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Club Meeting of 2024 April 18
Shannondell Model Railroad Club (SMRC) held its monthly meeting. The meeting was called to order by President Jim Rush at 2:00 p.m.
The Minutes of the March 21 Meeting (Secretary Bob Watson) were approved as submitted.
The Treasurer’s Reports (Treasurer Bruce Wintersteen) for March were accepted without modification. The SMRC Bank Account balance was $5,140.13 at 2024 March 31.
The Club now has 49 members and 50 Friends (the numbers change as people continue to renew or join the Club).
Bruce Wintersteen reported that the 2024 Recurring and Maintenance Items Budget of $2,725.00 has incurred expenses of $768.50 and the Major Task Items Budget of $3,500.00 incurred expenses of $2,218.44, both in line with budget. The Treasurer's reports were approved as presented. In addition, Bruce also reported that new BLI Baldwin "Shark" freight diesel locomotives had become available. SMRC had placed an order for these some months ago to replace older, less detailed Bachmann units. Bruce asked for a motion to proceed with purchase of two powered A units and one unpowered B unit at a cost not to exceed $600.00. A motion to that effect was made, seconded and approved by voice vote of Members present.
Jim Rush presented the initial part of the President's Report. He noted under Old Business that Leon Butler and Bruce Wintersteen had completed the following work on the Low Grade signal system: Installed two new QuadLN circuit boards in the Northwest and Northeast control drawers; four dwarf signals and one high signal at the north end of Shannondell Station; five occupancy sectors and had rearranged turnout controls from Tam Valley to QuadLN circuit boards. Other work on the layout, including rebuilding of the locomotive maintenance area, has been carried out by several Members including Bill Hardy, Leon Butler, Bob Bristow, Joe Hanson, Bob Watson, Bruce Wintersteen, Gerry Williams, Jack Maines, Rich Keckley, Maureen Carlson, Rod Randow and others.
The video for March (Adelaide to Perth, Australia) was seen by 47 people in the AMT and by 13 in the BMT.
Visitors to the layout in March included 49 walk-ins and 9 by appointment. So far in April there have been 3 walk-ins and 3 by appointment.
Jim Rush reported that maintenance of the Website continued as required.
Under New Business, Rush reported that he and Jack Maines have been at work to develop a document entitled GUIDE TO SMRC TRAIN OPERATION to serve as the basis for training Members as operators to improve our ability to demonstrate the layout to those who want to see and learn about Shannondell Model Railroad. The GUIDE is expected to be available for review and testing in 2024 May due to ill-health issues concerning both authors.
Bruce Wintersteen presented updated information on the Locomotive Maintenance Facility redesign and rebuild.. The most recent version of the plan is shown below. Bruce noted that further changes may be found necessary or desirable as the work progresses. Work has progressed quite rapidly.
There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m. Thanks to all who participated.
The next SMRC meeting will be Thursday, May 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ashcroft Movie Theater.
Layout Changes
Several changes have been made to the Shannondell Model Railroad layout during 2023. Click here for details. More information on changes in 2024 are forthcoming.
Bruce Wintersteen's presentations on Railroad Signal Systems are available on this website.
Several changes have been made to the Shannondell Model Railroad layout during 2023. Click here for details. More information on changes in 2024 are forthcoming.
Bruce Wintersteen's presentations on Railroad Signal Systems are available on this website.