Father's Day Memorial City Mall, June 16 - 17, 2012

This year's turnout was just a little less than last year's, but it was still quite busy. We were right up against the ice skating rink, because that was the only space big enough for our layout. In the area were also the NWX club with their N- and HO-scale layouts, as well as the local Z-scale group and the O-gauge train display (same club that has their permanent set-up in the mall). In addition to our standard modules, we also included the wye modules with their three internal modules. Don's modules go opposite the wye to complete the loop. A couple of engines had some odd behaviors on the layout, but in general trains ran both days without any problems.

Three passenger trains, plus the Zephyr, are keeping the railroad's revenue going. You may notice very few audience members in the photos. That is only because I generally go out and take photos whenever the crowds are down so that I can get some good shots, without blocking the visitors' view.

Sunday morning set-up. Bob (right) and Don (left) are busy setting up their trains on the third leg of the wye, while Jack and Jerry are shooting the breeze. The four staging tracks on the wye make it easy to build trains, without having to lean over the layout.

Here's the inside-the-loop view of the third leg. Jack brought his Rex 0-6-0 switcher. It is rumored to work perfectly, although we didn't get a chance to run it.

Jerry found a tower in his collection of structures, so we finally have a proper way of protecting the track on the wye.

Don is keeping a close eye on his mixed freight train, pulled by an S-Helper Service Rio Grande F7, as it is leaving the freight yard.

Don is getting ready to pull his freight train out of the yard. Our other Don is rounding the corner on the right. The always jovial Bob is left of center, with Jerry to his left talking to a friend. Jack is on the far left inspecting trains.