July 2010 - Gold Coast Garden Railroad Society

Jill Salverson passed away suddenly at home on June 22. Everyone
in the GCGRS would like to extend their deepest condolences to Paul
and their entire family.
Upcoming Meets:
Saturday July 24 11AM
Bob and Rochelle Hahn
Ventura
(805) 648-2282
Please bring:
A-G Appetizers
H-O Salads
P-Z Desserts
August 7 – CANCELLED
August 21 – Chaudier
September 11 - Waterman
September 25-- Kuebler
October 9 -- Siegel
October 23 -- Arseneault
November 13 -- Walker
December ?? -- Richard
January – open
February -- open
July 2010
This month we are meeting at the home
of Bob and Rochelle Hahn in Ventura.
I always enjoy visiting Bob and
Rochelle's Rocky Top RR because I can
always find a new idea to steal borrow
for my layout. Rochelle has a real eye
for attractive plants, and her wonderful
figures and structures bring the layout to
life even when there aren't any trains
going by.
The outer most loop has 20 foot diameter
curves, and easy grades. Bob said he
has fixed the one spot with tight side
clearances, and the big K's will run now.
Vertical clearance is 10 ½ inches.
Last year I wrote that Bob had found the
secret to waterfalls that don't leak. If that
is still true, maybe he can get a job fixing
that leaking oil well on the Gulf Coast.
Open Dates
The big change for this year is that
Rochelle's fairy layout has been
extended across the patio, almost up to
the house. I saw it under construction,
it is all overhead bridges and darned
impressive.
In addition to the fairy layout, there are
three loops at more traditional heights,
all with track power or not, your choice.
Bob and Rochelle Hahn's Meet
Directions and map omitted from
on-line edition. Call host for
directions
We had a cancellation for August 7, so if
you were slow getting out of the gate and
got left out, you have another chance to
redeem yourself.
We also have open dates in January and
February 2011 if August is too soon for
you.
Credit Where It's Due
I made some last minute changes to last month's article
about the Eldridge's meet, and neglected to give credit to
Paul Salverson for contributing some pictures. Here is
another one for your enjoyment.
battery power only. You can also bring your trains to run.
There is an entry fee of about $5.
If you would like to volunteer, contact Art at (805) 9671742 or [email protected].
The museum is at 300 N. Los Carneros Rd Goleta. Take
the 101 to the Los Carneros off ramp, turn toward the
mountains (right if you drove through Santa Barbara), and
go a couple of long blocks. The museum is on your right
and is almost impossible to miss. You can get more info
here: http://goletarailroaddays.org/
Eldridge's Layout Cover
Jim Eldridge wrote to say that several people wanted to
know about that fancy cover over their layout. They got it
from a company called FarmTek. Here is a link to their
web site:
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1a;ft1_canopies_
tents.html
Jill Salverson's Memorial Service
Jill Salverson's memorial service
was June 26th in San Dimas. Paul
says that instead of flowers, Jill
would have preferred donations to
the American Diabetes Association.
http://www.diabetes.org/donate/
GCGRS 1:32 at the SWGRS at Fairplex
Gary Raymond wrote to say that Byron McCracken,
John Ryan, Joe Huemphreus,Chuck Haverlah, Tom
Ford, Dan Miroballi, Gary Siegel, and Bob Uniack
helped operate Gary's portable layout at the Southwest
Garden RR Show. It sounds like they all had a great time,
and are looking forward to the next show, which is in
November.
Jim Eldridge Takes Over as Meet Master
Goleta Railroad Days
The South Coast Railroad Museum will be hosting Goleta
Railroad Days on July 24th and 25th. This is a celebration
of almost everything that runs on rails. There will be ride
on trains, both steam and diesel, antique tinplate toy train
displays, handcar rides, model stationary steam engines,
a live steam O-gauge engine, a locomotive simulator,
tours of the depot, and even a display on magnetic
levitation.
Art Sylvester, Joe Huemphreus, and John Ryan are
planning to set up a layout to promote the hobby, and let
others know about the GCGRS. If you would like to help
out, they are going to grade the dirt and lay track on
Friday, July 23. Or, you can come Saturday or Sunday
and help in the booth.
Our layout will be the same as last year: an 80X20 foot
loop at ground level. The track won't have power, so it's
Beaver DeBievre has decided he has had all the fun he
can stand, and has retired from organizing the meets.
Jim Eldridge is taking over effective immediately.
Beaver took over in August of 2002, following the passing
of the previous chair, Charlie Schlosser. I don't know
how long he intended to stay, but he had a real knack for
it, and just kept going. He has done a wonderful job.
Since he took over, we haven't had even one month
without a meet, or one person hosting meets in three
successive meets. That was known to happen before.
Organizing the meets is arguably the most important job in
the club. We might survive without a newsletter, but
without meets, we wouldn't have any reason to exist. So,
thanks a billion, Beaver, for making the club what it is
today. And welcome aboard, Jim. You can reach Jim at
the addresses on the back page. Help get Jim off to a
flying start by volunteering for a meet today. You can do it
right now. Go ahead, I will wait for you.
Bill & Jackie Fraser's Stumphill RR
The weather was perfect, we had a
great crowd, and lots of trains. Does
life get any better than that?
Don Asher ran his Western Sierra
Shay and a couple of cars.
Beaver ran his European Mallet
complete with brakeman and a “flat”
car that is so sway-backed that it
should be called an arch car or
anything other than “flat”.
Bill simplified the layout by getting rid
of a water feature and mountain. He
added a water tank that somehow
created perfect photos every time. We I'll give you one guess as to who
barely noticed the missing waterfall.
brought the Mickey and Donald hand
car. Charlie Richard, who else?
The layout was in good shape except Don't tell Donald, but I think Mickey
for one switch that caused problems
was loafing.
until Bill tracked it down and repaired
it.
Jim Eldridge ran Sylvia's CSX 44
tonner and a short train.
John Golnik and his pinch-hitting
grandson, Christopher, ran their
D&RGW rail bus. Christopher was
also the helper engine on that bad
switch for awhile.
Gary Raymond ran his tiny industrial
engine with a few cars. Gary set up
the train as soon as he arrived, then
broke for lunch before running it. He
was away so long that he almost had
to pay his train crew overtime.
Thanks to Bill and Jackie for another
terrific meet.
Jackie would like you to believe that this is a
self portait; painted while she was living in Paris
as an artist on La Rive Gauche. Sounds good to
me.
Beaver and Mary DeBievre's
Atascadero Creek
getting up the long grade, but it did just
fine. It didn't even blow any fuses.
Ken Kelley and John Ryan ran
John's diesel pulling a flat car with
The weather was perfect, as usual.
John Lyans brought a Eureka &
Ken's new HD video camera ahead of
How could summer in Santa Barbara
Palisade 4-4-0 and a DSP&P way car Beaver's Shay to to get a conductor's
be anything other than perfect? Of
(caboose). For some reason, I have
eye view of the layout. It might have
course, you could say the same for the never been attracted to 4-4-0s. But
worked better on a flat track, but the
crowd. We are even more perfect
this beauty could change my mind.
Shay sped up and caught the camera
than Mary Poppins.
train on down grades, then dropped
Beaver joined the fun with his Shay
back so far it went out of the frame on
John Power ran his K-28 and four
and a train of log cars, and his Ten
up hills. They have a great idea, but it
passenger cars. They looked right at
Wheeler with just a couple of cars.
needs some refinement.
home here. But then, they'd look great
on almost any layout. The figures
Mary had her fairy layout and trains
I ran my strawberry train for the first
inside the cars make them look even
running, as well as her circus layout
time. Everyone seemed to like it.
better.
and train.
Thanks to Ken Kelley and Chris Walas
Georges Arseneault brought his
Rex Davis didn't bring anything of his for contributing some of these pictures.
Mikado and a long string of stock cars own, but had to join the fun, so he ran Thanks to Beaver and Mary for
and reefers. I had doubts about it
Beaver's Atascadero Creek Ten
another wonderful meet.
Wheeler.
Ken Kelley took all of these pictures at Beaver's meet. Thanks, Ken.
All Aboard!!
Please join me in welcoming our newest members, Mark
and Sheila Goodman of Santa Maria. Mark says:
Just got into
garden
railroading 2 yrs
ago. Did HO for
5 years before
with 3 year
break. Got into
garden
railroading
accidentally
when I was
trying to sell my
HO stuff at
Central Coast
Hobbies and
noticed a flier
about garden railroading. Checked into it and went to see
many railroads. Then started my own.
Gary and Marilyn Siegel's Fund Raiser for the
Parkinson's Association
Marilyn wrote to say that they got a lot more people than
they expected. Over 350 people signed their guest book,
and they know not everyone signed in.
Apparently, word got around Saturday night, as some
people came back on Sunday, and brought other people
with them. There are lots of pictures on our web site, but
here are a couple to show you what you are missing.
Thanks to Ken Kelley for all of the pictures.
Gary and Marilyn couldn't have done it all by themselves.
They had nearly 40 volunteers, including Joe and Mary
Heumphreus, Dennis and Susanne Paulazzo, Rex
Davis, Beaver and Mary DeBievre, Art Sylvester, and
John Ryan.
So far I have a double main line with about 400 feet on
each. I have 10 foot diameters with is mostly flat track.
One end of the dog bone is about 3%.
I intended to go diesel, but since LGB was out business
and limited stock was available I did purchase 4 LGB
Steam engines. I have a Shay and a USA F3.
I'm trying to model a mine area and logging area, other
wise my layout is in the preliminary stages. I run battery.
Thanks, Mark, and welcome to the club. I saw Mark and
Sheila at Beaver and Mary's run. They were taking notes
and making plans.
Steve Vendt Goes to the Dark Side
Steve Vendt, who has been active in garden railroading
since it was spelled “LGB”, has decided to get out of G
scale altogether. He is selling off all his G scale stuff. The
complete list, with prices, will be on our web site
www.gcgrs.com.
As an overview, he has 2 LGB Aster K28s, a Barry Boggs
K27, several LGB engines from the early Paleozoic days of
garden railroading. He has a work train set with everything
from a bunk car to a weed car, whatever that is. Then
there are box cars, gondolas, and every other kind of
freight car known to the D&RGW, plus passenger cars and
cabooses. None of these are mantle queens, Steve runs
his stuff.
Enough of that already. Go to our web site and get the
whole list with prices. You can contact Steve directly at
[email protected] or (623) 337-0552.
More Characters From the Early Days
I had a lot of stuff to cover this month, so the Characters
are taking a rest. Don't worry, they will be back.
GCGRS Membership Application Form
Membership in the Gold Coast Garden Railway Society is open to anyone who is interested
in outdoor model railroading. Dues are $20 per year if you need a printed copy of the
newsletter mailed to you; or $10 if you can take the newsletter via email. New members,
please add $6 for each name tag that you want to have. Membership runs from January to
December. Make checks payable to “Bruce Kuebler for GCGRS”.
Bring this application and payment to any meet, or mail it to:
Bruce Kuebler
10908 Encino Dr
Oak View CA 93022-9238
First Name ___________________ Last Name: _________________________________
Spouse/Partner/Other(SPO) First Name: _______________________________
SPO Last Name, if different:__________________________________
Street Address _________________________________________________________
Newsletter:
Gary Olmstead
(805) 648-1770
garyolmstead AT
earthlink DOT net
Membership:
Bruce Kuebler
(805) 649-3050
pbkuebler AT
sbcglobal DOT net
Meets: Jim Eldridge
(818) 954-9809
sjeldridge AT
earthlink DOT net
NOTE NEW web site:
http://www.gcgrs.com
City ____________________________________State _____ Zip ________________
Home Phone: ( _______) _____________
email: __________________________________________________
I enclose $20 because I love to receive a printed newsletter in the mail
____
I enclose $10 because I want to get the newsletter two days earlier by email ____
I also need ___ name tags, so I have added $6 each
____
For new members:
Would you like some help designing and/or building your layout? (Yes/No) _________
If yes, what would you like help with?________________________________________
Gold Coast Garden Railway Society
10908 Encino Dr
Oak View, CA 93022-9238
Webmaster:
John Albin
jtalbin AT aol DOT
com
Please put “GCGRS”
in the subject line of
any correspondence.