In past years, the Houston S Gaugers have always done exactly what your
group is doing, and I think we actually got a fair amount done. I think
one year we had three S standard and two narrow layouts open during our
Fall weekend tours (different weekends of course). My layout has always
had work to do. I put somebody in charge of cleaning buildings and
cars, somebody on an electrical issue and somebody on a pesky turnout.
Back before I had all my mountain scenery complete, we used brown
wrapping paper stabled down--one member re-contoured my mountains every
year.
That doesn't seem to happen anymore; volunteers seem to have gone
elsewhere--some due to health issues, some distance and old age is
getting us all. Besides our modules, we only have one standard and one
narrow gauge layout on the tour plus one hi-rail layout in a hot garage
(it was 103 on Saturday) that doesn't participate in the tour.
With that being said, I spent last week's evenings re-laying, for the
third time a #126 #6 turnout that dates back to my teen years. I had
Branch Line Models make up a pair each of #4's & 6's and mount on the
old Tru-Scale milled roadbed. It was part of my never-finished layout
in high school back in the mid 60's.
I re-installed them on my present layout as it progressed. About a year
ago, I removed the LH #6 and replaced it with a #8 on a passing siding.
I have now relayed it again as the lead to my new turntable. As I
mentioned it was delivered spiked to Tru-Scale milled roadbed ($1 extra
as I recall) and it's now ended up being spiked to Tru-Scale plain
roadbed again. I got suckered into buying some turnout blocks during
Jamie's auction in Sacramento in 2011. I think these might have been
the property of one of my best-est friends Roger Nulton.
I now have used two of them. You can glue ties down, and lay your rail,
wire and then mount into the fiber roadbed fairly easily. It becomes a
near-RTR turnout for weird, back-ache places. I hope to be putting the
finishing touches to that turntable this week as the bridge was
airbrushed this weekend.
This exercise in model railroading proves several things: 1) always buy
something at Jamie's auction, 2) never destroy a turnout that can be
re-layed, 3) even old technology like the Tue-Scale stuff still has a
purpose, and 4) never forget where you stash all that stuff!
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
The Lehigh Valley S gaugers met at my house last Sunday and all worked
very hard cleaning track and helping to get the Jefferson Central up
to "Snuff." This was no easy task, even though the basement is air
conditioned, it was plenty hot down there and by 3:30 I suggested we
have our business meeting and go to early dinner, all were in agreement.
While I find that all are willing to help out on your layout, it's
really better to do the work yourself and when the gang comes in, just
socialize and run trains. The business meeting went well, we are going
to try to reorganize, get the LVSG web page
(http://www.allenyard.net/LVSG/index.html) to date and possibly start
the "Lottie Steamchester" column again. Tsk! Tsk!
I've posted several images from our meeting for you.
"S"incerely,
Bill (Fraley)
