NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 VOL 26, #11 & 12 Hello LOCO. Due to things that just happen, the November issue of LOCO was going to be late. So, I decided to do another joint issue with December and hopefully get that portion out early. So here it goes! FALL FESTIVITIES In the picture below, Brenda and Harvey Cannon dressed up the LOCO rock with some pre-halloween items.
HIGH LINE BRIDGE PIERS Good weather saw the use of the back hoe to dig the three pier footings for the High Line Bridge work. About 1.5 feet of 1.5 crusher run rock will be needed next to put into the holes for the concrete base piers to sit upon. The crushed rock is then sitting on a sandstone layer below the dirt that should provide a very stable base for all the concrete work. OCT 20, 2013 CLUB FUN RUN The weather was perfect and the membership was out in force to get some excellent train running time in. In the first picture below, Christopher Lacock is getting some engine running time with Brian (his dad) sitting right behind them. The 4S Bridge served as an excellent backdrop to frame the engine and riders.
In the next picture below, James is taking friends and family for a ride. They are approaching Container Junction and getting ready to head towards the tunnel area. In the next picture, Double Aught is getting stoked for another run around the track. This next picture shows Brian Lacock with his sons Christopher and Benjamin. The next generation is learning how to operate and run steam trains safely!. In the second picture, Truman has stopped short of the bridge at Sawmill siding and is waiting for a train to pass. I thought this next picture might be interesting. Can you find the camouflaged engine through the trees? In the second picture, Truman is meeting James train at Dolese gravel pit area.
The first picture shows James equipment going across the front driveway. In the second picture, Double Aught is being refueled for continued operations. In the next picture, Truman is crossing the 4S Bridge to head around Pee Wee Park. In the second picture, Christopher is receiving back seat driving advice from his dad Since a portion of the High Line is operational, trains do meet on joint trackage currently used around Pee Wee park In this shot, James is crossing the 4S Bridge while Christopher on Double Aught waits for the green light to proceed.
In the next picture, Benjamin Lacock is taking the Little Mack out for a run with several passengers, while Joe Fawcett waits on the siding with his SW1500 for the track ahead to clear. In the second picture, Anne Coker is standing in the center of Pee Wee Park observing all the trains passing through the area. After a long day of running trains, the fire pit was started and those wishing to cook their hot dogs over an open fire did so. The fire pit has turned into a superb idea for all that enjoy an open fire on a cool night!
NEW FIRE PIT Thanks to Les and Anne Coker, they designed and built a new fire pit for the club. Les is standing next to their handiwork in the picture below. WATERFALL COMPLETION The waterfall feature is now complete. In the first picture below, Truman is at the head of the falls with two of the three waterfalls operating
From this. To this. LOCO would like to thank all its members for the hours of hard work and dedication (and lifting a heck of a lot of heavy rocks) to make this waterfall feature possible. LEAF TIME Yes, it is that time of year again, and thanks to the rains this past year LOCO has a bumper crop of both leaves and acorns. The crew below has been consistently filling up bags of leafs again so that Harvey and Brenda can haul them away and dispose of them on Harvey s property. DON T BE AFRAID The warmer weather recently has been bringing some of the native wildlife out of hiding to enjoy a few more rays of sun before hibernating away in some den for the winter. The two pictures below are just an example of what you may see around the LOCO property. These are common black snakes and most will run away from you if given the chance. The one that James is holding is about 5 feet long and wanted nothing more than to stay away from us and our train operations. If you see this type of snake out at the track, just let it alone and it will go away. The benefit that we derive from the snakes is that they are excellent rodent control devices and will also eat excessive lizards that may be in the area. If we start to see too many of theses critters, the club will take action to relocate them far from the track where they can continue to enjoy natures other critters.
UPDATED TANK CAR FRAME I don t know about you, but I think these two are having a little too much fun spray painting the refurbished tank car frame that has been out at the track for years now. In the pictures, Truman and Bob have primered and are now finishing the frame in basic black. Further work will be required prior to the tank car being functional for use at the club. NOV 17 CLUB FUN RUN Regretfully I did not take as many pictures as normal at a fun run. The weather was absolutely idyllic and I was too busy running trains rather than taking picture. However, I was able to capture a few members enjoying the day! In the first picture Lyndle is at the controls and is taking his wife and James for a ride around the track. In the second picture, Jeffrey is almost at the peak of the High Line hill on the East side of the property.
Train operations are beginning to slow down as the fire pit is lit and prepped for cooking hot dogs for dinner. Some of the train crew is anxiously awaiting things to get hot enough so that they can begin cooking the food. In the second picture, the shadows are getting longer as James emerges from the trees with a train load of passengers.. PICTURE OF THE MONTH Chef Anne is delicately roasting a pair of hot dogs over the open fire pit that she and Les designed and built. The fire pit has now become a staple at LOCO that can be enjoyed by all as the weather turns cooler.
PREZ SAYS Many thanks to all the LOCO members that donated their time to the Thomas the Tank engine event at the Oklahoma rail Museum this year. Thanks to your efforts, we received a donation check from ORM in the amount of $1,897.50 TRUMAN FROM THE EDITOR BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS: Elections are now upon us and we need to select three folks for the board again. The term of office will be from 1 Jan 14 through 31 Dec 15. Nominee for this years election are Tom Herzog, Les Coker (incumbent), Susan Carey (incumbent) and Bob Bogardus (incumbent). Ballots will be sent out electronically once again this year where full members will be allowed to select three of the four people on the ballot. The winners will be announced at he annual meeting in December. ANNUAL MEETING AND CHRISTMAS LIGHT NIGHT RUN: This year, the annual club dinner will be held on Saturday evening, December 14 th. As in years past, we will run trains in the afternoon then move to a BBQ dinner at 5 PM, to then be followed by an evening run with all the Christmas lights on that will be strung up around the track. Members will be invited to the dinner with their spouses and children. Currently about half the Christmas lights are set up, so we have a few more to put out. The remaining lights will take 3-4 hours of time for 2-3 people. If you would like to donate any large strings of lights at the club to brighten the track at night even further, we always take Christmas light donations. As for the annual meeting, Joe Fawcett needs a pretty good headcount for the members attending so that we can finalize the amount of food needed. That headcount is needed by December 6th, 2013 so we can firm our order up. Members and their immediate families are invited to the dinner. As in years past it will be a BBQ dinner with the club paying for the meat, fries/potatoes, bread and fixins. Members coming out to join us will be asked to bring chips or a dessert that can be shared by all. Again, please provide your RSVP for your family to Joe by December 6th so he can make sure we will have enough food. After dinner and trains are running, we expect the fire pit to be lit and those that would like to roast marshmallows will definitely be allowed to do so. Hot water will also be available to make hot chocolate drinks. Any guests that you would like to invite are very welcome to ride trains with you after the dinner is finished. ANNUAL DUES: LOCO operates on a January through December year. LOCO dues for 2014 will be due as of Jan 1 st for those wishing to remain as members. Non payment of annual dues by March 1 st, 2014 will cause you membership to drop from the club. An email notice will be sent out to you in January reminding you of the annual dues requirement. If you wish to pay before then, you can always drop your check off with James and he will let me know about it so that I can update the club roster. If you wish for your information on the club roster to change, please let Joe Fawcett know so that he can make the necessary updates. NOTE: The annual train show at the Fair Grounds is Dec 7 & 8 this year. LOCO will not be participating with the show this year. Since the 1 st of Dec is the Public Run Day, this should not interfere with our run day this year. Now for those that would like a happy Christmas story ending for their newsletter this year..
Twas the night before Christmas and at the LOCO track not an engine was stirring, not even the Little Mack; the steam engine coal buckets were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. LOCO members were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of night bi-directional train running danced in their heads; and momma in her kerchief and I in my LOCO cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter nap; when out at the track there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the track I flew like a flash, gunned the old Ford truck and made a mad dash. The moon, high above the train tower, gave a luster of midday to objects below, when what to my wandering eyes should appear, but a long miniature train pulled by eight tiny locomotives with flashing Christmas light gear, with a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his train engines they came, and he whistled and shouted and called each engine by name: Now, Truman! Now, Joe! now Les and Art! On, James! on, Harvey! on Tom and Bob. To the top of the High Line to the top of Fawcett Yards, now, dash away! dash away! dash away all! As dry leaves that before the wild Oklahoma tornado fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, so up to the train tower the train engines they drove, with the train full of toys, coal, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the track multiple train air brakes being set. As I peeked around the corner of the train barn and was beginning to stare, down the track St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with steam engine ashes and soot; a bundle of coal and toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes how they twinkled! His - dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and his beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of the pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a round little belly that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled the coal buckets; then turned with a jerk, and laying his finger aside his nose, and giving a nod, to the train track he arose. He sprang to his miniature train, to his engines he gave a signal, and away they all moved down the track like the down of a thistle. But I heard him explain, ere he drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to LOCO, and to all a good night! JOE UPCOMING EVENTS NOV DEC 2 BoD Meeting 1 Public Run Day 2 BDay Party (2-4 PM) 7 BoD Meeting (CXD) 3 Public Run Day 7-8 - Train Show at Fairgrounds 17 Club Fun Run/Pot Luck Dinner 14 Club Dinner/Christmas Light Run 25 Christmas 28 Birthday Party (2-4 PM) ABOUT LOCO Track Address 29626 SE 104 th St. McLoud, OK 74851 Directors TRUMAN HEFNER CARL BOGARDUS JAMES DUNCAN President Vice-President Treasurer SUSAN CAREY MARSHALL LEE LES COKER Director Director Secretary