31 July, 2019 - Finger Lakes Live Steamers, Marengo, New York
The 50th Anniversary Celebration is officially scheduled to begin tomorrow, 1 August. However, people started arriving yesterday. Over 200 people are registered and it should be a fun and busy event. The facilities are looking good and trains will be running on all 3 gauges.
Bernie, and I should arrive there on Friday morning, Ric…
Fred Mills
Fred Mills. said:
Bernie, and I should arrive there on Friday morning, Ric…
Fred Mills
Noelle and I also shall arrive Friday morning. Yay Steam!!! Rooster doesn’t know what he’s missing… Here’s cinders in your eye, kids. Heh, heh!
Fred Mills. said:
Bernie, and I should arrive there on Friday morning, Ric…
Fred Mills
Noelle and I also shall arrive Friday morning. Yay Steam!!! Rooster doesn’t know what he’s missing… Here’s cinders in your eye, kids. Heh, heh!
12 August, 2019 - We are home. Last night was the first time in Carlyle since June 17th. Nice to be home, but we are already planning our next trip. Headed for the Michigan Central’s Fall Ops over Labor Day Weekend. Bill Hays wants us to arrive a few days early to work on the Car Float.
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Our recent travels and adventures are well documented.
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For more info, check out -
American Invasion 2019
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Finger Lakes Live Steamers
https://fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/
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TrainOps2019
http://largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/29268/train-ops-2019/view/post_id/389273
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Mill Creek Railroad
https://www.millcreekcentral.com/
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This hobby of “Operations with Model Trains” offers us a chance to see great railroads and visit wonderful people enjoying the same things we do. I hope you enjoy us sharing it. Its our way of documenting memories for ourselves, also.(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
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Someone “Mike?” came up to me at the Mill Creek Railroad. We introduced ourselves and shared a moment, but the weekend is a blurr of fun.
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)
Welcome home… Since you are home and had that rain,
could you please send some down here??
Ric has a home ?
If this is true why has it not been donated to someone that needs one ?
Ric Golding said:
Someone “Mike?” came up to me at the Mill Creek Railroad. We introduced ourselves and shared a moment, but the weekend is a blurr of fun.
That would be me, Ric. I was trying to “track” you down all weekend but you were literally a blurr, steaming around the over five miles of track at Mill Creek Central. When I finally caught you off your steed and packing up I figured that I had better say hi before you took off on the next leg of your and Jan’s great adventure.
It sure looked to me like you’ve mastered that awesome Wayne Godshall H-10. Your “blurr of fun” was fun for all to watch.
It was good to meet you in person, although it was brief. Happy steaming!..Mark “Mike” Betlem
MARK - Truly the pleasure was mine. I really appreciate the time you took to introduce yourself. I tried so hard to remember your name, but, at least, I got the “M” right. The Long Island H-10 is owned by Bob Wattecamp and he has a picture of him in the prototype 113, when he was little. The engineer, at the time, was a friend of Bob’s Dad. The engine is a lot for both of us to run, so we take turns one run at the helm and one run in the jump seat. Jan usually conducts and protects the back of the train. Bob’s 75 and I’m almost 71 and he has been so generous over the last 3 years to let me share his fun. We both learn so much every time we run it. Wayne Godshalls H-10’s are really quite the engine.
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http://www.godshallscustommachining.com/
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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Are they into “operations” now?
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)
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.
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.
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 
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