Embedded Files
NORTHERN WYOMING
August saw the annual excursion out to Ranchester to spend the afternoon operating Bob Charles’ “Deerfeathers” garden railway before the fall shutdown. It was very windy that day making the experience real exciting watching the circus train get blown off the track. All other trains were able to operate as intended. It is always interesting to see the spectacular new bridges and scenery that Bob has added during the summer.
In September five veterans from the Wyoming Solders and Sailors Home in Buffalo were able to come and watch the SMRA club layout in operation. The fall division meeting was held this month in Sheridan with an attendance of fifteen individuals. Officers were elected for the next year and two clinics were presented - “It's My Railroad” by Paul Stout, where he discussed how to scratch build what you need but can not purchase - and “What Is A Mini Diorama” by Bill Tulley, where the requirements for a Mini Diorama were discussed. The afternoon saw an operating session on the SMRA layout.
Finding new things on the layout
On 21 November 2015 this club held its annual Open House Train Show for the public. The weather was nice that day and the attendance was down to 64 people, much below our usual +/- 100 attendees. We had competition in the same building with a karate event upstairs that filled the parking lot, which may have discouraged anyone thinking of stopping.
Watching circus train pass through town
Our special attraction this year was a 27-car circus train, which kept derailing in the middle until it was split into two sections. There are no photographs of this train because I was the engineer on one of the sections and forgot to take any.
We were able to finish installing and painting the fascia on the Black Hills Extension before the show. There is now a black fascia on the entire layout, which helps to focus attention to the layout, but not what is underneath the layout.
In the New Year, we are planning on changing an electrical connection to the track with the hope of eliminating an intermittent shorting problem. After 20 years of operation, we also have several track alignment problems that need to be addressed. There is reluctance to start the adjustments because the layout will then be out-of-operation for a month or longer.
CENTRAL WYOMING MODEL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES
(Article reprint courtesy Casper Journal)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse