Racing through the long agenda
Chairman Bob opened the meeting at 12:33 pm.
We had 15 members at the RR on a rainy day: Bob, Bill, Bruce, Kevin, Mike, Matt, Tom, Carl, Kevin H., Bruno, Ken, Rene, Marty, John and, Ed. plus Mike’s guest - (friend of Sam Worden) - Will Sharron.
Treasurer’s report -- Kevin
We have 71 members, all current. Note that dues notices for 2025 will be going out in December.
Our bank account remains healthy with no Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable of approximately $2,000.
Project Status Reports
New switches
Kevin - No new news. Brandon has finished making some switches and returned the gauges that Kevin needs to move forward; which Ed brought in.
Bill - We are making a run of new points and will set up Bruno and Matt to fabricate these on the mill.
Turntable - Bill
I turned the project over to Tom and Bruce to build the retaining wall circle and pave the pit. Mike will put the wood on the turntable after that is done. Kevin will connect up all the approach tracks, 5 aprons to the Round House and bypass tracks.The turntable is level but Bill will lower it a bit to increase the load on the center bearing. Matt noted that it spins perfectly!
Round House - Mike
Bruno is working on drawings for the Round house, and Bob printed copies for review. The roof is flatter, corresponding to prototypical examples (per Ed’s research) and has some slope to give an esthetic look with a clerestory window at the peak. Ken found some used long 4 x 6 beams for the interior structure, some of which will be milled into 4 x 4’s. We might do redwood cladding on the outside if we have enough material, or at least redwood batts. The walls will go on mudsills around the sides and back.The front will use Peter Moseley’s 8 CNC model doors which Marty and Mike are making hardwood frames for, to upsize them to 2-½” scale. The floor will be concrete for ease of construction and mouse-proofing. There will be four 12 foot deep bays for C-16s and one larger 15 foot add-on bay for the K-36 engine. Exterior color is likely to be natural (like the trestle) with the doors being Rustoleum red. The K-36’s door will be made of hardwood in the same style as Peter’s doors. All the windows in the building will be plastic with cross bars to match the doors.
Switch Stands and Remotes
Bob - Marty and Ed are working on the backlog of switches to be upgraded in the field, with a starter list of 16, of which 6 are critical. We are using the clipboard written reports on switch problems which provide more precise details than the orange blocks of wood. We will need a bit better weather to make progress.
Ed - There are about 12 Kick-switch kits ready for installation. There are enough parts to make more kits, which Bob said we will need eventually.
SIgnals - Ed
No information from Train Mountain yet for us to evaluate adopting for PV&A RR
Big Red engine - Bruce
Branden is getting closer all the time.
Ballast Tamping - Bob
Bill is exploring the purchase and use of a power tamper for our rail installations, investigating its utility and usefulness. We need to change the ways in which we install new track and replace old track so that we end up with a strong and stable base. We will meet in the near future to define and test these processes. Bob noted that hand tamping is nobody’s favorite job.
Run days, news and safety
The next workday is NOT THURSDAY. But Wednesday, November 27th, the RR will be open.
2024 October night run review - Bob
Thanks to Matt and Dee for hosting the overnight camping. It was lightly attended. Matt noted that Sarah from Golden Gate liked doing night runs here. Dee & Matt are willing to host again next year when hopefully, we’ll get more participation.
Bob noted that there were many kids attending, and some were running around without supervision. It is up to the parents of children to keep them in the RR areas, and up to us to remind them to do that. Carl suggests we tell parents this when they are signing in. Dinner was very nice and a bargain. For $20 folks got what would cost about $28 on Jalisco’s menu plus tip and tax. We paid all of the revenue to them, so we funded the ice cream and drinks from our treasury. Will have to determine what we can afford and charge next year.
2024 November Run/Meet
Shop will be open, rain or shine. Right of Way has been cleared, but storm winds are filling it in again, so be mindful when making runs.
2024 December Run/Meet
Is right after Christmas, Bruce may host a potluck lunch. For members and family only (not a giant event).
2025 Run/Meet
The January meeting is our annual election meeting. Current members of the Operations council are still willing to serve, but if anybody wants to serve, let Bob know - we’re glad to introduce new talent.
There will be two work weekends in 2025 in lieu of Run days..
2025 June 30 - July 01 special meet
We will be hosting some New Jersey guests who are attending the Train Mountain Triennial on this Monday and Tuesday. If other railroad enthusiasts are in the area, they are welcome to come. This is not an official Ramble, as there are no other scheduled stops
PVARR Calendar
It is on-line and extends out to 2026
Annual Joint meet in 2025 - September - Bob
We will only be having one invitational meet next year, and have chosen September to minimize conflict with other clubs planned events. We’ll have Golden Gate and Sacramento Live Steam clubs again. We could invite other folks as well.
News
Bill - We have the opportunity to buy a large 18” grinder. Not cheap. $1,000-$1,500. Bill will investigate further. We have destroyed less robust equipment doing heavy grinding. Sentiment seems to be that we don’t need it.
Ken - we’re going to spend about $1,000 to wire up the two new machines (Mill and Surface Grinder) we have acquired.
Mike - A spare Wooden workbench was sold to Matt.
Bob - We do need to buy more track. We’re hoping to find a more local source than RMI @Oxnard
Bruce - Cal Water is now hooked up to the station house, office and other buildings on the ranch. It will be drinkable soon after the lines are flushed in late December. Public bathrooms by building 3 are still spring water as are all hoses and sprinklers.
Bruce - Compressor air leak - Bruce Work in process, will be hand digging the trenches now that the soil is less hard; (will wait until it is not too muddy)
Bob closed the meeting at 1:12 PM
Mike Ward
PV&ARR
Secretary
(with thanks to Matt Petach for verbatim notes)