OCTOBER 2011 VOL 24, #10 REMINDER TRAIN SHOW The train show at the Fairgrounds is December 3 rd and 4 th this year and the club still needs someone to step forward and coordinate our club s display at the event. This is fast approaching and needs a club coordinator to step forward now! If you can do this for the club, let one of the Director s know immediately! The following information has been received from the Oklahoma Train Show folks: Dear Manufacturers, Vendors, and Exhibitors, Welcome to the first update concerning the upcoming OKC Train Show. You are receiving this message as your contract for space has been accepted. This year's show is our 35th annual. We are sold out as all space has been reserved. Our advertising campaign has already begun with over 12,000 flyers already distributed. If you would like flyers to hand out at an upcoming show, please let us know and we will forward them to you via USPS. If you would like a poster to hang in your store or at a show, please let us know and we'll get those off to you also. Furthermore, this year we have contracted with two television stations and six radio stations for our advertising campaign. The radio ads begin on November 1. Television ads will begin two weeks before the show. We will also be mailing out a press release to every newspaper in the state on November 10th. We believe that the public will respond and expect a large number of show attendees. Once again, we are please to announce that we will be having the Great Train Set Give Away. As you might know, last year we gave away over 100 sets to some lucky children. This event is crowd pleaser and draws a good number of people to the show. It is open to only those under the age of twelve. Each entrant will have a chance to win a model train set. We have a few sets already donated for this event. If your company, store, or club would like to donate to this worthy cause please e-mail met at OKCTrainShow@aol.com. We would greatly appreciate your consideration. We'll be getting more updates out as the weeks progress toward the show. We do appreciate your time in viewing this message. We look forward to seeing you at the show. Thank you, Ed Birch OKC Train Show Chairman LOCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUAL ELECTION Joe is going to take a different tact this year. If you do not respond that you do not want to be on the ballot this year, your name could be entered as a potential candidate under Article II, Section C, Para 2. Nomination by the General Membership at the next BoD meeting. So, if full members do not send a response soon, they may find themselves on the ballot! OCT 16 IS CLUB FUN RUN DAY Sunday, Oct 16 th is the next club fun run day. The weather is great, so hopefully you can come out and join us!
AROUND THE LOCO TRACK REST ROOM REPAIRS With the onset of cooler weather, James and Joe tackled the problem of flooring going bad in the bathroom trailer. In the entrance to the ladies room portion, it was discovered that the floor was getting soft under the linoleum. Upon taking up the linoleum, James and Joe discover that the plywood floor had basically disintegrated from the years of use and exposure to the weather. So after removing about an 18 X 54 section of bad plywood, we then discovered that the 2 X6 frame had also disintegrated. So, using pressure treated wood at the club facility, a new frame was attached into the remaining good wood and a new plywood floor section was put down again. The facilities were re-opened for use and work quite well again. HIGH LINE RUNAWAY TRACK INSTALLATION The runaway track for the High Line was installed in early October. From the pictures below, trains entering the runaway switch will have 20 feet of track to stop, before they will be stopped by a 3.5 foot high dirt pile. In the first picture below, the crew is installing the track, while James (background) is using his tractor to build the dirt pile at the end of the track.
Another couple shots of the runaway track under construction And of course, a final picture of the completed project. This will also serve as a reminder that folks operating on this line will require some type of device to hold their train together, and will need some type of braking system for their equipment.
CAMPGROUND SIDING EXTENDED Campground siding is currently being extended. As you can see from the picture below, the tracks will be extended approximately 30 feet from where they previously ended to give a double track siding for any industry or guest trains. Art built several bridges to go over the current drainage area, and track is currently going into place. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF LOCO once again hosted the Pottawattamie Sheriff, his staff and their families for another day out at LOCO. This was the third year in a row that we hosted this group, and to tell you the truth it gets better each year. The fun that the families had this year, made train operations a pleasure for all that were able to help.
TRAIN UPDATE James has been working on the trucks to his train. He recently brought out the first truck to show the progress made. The truck has now been painted in the desert camouflage colors just as the original had. PREZ SAYS The recent two weekends working on the DOWT event sure put a damper on our activities at LOCO, but it was worthwhile. Although we have not received our payment check, I am expecting that it will be slightly over $2000. A big vote of thanks should go to our members that put in almost 300 hours working as car hosts. The club Directors have established a fund to eventually purchase a much needed new club locomotive. Details of this fund and how it will grow is in the meeting minutes of the October Director's meeting. Tax Deductible donations to the fund will help bring the purchase date that much closer. TRUMAN
FROM THE SECRETARY LOCO Board of Directors Meeting October 8, 2011 Directors Present: Truman Hefner, Marshall Lee, Susan Carey, and Les Coker Members Present: Joe Fawcett, Tom Herzog, and Jeffrey Herzog Meeting called to order at 10:16AM Minutes of the September 3, 2011 board meeting were approved as presented. Treasurer s report was approved by the board as presented. New Business: Discussion of insurance status was tabled until the November board meeting due to James Duncan s absence. A proposal was presented to the board to establish a fund designated for the purchase of a new locomotive for the club. After some discussion, the board voted to establish the fund and to initially fund it with $500.00 from the Day Out with Thomas payment from ORM. As part of the proposal, the board also approved 20% of all future proceeds from birthday parties and 100% of the proceeds from public fun runs be designated for the fund. This money will be placed in an interest bearing savings account designated for this purpose. Discussion of a fire prevention plan for the LOCO facility was tabled until more information can be gathered. Old Business: Joe Fawcett has sent an email query to all club members on behalf of the nominating committee requesting a yes or no response as to whether they would be willing to serve on the board of directors. Meeting adjourned at 10:35AM. LES FROM THE EDITOR Fall weather is here and is providing us with perfect weather to operate our trains on the club run days (3 rd Sunday of the month). I hope to see all of you there over the next couple of months!
UPCOMING EVENTS OCT NOV 1-2 DOWT Event 5 BOD Meeting 9 Birthday Party (2-4 PM) 6 Public Run Day 15 Birthday Party (11AM 1PM) 20 Club Run Day 16 Club Run Day/Potluck Dinner 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 Board Member Board Member Secretary ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS Resident -- $100 Associate -- $25 (anyone living more than 60 miles from the LOCO facility)