National Model Train Show

Dave "Siversreak" Bayless and Mike Osborne. Mike at the Sacramento Railroad museum at the throttle of the Cab Forward Steam Locomotive

2011 Sacramento Convention

Left: Rail Scale Minatures Boat and Delwins Net Storage. Below: Myself and Gary Siegal

I attended the 2011 NMRA convention this week. It was a great time meeting new modelers and reconnecting with old friends.

Crossing lights

Crossing flasher circuit hooked up at CP Base

Mountain Running

I added these pine trees to the Alta-Big Bend areas of the layout. They were purchased at Dollar Tree store two for a dollar, not bad. I think they look pretty good.

New micro LED's

These new LED's (Light Emitting Diodes) are super-small. They were installed as HO scale truck headlights. I think they look pretty good. They sell for about 20 cents each. The uses are endless. The picture with the penny compares

the size. It took about an hour to solder wires on the first one.

Zephyrs detour on the Santa Fe pacific

A special DRGW passenger train was ran on the Santa fe Pacific this July. The local railfans told us that it was chartered by a wealthy Los Angeles couple named Paul and Patti D AKA world famous "P Daddy". We met Paul at the Wasatch Tower yard office where a crew change was made. The train consist was a F-7 set, baggage car and a dome observation. The baggage car was reportly for Mrs. D's extensive Red Hat collection. Paul told us he also hired the renowed Chef Giada to cook for them. The trip was taking them from Salt Lake City to Chicago to visit their daughter. Paul, a huge baseball fan, would take in some baseball games at Wrigley field. We said our goodbyes and told Paul we would chase the train through the city. left: The beautiful dome car. below the train leaves Wasatch Tower.

The train heads east near Utah Oil

Great shot of the train at DRGW Jct.

We wave goodbye to Paul and Patty hoping they

enjoy their dinner and trip.

Cats and trains

Ozzy the cat investigating the staging yard. Our cat "B" on the layout. Although not condoned this sometimes happens. The cats like to spend time with me in the layout room.