Rudy Run 2014

This years annual Fall Meet, the Rudy Run was a spectacular event with over a dozen locomotives in attendance and visitors from near and far too boot.
 The Thursday arrivals are getting more and more. Allan and Lynn Ratliff spent the week and with Bill Shepherd's work time in town. Many little projects and clean up items were tackled during the week. I'm sure a lap or two happened with the GE 47 tonner, we'll call that a given. Gary and Margret Stites unloaded the new 'baby'; a few weeks back they travelled up to Utah to make final arrangements and bring home a Mason Bogie 2-6-6T.

She was a steaming bay queen this weekend but promises to be running and gracing the rails soon. There was always a small crowd around it in the steaming bays and turntable area, great acquisition. RGS 41 made it down from Salinas with the Burns'; the transformation of the museum caboose is coming along nicely. Kim Beard even made it down for the weekend and peddled the recumbent around profusely.  Steve Nelson is in the middle of painting his 2-8-0 so the rolling stock made the trip from AZ, and was gladly exercised throughout the weekend. The whole lot of the Maywalds rolled in and their RGS 20 steamed all weekend as did the  SW1500. Paul and Celeste ran their Goose 6 to fill out the roster of RGS equipment. The Colorado & Southern was well represented with the Thompson 2-6-0, Mike and Bruce both made it out and stayed late too. The Barter's met in the middle again, Art rolled out his gondola from the West, and John brought his ten wheeler and train from the East. Erin Swain and family filled out the Flagstaff railroaders. There was a D&RGW 50 in the mix somewhere.
 Friday was a beautiful day and the sweaters if you had one were shed early. Plenty of action on the railroad, with up to eight running at one time. Trains were waiting at all points for their chance to run on the single track sections and things ran like a well oiled watch for a time there.
  The American ran with two different tenders this weekend. Wanting to do some work on the original tender, the tender from my Mogul was brought out. It coupled up nicely as both are Allen products, giving the engine a completely different look. Jerry McPheeters even got to exercise the Alco for a while on Saturday, adding to the engines running at one time on Saturday. Greg Ratliff ran the Plymouth around at some time over the meet, it was busy with something going on at all times.
  Dinners around the railroad are getting popular and on the grill Friday night it was 'Carne Burn', it was bring your favorite Carne Asada and it was cooked over the Oak fire and each built their own tacos from the fixings.

Nobody walked out hungry there. Saturday night was of course Steak Night and again; You bring it, I'll grill it. I think I might have been off on the count, but I got 25 in one head count around the tables at one time. The picnic shelter was throughout the weekend a busy spot unto itself. Always a group of varying size either in conversation over something or a quick respite from the warm weather. Many 'show and tell' items graced a spot on the tables with a group of interested around them throughout the weekend.
 The place was busy with quite a few out for activities on Friday to see the action, they were not disappointed. Saturday was very busy. Terry Watson had a tour of 50 in the early morning, even he admitted that that was like herding cats with a group that big. With another function going on around the full size equipment over Saturday and the 15 inch having a good time on the mesa with a visiting engine in the midst, it was a well utilized space Saturday.
  A good weekend with great weather, people, equipment and attendance. One for the books now, the season has just started for us at Joshua Tree, so plan a time from the calendar and enjoy the High Desert this winter, find out way so many winter around the area from those places that have to shovel snow. If you want to hold a shovel we always have something to do if you are so inclined. Next time out is Thanksgiving and we are planning to get a bit of track laid on the hill. My attempts on Sunday failed other than figuring where the switch will be placed on the next siding. Bill Shepherd moved a few big rocks on our quest uphill and John Griffin has made plenty of good roadbed for us to put down rails. Come out and see the progress and be a part of it as well.  
 A link to my Picasa pictures; https://picasaweb.google.com/Ratsgarage/RudyRun2014November79?authuser=0&feat=directlink