Spring Creek Model Railroad Club
Meeting Minutes for 2006 Consolidated
December 2006:We had two prospective new members, George Bogatink and Pete ? (Skip got their info, please send to me also, Skip)
Plano Show, everyone please try to be there at 5pm to setup on Friday Jan. 12, please be there at 9am on Sat. Jan 13. We need to get the layout electrically and mechanically setup Friday evening. We want to do this so we can run Sat. morning.
Everyone, please wear your club shirts at the Plano Show.
No outside children to run trains at the Plano Show. For relatives, please limit to 15 minutes run-time and the club member needs to accompany them at all times, please.
Glenn, please bring a running schedule for us to sign up on Sat.
James, please contact North TX Council of Model RR to find out what frequency they will be on for burst mode, inform Leo.
James has a full schedule for clinics and has informed the presenters. According to James, our club doesn’t have to do anything else. James, please make sure they announce the clinic topic and start time over the public address system at the show.
We discussed new dates for next year:
January 13th and 14th, Plano Show
February 19th, business meeting at Ben’s house
March 3rd and 4th, Longview Show
April 16th, meeting at Michael’s house
May 21st, meeting at Hanks house
June ???, Richardson Setup, Tom will let us know time and date
July 16th, meeting at Tom’s house
August 20th (meeting at Mike Crawford’s house, we volunteered him)
September ???, Garland work session. Leonard will let us know
October 15th, meeting at Leonard’s house
November 10th and 11th, Carrollton Setup
December 19th, meeting at James house
We discussed and agreed to buy (2) two new RF throttles and upgrade our software/EPROM. Leo will take care of this before Plano and the controller/system is at Ben’s house.
We discussed the backdrops. Overall consensus was to NOT use them. However, out of courtesy to Mike and Glenn, since they were not here tonight, use is Optional for the Plano Show.
We have about $750 in the treasury.
Module Update:
James and Leonard will work on James’ modules to produce basic landscape for the Plano Show. Hanks 2 modules are at Ben’s house and he is working on them every weekend. The first yard module that connects to Ben’s corner is finished with ballast on the passenger track, parking lot for passenger station and hedges. This module has been mechanically and electrically tested also. Swapped out this module for the next adjacent yard module and Ben will ballast and turf the passenger tracks on this module also. Leo will take over the scenery part of his 2 modules and Skip will help as needed. Thank you all for this progress.
Leonard, please put your DCC documents in the club binder at Plano.
Roundhouse construction will be discussed at January meeting.
October 7th & 8th, 2006 - Granger Work Session:
Craig finished removing and replacing all of the soldered rail joiners on the yard track splices. He also fixed several yard tracks which had bent rails or splices which were bent or had a hump in them.
All of the yard turnouts which needed some type of repair or adjustment, No’s. 2, 35, 36, 37, 41, 45, 59, 60, 61 and 75, were completed by Hank, Craig and Glenn.
The measurements for the 4 yard skyboards were taken and Glenn will cut and paint them in time for the Carrollton setup. Leo will provide the bolts and T-Nuts and will drill and mount them for Carrollton.
The small skyboard for the corner module, between the yard and Richmond Industrial (Glenn), was found in the trailer. Glenn will be repaint it for the Carrollton setup.
We had trains running on both mains and yard activity going on for most of the weekend and no major electrical or DCC glitches were encountered.
All the tracks and turnouts in the yard, passenger terminal and the Inside Main, Outside Main and Yard lead tracks were tested extensively and are OK as of now.
The Inside Main to Yard Lead and Yard Lead to Outside Main crossover tandem turnouts, # 9 and # 16, on the Richmond modules (Glenn's) were tested and the shorting problem encountered at Plano and Longview shows is now fixed. It is now possible to exit the mountain tunnel and get to anywhere in the yard from either main line by using the two crossovers in Richmond.
The following are all that remain from the lists of needed repairs or changes to the layout:
No. 9 from the May Work session list-Finalize operation of and label the boosters and resistor/lamp units on the DCC console. It was partly complete and will be finished at the Carrollton setup.
Only Yard Turnout #46 is still sticking in one direction, fortunately it is in a location which it is not used much. The Tortoise machine for #46 is in a very difficult location to work on. It needs to have the armature wire replaced with piano wire.
There are still isolated yard turnouts causing momentary shorts when operated, but it is something we can only fix at a work session. We need to get a list of them as they are encountered at Carrollton, Plano and Longview. The Standards Committee will be responsible for the list and subsequent repairs.
Some of the turnout switch and Tortoise wiring on James modules needs permanent repairs.
The temporary labels on the track splices on the bridge module need to be placed on the bottom of the splices. The labeling is on top, not very train show worthy. Skip and I tried to determine where the HO Gauge Track Gang got the giant labeling machine.
No progress made on the plan/design of the engine facility, turntable and roundhouse placement and the scenery plan.
Overall it was one of the best work sessions we have ever had.
July 2006:
1) Please RSVP to the host if you are attending at club meetings so they can have the proper food/beverage amount
2) Darren Dickinson and Dave Chop attended tonight, welcome again
3) Club voted to have the Richardson setup again next June
4) Hank, James, and Ben will coordinate to chop down the skyboard height along that side of the layout at the Oct. session
5) Leo, do you have Les's old structures stored outside? If so, can you make sure they are inside during this summer?
6) We voted to renew the Cowcatcher ad for $65. It's worth it to see if people will visit our new web site which is now referenced via bus card ad
7) Suggested to Tom to have more signs outside the Richardson set up next year
8) Glenn, Tom, and Frank will get together in the next 2-3 months to try and troubleshoot the Walther passenger car shorting and humming issue
9) Leonard will call Easy DCC to ask about common ground proposal
10) Leonard is offering $40 to hire as help for any member wanting to cover the cost of a basic decoder along with install
11)Next mtg. in Aug. is 3rd Monday at Glenn's house
12) Glenn/Leo/Tom will work on track plan and general plan to add an engine servicing facility to the layout
13) We renewed/refreshed our policy that if any outside-visitor child wants to run a train, then the parent has to be present and it's for 15 min or 3 laps around the layout and one time only. Members families children are not restricted to this.
The next items were updated from the May work session. Updates in parentheses below. We need to try and get the not done items finished in October.
((DONE) Verify that the Inner Main to Yard Lead switch in James Bobo's module is functioning correctly. (Ben/James, Ben will ask Bobo's to help with his track/switch issues on his module)
(NOT DONE) Straighten the bent rail on Yard turnout #12. (Craig/Chris)
(NOT DONE on the soldered joints) Replace loose joiners in the yard on the track splices, a number of them are not making good contact. This includes some of the ones which were soldered on one end. (Craig)
(NOT DONE) Fix all of the following Yard turnouts-ALL are sticking badly: #s 35, 36, 37, 45, 59, 60, 61, 75 (Hank will get stiff piano wire, Craig to assist)
(NOT DONE) Test ALL remaining yard turnouts for proper operation (Hank, Craig)
(DONE) Repair the DCC connector plug on the Richmond (((Glenn’s) module. (Leonard/Glenn)
(ON GOING, every setup) Locate and level all track splices which have humps due to module edge mismatches. (Tom/Glenn)
(NOT DONE) Locate and straighten the eastbound receiving yard track which is kinked and causing derailments. Craig knows which one it is. (Craig/Chris)
(NOT DONE-need to label) Finalize use of the DCC Boosters on the console and label the console. (Leo)
(DONE) Verify all the Wireless throttles including the club spare, are set for Scan mode and have the proper frequency settings. (Leonard/Glenn)
(DONE) Investigate the DCC System glitches involving loco addresses and consists with the number 73 somewhere in the four digit string. (Glenn/Leo/Hank)
12. (DONE) (Mike will handle/lead the passenger terminal items below) We still need a volunteer to do the backdrops for the yard.
Complete the wiring for the Passenger station tracks.
Develop a plan and track design for the engine terminal facility in the main yard.
13. (NOT DONE) Make and paint backdrop boards for the four yard modules. These should be the low type.
14 (DONE) .. Make sure that ALL RF. throttles work, (Glenn/Leonard
April 2006:
Our visitor tonight was Darren Dickinson, found us via the one page flyer at Discount. His e-mail: , home Tel: 972-236-4414, mobile: 214-801-9003. Said he was interested in helping us at next months Garland-Granger setup.
Sorry for the lengthy minutes tonight, but I inserted the volunteers/assignments for next months setup below.
1) We voted to reimburse Leo $30 per setup for gas with the exception of Longview where he will get mileage.
2) Our next setup is next month. Please try to be at Granger by 5:30pm-6:00pm latest to help. Leo will try to be there by 7pm with the yard as it's his busy season. Try also to be there by 9am on Saturday so we can start on the tasks below.
3) Leonard will make a flyer and distribute it at Garland library, etc for the PR.
4) James please get a list of frequencies from the council we are supposed to use.
5) Tom gave us a Richardson update. There will be 3 groups of school kids coming through on June 9, 11am, 1, 2pm. Tom please get Glenn, Ben, James together at the Garland setup to discuss what we are going to present at these camps. The setup will be June 7&8 5:30pm at the Richardson Civic Center. We will be open to public June 10,11 12-5pm but for club members 9am on those days.
6) Chris has a lot of the shell of the web site ready. We hope to have it live by June 1.
7) We have approx. $1500 in the treasury
Can someone e-mail Darren and Michael directions to Granger? I don't even have the address. Guys, it's GarlandGrangerRecreationCenter on Ave. F in Garland.
Here are the priorities below:
1) Verify that the Inner Main to Yard Lead switch in James Bobo's module is functioning correctly. (Ben/James, Ben will ask Elbert to help with his track/switch issues on his module)
2) Straighten the bent rail on Yard turnout #12. (Craig/Chris)
3) Replace loose joiners in the yard on the track splices, a number of them are not making good contact. This includes some of the ones which were soldered on one end. (Craig)
4) Fix all of the following Yard turnouts-ALL are sticking badly: #s 35, 36, 37, 45, 59, 60, 61, 75 (Hank will get stiff piano wire, Craig to assist)
5) Test ALL remaining yard turnouts for proper operation (Hank, Craig)
6) Repair the DCC connector plug on the Richmond ((Glenn's) module. (Leonard/Glenn)
7) Locate and level all track splices which have humps due to module edge mismatches. (Tom/Glenn)
8) Locate and straighten the eastbound receiving yard track which is kinked and causing derailments. Craig knows which one it is. (Craig/Chris)
9) Finalize use of the DCC Boosters on the console and label the console. (Leo)
10) Verify all the Wireless throttles including the club spare, are set for Scan mode and have the proper frequency settings. (Leonard/Glenn)
11) Investigate the DCC System glitches involving loco addresses and consists with the number 73 somewhere in the four digit string. (Glenn/Leo/Hank)
12) Mike will handle/lead the passenger terminal items below) We still need a volunteer to do the backdrops for the yard.
13) Complete the wiring for the Passenger station tracks.
14) Develop a plan and track design for the engine terminal facility in the main yard.
15) Make and paint backdrop boards for the four yard modules. These should be the low 8†type.
16) Make sure that ALL RF. throttles work, (Glenn/Leonard)
March 2006:
It seemed like everyone found Longview to be a lot of fun. More so than probably any show of late. Everyone had a chance to run as much as they wanted. But I'm sore from moving modules!
Attached are some of the photos that James and I took. I'll send another batch out shortly.
Minutes:
1) If you bought more than one club shirt, you owe Leo $20
2) Leo will buy more brass jointers for the next work session
3) It was discussed and voted in favor to reimburse Leo for gas driving the trailer/yard to Longview
4) Chris/James discussed and vote passed in favor for the club to spend up to $120/year hosting our new web site
5) Mike will call Les to get his old skyboards
6) Leo will store Les's old modules for now
7) Next meeting is April 17, 7:30pm at Leonard's house