The participants arrived early as they usually do and by Thursday evening the steaming bays had some interesting iron gracing them and there was a few trailers yet to unload as well. Al and Lynn Ratliff played host as the early arrival and helped all the rest make it off the lift with yeomen duty from his trusty GE 47 Tonner. Gary and Margret Stites made it out early too with their 47 Tonner in 'Black Widow'scheme; Gary is learning the shuttle job of hauling equipment from the steaming bays to the lift with the electric engines. The Salinas contention of Burns' minus Beard got a good jump on the weekend as well and the always great sounding RGS #41 plied the rails flawlessly the whole time. Becky and Ray Bjerrum brought the whole train done from Kerman, and Ray said of the new lift; that is the first time he had ever unloaded the engine and tender at the same time, he had plenty of good things to say about the new lift as did others throughout the weekend.
The Thompson's brought out both of Mikes engines with a load of engine being brought out by Greg Ratliff. His newly completed Mich-Cal Shay ran like a Swiss watch and the C&S Mogul got quite a work out as well. Between Ray and Mike the Colorado & Southern had a good showing. Bill and Holly Boller made their Joshua Tree debut with the D&RGW #268 in 'Bumble Bee' paint, the new is wearing off and one can approach the engine without sunglasses, it is getting a beautiful patina that comes only with use. Peter Moseley, Ron Schmidt and Bill Dolph brought down quite a collection of stock cars as well as Peter's D&RGW # 268 'Durango switcher', one was not seeing double this weekend from maybe imbibing in too much cactus cooler, there were two #268's in attendance. The stock cars made a great and fitting, for the season, set of cars to pull around in the late Fall as this would be the time of year that the narrow gauge was running 'stock extras' to get the cattle out of the high country and off to market before the 'snow flies'.
The Tolan's crammed the whole family and 'Chloe' in the mini van for the weekend. Jeff has grown another foot since Halloween. Paul Lavacot ran his personal rail craft around on Sunday, RGS 'work goose' #6.
Friday running got busy enough that one had to wait at each siding for one to pass in the other direction before proceeding. operations went well all day with no major disruptions. Photo opportunities abounded all weekend and it was amusing watching newcomers scurrying to get photos of trains passing by, it is a loop they'll be back. Saturday was an even busier operation day and dispatching helped to keep things flowing smoothly instead of all massed at one end or the other. Always plenty of action going on and plenty to see as well both days. The Museum was open and Terry Watson gave tours constantly with the help of Lori Tolan keeping an eye on the station while Terry showed people the 12 inch to the foot scale cars. Parking was a premium by mid Saturday afternoon with cars parked all the way from the lift to the gate on both sides of the road including cars throughout the compound as well. Saturday nights 'Dinner in the Diner' was a wonderful time by the 71 people that attended. Ken Ells did a bang up job in getting us all feed and out of the way for the next seating. The 15" Shay was steamed up on Saturday afternoon for a spell, it's whistle echoing around the place.
Sunday saw some action after the annual meeting in the Museum. Thompson's Mogul got a few laps in before the meeting and most got in some running in after it. Those that had to load early got a jump on it, yet some ran till the late afternoon, getting in a full day before packing it away till the next time we meet on the 'Main Line thru the Rocks'.
Here is a link to the photo's I have on Picasa, keep an eye on it there might be more
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| Joshua Tree & Southern 2009 Rudy Run |
Great article...and what a weekend it was...esp all the "foreign iron"...quite a display. Thxz to all who made it happen and for allowing me all the rides!!!!
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