and he recalls -
Drinking beer and running trains in a circle - Hah - That brings
back memories.
Back in the 60s I had a small layout and more 0 Gauge than track.
There was one hobby shop in town and the owner had a ton of it in his
own collection with the idea that he's build a layout in the shop's
basement but slot cars were becoming the rage and he decided to sell
the 0 Gauge and build slot tracks to attract business. Since he knew
I was into 0 he made me a deal and I picked up a more than I would
ever have track to run it on. There was a Lobaugh Greenbriar, All
Nation's Pacific and Ten-wheeler, F Units, Walthers Passenger cars,
Globe freight cars and more than I can remember now.
Needless to say news of the sale got around and I got a number of
calls about selling some of it. One particular caller (named Paule
DeQuoy) talked me into letting him come and see what was in the lot
as he had some items he might want to trade. Oh yes and he hoped I
wouldn't mind if he brought a friend. I didn't mind and we scheduled
the visit for a Friday evening.
For the appointed evening, I bought a few quarts of beer and snacks
and sent the wife off to a movie. Paul showed up with his buddy and
after introductions, I didn't have to twist anyone's arm to crack a
bottle of beer as we opened boxes and looked over the stuff. As the
evening grew late, nothing came of a trade, but Paul's friend noticed
that I had a few S Gauge items on the work bench and mentioned that
he was into S and invited me to his house another evening.
Since he lived about 10 minutes from my place, we made a tentative
date and said goodnight. I traveled a lot for work back then and a
month or so passed before I could get a free night and called. I
remember asking if I should bring beer and he said I didn't as he had
plenty - and I found out he was telling the truth - he made his own!
The one visit grew into more frequent meets and then a regular Friday
night session - most of the time it was just the two of us, drinking
home made suds and running trains (in a circle of course). Quite
often Paul was there and another fellow (named Ron Koch) and
sometimes Tom Coughlan, Win Blake and Don Riley. I already knew Tom
as he was a Salesman for a wire company and I was a Purchasing
Manager for a printed circuit house. (Never made the connection though)
The layout didn't have any scenery, just open bench work and very
well laid track on TruScale roadbed. When the Bristol Club showed up
for a meeting, I met Bob Blois and Bill Boucher. Bill would set up
his circus train and back 80' cars through the switches without
batting an eye! Needless to say I was hooked on S Gauge and over the
years, the 0 Gauge was sold and I acquired crates of S stuff. I even
converted my AF Atlantic to scale and still have it.
By now some of you may have guessed that the host was Gene Fletcher
and the friendship lasted for more than forty years. Over those years
I bought and sold just about everything in just about every scale at
conventions, mail and then eBay. (Don Heimburger used t' call me "The
Money Shredder!). But I stayed with S Gauge and at my age will
probably never have to worry about its future!
Now with time creeping up on me, I still have an occasional drink as
I work on a video or (though rarely) a model and think back to those
"golden days of yesteryear" swilling down a glass of Panther Brew
(Gene's name for his home made stuff) and running trains on the Great
Eastern (Gene's railroad). He had a slogan (actually two) - "Try A
Panther - That's The Anther" and "Take One Six Pack And Get Hold Of Yourself!"
Most of the old crowd are gone now - Jim Smith, Ron Koch, Don Riley,
Paul DeQuoy, Bob Blois, Tom Coughlan and a long list of fellow S
Gaugers I have known over the years. I have a few souvenir items
packed away and some day I'll dig 'em out and run 'em in a circle and
have a beer. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and a few nagging
complaints that come with age will limit me to one or maybe two
glasses of suds but every swallow will remind me of the good times
had in Gene's basement.
I hope all of you will find such pleasant memories t' carry with you.
Modeling is fun but a glass o' beer and running trains in a circle
with old friends is funner!
Raleigh in Maine
www.emporiumpictures.com
At 11:59 PM 10/4/2007, ed_loizeaux wrote:
> > Let's see, a layout with beer... Well, first you need <snip>
> > Jim K.
>
>Jim...How about an RDC full of S scale modelers on a fan trip to the
>local beer factory? By the way, were those plumbing fittings on the
>vats made from zamac or brass? Gotta make sure my model is accurate.
>Burp...Ed L.
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