Easter 2014 on the Railroad.

April 18-21, 2014

Easter Weekend is normally a light weekend but usually one of the best weather wise. Warm days and nice nights make the patio at night just enough fire for ambiance. The whole desert was in bloom from the Cholla to the paddle Cacti and little flowers of varying colors and sizes. It was a family weekend; Mom and Dad, Greg and Becky with sister Colette, the other brother Matt and I. The Stites made it for the show as well. Saturday afternoon Brother in law and sister, Rex and Judy Bullock came out to see the family and enjoy the desert, it was nice to see them.
 Work on the high line has been steady with John Griffin plugging away at it many times a week as he gets in time. The early weekenders said he plugged at it all day Thursday and I saw and helped on Friday. Saturday the younger ones worked on the heavy stuff and we cleared thirty feet of roadbed in this rocky terrain. Rough grade was also completed that far so next time we can lay down a little track. Might even start on the switch so we can move the batch plant up the hill readying us for the next round of trestles. Of course we still have some heavy rock work to get through yet.
 The Stites brought out their GE and Mom and Dad had theirs out too. John had the freight motor rolling around on the bookend days and Matt had the PE juice jack hitting the rails. I actually ran the 4-4-0 most of the time but the Alco made a trip just to keep it freed up. Not a bad weekend; six different locomotives, lots of family and friends and plenty of progress. See you Memorial Day for a little track laying.
 Of course, a link to the pictures below. any questions you can find me at ratsgarage@yahoo.com
     Brian
https://picasaweb.google.com/Ratsgarage/EasterWeekendAtJoshuaTreeApril18212014?authuser=0&feat=directlink