Today the last 20 feet of the eastside new passenger line up to the new grade crossing is now complete. Norm, Robby, John, and Gator went to the site at the last minute to attach and ballast the last section of track for the passenger line siding along with a few other things.

The track crew, which included Tyler, Norm, John, Ben, “Bob”, Robby, Calvin and guest, laid more than 100 feet of track on Saturday and built a few track panels. The passenger line is complete up to the switch which is about 40 feet short of the grade crossing. The passenger line siding only has about 20 feet and it will be complete.

Busy week and weekend around the club. A new powered slug was picked up along with more member owned riding cars, and the installation of another 120 feet of track for the passenger line.

Even though the workday was cancelled because of the storm that blew through overnight a few members still took some time to take care of a few things around the railroad.

This past Saturday, September 26, 2020, marked the 27th workday for the club this year. As we mark this incredible milestone it is a reminder that our club is made of a great group of individuals who volunteer in so many ways around the railroad and the club. This weekend our members did electrical work, steam engine repairs, cut grass, laid track, spread gravel, operated a Bobcat, taught new members about the hobby, and so much more.

We have a workday scheduled on Saturday, September 26th at 8:30 a.m. We will be putting the finishing touches on the new diamond and laying more track for the new passenger line. The grass also is in desperate need of cutting but before that can be done the club lawnmower needs to be repaired. If you are able to go over to the site and work on the lawnmower that would be great. The front left tire is loosing air and needs to be repair and an issue has come up with starting the lawnmower as well.

The summer heat continues as we do more work around the railroad. We had a small but productive crew on hard. The focus on the day was split between two areas with the first “Bob” and Ben took care of spreading the loads of dirt we recently received which some of it being used for our next shipping container project.

Today marked an incredible 24th workday at the railroad this year. The container project took another big step towards completion with the installation of the final pieces of flat bar for the track. The container now has about 160 feet of track on the ground giving us the ability to store all the riding cars, gondola, steam engine, and soon the club diesel all in one place. A couple of concrete blocks were also placed at the end of the container for the bridge to rest on. Next on the list of things to do in the container includes extending electrical into the new 20’ extension and install a couple of lights.

All week the forecast called for rain, but a determined crew still showed up today to take care of several items around the railroad and finished the day without any rain. Many members and a couple of visitors started showing up around 8:30 a.m. and started working on several projects. The projects included container extension, passenger line expansion, and more.

This year has been full of workdays and this past Saturday, August 8th was no different. The day consisted of work on the club steamer, retaining wall, and container clean-out.

Today marks the 21st workday of the year. It is amazing all that has taken place during these crazy times. This past Saturday was another busy day with grass cutting, cutting the center out of the gray container, construction of a 70-foot retaining wall, club meeting, and a whole lot more. We also had a couple of our new members stop by to do work and get introduced to other club members.

Today marked the 20th time this year many of our club members have gotten together to work on something for the railroad. This past Saturday, July 25, 2020 we had Wes and Wayne taking care of the grass cutting duties while Gene, Norm, Robby, Elijah, Ben, “Bob”, David E., Scott, and Bill worked on various projects around the railroad. Part of the crew installed a new switch coming out of the yard and removed a switch coming out of the woods in preparations of the “Grandma” line project. Bob C. and his wife stopped by to delivery the club steamer after some much needed repairs.

As preparations continue to get the railroad ready for the new passenger line installation Gene and Norm spent time today, July 21, 2020, and built another switch and delivering it to the site. Next step is to get the new switch installed and align the track. We also have another switch to pull out from the woods and realign the track to make room for the “Grandma” line installation.

Another productive day in the summer heat this past Saturday as a crew worked on the container project, mounds of dirt, and started work on the “Grandma” line.

Clean up in the old tiny town area continues. Wayne, Wes, and Bill picked up mulch and took it to the site this week. Be on the lookout for additional landscaping work being done around the railroad.

We had an unplanned workday come up a that the last minute on Saturday, July 11th. Bill reports that while the crew was few in numbers they apparently where “incredibly good looking.”

Another step closer to completing the container extension project with the installation of the form for the bridge to rest on. Now just need to wait for it to dry and install bracket for bridge and track to attach to.

One final spacing check of the new track going into the container extension. With spacing confirmed the track was installed into the 20-foot container.

What a great turnout by club members and a few guests. We had groups working on finishing the track for the container project, club steamer was out for training, members running trains, and a whole lot more. Here are a few pictures from the day. If you have pictures or you’d like to share please send them to Robby so he can add them to the gallery.

We had a good group at the site today even though it was a little hot. The crew worked on a variety of things including cutting grass, Gauge 1 layout, and new track head up to the container and ash pit.

The day brought a lot of activity around the railroad. We had crews working on the 20-foot container project, track installation, club steamer testing, along with a few taking trains out for a couple of test runs on the railroad after a winter fully of repairs and modifications. After taking a lunch break, we also had our regularly scheduled June meeting.

After weeks of work and hours of probably over thinking how to set the container in place Norm met the delivery truck today at the site and set the container within inches of its final spot. Next step is, in no particular order, prep the ends of the container, squeeze them together, and a few other hundred things and then it will be done. Sounds simple enough but in all seriousness, we have a lot to do still but in the home stretch for sure.

Another great workday at the railroad as we get another day closer to getting the long awaited 20-foot container installed. Today we completed a retaining wall nearly 80-feet in length and prepared the area for a 20-foot container to be installed in the coming days.

We had a last minute workday come up this past Saturday. The workday crew focused on repairing a yard switch, east loop siding, mowed the grass, got the club riding mower running, and mapped out how the 20-foot container is going to be placed. Be on the lookout for a workday to be scheduled soon which will be focused on building a retaining wall and preparing the ground for the container.

It was a big day for the railroad. We completed the ash pit track providing an easy access for our coal fired steam engines to clean out and a second way off the turn table.

This past Saturday six club members (Wes, Gene, Norm, Calvin, Ben, and Robby) went to the site and worked on installing two switches and nearly 70 feet of track. The new track is for the ash pit line and storage container project.

This past Saturday, April 25th, while practicing social distancing, a few members went out to the site and started the cleanup process of cutting grass, weed eating, and tripping over huge ant hills. The grass was nearly 2 feet tall in a few places especially since it was early March since we have been out to the site to do any work. Upon arrival an issue was found with the pump station (lift station) which led to the fire department being called. All is well and it appears everything is pumping again.

March is turning out to be a busy month around the club. On Saturday, March 7th we had “Bob” and “Bob 2” on hand along with Ben, Gene, Calvin, Elijah, Bill, Joe, and Scott taking care of some necessary maintenance around the railroad as we get ready for the 2020 season.

A great group came out today and performed hundreds of feet of track maintenance as we prepare of our 2020 season. A few debates where had, lunch at our normal place, and dreams of building and operating trains this year where had by all.