July 26, 2008 - Meeting Summary

SDSG's July meeting was hosted by Mike Forys. Five people attended. Additionally, Ralph Powell dropped by at the beginning of the meeting and donated a good deal of material to SDSG. Ralph is moving from S to N, for reasons of space. We're going to use the flex track and roadbed next month when we start building our club modules. With Ralph's permission SDSG's Bob Graves is going to list the sectional track, the SHS Santa Fe caboose and some other items for sale, with the proceeds helping to pay for other material needed for our modules. Ralph didn't stick around for the full meeting so not everyone who attended got to meet him. Even so, I am sure that I speak for everyone when I offer Ralph a hearty, "Thank You."

Mike's prototype corner module made a second appearance at this meeting and helped guide us in making key goals tradeoffs for the SDSG modules. We decided to increase the corner module size to conform with the Krause Corner design posted on the NASG's S-MODs web pages. This will allow us greater flexibility in layout configuration in that hopeful future when we have many modules to work with. We also agreed to build the modules as a two track standard gauge main conforming with S-MOD standards.

Sn3 will be accommodated as a separate modular subsystem that will be mounted onto one side of the standard layout. There would be no NMRA Sn3 interface off the SDSG layout. The idea is to build turnback loops at each end of the Sn3 subsystem and to run it as a single track mountain railroad above and behind the two track standard gauge main. Design work on the turnback loops and any implications for the size and shape of our corner modules is targeted for completion in time for review at the August meeting.

Mike presented a draft schedule for getting an initial set of modules built and operating in time for the December 13 & 14 Great Train Expo at Del Mar. To meet this goal, we'll be converting our monthly meeting to module building workmeets for as long as needed. Alex agreed to follow up with GTE promoters to find out what the expectations and requirements are, on both sides, for participation in the event.

Peter reported that our June meeting summary had been submitted to the S-Gaugian for inclusion in their club news section. Charles Taylor, S-Gaugian's club news editor sent back a copy of the American Flyer "S" Gaugers of St. Louis Area Non-Rules. Charles thought that SDSG's informal "non-organization" was very similar to the way AFSGSLA has been operating since 1975. Copies of the non-rules were distributed to attendees.

Peter and Mike agreed to work up a budgetary list of materials and prices required to construct a basic (no scenery or rolling stock) corner and straight modules. The target is to complete this within the next two weeks and email it to the mailing list. As the club currently has no stucture and no money other than what Ralph's materials may bring, the modules are going to have to be essentially privately funded by club members. Having a budgetary target should help everyone decide how much support they can give to the project.

Next I'd like to read the minutes for:

June 2008 August 2008