"Auctioneer Fred" presents our special guest speaker Ed Dickens, Senior Manager of Union Pacific's Heritage Operations, with an S-gauge replica of a Union Pacific hopper car. Following the banquet dinner Dickens regaled the attendees with photos and commentary of the Big Boy 4014 restoration process. His talk included unpublished behind-the-scenes information and the many challenges the team encountered when rebuilding the Big Boy since replacement parts were not available and had to be fabricated in the Cheyenne facility or contracted to outside foundries and forge shops.

These lucky Fest attendees signed up for the Sunday tour and train ride at Knott's Berry Farm Park and were rewarded with visit in the shop where Knott's trains are maintained.

                                Shop Talk

Ed Dickens and two of the Knott's railroad team trade "war stories" of the trials and tribulations involved in restoring, maintaining, and operating historic steam engines. 

SCSGC extends a big thanks to these two gentlemen who came to work at the park well before their normal shift schedule in order to host our tour before regular park hours.

After many monthly meeting discussions the club has purchased a trailer. The trailer solves two problems facing the club: 

(1) where to store the bulky layout corners and bridge, and 

(2) how to get all these modules to the various train shows that the club participates in. 

The trailer is large enough to store additional modules in the future as well as the power supplies and other items needed for layout setups. Congratulations to the club members who determined the club's requirements and found a trailer that fulfills current and future needs. 

The club's trailer is taking shape. SCSGC Treasurer Richard Rowe shows the first rack to be built and installed. It is loaded with the club's rail yard modules. Note other features that now have been added to the trailer.