Summer steam up Sacramento California

[minimans]

Went to the summer steam up in Sacramento yesterday, not sure wether they meant the trains were steaming up or the people attending! my car showed an outside temp of 106deg!! but a nice cool 65 inside............anyway inside were delights to take mine and Elisa's mind off the heat. Met up with George (Railfan) and had a chat, Nice seeing you again mate. (sorry we didn't catch up with you after dinner but I was not feeling well so we had to dash off just the heat I think) also met Bing the owner of Accucraft What a nice man he is very friendly and interested in all aspects of the hobby not just his own products. and young! so it's not just old men in the game today. of course I forgot my camera but I snapped away with the iPhone so please excuse the pictures but better that than none!
In no particular order but a view of the convention centre first. There were six? running tracks available to run trains so there was lots of action but as you can see not that crowded either!
Left and right side as can be seen plenty of room.

Gauge one coal fired and it's attending train. This guy was steaming while everybody else was at dinner so had the whole place to himself!!

 

[minimans]

More pictures after dinner!

 

[minimans]

Some more, lots of gauge one and also American types from main line to logging

 

[minimans]

just a few more of my favorite ones

This was my favorite track smaller but nice woodwork!

 

[trammayo]

Some very interesting stuff Paul

The Steam Railmotor looks interesting - as is the fact that UK stuff is modelled also (logical of course) - and the elegant wooden baseboards of the top pic in post 4 remind me (dare I say it?) of someone with experience of undertaking or casket making. Sorry about that!

 

[Shawn]

Great photos. Looks like a good time. I have learned the best time to steam on the tracks is lunch and dinner time. Thats when you have the tracks to yourself.

 

[Railfan]

Went to the summer steam up in Sacramento yesterday, not sure wether they meant the trains were steaming up or the people attending! my car showed an outside temp of 106deg!! but a nice cool 65 inside............anyway inside were delights to take mine and Elisa's mind off the heat. Met up with George (Railfan) and had a chat, Nice seeing you again mate. (sorry we didn't catch up with you after dinner but I was not feeling well so we had to dash off just the heat I think) also met Bing the owner of Accucraft What a nice man he is very friendly and interested in all aspects of the hobby not just his own products. and young! so it's not just old men in the game today. of course I forgot my camera but I snapped away with the iPhone so please excuse the pictures but better that than none!
...

Hi, Paul. It was great seeing you again and meeting Elisa. I looked for you after dinner, so I guess that explains why I didn't spot you!
Bing is very nice and has always listened to my concerns and suggestions when I have been over to the Accucraft offices which are about 30 miles from my home. Of course, that doesn't mean that they will get implemented, but at least he listens and discusses them with me. I didn't have a camera with me as I left my Nikon DSLR at home on purpose. If I had brought it I would have spent all of my time taking pictures and not running any trains! I did take a few with my iPhone, so I will add some to this thread later today.

I'll make comments on a few of the pictures you posted below.

 

[Railfan]

Post 1, picture 1. As you can see the steamup hall had a pretty high ceiling. The building was originally an aircraft hanger and the steamup was in only half of the hanger. This was held at the McClellan Conference Center located on what was previously a large U.S. Air Force Base, some of which is still used for various aircraft.

Post 1, picture 2. That's Dai Coley running one of his trains. He is a very nice guy and interesting to talk with.

Post 1, picture 4. The fellow on the right with the cap on is Ryan Bednarik. He gave an excellent presentation at a seminar on "Shop notes - improving the performance of the GS-4". He works at Triple R Services ( www.realsteamservices.com ). They do custom boilers, retrofits, performance enhancements, etc., and are located in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, USA

 

[Railfan]

Post 4, picture 1. This track is owned by the Summer Steamup group. It was built by Dwight Ennis, a moderator on the http://www.mylargescale.com/ web si... one of the coaches Bill Allen scratch built.

 

[minimans]

Thanks George, I took a ton of photo's but didn't get much info on the subjects!! Had a great time and will definatly be going for a few days next year and taking a few Loco's as well!!

 

[Railfan]

Thanks George, I took a ton of photo's but didn't get much info on the subjects!! Had a great time and will definatly be going for a few days next year and taking a few Loco's as well!!

Great! I look forward to meeting again next July 16 to 20.

 

[Railfan]

Let me see if I can post a picture of the Conference Center.

 

[Railfan]

A double header of two GNR alcohol locos. Mike McKenna on the left and Pete Comley of Sunset Valley RR (he sells the air switches, etc.).

Mike and Pete again with John Zimmerman.

 

[Railfan]

Here are the Gresley teak coaches that the double header GNR locos were pulling. At one time they were pulling ten cars. The cars were all scratch built by Pete Comley. Sadly, he doesn't build them any more.

 

[Railfan]

This is a beautiful LMS Duchess that Rob ? brought. The eight or ten cars were scratch built by David Leach of Canada. Simply wonderful!