Mid Michigan 3-2015 with pics - Michigan Small Scale Live Steamers

Mid-Michigan Model Train Show Steamup
Pent up steam demand was quite evident on
Sunday March 22, 2015 at the Finch Field
House in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. We had a
banner turnout of fifteen members – all rarin’
to go. With so many hands, track setup went
fast and we were in good shape when they
opened the doors to the public at 11am.
Early on, we saw Tom Myers and Fred
Gandolfi put trains on the rails. Tom ran his
green “Tom Rolt” with three coaches and a
caboose. Fred was on the outside track with his
Pennsy 0-6-0 pulling six black gondolas.
The Rio Grande train passes the viewing stand
There were a number of new locomotives at
this run. One was Bob Paternoster’s Ruby #5,
which he was breaking in with four side dump
coal cars. About that time Tom Toth got his
Regner Willi on the rails, running light.
Will Lindley’s loaded (get it?) cork train
One of the fun trains today was Will Lindley’s
eight-car “cork train”. Each flat car held 30
wine corks, totaling 240 fine times. About then,
Bob Weltyk ran his Thomas steamer with two
coaches – a favorite train of the youngsters at
the viewing stand.
Bob Paternoster’s new Ruby and coal cars
Before the morning was out, Fred Gandolfi also
showed off a coal train, with his Pennsy 0-6-0
pulling six black gondolas. Bob Winkel’s
D&RGW mogul was hauling a load of
equipment for one of the Colorado mines,
including a boiler, a mine car and load of pipe.
Bob Weltyk’s Thomas entertained the kids
Later in the afternoon Bob Paternoster steamed
his NCNG mogul, pulling a nice string of
reefers including his LaFrance Fire Engine
reefer plus a flat car with a model of almost the
exact same fire engine. This was another run
with a plethora of Bob’s present. Someone
yelled “Hey, Bob!” and four guys answered
“What?”
Ron Kurtz’ well-staffed train
After lunch we saw another new locomotive,
Ron Kurtz’ Fairy Meade. His train consisted of
Train Department 4 wheel wagons (did you see
the shingles?) and a scratch built 7/8th’s scale
caboose with a finished interior. There were a
number of train “personnel” on board to add to
the fun. About then we saw Leroy Patterson
steam his Southern Pacific #1744 2-6-0 and
pull a six car freight train.
There were some interesting layouts and
displays at the show. Did you see the city and
railway made from LEGOS? This event was
the 35th Mid-Michigan Model Train Show.
Next year the event will have a new sponsor,
the Saginaw River Valley Model Railroad Club.
Members Bob Krupka, Jim Bowers, Dan
Samuels, John Hussey and Lee Wehlann
enjoyed watching the steam action, visiting
members and checking out the show. This
show starts a late but, during the afternoon we
still saw lots of steam action. We were the only
G scale operation at the event. At one point we
had 1:32 scale, 1:20.3 scale and 7/8th scale
equipment on the tracks at the same time.
We had our first view of another “new” engine
- Tom Myers 4-6-0 King Arthur-class “Sir
Balin”. The engine looked and ran great,
pulling a set of green British coaches. Tom
recently finished assembling this locomotive
from a 35 year old Aster kit. After Tom took
his 4-6-0 off, Will Lindley coupled his
Southern “Spitfire” up to the coaches and kept
on going.
Bob Paternoster’s LaFrance train
Tom Myers’ 35 year old new locomotive
Around 1:15pm Harold Maxwell steamed up
his 2-4-2 Accucraft “Mimi” and ran it light.
Tom Toth got his Shay up to pressure and ran it
heavy, pulling logging cars loaded with very
large logs. Tom was also selling some
equipment at a nearby table – at least there was
some G scale for sale! Later Will Lindley also
ran a Shay but, instead of logs, he was pulling
loaded slate cars.
Ron Kurtz broke out his other 7/8ths scale
Emma, now renamed Ronda. This locomotive
always made its presence known with a very
high effective chuffer. Ron hooked on his
whole consist and off it went, no bother. In the
middle of all this chaos, Fred steamed his little
B&O grasshopper, to everyone’s delight.
Fred ran his B&O grasshopper for the railfans
Tom Toth and his redwood-sized load
Another new locomotive came to light when
Leroy showed off his Wuhu ten wheeler, the
Casey Jones locomotive, Illinois Central # 382.
Leroy didn’t comment on its performance but it
was chuffing around happily. Later he ran his
yellow 0-4-4 “Executive Car” for the railfans,
who were many.
Bill Hendricks’ black smith car
Bill Hendricks put a good looking MOW train
on the rails. I liked his scratch built
blacksmithing car and several of his cars had
MSSLS billboards!
By 4 o’clock, stand back or get run over as club
members made the track disappear – so fast it
was as if by magic! Many thanks to all who
came to this well attended run!
Leroy Patterson’s Illinois Central ten wheeler
Bob Winkel