Well Summer 2011 is officially over and Fall is here. Soon the leaves will be changing here in the North East and they will then fall and cover my tracks making a mess. They have already started. Looking back the heyday of train running season was way to short. I was able to run lots of trains and made lots of improvements on the function and look of my layout. New structures built over the winter were put in place then moved around to a better spot. A trestle was built and a pony truss bridge replaced the plant pots that had supported the track til then. A WYE turn around was designed, constructed and finally properly wired. Thanks Bud. A factor/ industry sprung up and the track sidings to it were reconfigured more than a few times. Finally a high line and a handcranked steam donkey were constructed and placed in the garden to facilitate the harvesting of veggies and loading the bounty onto the trains.
It was a good season for running trains well into the dark of night but way to short.
I hope that all of you were able to enjoy your trains this Summer and either started and or finished projects or maybe even got some ideas to keep you busy when it gets too cold to be outside and the snow starts flying.
What was your summer highlight?
In Noerthwest NJ we had a late start to the summer season. Overall the summer turned out to be ok. We had a lot of rain and cloudy days this summer. Plus back to back rain stroms that did a lot of damage (My RR survived). The skeeters have been the worst I have ever seen. The leaves here are turning and should p[eak by mid oct.
I did most of my projects early in the spring that way I could spend the summer running trains and weeding UGH. Some of the projects I did do were platforms for my fire barrels on the trestles, Water tower for the logging camp, a new battery car and some wood walls to prevent balast from washing away. When I did get the oppertunity to run (a few times a week) it was very enjoyable and relaxing like you said Todd way too short. I still have the next few weeks to enjoy the trains then It will be a short break until the leaves are done falling. Wintertime is a fun time for me running trains. The landscape in the layout has a whole new look when covered in snow and the trains running through canyons of snow. SOme projects I plan on doing this winter: kitbash an LGB Stainz motor block I have. Creat something out of the Kalamazoo 4-4-0 I got from John. I also want to build a small logging caboose, coaling tower and a small grist mill. I also want to start making my own figures. Im sure I will think of a few more as the time goes on.
I can’t pick any one thing, but these are in my top 5… Late spring run at Shawn’s Kittatinny Mountain Railroad…
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/KMRR_May2011-03.jpg)
[i]Quest for Rock I, II and III- The rebuild of Coal Dump Curve[/i]…
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/GradeFix-0711-08.jpg)
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/GradeFix-0711-44.jpg)
Train-Ops 2011 and the trip to Stan Ames’ railroad…
(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/StanAmes2011-03.jpg)
And best of all, enjoying a few beers with the friends I’ve made through this hobby and this website. Cheers !
I’d have to say the highlight of my summer, train-wise, was a no-brainer…the acquisition of the B’mann K-27 at the ECLST show in March.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/July%202011/K27run013.jpg)
It’s become the work horse of the RGS and my favorite engine. And we can’t forget the trip to the great white north for the annual American Invasion hosted by Fred Mills and the gang from the OVGRS. That’s always a hi-lite of my summer. Good friends, good food and good fellowship!
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Invasion%202011/Freds028.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Invasion%202011/Freds001.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Invasion%202011/Dougs/dougs002.jpg)
And, like Jon, the trip to Bob’s for TrainOps 2011 and the opportunity to visit Stan Ames layout.
(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/2011/trainops006.jpg)
(http://rgsgardenrailroad.com/2011/stans015.jpg)
And last, but not least, was completing the siding at Coal Creek Lumber Co. There’s still some details that have to be finished, but the hard works done.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/expansion/Saw%20mill%20siding/CCLCo002.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/expansion/Saw%20mill%20siding/CCLCo014.jpg)
In the first instance I would mention the Spring ECLSTS Show car (Aristo-Craft NKP covered gondola) which a friend, who visited the Show from the UK, brought back for me as a gift.
The other items would be my freight depot, grain elevator and covered bridge (yet to be photographed) which one of my sons helped build. They have made a strong, durable and attractive additions to my railroad.
However, there are still three months until Christmastide so who knows what other items may arise.
Train activity over the Summer was a little sparse on the GRR.
I would say my highlights would have to be last week’s trip to the Roundhouse Museum, as well as the earlier
trip to the SC Railroad Museum. I really enjoyed the old quarry.
Spring was busy railfanning, running trains and a good time at ECLSTS.
Over all, a pretty good year so far.
Ralph
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/Railroad%202011/JubileeDay2011017.jpg)
I bought an F40 from Great Trains and some LGB superliners
Had to be the trip to Canada. There certainly wasn’t anything going on around here in the heat. Did have a couple of good sessions at AndyC’s.
I finished the mainline loop, the first time in 15years I can really run trains
Congrats, Bart!
I didn’t get a whole lot done during the summer, as far as completing major projects or something. The big highlights for me would be making the video of my layout, which was a lot of fun, and seeing the steam train at Ely, NV. (I think everyone here has seen these, but links are provided below in case anyone missed them.)
Having the grandkids here for a few days this summer was great too.
In-ko-pah RR video: http://youtu.be/9yeiCCiTwQw
Nevada Northern Rwy video: http://youtu.be/vbHAAKQQ04U
First, I finished the freight cars I started over the winter. And Shawn was able to stop in on his road trip to run trains.
The whole year is a highlight, just being here to see, work on, and talk trains with friends & family… 
Once the weather smartened up - here that means hot and dry with blue sky - the railfanning started BIG TIME.
Two highlights
[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/27404670[/vimeo]
and yesterday’s “I don’t believe it” moment. I had to count three times to be sure I wasn’t suffering some optical illusion.
[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/29562473[/vimeo]
The train was just starting up at Geddis (Mile 106.9), too late for good video. Pack the stuff, do a 180 and hustle back to Mile 99.5