The Gandy Dancer

Upcoming Public Operation Sessions:

Orchard Supply Hardware How to Fair:

Saturday, March 1st and Sunday, March 2nd. Hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM for both days.

Good Guys

Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23. 21st All-American Get Together. Show hours are: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sat.) and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sun.). Please note that the club normally opens at 10:00 AM for Good Guys shows.

2003 Alameda County Fair:

June 20th through July 6th. Fair hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 4th of July

General Club News:

March Business Meeting

The March general business meeting will be held on Friday, March 7th. Big Bertha, will be fired up for the pre-meeting grilling session, weather permitting.

Home and Garden show a success. The weather for this weekend show was a bit on the chilly side on Sunday but good overall and we had substantial numbers of visitors on both days. Saturday saw 875 visitors and Sunday saw 1,114 visitors for a weekend total of 1,989 visitors. The visitor count on Saturday as well as overall for the weekend was down from last year. Thank you to all members who made the effort to staff our display for this first event of the 2003 club event schedule.

O Scale West Fun. We had good weather for the Sunday event; rain the previous evening left the sky a beautiful blue. A good turnout of club members staffed the layouts with five representatives from the HO scale and a larger number of O scale members in attendance. The turnout of visitors was a bit on the light side, but we saw many old friends, including former member, Al Estabrook from San Diego and a visitor from Switzerland, who has visited us in previous years. It was fun seeing all of the interesting equipment running on both layouts. It certainly appeared that everyone was having a good time. Good stuff on the grill.

Chef George Cumming cooking up some good eats.

Henry Chandler and Bill Brisko visit with former member Al Estabrook, who was up from San Diego.

Jere Ingram near the freight yard panel.

Membership Dues are Now Delinquent. If you have paid your dues, thank you. For those who have not, you have become delinquent! Club bylaws require that those who don't pay their dues by the February business meeting be charged a penalty of $4.00 per month in addition to the normal prorated dues. Members that do not pay their dues will be dropped from the membership rolls.

Don't become extinct!

Membership Roster Update.

If you have changes in your address, phone or E-mail address please contact either Dean Lewis or Bob Johnson, so that your information is correct on the club membership roster.

Vested Interests

The last couple of years club members have had the opportunity to purchase vests to be worn for shows and other club related functions. We currently have a couple of orders for vests. If you are interested in ordering a vest or want more information about the vests please see Dean Lewis.

Club receives donation.

The club has received a generous donation of Kingsford charcoal from Clorox Company. Thank you to the fine folks at Clorox for this most welcome donation.

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HO scale news:

Layout Maintenance.

During Sunday of the Home and Garden show we experienced a number of electrical and mechanical problems with the layout. Several turnouts were not throwing fully and we lost power in DCC mode to a critical mainline block. We also experienced a power drop out on a portion of another block. In some cases, the turnout problems have manifested themselves during previous shows but were not adequately addressed.

Due to the above situation, several long time members, in consultation with the HO Trainmaster, decided it was necessary to perform some intensive maintenance in order to address these problems. Steps have been taken to identify and correct the problems we are currently aware of.

The mainline tracks and much of the yards have been vacuumed and a large amount of dirt has been removed from the tracks. Likewise much of the track on the layout has been hand cleaned, this method is more thorough than just running the track cleaning train around the layout. With hand cleaning, if there is extra crud on the rails at a particular spot, it can be seen, and more importantly, removed.

Mainline turnouts were tested and those that were not throwing were identified for cleaning and adjustment. The linkages on two turnouts were replaced and they are working much better. One turnout linkage was adjusted and that seemed to correct the problem at that location. One switch machine was replaced in the passenger yard.

The blocks that suffered the power loss had an inadequate number of drops feeding power to the track. In addition, the drops that were present were very light gauge wire. A number of new and heavier drops were installed and train performance on that block should be much improved as a result. Additional heavier drops will be installed on other blocks in an effort to improve power distribution to track blocks.

A physical problem was discovered on the freight mainline. There was a problem with vertical alignment (bump and sags) of a section of track. To correct this problem requires a time consuming repair process, which is in progress. It is not possible to run trains through this area while work is in progress on this problem as trains on either mainline are simply in the way of getting the required work done. That is partly why we have not been running trains the last couple of Fridays.

One of the reasons that some problems never seem to get fixed is that we become aware of a problem during a show, when we can't really fix a problem. By the time that we can fix the problem, some time has passed and no one remembers where or exactly what the problem is. This has been an ongoing problem. In an effort to address the process of identification and repair of layout problems a problem log will be available at the main panel. If you find a problem with the layout, turnout problems, track power problems, clearance problems, lighting problems, and so forth, please record the problem in the log so that we can be aware of and correct problems quickly. Things can't be fixed if no one knows what the problem is or where it is.

Maintenance on complex systems, like the layout, is an ongoing process. And is necessary to permit reliable operation of the layout. The layout does not live by running trains alone.

--Bob

The following remarks are from the HO Scale Trainmaster.

Hello HO Members,

I'd first like to acknowledge those members who have devoted their time and effort this past month on fixing the layout problems we experienced during the Sunday session of the Home and Garden Show. Though progress is still going on, I must say a lot has been accomplished. I heard a lot of positive feedback from folks who came through for the Home and Garden Show. Both the O scale and the HO side got much praise. Always like to hear good comments. Glad we got back into using our radios again. It's a lot better than shouting across the layout.

Our thanks go out to Seth Abrahams for the modification he made to the upstairs clubroom cabinet. It really accommodates our hand held DCC control cabs. Congratulations go out to Seth Milan, Allison Rhodes, and Paul and Gloria Newhouse for becoming our latest voted in HO members. They have been very active in projects and participating in our recent shows. I'd also like to welcome perspective new members John Kolberg and Wayne Toigo. Nice having them, along with Garret Kirby, show interest.

Bob Johnson found a box of great items found recently. Looks as though they were Items purchased for the city during the Mike Browne administration. Anyone interested in building kits or painting people figures, see Bob Johnson or myself. Be sure to check out the sign-up sheet for the OSH "How to Fair". DCC will run Saturday and Analog on Sunday. We'll have a short "HO" meeting next week after the OSH show and go over our projects.

--Andy Herrera

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O scale news:

The following remarks are from the O Scale Trainmaster.

OSW Report:

Another successful O Scale West meet took place February 14 & 15, at the Santa Clara Convention Center. OSW Committee member Dick Stark told me that the number of registrants was about the same as last year. Considering the slow economy, this was a pretty good thing. Just about everyone from ACCRS was there, including former member Al Estabrook, up from his home near San Diego. ACCRS was open, as usual, for the OSW layout tours on Sunday. The visitor turnout was rather light, compared to past years. Maybe the 3-day Presidents' weekend holiday saw people departing earlier. Chefs Bill Oborne and George Cumming provided the traditional barbecue for our visitors and attending HO operators.

OSW Photos On-Line:

You can see the photos of this year's OSW model contest online at http://www.lafterhall.com/oswmodelphotos_2003_01.html The photos were taken by our own Jim and Len Ferreria. And, first on the screen is Curley Bellaver's 1st prize winning SP AC-5 cab forward. Congratulations to all!

Dale Jackson:

Joan Bradford (Just Trains) handled the sale of many items from the collection of our late, lamented fellow ACCRS member, Dale Jackson. Henry Chandler selected a number of cars that ACCRS purchased for our layout, and Joan sold the rest on the first day of OSW. We also acquired Dale's All Nation A and B F-units, painted for the WP. The pair are now being hot-rodded by Bob Bunch, and will be hauling on our layout shortly. Unhappily, Dale had no heirs, so all the money goes to Governor Hairdo. Maybe he will use it to lower our taxes.

Upcoming Shows:

I'll repeat my usual request for operators to work the Orchard Supply and Good Guys shows in March. These are the last shows until the Fair. Once again, this task is falling on the same few members, who should not have to work every show. Please do your part, as our active participation is important to maintaining a good relationship with the Fair administration. Sign-up sheets are posted in the usual location.

--George A Cumming, O Scale Trainmaster

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Test your word power.

Listed below are the answers to last month's questions about American railroad slang. Some terms refer to people and others to equipment, facilities or actions.

An "alley" is a clear yard track. A "battleship" is a large locomotive. A "brownie" is a demerit mark placed against an employee's service record. A "trick" is a work shift. To "tie up" means to go off duty. "O-sing" is the report of a train by a station to the division dispatcher. A "boomer" is a migratory railroad worker. To "go high" means to go over the tops of freight cars. "Traveling on a tie pass" is walk on the ties. The railroad that was known as the "Royal Blue Line" was the Baltimore and Ohio.

In Memoriam, Former member Gary Herberger answered the call of the great dispatcher and took his final run to the station of eternity in early February 2003. Gary was a member of ACCRS for many years. He is fondly remembered for being a worker, a regular participant in club meetings and helped staff the club's exhibit during the annual county fair each year. He was a good friend to many people. All who knew him will miss Gary and his name will be added to the club memorial board. A card for Gary's family was circulated Friday, February 14th and during the O scale west open house on Sunday, February 16th.

Museum Report:

This month there will be a break from the normal series of reports. In this photo essay we will be taking a lighthearted look at some interesting photos that on the surface, seem to have connection to some members of the club.

Welcome to Gerald's town, DeWitt, Nebraska.	Gerald owns the local water company.
Fire Chief, Gerald has a nice facility in which to park his truck	Dean and Gary seem to be into transportation as indicated by this bus.

The next installment of the museum report will cover the Rock Island Museum at Fairbury, NE.

2003 GATS shows.

The following table lists upcoming GATS shows in California, Nevada and Oregon with dates and locations:

March 1-2	California	Sacramento	California Exposition and Fairgrounds 1600 Exposition Blvd.
March 8-9	California	San Francisco	Cow Palace Geneva and Santos
March 22-23	California	Costa Mesa	Orange County Fairgrounds 88 Fair Drive
March 29-30	Oregon	Salem	Oregon State Fair and Expo Center 2330 17th Street NE
May 17-18	California	San Rafael	Marin Center 10 Avenue of the Flags
July 12-13	Nevada	Reno	Reno Sparks Convention Center 4590 South Virginia Ave.
July 19-20	California	San Mateo	San Mateo Expo Center 2495 South Delaware Street
August 2-3	California	San Bernardino	National Orange Show Events Center 689 South E Street
August 9-10	Nevada	Las Vegas	Cashman Center 850 Las Vegas Boulevard North
August 16-17	California	Santa Rosa	Sonoma County Fair and Expo Center 1350 Bennett Valley Road
August 23-24	California	Ventura	Ventura County Fairgrounds - Seaside Park 10 West Harbour Boulevard
Nov 8-9	California	Pomona	Fairplex White Avenue & McKinley Avenue
Nov 15-16	Oregon	Portland	Oregon Convention Center 777 NE Martin Luther King
Nov 29-30	California	Pleasanton	Alameda County Fairgrounds 4501 Pleasanton Avenue
Dec 6-7	California	Del Mar	Del Mar Fair 2260 Jimmy Duante Boulevard
Dec 13-14	California	Fresno	The Big Fresno Fair 1121 Chance Avenue
Dec 20-21	California	Victorville	San Bernardino County Fairgrounds 14800 Seventh Street
Dec 27-28	California	San Rafael	Marin Center 10 Avenue of the Flags

News of the Prototype.

Baltimore and Ohio Museum Damaged.

Early on the morning of February 17, 2003 major portions of the roof of the 1884 roundhouse that houses much of the Baltimore and Ohio museum collapsed due to an accumulation of snow on the roof. Fortunately, no one was on premises when the collapse occurred, so no one was injured.

The collection in the roundhouse includes a number of older steam locomotives and wooden railroad cars. Unconfirmed reports indicate that two 1870s-era wood passenger cars were severely damaged and may need to be largely reconstructed. The same sources indicate that the locomotives in the collection are repairable.

The B & O # 217 (4-6-0), a camel back locomotive, survived with its wood cab intact. Another B & O locomotive, # 600 (2-6-0), was not so lucky falling roof components smashed its wood cab. Photos of damage at B & O museum.

Run A Locomotive Program returns.

The Feather River Rail Society will be offering its popular run a locomotive program again this year starting March 1st. Locomotives used in the program include former UP GP30 849, WP GP20 2001, SP GP9 2873, WP NW2 608, WP S-1 512 and WP F7 921. There are three plans available for those who wish to rent and operate one or more of these locomotives. All operation of the locomotives is under the supervision of a qualified engineer. The program is operated at the Feather River Railroad museum at Portola, CA. Proceeds from the program support restoration of equipment in the museums collection.

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Go to February 2003 Issue

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The Gandy Dancer, A monthly publication of the Alameda County Central Railroad Society, Inc.
Copyright ACCRS, Inc 2003 all rights reserved
Last Revised February 23, 2003
For more information contact Robert Johnson, Editor