Rail Fest, Rosenberg Museum, April 11, 2015
Click on the thumbnail image to see a much larger photo.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)The third annual Rail Fest event at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum was a success, and that was despite the fact that heavy rains were forecast. It was cloudy, but a comfortable low-70s temperature. We did get some rain between 1pm and 2:30pm, but that didn't seem to dampen the crowds. Turnout was slightly less than at this event last year, as expected considering the weather, but there were still plenty of people who made the trek to see the museum and our S-scale layout. This photo shows the "freight" side of our layout. Like last year, we set up our basic 10-module layout, at a diagonal so that we could fit it into the available space.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Rusty (right) looks on as a passenger steam train comes by. His grandson (left) is explaining the difference between an HO-scale engine and an S-scale engine to the boy on the other side of the layout. In the background is an enclosed room that contains a beautiful permanent HO-scale layout.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)We must have caught rush-hour at the passenger station, because the streets and the parking lot are full!
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Times are good, with lots of freight getting ready to be moved out of the yard, while a Pennsy freight comes by.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Steve is very concerned that the weight of his passenger train is too much for our modules to handle, so he is making sure that they stay in place. Apparently we were OK.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)This is an outside view of the building we were in. You can see the front end of our layout in the photo. The rest of the museum's property is to the right of the photo, where they have a large building for the museum itself, several prototype pieces of equipment, a transplanted signaling tower, a water tower, and a large, permanent G-scale outdoor layout. On the other side of the building in the photograph is a very busy UP/BNSF mainline, with freight trains coming by at least every 30 minutes. Some of the engineers in the trains saw the crowds waving at them and played along with them using their horns.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Jerry brought out a bunch of his structures. Here a view of two of them.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)This is his lumber yard, with a removable roof so you can appreciate the many details he has added.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Another collection of his structures.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Our farm scene is always a very popular spot.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Here Jerry (left) and Rusty are engaged in conversation, while Asher runs "Papa's" train. Asher, now a bonafide member of the Houston S Gaugers, wearing his HSG jacket made by his mom, was standing on a chair so that he could clearly see his train.
(photo courtesy of Peter Vanvliet)Yes, Bob was here too.