The Gateway Garden Railroad Club will be set up at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Illinois. This is within site of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and has been the Thanksgiving Weekend Tradition for many years. If you are in the area, or driving through on Interstate 70, 55 or 64, drop by and say high. Hours of the show are 10 am to 4pm each day.
I got thinking about the statement I made in the above post of the Thanksgiving Weekend Train Show being a tradition in the St. Louis Area. I turned 63 last week and the first Thanksgiving Train Show I can remember is when I was 8 years old. That’s 55 years of train shows. My grandson Luke will be 8 in February. He’s been coming to them, since he was 10 months old. Here you can see the two of us working the “Timesaver” together.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/111128%20032.jpg)
The ground began to rumble along Dan and Rita Patterson’s store fronts.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/111128%20045.jpg)
It was Dave Miller’s coal train under full power passing. It runs parallel to main street.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/111128%20046.jpg)
On other parts of the layout, Dale and Aaron Loyett’s industrial complex had Jim Agnew’s rail truck roll by.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/111128%20048.jpg)
And Andy and Jane Clarke’s “new to them” modules are showing changes as destruction will eventually give way to new construction.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/111128%20041.jpg)
T’was another good weekend.
55 years, never missed one? Wow, I’d say that’s a tradition 
Looking good!
Ric Golding said:I only see you working the Timesaver as usual and Andy sittin on his butt talking smack in the background? OH WAIT YOU MEANT LUKE! ;)
Here you can see the two of us working the "Timesaver" together.
Jon Radder said:I didn't say I didn't miss one or even a few, but I have sure been to most of them and hated the ones I missed.
55 years, never missed one? Wow, I'd say that's a tradition :D Looking good!
David Russell said:
Ric Golding said:
Here you can see the two of us working the “Timesaver” together.I only see you working the Timesaver as usual and Andy sittin on his butt talking smack in the background? OH WAIT YOU MEANT LUKE!
Yeah and the little head of blonde hair is his sister, Mara.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/111128%20032.jpg)
The gal barely in the picture with her arms crossed is the generation between me and those kids. She’s been disgusted with having to go to train shows almost all her life. If it wasn’t train shows in the Winter, it was sailboats and marinas in the Summer. If you asked her, she was mistreated all her life, but now she’s their Dad’s problem. He’s off looking at tools, or HO stuff. She just says we are all hopeless. All I ever answer is “yeah” with a big grin on my face.
Ric Golding said:Sounds a lot like Matt. After 3 trips to the EBT and a couple of ECLSTS shows he got sick of it.
[i][/i]The gal barely in the picture with her arms crossed is the generation between me and those kids. She's been disgusted with having to go to train shows almost all her life.
Well it sure looks like a lot more fun than being maced at Wallyworld arm wrestling over a stupid Xbox.
Nice Ric. My wife doesnt understand my passion for trains. I try to get her to come along but her comment is she would rather jump in front of a train. Its a female thing, they will never understand. We just know how to have fun.
Shawn, You said - “Its a female thing, they will never understand. We just know how to have fun.”
Some do. We have gals in our club that are very creative, building buildings or detailing a module or car load. They can work like crazy, sitting right next to another female that is knitting. I try not to dwell on such matters too long.
Shawn… My wife does all the gardening on the railroad, along with building and painting buildings… She’s the ““Dispatcher”” at Ric’s, during his operating sessions, and has been for quite a few years… She has her own set of locomotives… Not to mention setting up the club modules and placing scenery on them during shows… If it wasn’t for her involvement with the railroading part, most of this would not have been accomplished…
Guess I’m one of the lucky ones… 
Andy Clarke said:And ya don't wanna give her any crap either, cause she'll be right out there and get in your face..................ask me how I know this...........;)
She's the ""Dispatcher"" at Ric's, during his operating sessions, and has been for quite a few years.
Shawn said:and I know this to be true. Of course I know she'd rather you had her passion for shopping. :) :) ;)
Nice Ric. My wife doesnt understand my passion for trains. I try to get her to come along but her comment is she would rather jump in front of a train. Its a female thing, they will never understand. We just know how to have fun.
Ken Brunt said:(laughing) And, Ken??? I have no idea where she gets that from, either.... :)Andy Clarke said:And ya don't wanna give her any crap either, cause she'll be right out there and get in your face..................ask me how I know this...........;)
She's the ""Dispatcher"" at Ric's, during his operating sessions, and has been for quite a few years.
And, Ken??? I have no idea where she gets that from, either…
It couldn’t be from you Andy, you are too good natured!!!..
Randy McDonald said:
And, Ken??? I have no idea where she gets that from, either....It couldn’t be from you Andy, you are too good natured!!!..
Randy, exactly…