This saturday 1 April at the Cotton Belt Shops in Pine Bluff Arkansas is a Train Show they hold annually at this time of year.
Would like to encourage all to visit if you can.
I’ll be there!!! Some of the best buys I’ve gotten at train shows have been at the Pine Bluff show. I’m looking forward to returning. [tup]
I can’t make it this year maybe next. Say hello to the War Baby for me.
The show appeared to be successful with the children today. There were fewer vendors as well. The Museum did a excellent job getting ready for the show. I especially liked it when at show time of 9 am this morning the bell clanged and loud speaker said “It is now 9am the show had started” within a few seconds of 9 sharp.
I talked to some of the people regarding the 4-8-4 steam engine that they have been working on this year. The smoke box front was reinstalled and apparently some of the boiler work is yet to be really complete. I was told that they are working on bringing the engine up to FRA standards with the intention of running her under steam within 14 months. Apparently there is a consist of Rock Island passenger cars that are also being made ready so… who knows? She may yet run again.
For those who dont know, the Project 819 was a 4-8-4 built at the Cotton Belt Shops in world war two for the purpose of running mainline traffic between Tyler Texas and St Louis Mo with 3000 ton (60-80 cars) trains. I was feeling a sense of excitement at the potential that this engine may yet run again (They say WILL run again) under it’s own steam on it’s own rails in the same territory it earned it’s keep on. One of the reasons is the water. Apparently the quality of the water is good in this area for it. It is an oil burner and burns the same oil we use to heat homes. There is also the ability to burn used motor oil as donated fuel but tends to go thru it a little bit quickly.
I dont have any video of the engine this year as it was cloudy outside and knew from experience I cannot get enough light to get a dark steam engine onto a dark room with any success on tape.
There were other good news for clubs in the area. I was told that the Traveling Layout Club of North Little Rock has adopted 41" radius as a new curve standard so the membership may run larger equiptment without problems. I dont know yet of the full details regarding it’s home “HQ” but will research it.