Southern Utah

SOUTHERN UTAH - DIVISION 20

Activities during the last reporting period in the year always seem limited because many of our active members are preparing for our annual open house held each November in conjunction with National Model Railroad Month.  This year’s open house featured 8 layouts with Terry Schramm and his Lionel/Dept 56 layout racking in the largest turnout with over 400 viewers stopping by.

In addition to the annual open house, this reporting period was even more hectic as several members spent countless hours refurbishing a 4x8 HO layout that was donated by a couple living in Cedar City, UT, 55 miles north of Saint George.  This layout had lived in a back bedroom for several years with the "kitty litter box".  Consequently, there was a heavy layer of kitty litter dust over 100% of the layout.  Our members replaced all the street lights and most building lights with LEDs, cleaned the entire layout, repaired track and replaced track wire where needed and add two control panels.  All materials and labor were donated by the members. The layout was then donated to the Dixie Regional Medical Foundation and placed on display at the Jubilee of Trees, an annual fundraiser for the hospital.  The layout was auctioned off at the gala dinner live auction and sold to a private individual for $5000.  Here are a few photos of the layout:

The Friday lunch crew continues to grow as we have had as many as 12 at one time with the average attendance around 6 to 8.  This past year one of the wives said this is enough of the men always havin’ a good time and she started a Friday luncheon for the wives, but they only meet once a month.  Anyway, more power to ‘em!  Here’s a photo of our Jan 10th luncheon with 9 members (one taking the photo) at two tables waiting for our waitress Kayla to deliver the best of Applebee’s.

In December we held our joint Division and Color Country Model Railroad Club annual Christmas party.  We had 21 guests, great food, and a really fun white elephant gift exchange.  The funniest gift – his and hers toilet plungers.  Will they make a return visit next year?  We’ll see.  Oh, BTW, I want my track cleaner kit back and I want it NOW!

The Color Country T‑Trak club (CCTTC), a 100% NMRA member club, continues to grow in popularity as they participate in shows in the Salt Lake City area as well as starting their own Red Rock Rail Model Train Show for the southern Utah area.  Layouts and people from as far as Salt Lake City and Las Vegas participated in the first of what the club hopes to be many more fun shows.  This year’s show is May 9/10 and will be held at the Hurricane City Community Center.  For more about this show, visit the club’s web page at:  http://www.ccttc.info/p/train-show.html.

From the members of Division 20, keep your hand on the throttle and your eye on the rail.  Happy New Year!!!!