The Great Smoky Mountians Railroad July 2020

Hello blog followers and fellow rail-fans,

Here are some pictures of out last rail-ran trip to Bryon City, NC.,  July 2020

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

 Here we see their active Steam engines US Army Baldwin 1702 (2-8-0) the engine they use for steam excursion trips.

Notice the red Caboose is near the front of the train and not in back or last, well, that's because it used for special riding for passengers and used for site seeing.  The caboose was usually the last car on the train concept. The conductor  used it for his office and bed room. Even sometimes dinning room, as many did have a wood stove.

I always thought I would like a caboose layout for an office and play room, the Mom thought other-wise. 

We start our children off young, he is from Florida but he loves trains !!

The young cousins enjoying a great train trip.

 

OH yes, we had to have some ice cream, always time for an ice cream break. An ice cream eatery in Dillsboro, NC.

And yes, we had to wear a mask in some places and in the coaches.

It was a great day and a great trip and always FUN with Family. Hope see you next time, perhaps Rail-fanning, somewhere near a mainline track, but especially with steam!!

GA Port Authority MEGA Project 2020

GPA MEGA Project 2020
 












It's a huge project Dan. They opened PHb and now are flipping over to the left on PHA and D . 9 more intermodal track. Track 18,17,16 are already in. The will be redoing the ladder at both ends and merging with a south end making a 90 degree bend called PHc . More tracks.

4 year project. It's awesome. Those cranes span 9 tracks then turn the container 90 degrees perpendicular to to the rails for waiting chassis.

Garden City near Savannah, GA, perhaps a great place to Rail Fan !!

NGM CLub update 06/20

To NGM club members:

Hello everyone we hope y’all are doing good in these times of crisis. Due the COVID 19 we were force to cancel our two show, Buford Presbyterian usually hosted in May and now Smoke Rise which usually held in July. However we hope to continue to have Gwinnett Country Fair show in September. We hope you have one of show going and hope everyone stays safe and keep on steaming! Be look out for future show and updates!

Caleb Samples

Blog and Train club update May 2020

Hello blog followers,

We are shutdown these days. Nothing to add from out Train club or family hobby to this blog. Although, with our family we will update our home layout. It will be on a 4'X8' piece of plywood on three sturdy wooden saw horses, which will be in our dinning room. Mom was "OK" with this move.

Train club activities are on hold until the Fall 2020, so we will work on club modules and club trailer for carrying club modules to the events.

This may be a familiar picture for those who follow this blog, but we hope to be there at NS Downtown Atlanta building one more year, we will keep you posted.

And we will let you know by posting our Rail fanning pictures when the opportunities happen.

NGM Officers for the year 2020-2021

Hello Club members,

We hope you are staying safe and sound during time of crisis.

Here's the current BOD (Board Of Directors) 2020

President: Bruce Bliss
Treasurer: Mike Tarrant
Secretary: Jamison Amis
Operations: Caleb Samples
Promotion: Ricki Weaver
Engineering: Jon Dassler
Membership: Yarnell Cornwell

Happy Model Railroad !!

March 2020 Club news and train pictures

Wow, there's so much going on in the world today and COVID-19 virus it's effecting many things, including the Model Train Hobby.  Our Club canceled our monthly club meetings and Annual Dinner. In compliance with our State Governments call. 

Behind the scenes our club President and board members are trying to go forward with 2020 Officers / Directors. Of course, our board members consist of President, secretary, treasure and four directors with two year terms to serve. 

Our Directors are using phone and video conferencing to help achieve our goals and events for the year, particularly this year of 2020. With many event cancellations, due to the CONVID-19 virus, we hope to salvage this years events. Our May event looks very doubtful at the moment, but the July event and second half of year look more doable.

I understand the transportation industry and the moving of products are on the rise, so that means many Rail Fanning opportunities will be available.  So go find yourself a main line hot-spot and take pictures and ALL the modern trains of our day.  The top five trains are coal, grain, auto-carrier, scrap iron and inter-modals (containers). Well, it may not be just in that order. Also, the occasional Amtrak's passenger train.  All freight trains use diesel power, well diesel / electric.  Only steam trains for private excursions and in very few spaces. 

So if you go Rail fanning, may I suggest you get a Railroad radio to hear the activities.  Also, a very big help are Railroad lights that can be found on the main line track.  They usually are very helpful in telling you when a train is coming.  A red light means no trains, a yellow light means get ready and a green light is a go. BUT ALSO, if you see a red light change from red to green, it still could be 30 minutes to an hour before the train actually comes by. 

So I hope to see you soon club members and Rail fans with your cameras at some Hot-spot of train activites !!

Jan. & Feb. 2020 clubs news & Rail fan pictures

Well, the family hobby had a slow start this year in 2020.  I say if you are to busy to Rail fan and run Model trains, you are to busy, haha :-)  But, we met with our Train Club (North Georgia Modurail) monthly meetings and this next coming year will be rather eventful.  We had an event cancel so we have decided to work on our club modules and member modules, a work month for the month of March. (and of course the annual dinner and officer vote / selection).

So I have some rail fan  pictures on file that I will share with you on this blog post.

Here we see here a picture of a steam doubleheader Southern 630 and 4501.  TVRM has an excursion trip from their Grand Junction Depot in Chattanooga to Summerville Georgia. It's mainly in the Spring, summer and Fall, but a great trip with drinks, snacks and a meal.

Here's a distant picture of 4501 on a cool clear day next GA Hwy. 27 going south to Summerville, GA.

Southern 630 & 4501 starting out their trip south bound to Summerville Georgia.

Thanks for visiting.