It’s that time of the year. November just kind of snuck up on me this year. Art Houston sent out an email announcement the other day with a list of all the model railroad events scheduled for the Southeast Louisiana area during this month. I was surprised at how much activity is planned. Just a couple weeks ago we had a nice event with the open house of the club up in Jackson, Louisiana. There are one or two events scheduled each weekend for the rest of this month. A couple of the clubs have open houses scheduled, and several private layouts will be open to guests. The only thing missing is a regional show with both portable layouts and droves of vendors peddling their wares (sorely missing in this neck of the woods). While I won’t be able to make everything, I plan to attend at least a few events.
Layout progress has slowed a bit over the last two or three weekends as I’ve had a number of diversions. Aside from the distraction provided by the new Heisler, I attended the open house in Jackson (mentioned above), and last weekend I went down to New Orleans for the fly-in and exposition at the Lakefront Airport. It was hosted by the WWII Museum in New Orleans, with aircraft provided by the Commemorative Air Force. Among the aircraft displayed were a B-29 Superfortress (Fifi), a LB30 Liberator (freighter version of a B-24), a B-17 Flying Fortress, and a B-25 Mitchell. Several P-51 Mustang fighters were in attendance, along with an SB2C Helldiver, a C-45 Expeditor transport, and some trainers: an SNJ and a PT-17 Stearman. Most of the aircraft were making occasional forays into the sky with passengers (for a tidy sum). What does this have to do with model railroading? Perhaps nothing, but if I didn’t have my trains, I’d probably be an airport bum, especially when it comes to chasing old war birds. I just like ’em.
There has been some progress on the layout though. I’ve gotten a bit more track down, done some more wiring beneath the layout, and assistant Wayne and I cut out a whole bunch of Masonite hardboard fascia panels. I’m close to needing fascia installed so that I can start building and installing panels and controls. And I even hosted a small operating session (with only me in attendance) this past Sunday. There is just enough track laid at Monterey that I was able to do some switching.
I love this time of year!
-Jack