between
Addieville and Okawville…
One of the MCL trains heading back towards Nashville…
MCL train at Woodlawn heading home…
MCL train crossing onto Bluestone Southern trackage…
a overall shot from the top of the switchback looking towards
Woodlawn, and Overlook in the distance…
An overall shot loking towards Freeman Spur (left side) and
the lower yard of the Switchback…
Another shot looking towards Freeman Spur (center left) and
beginnings of Memphis on the far right… Pond is in the background
which was the last major bit of yardwork to be completed…
And that’s all for this session…
My thanks to Matt for posting the video’s of the coal train…
3 Likes
Fantastic Pictures! It was a great weekend and the equipment and track work were in great shape. The pictures reflect the fun and the intensity of the Operations. Until the next Session. 2023 is fast approaching and time to get those projects going. Thank you Andy and Jane, plus all that helped to make it a great year.
How about sharing this GREAT Garden Railroad with the new online, Garden Railway News…it would promote more than stagnant roundy roundies, as a feature of garden railroads…they are looking for articles, and are making efforts to draw the LS model railroading together, world wide…
Fred Mills