The Gandy Dancer
The Official Publication of
The Alameda County Central Railroad Society
February 2001
Presidents Day.
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Trial participation in the Home & Garden show Saturday, Feb. 3 and Sunday, Feb. 4th 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM both days. Interest is somewhat limited, so if you were one of those saying "yes", please sign up to run.
Friday evening February 9th is the informal "stop by" session. The more "official" open house is on Sunday, Feb. 11, from 11 AM to 3 PM, more or less. There is a BBQ hosted by the O Scale, on Sunday, and HO scale members are welcome to attend and run for this event.
Saturday, March 3rd 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday, March 4th 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
19th All American Get-Together. Saturday, March 24th 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday, March 25th. 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
A new cabinet has been installed to house the club TV/VCR combo. It has been setup so that a number of people may watch videotapes at the same time. Many thanks to Carlo for building and installing this fine addition to our club meeting space.
The February general business meeting will be held on Friday, February 2nd. Big Bertha, the club BBQ, will be fired up for those who wish to bring something to grill prior to the meeting.
If you have not paid your dues, you are flirting with becoming delinquent, please see the Treasurer and ante up! Annual dues are $24.00.
There seemed to be some confusion, at the Friday, January 5th meeting, by some of our members relating to the prices for hot beverages. Members are reminded that the hot beverages are not free. Coffee and tea are 25¢ for all night. Hot chocolate is 15¢ per envelope of chocolate powder. A sign has been placed on a coffee can next to the hot water pot as a reminder of the pricing structure for hot refreshments. Please unplug the coffee pot or hot water pot if you get the last cup from that pot. Thanks!
The following remarks are from the HO Scale Trainmaster.
The HO scale will be having an organized operating session starting on Friday, February 9th and continuing on Sunday, February 11th during the O Scale West open house. Copies of the operating rules are included with the printed version of this issue of The Gandy Dancer. Those receiving the electronic version will receive a copy of the operating rules via a separate e-mail. Additional copies of the rules will be available from the Trainmaster, Gerald DeWitt, at the club during the remainder of January.
Several of the small projects noted in the January edition have progressed. Gary is still putting on some finishing touches at the new Oildale station. The roundhouse lighting project is completed and looks very good with some interior details installed. Little Joe has installed one of the animated fire trucks in Oildale.
Carl Klenk is working on block 61 to correct some track problems. The track profile, in this area, is not level and is a bit like a roller coaster track, near the sawmill switch. This area has been notorious for derailing long wheel base equipment. The project will involve some track replacement and block 61 will be out of service until repairs are completed.
Bob Johnson is working on a second major track project and is renovating the Freight yard.
The old configuration of the seven-track yard was rather confusing to operate and was rarely used by members. In addition it suffered from having most tracks well under ten feet in length. In fact two tracks were only eight feet long.
The new configuration is a five-track yard with all tracks approximately twelve feet long. Additional new features will include a new caboose storage track, a siding track adjacent to the main for icing refrigerator cars, simplified access to and from the yard and a new more user-friendly control panel.
Due to the extensive nature of the renovation it will take some time to complete all aspects of the project. It is hoped that the new freight yard will allow a place for some of the medium to small sized freights and free up some space in the hidden yard for the longer trains.
As of press time both of the old yard ladders have been removed and new yard ladders are in the process of being installed. The existing switch machines, some yard track and most of the yard wiring are being reused and will allow a speedier completion of the project. This project is taking into consideration other proposed projects in this area of the layout.
An informal tree planting session was held on Sunday, January 12. A good number of trees were added to the layout, more to be added in the future. Participants in the session were Dean Lewis, Gerald DeWitt and Bob Johnson.
--Gerald DeWitt
Dean Lewis is coordinating a new ACCRS contest for HO members. This contest is not as simple as rolling cars down the hill. This contest requires a certain amount of skill. We need a minimum 10 contestants for this contest.
What we have here is a simple model contest. I have 10 Ertl "1948 Peterbilt trucks with flat-bed trailer". The object of the contest is to take this assembled truck / trailer (the mirrors, etc need to be installed) and give it a new look. We need new loads, new paint, whatever seem appropriate. This will be up to the contestant. Entrants may use whatever they wish from their junk box to enhance their entry. There is a $5.00 limit on the purchase of additional parts for each entry. All the models currently are painted black with a small logo on the door.
We will give the contestants a certain amount of time (March business meeting) to return with their entry. HO members will judge the entries and the winning entry(s) will be given a prize. The entries all become property of the club and will be placed around the layout in appropriate locations. Rules will be available at the next club meeting along with the trucks. If we get more than 10 entrants, we will get more trucks.
At the March 2nd business meeting, all entries will be returned to Dean in a standard Athearn small kit box (like for a 40'car) with the item enclosed in the box. Entries shall not be displayed to any member prior to the March business meeting and will only be opened and displayed at the time of the meeting for the judging. This will ensure that all entries will be judged impartially.
If you need a box, for your entry, we will provide one. HO members present will examine the entries and vote for their favorite entry. Each member present will be given a ballot for the voting. Good luck and let's have some fun.--Dean Lewis
The results of the second "Pinewood Derby", held on January 5th have been tabulated and contestants finished in the following order:
The following remarks are from the O Scale Trainmaster.
OSW is coming up on Friday and Saturday, February 9 & 10 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. ACCRS will be open Friday night as usual, and on Sunday, February 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. As in the past, we will a provide barbeque lunch for the visiting O Scalers, many of whom stop by before driving home.
ACCRS will also have a table at OSW, both to "advertise" our club and solicit new members, and also for members to use in selling their own items.
There will be a notebook at the table. If you are bringing your items for sale, please list your minimum price in the notebook, so that your items can be sold if you are not there. Please sign up to cover the table for an hour or so on Friday or Saturday.
The first Sunday operations session was held on January 7, with a good turnout present. Our tryout of DCC was quite successful, and the Club's Milwaukee Road U-25 B has been converted to DCC operations. Errol Spangler will present a DCC budget at the next meeting, for discussion and consideration. Bill Brisko and Bob Bunch have been deputized to look into block detection and signaling, and David Chandler will review Russ Woods' operating plan and give us his suggestions. Due to OSW, the next operating session and discussion will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 11 (that is, following our OSW open house session).--George Cumming
Listed below are this month's questions about American railroad slang. Some terms refer to people and others to equipment, facilities or actions.
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