[chooch]

This past weekend was the annual MSSLS / Huckleberry Railroad railfan weekend event. The first set of pictures were downloaded by John Helmer and John got a lot of great shots I believe.
Click this link to view: MSSLS
Here are a few that I took also.
Larry (Missouri)overlooking the action at Johns track Friday.

John (Missouri) enjoying his first runs with the recently completed Aster S2.

Brian (Ohio)running his new 4-4-0.

The track gang (John Fuller, Jim the Forney Bowers, Vern from Kansas and John Helmer (Canada)) looking over the new club track.

Vern fires up his new Mogul for a first track run.

Steamtom 2 (Tom Toth) relaxes on a beautiful day at Huckleberry Village between runs.

 

[Charles]

Fred
Might we get some insight to the new and revised club track...looks like Dybond and new legs.

 

[chooch]

Charles,
The new track is made of 1" square thick wall aluminum tubing. We had it rolled into shape for a 20' center track dia. and four 8' straight sections. The track was welded up a couple of weeks ago and the top and track laid in the past two weeks. Here is a link that shows the framing back from the welder.
Track
The top decking is similar to Dybond, but are Omega-Lite composite aluminum panels manufactured by Laminators, Inc. We still have one more track to lay on the inside which will be a dual gauge track. We've already purchased the track but need to use the rail bender and get her down. Just didn't have enough time before the event. The tracks are separated by 9" on center. This seems to be plenty of room even for the 7/8's guys. The sections are very light compared to the wooden portables we've used in the past and is a real pleasure run on.
Jim (the Forney Engineer) Bowers did the original design work for the club and the many changes we made from concept to completion. Jim worked very hard on this, and it shows. Jim said that "we need to also credit Mike Moore and Ron Brown for their previous designs, from whom we borrowed track construction ideas heavily". Thanks guys!!
We still have some improvements and changes to make since we have now assembled this a grand total of two times and have come up with a few helpful suggestions to improve set-up time in the future.

 

[steamtom1]

My Aster Duchess of Sutherland running on Saturday at Huckleberry Railroad running on the new MSSLS portable track...

 

[chooch]

Tom,
I shot a video of your Dutchess and John Garretts S2 running on the new track together. What a nice sight. I hope someone got a video of Brian running the Aster Mike. He had a great time running it and learned a lot. Can't believe I didn't get a video!/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/crazy.gif

 

[Brian Tusin]

I think someone might have gotten a picture of me running your Aster Mike but I am not sure. I really had fun and thanks to Fred I found out I love alcohol fireing. Thanks again Fred for letting me run your Mikado.
Brian

 

[chooch]

When in doubt go to the web cam pictures! Got a couple that are not the best quality, but are good enough. Glad you had fun. You must have put 10 actual miles on that Mike over the weekend and it ran without a hick-up. Glad I could help you learn about alcohol firing.

This picture was taken at the Huck and even though you were not in the picture, it shows how long the train was. You can barely make out the caboose at the far side of the track.

 

[Brian Tusin]

We did put alot of time on the Mikado last weekend, I think we ran it 5 times with about 45 minute run times. Mine will be on the way soon.
Brian