The February Board Meeting was held on February 8. There were four board members and five club members attending. Bruce reported that thus far the club has spent almost $6,000 on the permanent layout. Major expenses for the year included insurance, printing/postage for the Passing Track, and supplies for the permanent layout. The Annual Report is at the printer and will be mailed out to Club members with the next issue of the Passing Track. SOLST has announced it will no longer be holding their club meetings in our Clubhouse. The membership has grown so much that the RVMR Clubhouse is no longer spacious enough for SOLTS's meetings. Andy Anderson has donated Railroad News to the Club. Jim reported he would only keep a year's worth of the magazine due to space limitations. Bud Shirley is reported to be moving to Southern California [ a week later, Bud relayed to me the move was cancelled…ed.], Ray Kornell has resigned, and Jim Fisher sends his regards from the BNSF at the Gorge. Dick Stark has donated a cleaning car to the Club. Dick also volunteered to drive the rental truck to the Klamath Falls show. The Club will be “center stage”, again. Jim volunteered to head up both the nomination committee (for May elections) and to take charge of this year's Public Sunday run scheduling (beginning second Sunday in April). Since the Club will not be running trains on the permanent layout for sometime while scenery construction is moving full speed ahead, Jay will wire the outside track of the modules for DCC. The Club is also concerned about the amount of trash being left behind following the Friday night video. Bruce will make contacts to correct the situation. John Wilson will bring his famous homemade chili to the next Saturday work session. There are boxes of old electrical “stuff” displayed on a table for members to take [with small donation] before it goes to the recyclers.

On Saturday January 14, the RVMRC held its 1 st (for this year) Layout Planning meeting to see what, why and where and we are going on the permanent layout. We had around a dozen members attend and there seemed to be lots of energy during the two-hour meeting. Part of the discussion focused on the organization of scenery construction, while an equal amount was spent on the character of the scenery itself. There were several concerns raised about doing scenery work with which other members might not concur, resulting in feelings hurt over the quality and/or interpretation of the scenery. The group had consensus that as long as everyone stuck to the basic flow of the real life scenery along the P&E, that we could always help one another improve our modeling skills as the work is progressing on the permanent layout. Several people remarked that if a real disaster occurs in someone's modeling effort, it is cheap and easy to change. Everyone liked the idea of “adopting” a chunk of the line and being the task leader for the scenery implementation, but also staying open to suggestions from the visionaries and designers of the permanent layout, as well as constructive criticism from any and all.

January General Membership Meeting Notes

The Club's Annual Report Meeting was held as part of the January General Membership Meeting on January 25, 2006. There were three board officers and four members present. Jim Dougall graciously offered to once again take notes in the absence of our secretary John Gerritsma. Bruce reported on the Club's past year's financial transactions and standing and gave an overview of the proposed budget for 2006. E. Don followed with a “Thank You” to all the Club members who have put work into the RVMRC during the past year, also stating he appreciated the support and efforts for all of the Club's 2005 efforts. Mike Tompkins, a new associate member from Grants Pass , was introduced. Mike brought his new Bachmann 80-ton, three truck shay for members to examine. Brad shared the color photos of the Club's January field trip along the historic P&E. The evening program was an excellent 70-minute video entitled "California 's North Coast Logging Railroads”. Most of these were shortline logging company railroads. One or two, however, were larger common carrier railroads (e.g., The Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company, and The Redwood Empire Route). The video was in both black and white and color format, using vintage film and photos, plus interviews with railroaders and other folks involved with or who were privileged to view and record these historical operations. Mike Thompkins provided the video.

Wil Cleveland works inside the Cascade Crest installing a curved scenery backdrop

DCC Update

For those of you interested, the DCC is staying on the permanent layout and will be installed on track 1 of the modules for show operations. Also, on the K Falls loop of the permanent layout, there will be 2 show loops that will have the capability to switch from analog to DCC and back so all can run their equipment for the Sunday open houses. -- Jay Mudge

I've Been Working on the Railroad!

Our January strategy meeting and field trip inspired a large number of club members to join one another to get moving on the scenery of the permanent layout. As you can see from the picture that follows, a lot of good work is happening. Work has been progressing on Thursday evenings and again on Saturdays, usually starting about 9:30 am. The Club's goal is to have the scenery roughed out before the public open houses begin in April, to have demonstrations of scenery building during the Sunday open houses, and to have the current portion of the permanent layout substantially scenicked by Fall.

Fresh from the field tour of the Eagle Point area, a group confers about scenery ideas, while Dick Stark and Fred Christian work on the upper half of the permanent layout toward the Cascade Crest.

Help support the RVMRRC

CLUB CARS AND P&E STOCK CERTIFICATES ARE STILL AVAILABLE, ASK ANY CLUB MEMBER FOR INFORMATION.

 

Don't forget, The HOBBY TREE has moved and is now at 2544 West Main in Medford Oregon.

Phone 541-773-7002