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| Steaming Days - Sat/Sun September 14/15 | |
 Young GHLS member Joseph Temkov hard at work helping crush some coal |
The club steaming day on Saturday turned out to be a another track workday as only Frank Deley was out giving some rides to his visiting relatives with his 3-1/2" Pacific. There were lots of other members out to help with the various chores to be done such as: getting the coal bins organized, crushing coal, riding car maintenance, replacing the steaming bay water tower and general track clean-up. |
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| The public day on Sunday didn't start out well as some light showers threatened to put a damper on the track activities. But soon the overcast skies cleared and there was a large turnout of spectators in the afternoon. The ticket tent volunteers JoAnn, Ireen and Carol were soon busy handing out tickets for train rides. Ted and Jack McJannett were out early getting in many laps with their 3-1/2" Pacific. Tom Stewart's 4-3/4" Atlantic and Aubre Whitehouse's Simplex were also out giving lots of rides on the elevated track. Tom's Atlantic had to call it an early day with clogged fire tubes, as it doesn't seem to like the new Kentucky coal too well. Aubre's Simplex didn't have any problems and pulled large loads of spectators all afternoon. |  Ron McKinley and his 7-1/4" Hercules headed down the east hill with a full load of visitors |
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 Aubre Whitehouse, sporting his new engineer's cap, works his 4-3/4" Simplex around the pump house |
The ground track saw Harry Savile's Consolidation out, but he too had to call it an early day with some mechanical problems. This left Michael Guy with his Romulus and Ron McKinley and his Hercules to give rides on the ground track. Ron's Hercules was running great as some new super heater tubes have cured many of the Hercules steaming problems from earlier in the year. Michael's Romulus was running great as usual and made many laps of the track all day with several different engineers working the throttle. |
 A friendly wave as Michael Guy's 7-1/4" Romulus and Jack McJannett's 3-1/2" Pacific pass at the north loop |
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| Steaming Days - Sat/Sun October 5/6 | |
 Jack McJannett pulls out of Moore's Station with a full head of steam in the 3-1/2" Pacific |
The Saturday club day again was just a track work day as everyone who came out to help worked on finishing the pump house passing siding and cleaning up the last of the coal pile. The new track around the pump house will now be the mainline as the new track has a larger radius and provides a straighter approach up the east hill. The old track next to the fence will be the passing siding. |
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| The seasonal fall weather on the Sunday public day was a welcome relief from the record high temperatures endured all summer. Harry Savile had his 7-1/4" Consolidation's brake and throttle problems repaired and was first out to test the new track around the pump house. The new track and turnouts worked without any problems all day. The Consolidation ran great all day with several different engineers and conductors helping to give rides all day long. Ron McKinley was out early with his 7-1/4" Hercules but had to call it an early day as the super heaters were acting up again. Russ Milland was elevated to chief engineer for Michael Guy's 7-1/4" Romulus as Michael was unable to make it to the track until late in the day. Russ kept the Romulus running all day until Michael was able to take over. JoAnn Intini did another great job looking after the ticket tent and donation box all day. Les McCunniff, our new track safety officer, was out helping to keep everything moving smoothly at Moore's Station. The completed Train Shed is a welcome addition, as getting the riding cars out and running during steaming days is now a lot easier. |  (L to R) Rick Intini giving Gord Mortimer instructions on driving Tom Stewart's 4-3/4" Pacific |
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 A busy Moore's Station as the afternoon sun filters through the steam and smoke |
The elevated track saw Ted and Jack McJannett out with two engines this week. The always-great running 3-1/2" Pacific and a 4-3/4" two cylinder Shay which Ted is trying to sell. Tom Stewart had his 4-3/4" Pacific out this weekend to see if it would like the new coal better than the Atlantic during the last steaming day. New member Gord Mortimer got a chance to drive Tom's engine with some instruction from Rick Intini. Aubre Whitehouse had his Simplex out again and gave many rides all afternoon. This great running engine was pulling three fully loaded riding cars around the track without any problems. Cliff Bartlett was also out with his 4-3/4" Speedy to get in some track time before the end of the season. |
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| Pioneer Valley Live Steamers 50th Anniversary Meet by Rick Intini | |
| Thursday August 28 we left for the 9 1/3 hour trip to Pioneer Valley's 50th anniversary. With trailer in tow, carrying 3 engines and riding cars we started out. We arrived at the track, and were warmly greeted in the drizzling rain. After parking, we were told that breakfast started at 7 am. Taking a look around, Bob and I found many familiar sites, and many changes. There were major 7-1/4" track additions, trestles, tunnels - they must have added 3,000 ft. of track since our visit 10 years ago! |  Moe Chaput headed out of the yard with his Mikado |
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 One of the many Hudson's at the meet works it's way across the valley loop trestle |
Friday morning, our crew of 10 rose with the sun and descended to the track site for the breakfast. When we talk of inflation, here, things have changed somewhat! Example: breakfast price - $2.50 U.S. for three pancakes, three eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, juice and coffee, served with friendly jokes and stories - now that's value! |
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| We unloaded with extreme ease using their rolling platform lift. This made lifting and moving a 1-1/2" scale Northern child's play. We steamed off down the line past the 18-track roundhouse and switchyard. The track was well laid out - a little confusing at first, but a nice mix of grades and curves. As you wound your way back to the steaming bay area, you'd find another engine in your bay. All day long, engines and equipment continue to arrive. There were large and small Pacifics, Northerns, Hudsons, Americans, articulated - you name it! This made for a very enjoyable day of idea-seeking and story-swapping. There were a few derailment mishaps, which were quickly looked after. |  A New York Central Hudson headed out on the main line past the passenger loading area |
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 Sitting quietly on the steaming bay, this Union Pacific Northern with centipede tender was one of the largest locomotives attending the meet |
The track was well used all day, and well into the early morning, by steam, gas, and electric over the two days we were there. I would guess that there were 50 or so engines in attendance.
Saturday was much the same - all the time equipment was coming and going, and all steaming bays and sidings were in constant use. Suppertime provided a pig roast with plenty to eat, and several door prizes. The services of "P.A." Harry were called upon to bellow the door prize numbers. |
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| On Sunday morning, we returned for breakfast, loading up, and final goodbyes. It was an enjoyable and rewarding trip for all in attendance. I certainly hope it won't take me ten years to get back to Southwick, Mass. again. |  Kevin Intini with Harry Savile's Consolidation head into the curved tunnel on the valley loop |
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| Track Work | |
 Hard working track crew finishing the passing siding. (L to R) Les McCunniff, Gord Mortimer, Harry Savile and Tom Stewart |
The ground level Train Shed (previously known as the car barn) project is now complete. The doors at the track entrance have been installed and the shed can now be securely locked. The project came in on budget and ahead of schedule thanks to the great design and hard work of Steve and Brian Moore. Thanks to everyone who helped with the construction.
The coal bins behind Moore's Station have been re-organized and all of the coal is now stored in the bins. Thanks to Rick Intini for re-building the old "green" bin which is now used to store the buckets of crushed coal. Thanks to Rod Bennett for donating a large plastic tub which is being used to store some of the uncrushed coal and thanks to everyone who came out on the track work days to help crush and shovel coal. The 7-1/4" track passing siding around the pump house is now completed. A recent work party was at Dupuis Sawmill Ltd. to cut up several planks for new ties so that the track laying could be finished. The last two club track work days saw members out to help finish installing the ballast and complete the leveling and grading. The switch throws have also been installed, thanks to Tom Stewart. |
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| Bob Intini and Hamilton Stamping Ltd. have donated a number Fox40 Force hand whistles for use by the train conductors during public steaming days. Bob has also donated the OMLET competitor awards for 2002. The medallions, which will be sent out to all the OMLET competitors this year, are the traditional relief engraved brass ovals.
The new steaming bay water tower is now in place awaiting the final plumbing and cladding. The tower, built by Rick Intini, has a much larger capacity and replaces the existing tower. It will be used to supply water to both the elevated and ground track steaming bays. The water hydrant for the 7-1/4" track steaming bays will be fed via a buried plastic pipe from the new tower. If anyone can donate about 50ft of 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" ABS or Poly pipe please contact Rick Intini at 905-643-2410. |
 New steaming bay water tower |
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| New Member | |
| We have a new member to welcome to the club, William Brown from Guelph. William is getting started building a locomotive after many years and is interested in all things mechanical. | |
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| For Sale | |
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 7-1/4" Princess Royal Pacific |
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 7-1/4" Princess Royal Pacific |
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