Love this shot and gives me ideas !
And let me extend a sincere Thank you to Bob and Martha for hosting this gathering of friends. I’m glad I can finally get to some of these
Loved the shots on Al’s RR some I have never seen before …nice work Al!
Awaiting Stan and Debs !
Again thanks for the updates Hollywood and glad you are enjoying retirement !
Ran a number of local freights at Bob’s and even Jan’s passenger train ran both directions over the entire railroad at the start and end of the session. I ran the whole day and did not get down to the evil switching puzzle. Hmmm, means we have to come back next year. 
My small Box Cab was put to the test and had to “double the hill” more than once. Like the way Bob’s JMRI program generates the trains, its always different. Hollywood’s perspective in his postings here is great! You get used to how railroads look and forget what they look like to someone for the first time. Martha and Bob are great hosts and have got past the part of trying to be everything to everyone. This is their railroad and garden, its your job to enjoy it. People come by and see the trains. Others come by to see the garden and flowers. It blends very well. And even they seem to have a good time. Love the little scenes created with the simplest displays, like springs and pistons from the racing part of their lives or a rusting bucket with a most interesting handle. They have mastered the idea of providing food and drink and keeping the trains running as long as you want to run.
Thanks to both Bob and Martha, great day!!!
This is so inspiring, I will have to get out there to visit.
I know Bruce builds sturdy stuff, but,
I didn’t know Bob had a Ride-On Railroad!
Very Nice able to see the layout and put some names to photos. Thanks for the photos… Noe & Jane in Ca. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)
Who made that BL2?
Dave Marconi built the BL2…
Wow, I wish I’d seen it on Friday. I love those things. Used to have a lot of them in Maine.
Thanks for the interest Eric(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Gents and Ladies,
OPS 2019 drew to a close today at least for me,but we had a full day working Stan and Debbie’s beautiful empire. I got there in time to start the session and Stan introduced me to my partner/engineer for my first experience on the pike:
Dave, who is a regular on the pike
Operators getting their train order boards, radios and DCC controllers.
Some were already running trains
We started out from underneath the dispatchers office and this was our first move.Our caboose in the lower left of pic
First move we were picking up the yellow reefer and dropping off two gondolas
Just a shot of distance
We had to hold up as our next stop was working out a meet with the hotshot passenger train
More operators on the pike
Rooster, these are your Aunts three.
Here we are at Solitude our final stop. I didn’t get many pics in while running the train, and I was the conductor
Catching a rest after the train run
BD’s wife Martha (finally from the front)
Part two to follow
28 July, 2019 - 1845 - Just like that, it’s over. You get up on Friday morning and head out to Al’s. All of a sudden, its Sunday afternoon, your exhausted and your saying “Good Bye” and walking away at Stan and Deb’s. Haven’t figured out how that happened. I’ve always had the same feelings at York and Fred’s. You walk all excited and your saying “Good Bye” 10 minutes later.
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Learned a new trick this time. Jan and I have terminated our trains at “Soltice” twice in the past. Wanted to start a train there, this morning. Worked the “Juni Local”. You pick up your train at “Soltice”. Work toward “Juni” and then work your way back. Took all morning. If we were a little more familiar and experienced with DCC, we’d probably be faster. Jan was the Engineer and I Conducted. She tolerated me all morning. I was impressed. The trick I learned is that if you like to switch, choose the “Locals”.
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After lunch Bruce Chandler and I took the “Filter Quarry Local”. Worked from “Filter Quarry” to “Deck” and back. With a Shay, it was fun. After that did the “Big Rock Local”. It went from “Deck” to “Big Rock” through “Bat House” and then back. Great time.
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Already thinking about next year. Thank you to all. As Bruce said - “TrainOps is the trifecta of Ops”. 3 different railroads, on 3 different days. Wow! If you like to “Operate”, this is it.
Next batch:
Stan asked to see the BL2:
Around the pike:
Rooster this is your Aunt Diane: She seemed sorry she misted meeting you
Yes up to the gray in the top center right of pic is the Solitude area
Moving on to next post.
duplicate
And the final batch
Under the dispatch office
behind the dispatch office
Looking back on the dispatch office
This ends my pictorial to the American Invasion and OP’s 2019. What an experience.
Stan and Deb thank you so much for sharing your operations with me. For your hospitality and friendship.
Thank you to those who have followed my postings for allowing me to share my trip.
Thank all those who invited me along for the ride and shared their interest with me.Both those I have had the pleasure of knowing and those whom I met in my travels this week. All made me welcome and treated me as an old friend, sharing their interest and camaraderie with me.
I really can’t take you enough for the experience. To those who have thought of getting together with any of these groups for these sessions DO IT. Don’t worry just go enjoy. They will welcome you aboard and make you feel like a long time member of the group.
I know I will do more of these in the future
Dave(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Amongst Dave’s last group of pictures, is a picture of a tunnel entrance with a grey flatcar sitting in it (tried to copy and paste the picture, but that’s why I call this thing a CONFUSER). That’s a 1:20.5 standard gauge flatcar on dual rail track. This is the future expansion of Stan and Debbie’s Railroad World and the reason to always come back, because expansion is continuing. Eventually, the story can be told of how this railroad connects with the outside World. The only thing to say is , “Stay tuned”.(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Hollywood did you get lost @ Stan’s ……(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif) so easy to do … (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Ric Golding said:
Amongst Dave’s last group of pictures, is a picture of a tunnel entrance with a grey flatcar sitting in it (tried to copy and paste the picture, but that’s why I call this thing a CONFUSER). That’s a 1:20.5 standard gauge flatcar on dual rail track. This is the future expansion of Stan and Debbie’s Railroad World and the reason to always come back, because expansion is continuing. Eventually, the story can be told of how this railroad connects with the outside World. The only thing to say is , “Stay tuned”.(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Want to express Jane’s and my sincere thanks to Bob & Martha, Stan and Deb for a wonderful 3 days of playing on their railroads…
My sister and her 2 grandchild attended Stan’s on Sunday afternoon and my sister was totally in awe…
My mother and her grandchild Tyler also had a wonderful time… Again, Thanks… (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
I had a great time @ Bob’s on Friday … some pics before the storm …
“Roosta” is here in spirit !
Bob your railroad is looking great … We know it is you Martha who does the most … (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)