This report must start with a big apology to those members whom attended the September Division meeting. Following the noon meal, I went back to my room and made a couple of notes to myself for the upcoming meeting. I sat down to rest and do a little reading. Jenny, who works the 3 to 11 shift woke me up at 4:45 to give me my meds and tell me to come out for dinner; oops. It’s been a stressful year for me and the two surgeries I endured in August are still taking it out on me, I’m really sorry about that. I hear from Bob Johnson and others that plans for the 2027 convention are progressing well. We will get together in the near future to discuss what I can be doing to assist the committee in moving forward.
Union Pacific “Big Boy” 4014 was on Horseshoe Curve on the Norfolk Southern former Pennsylvania RR main line. The Virtual Railfan site gave a front row seat to the event. What a show and 4014 put on. On the second run by the engineer slipped the front set of drivers two or three times. Engineers hate to do that and firemen hate to see their fire go up the stack. The UP “Abraham Lincoln” memorial diesel was right behind the tenders as well as three NS sesquicentennial diesels in the beautiful UP business train. However engineer Ed Dickens, UP’s steam program chief, got control and walked that heavy train up the grade without help from the diesels. A once in a lifetime event!
The 2027 NMRA National Convention is occurring in Tacoma, WA. I already have my Amtrak ticket in hand. The Floridian (former Capitol Ltd.) from Martinsburg WV to Chicago then the Empire Builder to Seattle. With luck and an on time arrival in Chicago I can have lunch and a couple of steins of good German draft beer at Borghoff’s Restaurant before train time on the Empire Builder.
Well, I hope to see you at the October Division meeting. When I get back here from Church I will make a point of informing the day shift ladies that they need to make sure I get out for the meeting.
