Sharon is the best hostess.. We wanted to go but everything worked against it.
John Armstrong Need any Pennsy Items? I'm downsizing due to age. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob South To: s-scale@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 6:33 PM Subject: {S-Scale List} 7th Annual NOSS Inter-State Get Together-My first time at Jack's! I just realized that a week has passed since the 7th Annual NOSS Inter-State Get Together last Saturday, 09/28/13. Although this was my second time at the event, it was my first visit to the Sudimak residence, where Sharron graciously hosted the event. Sharron noticed my Pittsburgh S-Gaugers shirt and welcomed me to her home. I was promptly shown the basement stairs as she could read the longing in my eyes to get a long awaited look at the famous Penn Creek & Western layout. I was told the layout was still being put together, due to renovations to the electrical service, but being my first time I couldn't tell. As long as I could run my I-1, I was happy! John Henning greeted me and introduced me to the members and out-of-town guests. Following a tour of the layout, my PRR I-1 was assigned to the second level for its first run since I acquired it. John loaned me the tender from Jack's I-1 to get me started while he "couplerized" my tender. Thanks, Jack, for your efforts and the 802 coupler! The I-1 was connected to the 10-15 cars waiting an engine and I started it around the layout. Several attendees noticed that the caboose was not of the Pennsy variety and I was asked to stop the engine while a Pennsy portal windowed caboose was placed on the rear. This is a scale event you know! Now that the train was as realistic as we could get it, I proceeded to slooooowly accelerate the train. My fears were laid to rest as I got to see that the I-1 could creep and accelerate as slowly as I hoped it would. This is my only brass locomotive and I was not sure it was money well spent. I think it will serve me very well once my layout is completed. Clinic time put an end to my train running. That's OK as the clinics were well worth the time. Ed Kirstatter showed us how to make realistic coal loads for hoppers, something a lot of us need to do. Mike Lytle presented a look at the many ways the new X-29 boxcar kit can be used to model various boxcars. Thanks Ed and Mike for your efforts and for your video presentations. What better food to serve a group of men, and a few women than chili. There were two pots of delicious chili on hand along with a veggie tray, pistachio and many other desserts and drinks. The weather was ideal for a picnic on the deck. A group photo ended our outdoor activities and it was now time to spend some money. I found a great deal on some 802 couplers and a coupler adjusting plier. This event attracted S-Scalers from Buffalo NY, Pittsburgh PA (me), and several locations in Ohio near the border of West Virginia. Sharron gave the word that she would like to continue this event into the future as Jack would have wanted. I hope so! My thanks to the NOSS group and Sharron, the host, and all those who made the day a success. I will be there next year and promise not to write such a lengthy review. Bob South