Narrow Gauge Meet 2016

Despite some ugly weather around the Southland Friday, the weekend was great. This years Narrow Gauge Meet saw 14 different pieces of motive power and plenty of visitors as well. Early arrivals enjoyed Thursday and Friday running before the weather deteriorated Friday afternoon. Allan and Lynn Ratliff with the trusty GE 47 tonner. The Burns with RGS 41 and consist made the trip from Salinas. Their Contractor diesel plied the rails all weekend as well. Steve Nelson with his C-21 and growing train made if from Tucson. Jimmy Booth made the trip South with his trailer full of goodies, Grant C-16 #223, #50 and a few cars. Ryan Shepherd even had his peddle bike out of the truck. John Norquist roughed it in a tent and RGS Goose #7 all in the little car of his. Art and Claudia Barter rolled up with their PE Steeple Cab for the weekend. All the Joshua Tree engines made runs with their caretakers. Davenport #7 worked and played throughout the event piloted by either Matt Z. or Greg Ratliff, it even had a few other engineers over the weekend.. Edwards Motor with trailer is coming along nicely under the direction of Jerry McPheeters. John Griffin was seen checking out Progress throughout the system Sunday on the Edwards Freight Motor Sunday afternoon. The Maywald's made it a family weekend too, and RGS 20 saw plenty of steam time. Heck, my 4-4-0 even polished the rails on Sunday for a time.
 The early folks had a good time setting up and running Thursday and Friday, always time to visit too. Greg Ratliff and Matt Z. installed a switch at Pauline on the High Line Friday with finishing touches and ballasting Saturday. The breeze was blowing after the brief rain event Friday evening. The rain only last about 90 throughout the Southland during its course Eastward. It rained plenty good in that time as seen in Cucamonga Friday before getting of work. Those getting out Friday mid day followed the storm eastward the whole way. Shelli and I only had wind on our travels out late Friday, but saw the lake that had formed on the Interstate in Cabazon as it passed through there. By our arrival time with the delay only the wind was left and Saturday dawned calm and quickly warming to an enjoyable level. Mike Thompson spearheaded the realignment of the Wye tail trackage on Saturday in anticipation of the trackage going South of the Station when the Conley Mansion is completed. That project is coming along wonderfully as Bill Shepherd plugs along in its construction. The roof is on and the interior walls are roughed in. The boardwalk in front, even though concrete is a work of art. The porch was going up over the weekend between tours of the project to all that wanted to see it. Bill has been working on the unloading area handrails as well. They should be done as of writing, heard he was working on the finishing welding after most left after the weekend. Thank you and great work Bill.
Saturday night around the patio and grill went off great, plenty of different items were grilled up after dark and no one left hungry. The temperatures on Saturday night were delightful and Sunday was more of the same. Running on the railroad at times was quite busy and things went smoothly, at many times there could be seen from the High Line up to eight trains at one time about the trackage. Quite a few visitor throughout the weekend also up to see things, all in all a great time. Ready to go on a road trip next weekend, and then back for Easter, so you then.