Large Scale Central

KOPS 2020

Yes, Randy, I vaguely remember that name…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

And we are still a go. With the limited number of people attending run-what ya-brung will fit in anytime.

Kool! Now I have to get some equipment ready. I’m very eager to run something.

See you Saturday

-Randy

Rooster said:

He lures you in with donuts!

Ken Brunt said:

And shows you the door when its time to go!

Plan to be there about 10 or so Thursday to clean switches, test track and prep for the social distancing crowd. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

There were 2 that were giving me trouble. One on the Wye and the one over in Hesperus that we were having a problem with. I pulled them both up and re-did them. But they’ll be a couple more that cause problems before the weekend is out…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Ken Brunt said:

There were 2 that were giving me trouble. One on the Wye and the one over in Hesperus that we were having a problem with. I pulled them both up and re-did them. But they’ll be a couple more that cause problems before the weekend is out…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Absolutely …but you will have to wait till we arrive! Oh wait, you were talking switches!

Ric takes his motor bus out on to the line.

The Evil Twins arrive on the RGS.

The Ops session begins. Had a beautiful day. Did the car set outs, then ran a train. Started a 2nd train then stopped for lunch. Picked up dinner from Perkins, and Randy and his family stopped by. It was a good day.

RR looks great Ken!

Sure wish we could have been there.

Ken Brunt said:

There were 2 that were giving me trouble. One on the Wye and the one over in Hesperus that we were having a problem with. I pulled them both up and re-did them. But they’ll be a couple more that cause problems before the weekend is out…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Always is. I spend the whole week before TrainOps running all sorts of trains in both directions until things work 100%. Then you guys show up on Friday and immediately someone splits a switch.

Railroad looks great!

Ken Brunt said:

Now you need a bunch of these for the next event that Rooster says he will attend! (Don’t tell Rooster though, we want to surprise him! (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif))

Day 2 Saturday.

A lot cooler today, but we never did see any sunshine.

Randy Lerhrian showed up Friday nite with his family and gave us a special treat saturday morning with his EBT coal drag live steamer he bought from Pete Thorton.

Getting ready to fire it up.

Away we go…

It’s about a 3-4% grade heading into Mancos and with 8 coal hoppers and 2 passenger cars No 12 had a hard time making up the hill. But the old steamer got a good workout running the line.

After he dropped off the coal hoppers No 12 did much better heading up the grade.

Downgrade through Hesperus towards Porter.

It took up the whole leg of the Wye and then some.

Then it was on to running some Ops…

Randy and his son working in Mancos while Hollywood offers some suggestions.

And about mid morning the days entertainment arrived.

Glad I left my wallet in the house cause he found my camera.

Another surprise guest. I haven’t seen this guy since he was about waist high, Dave’s son Zach. Home from College.

Dave and Gary working in Hesperus. I met Gary at the train show this year and invited him down. He decided at the last minute to drive down from Buffalo.

Randy cools down No 12 while the rest of us look on.

All in all not a bad weekend. The weather cooperated, some new faces showed up, but some familiar faces couldn’t make it.

Nice day and good play. Thanks again for having us Ken.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Ken:

Thank you so much for posting these pictures. I’m very glad you were able to hold the event and get together with some wonderful friends old and new.

Of course, I only wish I could have joined you guys, but here I sit, locked out north of the border.

The live steamer was a treat, and I love both pictures of the Misters Russell. What a happy pair they are!

Saturday was my own son’s birthday - his name is Zachary too, by the way, David - but he lives in Oneonta NY so I couldn’t be with him. It’s an all-round bummer.

But hey, on the bright side, clearly a lot of good things happened and you guys had a fine time.

Oh, and the railroad looks great, Ken! Every year it seems to green up a little more. I really admire the fantastic job you’ve done in that backyard of yours.

I’m looking forward to the border’s eventual reopening so I can get down there again! Meanwhile, blessings to you and Bev, and CHEERS to all!

-Johnnychuffchuff

You were missed John, and all your stuff in my garage misses you, too…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Hey John, good to hear from you. Yes, you and Nicole were missed. I’m afraid I didn’t remember you having family up in New York. That’s the area Roger Caiazza is from. We had a great number of days and the rain stayed away. Last night we talked Ken into letting us help him put things away. It rained quite a bit this morning and it is slowly clearing now. We have one more lazy day in the area and then head for our home base tomorrow. We have been on the road since the first of July and its time to touch base back home.

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Looking at the pictures of Rooster and Zak, the side story is, he comes up to me after lunch and says, hey, Hollywood left his camera out and Zak and I loaded it with selfies. So Hollywood walks up a little while later and Rooster rides Hollywood with “Hey, you ought to keep your lens cover on your camera”. Hollywood gives him a strange look and says “my camera is in my car”. So now Rooster is trying to figure out who’s camera he photo bombed. Interesting look on his face. Later we found out it was Ken’s.

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Rooster has raised a great young man in Zak. He has his interesting ways and he is a fabulous modeler. It was good to see old faces and meet Gary from the Buffalo area.

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A good weekend. WE ALL, should do this more often. Hope this World gets back to normal. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)