Large Scale Central

Jan's and Ric's Great Adventure 2019

Other Hobbies
#51

Ken Brunt said:

I’m surprised you remember how to get home…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

A good GPS.

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AndyC said - “Welcome home… Since you are home and had that rain, could you please send some down here??”

You didn’t get the rain. Did it again at 3 this morning and raining now. I think Lake is going to jump up.

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Rooster said - “Ric has a home? If this is true why has it not been donated to someone that needs one?”

Yes, the Duplex is for when we can’t do this traveling anymore. The Son keeps asking me how I’m doing. I think he’s got other ideas for the Truck when we can’t use it as much. Life - its what’s happening while you plan your future. GOD just laughs.

#52

Ric Golding said:

My learning experience this time was to use the “Johnson Bar” in reverse to slow the engine, when I didn’t have enough steam pressure to stop us coming down the hill through the tunnel. A real pucker factor, while living the dream.

That hill was not originally supposed to have such a steep grade. Dick McCloy (the founder, owner, designer, “dicktator”, and all around fantastic human being…for those not familiar with Mill Creek Central Railroad) worked for three years trying to take the tunnel elevation down eight more inches to lessen that grade but the solid rock would not budge. It does make for a challenging descent, especially with the grade crossing and main yard immediately at the bottom. But that’s part of the character of Mill Creek. It forces the engineer to think way ahead and prepare his train for the upcoming (or downcoming) track circumstances. Kinda like a real railroad.

By the time I figured out that maybe it was you chugging by I didn’t have much opportunity to study the H-10 or your crew. It sounds like you have an awesome train and crew. It was fun watching you and so many others out there living the dream. It really is a great family activity where everyone can participate.

#53

Mark,

The Long Island H-10 is owned by Bob Wattecamp and Jan and I are the part time crew. The H-10 is 3 years old and I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with it, since it was delivered in Florida. Great engine to operate and just now really getting broke in. It will be a good runner long after we are.

Wayne Godshall’s Shop builds these along with many other units and they are becoming a standard of the industry.

http://www.godshallscustommachining.com/

#54

28 August, 2019 - Metamora, Michigan on Bill Hays’ Michigan Central Railroad. Arrived yesterday afternoon for the Labor Day Weekend Ops.

This is the big event of the year on the Michigan Central and many people from all over the eastern USA are already here. By Saturday there are 57 operators, registered to attend and 65 people overall for this 1.5 inch event. Next couple of days is for everyone to get equipment unloaded and do some minor upgrades or maintenance on the railroad. Bill wants me to help him with some upgrades to the car float and approach apron. Should be fun.

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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Central-Railroad/704369886301407

#55

25 September, 2019 - We just arrived back at the Finger Lakes Live Steamers. We are here for the “Public Open House” this weekend. The Finger Lake Live Steamers is located 2 miles north of of I-90 (New York State Thruway) between Rochester and Syracuse. If you are in the area, please stop by. I’ll be working parking, so have somebody in a lime green shirt, point you toward me, unless I’m the one giving you my line of cr*p about hot air balloon rides as you try to find your way on to the property. Should be a fun weekend. Not as much fun as operating on the Bluestone Southern, but it will do.

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https://fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/

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#56

Are they into “operations” now?

#57

Bruce Chandler said:

Are they into “operations” now?

Probably emergency ones considering the age group that is able to partake in such an event.

(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#58

Bruce Chandler said:

Are they into “operations” now?

Roger Caiazza has a very good switching puzzle set up on the #1 Gauge Garden Railroad. The Finger Lakes Club also has a good operations setup on the

1 inch (4.75 inches between the rails) ride on trains and we keep pushing for “Operations” style running on the 1.5 inch (7.25 inches between the rails) track. Maybe someday, but the “Roundy Rounds” are still in control.

This weekend is one of the 2 money making weekends of the Club’s Annual Calendar. We carry the public for donations, just like you would a Merry Go Round. Truly, just round and round and round.

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Jan and I are here for support staff. I’ll work with parking our guests and Jan will be in the kitchen. Neither job is glamorous, but it supports the club. This is a great place to be in the heat of the Summer and provides us a good mooring as we travel around the Northeast for the Summer events.

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Stop on out and see us, if you are in the Rochester/Syracuse area.

#59

30 September, 2019 - The Fall Open House at the Finger Lakes Live Steamers is now in the history books listed as great success with record numbers of families coming to see the facility. Those of you on Facebook can see videos of the people and the crowds. The #1 Gauge Garden Railroad and Live Steam tracks were well observed by many people. The 1 inch and Inch and a half tracks had lines of people all day, with sometimes the wait to get on as long as 2 hours. We ran out of food at 2 pm and popcorn by 3. Didn’t here one complaint and nothing but Thank Yous for us opening up to the Public. Lots and lots of people that are not part of this hobby, got to see the fun. Many said they came here as kids and now are bringing theirs. With this being the 50th Anniversary at one location, there is a lot of history. The weather was great with a perfect Upstate Fall Weekend.

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Today, we start for home.

#60

Ric Golding said:

Bruce Chandler said:

Are they into “operations” now?

Roger Caiazza has a very good switching puzzle set up on the #1 Gauge Garden Railroad. The Finger Lakes Club also has a good operations setup on the

1 inch (4.75 inches between the rails) ride on trains and we keep pushing for “Operations” style running on the 1.5 inch (7.25 inches between the rails) track. Maybe someday, but the “Roundy Rounds” are still in control.

Ric,

Los Angeles Live Steamers will be having their first Operations Meet on November 9th on the 7-1/2 inch gauge RR. And we have been here for over 60 years! We’re all looking forward to this meet. This will also be "bi-directional and also goes into a “night” operations meet later in the day. This should be very interesting :slight_smile: .

#61

Ric,

Los Angeles Live Steamers will be having their first Operations Meet on November 9th on the 7-1/2 inch gauge RR. And we have been here for over 60 years! We’re all looking forward to this meet. This will also be "bi-directional and also goes into a “night” operations meet later in the day. This should be very interesting :slight_smile: .

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Too many miles and too little time to do it all. Has anyone heard about advancements in the study of cloning?

#62

2 November, 2019 - On Halloween, we had snow flurries in the Carlyle, Illinois portion of Southern Illinois. What’s with that? There are years, we have passed out candy in short sleeves and a campfire going at the campground. What can I say? In the words of Carrie Underwood, we are “SouthBound”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc4zBnvLt3g

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Outside Ops are over in this part of the World for the year, daylight is getting shorter and we have a week reserved at the Tiki Bar at the Low Key Hideaway in Cedar Keys.

Seneca is at the campground, as we load, and heaters are going to keep pipes from freezing. We are “southbound” tomorrow morning. Pickup has some of the 1.5 inch ride on stuff packed and there will be more to take down after Thanksgiving. I’ve got to be careful doing it this way, because it all needs to come back in one trip, next March.

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Living the Dream

#63

at the Low Key Hideaway in Cedar Keys.

I was wearing their T-shirt just yesterday! And we’re heading for Crystal River next Sunday for a couple of n ights - when do you get to Cedar Key?

#64

Pete Thornton said:

at the Low Key Hideaway in Cedar Keys.

I was wearing their T-shirt just yesterday! And we’re heading for Crystal River next Sunday for a couple of n ights - when do you get to Cedar Key?

Arrive on Tuesday, the 5th and we leave on the 12th, we’ll be there. Same bar stool, same Oyster Bowl. It would be great to see you guys. I’ve got stuff for “Show and Tell”.

#65

13 November, 2019 - Ridge Live Steamers, Dundee, Florida

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Made it to the Ridge Live Steamers, yesterday afternoon. Rig is set up for the Winter and some of the equipment is in our barn/ shed/ Transfer Station. Against better judgement, we will heading back to Carlyle, hot seating it, in the pickup on Sunday. Got some Granddaughter’s Basketball to watch and Turkey to eat with the family on a coming Thursday in a couple of weeks. Yes, we are very aware we have a lot to be thankful for, including the many friends on this site.

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However, we plan to be back to the Ridge Live Steamers for their Fall Card Order Operations on December 6 and 7, 2019. Mark your calendar, if you can make it down for a couple of days of fun. Trust me, you have an invite. Just let me know your coming, or just show up at the last minute. You’ll have fun.

#66

8 December, 2019 - Back at the Ridge Live Steamers outside of Dundee, Florida for the Fall OPs. It goes on until 2 pm this afternoon. If your in the area, swing by and take a ride on one of the passenger trains. Great time to enjoy the 1.5 inch part of the hobby. By the way, weather is very tolerable.

#67

I thought the kids took your drivers license a few years ago?

#68

Rooster ’ said:

I thought the kids took your drivers license a few years ago?

They did, but then we hung around them so much, they made sure we got it back. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#69

31 December, 2019 - Thought I made an entry when we went home, however not here, so now I’m thinking I didn’t. Anyway, we are now back at the Ridge Live Steamers in Dundee, Florida. We did the 19 hour drive yesterday in the pickup, leaving 0320 CST and arriving at 2210 EST. Long day, but the easiest way to get from north to south. Christmas was a great time home, seeing family and friends, plus 3 of the granddaughter’s high school girls basketball games, plus 2 Ops Sessions with the “Friday Train Guys”. All good stuff. Went home on the tail end of a snow storm, that left 5 inches of heavy snow in Carlyle, but we only had about 45 minutes of driving in it. Could have been a lot worse. Left Carlyle headed south on the tail of a rain storm. No rain and a cold front pushed us east and south. Got great fuel mileage with a strong tail wind.

#70

And so closes “Jan and Ric’s Great Adventure for 2019”. Yes, 2020 starts tomorrow and so does a new adventure.